House of the Dragon's shock Rhaenyra scene has deeper meaning (2024)

House of the Dragon season two episode two spoilers follow.

House of the Dragon season two seems to be developing a habit of ending its episodes in jaw-dropping, finale-esque ways.

Episode two follows up the utterly tragic death of baby prince Jaehaerys with an attempt on Rhaenyra's (Emma D'Arcy) life. However, this was no sneak-into-the-castle-and-kill kind of affair (though it was intended to be).

What started as subterfuge unravelled into a brother-vs-brother brawl when Ser Arryk (loyal Aegon knight) failed in his mission to impersonate his twin brother Ser Erryk (loyal Rhaenyra defender).

The botched attempt to kill the rightful queen resulted in the most elaborate and confusing duel ever.

Was it Arryk (Luke Tittensor) or Erryk (Elliott Tittensor) who parried? Who sliced whose thigh? And who delivered the fatal blow? Who could tell? When armoured up to the eyeballs the two were indistinguishable.

It made for a tense, exciting watch, and for that we have Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) to thank. Or should we say the new Hand, having usurped Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) in the position?

It was Cole's bold decision to order the murder of Rhaenyra that awarded him the promotion, for, as he put it, "it's time the bitch-queen paid a price." Yet his persistent obsession with Rhaenyra betrayed a little too much of the real Cole. It seems his ire towards the queen is much deeper than a decade-long grudge.

We're beginning to see what Frankel meant when he claimed that Criston Cole doesn't hate Rhaenyra Targaryen. Despite Cole's apparent, deep-seated loathing for the queen, Frankel told Digital Spy:

"I don't think he hates her. I think it's a different thing and certainly I don't feel that the driving force of his motivation in this show is about spite or rebellion towards Rhaenyra or his heartbreak."

If you guffawed at the statement, then you're probably not alone. It is undeniably laughable – that is until you really consider the events of the episode that led to the attempted murder of Rhaenyra.

His laser focus on Rhaenyra became sharper this episode because it followed the death of Jaehaerys.

During the murder of the prince, the Lord Commander of the King's Guard told his king that he was "abed… having ordered the Night's Watch."

He was 'abed' alright: Alicent's bed, and it is a secret shame that eats away at him. We know this because when Alicent later states that he seeks absolution, he responds:

"There is none for what I've done."

It is akin to the shame he felt when he and Rhaenyra began their affair in season one, when he first betrayed his white-cloak oath of chastity.

He could only justify their lustful relationship by placing more meaning on it than there perhaps was and attempting to do the honourable thing by proposing to her. Marriage and a bushel of oranges in Essos in exchange for giving up the crown.

However, when she rejected that proposal, it gave birth to a bitterness that has grown over the years and has much more to do with his "moral failings" and pride than it ever did with Rhaenyra. No matter how many 'bitch-queen' slurs he throws her way.

This is evident when the guilt over Jaehaerys' death leads him to confront Ser Arryk, who was on the Night's Watch the night the prince was killed.

His grievance with Arryk begins with pettiness (Cole's forte) when he chastises Arryk for his dirt-stained white cloak.

"The white cloak is a symbol of our purity, our fidelity," he says, undressing Arryk publicly. "The Kingsguard are a sacred trust, will you so easily sully our ancient honour?"

He unleashes this reproachful torrent at Arryk, but it's obvious he is projecting.

The conversation swiftly moves on to Cole confronting Arryk about his whereabouts the night Jaehaerys was slain.

Apparently "with Aegon", is not an acceptable response as Cole continues to reprimand him. Arryk, having had enough of Cole's abuse, confronts Cole about his whereabouts, but Cole parries harder than a man dodging death and diverts the attention to Erryk instead.

"First your brother betrays us and then the young prince is murdered on your watch," he tells Arryk, as if one has any real bearing on the other.

"You have brought disgrace upon our ranks," he continues, "and now you must restore it." Naturally, he can only do so by killing Rhaeynra.

This is no real surprise: Rhaenyra embodies all the guilt and shame Cole feels about his skewed morals.

In his warped mind, killing her will end the source of his self-hatred, thus restoring his honour.

However, since he was unsuccessful in his attempts, we will inevitably continue to see his guilt manifest in new, cowardly and dangerously malicious ways that will undoubtedly make the blood of the Blacks' supporters boil.

Still, if it makes for good television, keep it coming.

House of the Dragon season two will debut on June 16 in the US on HBO and Max, and on June 17 in UK on Sky Atlantic and NOW. Season one is available to stream now on HBO, Sky Atlantic and NOW.

Game of Thrones seasons 1-8 are also available on DVD and Blu-ray.