Recap & Record - Blood And Cheese - House of the Dragon Season 2 Premiere Review – "A Son for a Son" | Podcast S2E1

Blood And Cheese - House of the Dragon Season 2 Premiere Review – "A Son for a Son" | Podcast S2E1

Explicit content warning

06/18/24 • 55 min

Recap & Record

Welcome to "Recap & Record," where your hosts Levi (from the "What are We Doing?" podcast) and Los (from the "280+ Podcast") bring you the ultimate breakdown of "House of the Dragon" Season 2, Episode 1. Get ready for a witty and thorough recap as we dive into the world of dragons, political intrigue, and familial drama. Last season, "House of the Dragon" left us breathless with a jaw-dropping dragon battle amid a thunderous storm. While we might have hoped for an equally electrifying start to Season 2, the premiere instead serves as a somber reminder of past events. For much of its runtime, it feels like an extended "Previously on House of the Dragon" segment, setting the stage before the real action unfolds. Our journey begins in the frosty expanse of Winterfell. The Starks are busy dispatching volunteers to the Wall, marking the arrival of winter. Jacaerys (Harry Collett) is present, attempting to rally the North to his mother's cause. Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor) offers limited support, reminding us that winter is coming. The narrative here is brief, as a raven arrives with grim news: Jacaerys' brother is dead, prompting a hasty return to Dragonstone. On Dragonstone, we find Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) in mourning. She searches the coastline for Lucerys' remains, retrieving a token to burn in his memory. Grief-stricken and emotionally paralyzed, she demands Aemond's head but is otherwise absent when her presence is crucial. With her gone, the responsibility of the war effort falls to Daemon (Matt Smith), who struggles with his limited authority as a prince consort. Daemon's attempts to lead are met with resistance. He confronts Rhaenys (Eve Best) about not annihilating the Greens in the previous season, but she stands firm. Daemon's belief in the combined might of their dragons against the formidable Vhagar remains untested. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra’s knight, Ser Erryk Cargyll (Elliott Tittensor), brings the spy master Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) to Daemon, who plots Aemond's assassination. Back in King’s Landing, Alicent (Olivia Cooke) is entangled with the detestable Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). Their affair is supposedly over, though this promise is soon broken. In the council, Alicent's peace proposals are shot down by her father, Ser Otto (Rhys Ifans). However, in private, they agree to collaborate more closely, marking a reluctant but powerful alliance. Aegon, the so-called "Magnanimous," is a disappointing monarch. He struggles to take his role seriously, distracted by his young son and barely tolerating his sister-wife Helaena (Phia Saban), who delivers cryptic warnings about "rats." Daemon's plot comes to fruition as he recruits two shady characters, Blood and Cheese, to infiltrate the Red Keep and assassinate Aemond. The episode's climax is brutal. Failing to locate Aemond, Blood and Cheese turn their attention to the King's children. They force Queen Helaena to choose which child will die, ultimately beheading the young heir and delivering his head to Daemon. The murder is heard but not seen, a rare moment of restraint in Westeros. New characters emerge, including Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim) and the smith Hugh (Kieran Bew), hinting at future storylines. Ser Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) continues to unsettle Alicent with his creepy demeanor, and Aemond grows impatient, ready to wage war with Ser Criston's help. The brewing conflict at Harrenhal promises further turmoil.

Previous Episode

‘FBoy Island’ Ends w/ a Shocking Twist: Good Choices & $50K - Fboy Island Season 3 Finale Breakdown

What's up Recap & Record listeners! This is Levi and Los coming at you with our final FBoy Island recap of the season. We've made it to the end of this wild ride with some twists, turns, and of course - FBoys doing what they do best - manipulating. In this dramatic season finale, our final three women - Katie, Hali, and Daniella - went on their overnight fantasy suite dates to try and determine if they had a real connection with their remaining men or if they were being played. Katie got intimate with Nice Guy Vince and former FBoy Benedict. Hali bonded more with Mercedes and seemingly felt sparks fly with EJ. And Daniella continued her whirlwind romance with Jared while also having a safe, comfortable time with Nice Guy Christian. After the overnight dates, it was decision time. Katie ultimately felt a stronger pull towards Vince and his genuine feelings for her, sending Benedict home brokenhearted. Hali decided to stop chasing sparks and go with the safer choice of Mercedes, even though EJ surprisingly vowed to split the money. And then there was Daniella. All season long she was falling hard and fast for Jared, while Christian patiently waited in the wings for her to notice him. We all expected Daniella to throw caution to the wind and pick Jared. But in a shocking twist, Daniella picked Christian! And then Jared revealed his true FBoy colors, admitting he was playing Daniella all along and would have taken the entire prize. What a snake! Daniella was crushed, but she definitely dodged a bullet. In the end, while there were some broken hearts and shady moves, the women all saw through the remaining FBoys' games and made wise decisions. It restores our faith in the process...well, somewhat at least. So that wraps up another crazy season of FBoy Island! What did you think about how everything shook out? Were you shocked by any of the final choices or outcomes? Who were your favorite and least favorite contestants? And what do you hope to see next season? Let us know in the comments! As always, hit that subscribe button to get alerts for all our latest recaps, theories, and reality TV commentary. Until next time, this is Levi and Los signing off! FBoy Island forever! **** FOLLOW THE PODCAST: TWITTER: https://recaprecord.com/twitter INSTAGRAM: https://recaprecord.com/instagram SPOTIFY: https://recaprecord.com/spotify APPLE: https://recaprecord.com/apple GOOGLE: https://recaprecord.com/google AMAZON: https://recaprecord.com/amazon GOODPODS: https://recaprecord.com/goodpods POCKET CAST: https://recaprecord.com/pocket STITCHER: https://recaprecord.com/stitcher

Next Episode

Sleep With One Eye Open | House of the Dragon S2E2 Rhaenyra the Cruel | Recap & Record Podcast

FANTASYAXETHROWING.COM PROMO CODE: WESTEROS $5 OFF SUNDAYS! Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) knows the assassins targeted the wrong prince, and while he feels flattered, he knows he must stay vigilant. Aemond's nephew's death weighs heavily on everyone, especially Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), who faces an unimaginable shock. The episode opens with the twins Erryk and Arryk Cargyll (Elliott and Luke Tittensor) locked in a deadly battle in Rhaenyra’s own bedroom, highlighting the show's knack for delivering sudden, severe surprises. This brutal fight, a reflection of the senseless brutality of civil war, ends in a tragic murder-suicide, showcasing the futility and horror of such conflicts. Ser Arryk's mission, assigned by Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) due to his own frustrations with Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke), sets the tone for the episode’s dark themes. Despite their turbulent relationship, Alicent and Criston rekindle their romance by the episode’s end, while Rhaenyra and Daemon’s (Matt Smith) relationship deteriorates further. When Rhaenyra learns of young Prince Jaehaerys' murder, she is outraged, realizing Daemon acted recklessly on her behalf. She dismisses Daemon as “pathetic,” severing their ties. King’s Landing continues to be a hotbed of political machinations. King Aegon, devastated by his son’s death, fires his grandfather Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) as the Hand of the King, replacing him with the impulsive Ser Criston. Otto’s ill-conceived plan to parade Jaehaerys’s corpse through the streets backfires, traumatizing Helaena and revealing the fragile state of House Targaryen. Meanwhile, Aemond reflects on his past actions. Cradled by the prostitute who took his virginity, he expresses regret over killing Lucerys, showing a rare moment of vulnerability and responsibility among the Targaryens. His acknowledgment of the consequences of royal temperaments underscores the episode’s exploration of power and its impact on the “small folk.” The episode also introduces new characters, including Alyn and Addam of Hull, hinting at deeper connections with Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint). Hugh the blacksmith (Kieran Bew) also makes a significant appearance, representing the common people's struggles and foreshadowing their potential role in the unfolding war. Visually stunning, the episode balances dark moments with beautifully lit scenes, such as the moonlit reunion between Rhaenyra and Jacaerys. The narrative effectively contrasts the grand political schemes with the personal tragedies and moral complexities of its characters. "Rhaenyra the Cruel" leaves us with a haunting sense of foreboding. With both sides suffering profound losses, the path to war seems inevitable. Join Levi and Los next time on "Recap & Record" as they continue to dissect every fiery detail of "House of the Dragon." Subscribe, comment, and share your thoughts on the episode. Until then, stay vigilant, as the fight for the Iron Throne heats up.