'House of the Dragon' Recap: Viserys' Wise Decisions Make for a Surprisingly Dull Episode

Episode 10: "A Son for a Son"

By [Author's Name] | June 16, 2024 at 10:05 PM

If you haven't watched Season 2 Episode 1 of HBO's "House of the Dragon," turn back now and head to your nearest dungeon to catch up. Seriously, do it. This recap is going to be filled with spoilers, so don't say we didn't warn you.

In "A Son for a Son," Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) finally makes some good decisions. Well, at least by his standards. He names his daughter Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) as his heir, which is the right thing to do. He also marries Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), which is a political move that could help stabilize the realm. But these wise decisions come at a price: they make for a surprisingly dull episode.

For the first half of the episode, everything is going swimmingly. Viserys is making good decisions, Rhaenyra is happy, and Alicent is trying to be a good queen. But then, disaster strikes. Viserys' health takes a turn for the worse, and he dies. This sets off a chain of events that will lead to the Targaryen civil war.