One of the Most Underwhelming Season Finales I’ve Watched

Fans of “House of the Dragon” have voiced their dissatisfaction with the season two finale, calling it underwhelming. Season two was expected to showcase multiple intense battles, but it culminated in a more subdued manner, leaving viewers disappointed.

By the end of season one, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) faced betrayal as her half-brother Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) seized her throne, and another half-brother, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), killed her son. Many fans anticipated that season two would be riddled with Rhaenyra’s quest for vengeance, leading to an all-out war.

However, the writers opted to use the season to build even more tension for the upcoming conflict, delivering only one significant battle. Fans were left expecting another clash in the finale, hoping for a dramatic ending, but were met with more dialogues and scheming. Instead of a battle, the episode concluded with a montage of various factions preparing for war.

One fan expressed disappointment by stating, “Well, that was probably one of the most underwhelming season finales I’ve ever watched.” Another described the episode as a “70-minute trailer for Season 3.”

Conversely, some fans defended the finale, highlighting its dramatic moments, including one scene that foreshadowed an important storyline from “Game of Thrones.” Despite this, discontent arose from the fact that they would have to wait until season three to witness the culmination of the tensions built in season two.

While no official release date for season three has been announced, the lengthy production process suggests it may not be available until at least 2026.

The reduction in battle scenes may be linked to the season’s shortened length. Season one comprised 10 episodes, but HBO confirmed last year that season two would have only eight.

A March 2023 report from Deadline, citing an unnamed source, indicated that a significant battle was moved to season three due to the reduced number of episodes. This likely referred to the Battle of the Gullet, which fans had expected to see in the season two finale.

In August 2023, Clare Kilner, a director of “House of the Dragon,” told The Hollywood Reporter that showrunner Ryan Condal had chosen to condense the season to eight episodes to ensure it had a strong opening and ending, “jam-packed with emotional and visually exciting events.”

However, Sara Hess, one of the show’s writers, mentioned to Entertainment Weekly in May that the decision “wasn’t really our choice,” suggesting that HBO or its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, might have imposed the change.

Despite the reasons behind the decision, fans remain unhappy with the limited action in season two, raising expectations for season three to deliver more excitement.

Source: Business Insider