House of the Dragon Season 2 episode 4 review: War

The lessons, the themes and analyzing the episode as it reflects with the real world…

After drumming the beats for 13 episodes, the dance of the dragon finally begins in the episode 4 of season 2 of House of the Dragon, and though the spectacle is one to behold as a viewer, the themes within this episode is one of ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’s’ frightening messages; the significance of War.

Ever since the second season of the House of the Dragon started, it has never failed to push on its consistent message; that those who drum the beats of war, no nothing about it, and episode 4 brings that to the fore front in full scale.

For readers of the book; ‘Fire and Blood’ of which the series is adapted from, the episode finally unravels the Battle at Rook’s rest, a bloody battle where dragons officially took and blood was drawn between the divided house of House Targaryen. But it isn’t the battle that is of much importance, but the message — the significance of war.

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Judging by the current climes in the real world where opposing sides are quick to draw blood and call for war at the slightest provocation, this episode points out the irony of war and mocks the ‘noble agenda’ in which either side dwells on before going into battle. And it is that, all sides forget what they are fighting for once they march on to battle to slay one another.

As pointed in a scene by Alicent Hightower between her and Lord Larys Strong, the nobility of war is neither truth nor virtue but what either side choose to believe about themselves when they draw the sword and kill each other. It doesn’t matter who is right, or whose intentions are cruel, soldiers choose to murder each other because of their own truth and not the reality that faces them.

The episode very well delves into the doubts, skepticism lingering in every character in the episode; King Aegon has no idea what is going on as his council fail to listen to him and go on making plans without his command, the Black council on the other hand, sit restless and confused on what to do as their Queen is absent throughout much of the episode. Daemon over at Harrenhall, also deals with his own doubts and demons as the war rages on.

Then there is the Dowager Queen, Alicent Hightower who after last week’s episode, has no idea what to believe any more but the reality fate had brought upon the both sides. The Queen Mother in this episode is very much questioning her own virtues now after Rhaenyra revealed to her the truth about the late King Viserys’ words.

The episode just like it is in real world conflicts, perfectly sums up the truth about war; as much as both sides choose to believe in whatever they are fighting for; neither of them are right the minute they choose to murder. Whatever happens on battle then falls on perception rather than justice as casualties are not the aggressors but casualties pawn to the game.

And speaking of casualties; the episode ends with two major casualties who as rightly put, were nothing but pawns in the so-called ‘Dance of the Dragon’. Despite being the King, Aegon as this episode shows, was only a pawn all along for other’s scheme to be achieved.

Episode 4 of Season 2 of House of the Dragon shows us the truth about Aegon Targaryen’s character; he is a tragic pawn and always have been, which makes us sympathize with the poor boy when we draw back to the season one of the series where Aegon repeatedly told his Mother, he never wanted the throne. This is obviously not Aegon Targaryen’s war, he and Rhaenyra are only pawns and victims of Greed. Like before, this episode does well to show it and to present its message so clearly.

War is greed, and Greed leads to conflict.