With the arrival of the second season of House of the Dragon, in Italy exclusively on Sky and streaming only on NOW, the weekly appointment of Best Movie is back with the commentary and semi-serious votes for the best and worst of each episode. Follow us and in the meantime you can catch up on the latest episode of the column at THIS LINK.
Welcome back to Westeroswhere in the end there is always a reason to argue. War is coming, but apparently it is one of those kids who rings the bell and then runs away giggling, because even for this episode we are essentially going nowhere and we are still limited to turning the pages of the daisy: war yes, war no, war yes, war no… The overall rating for the episode The Mill in Flames so it’s a resounding 4because indecision reigns supreme and with it a pinch of boredom.
We begin with the staging of a famous battle already known to most: the clash between Brescians and Bergamaschi for the paternity of casoncelli. George R.R. Martin but he didn’t want to make the inspiration so obvious and so the two factions become the Blackwood e i Brackenat loggerheads for so long that no one remembers why. One random day, however, some kids decide to argue about which version of Pokemon is bestwhether Black or Green. They don’t agree, the fight starts, the fight becomes a bloodbath, everyone dies. “Well that, escalated quickly” cit. Ron Burgundy. Vote 3like the goals of Roberto Baggio in that Brescia – Atalanta of discord.
The outbreak of hostilities offers the right pretext for both sides to (finally) get busy and take action. However, it is necessary to develop a refined strategy, gather the best minds and win the war with the head even before with the sword. Too bad that now everything or almost everything is in the hands of that miracle of Sir Criston Colewho by royal charity became First Knight and was immediately ready to demonstrate that he did not deserve the pin. Vote 4like the one he got at school during roll call.
Things aren’t going any better on the other side, but luckily there is. Daemon Targaryen. The Prince, returning from a difficult bonfire of confrontation with Rhaenyradoes what any man would do: he rides his dragon to the most ruinous and haunted fortress in the middle of nowhere, the one Dracula visits when he wants to take a tour of scary places, and aims to conquer it for himself. Someone is compensating for something here, right Daemon? The plan is worthy of Sir Criston Cole, but incredibly it works. “Reclamo Harrenhal“, “Ok, come on, there’s stewed venison“. Vote 20like the roll of the die in diplomacy launched by the castellano Strong.
Then follow scenes of varying impact and outcome. On the one hand Daemon with his mystical visions of how Rhaenyra looked so much like Milly Alcock, on the other the Westeros version of A Hangover Night starring that silhouette of Re Aegon II and his little buddies promoted to the Kingsguard. Statism is spreading like wildfire across the Seven Kingdoms, as are Targaryens being introduced at random into slum taverns. What’s the point of all this? It’s not clear, perhaps to show the public that Aemond has no other Vhagar between his legshis dragon shaped like an aircraft carrier. I give the King’s picnic a 5, but about 15 to his brother… If you know what I mean.
We haven’t talked about Rhaenyra the Cruel yet, Queen of the undecided and second thoughts. In addition to the annoyance of a constantly postponed war and scenes that essentially lead nowhere (War and peace it’s longer but also more direct), there is another constant in this second season of House of the Dragon: the “Let’s sneak in from the other side” moment. First Daemon, then Sir Arryk Cargyllnow Rhaenyra herself dressed as a Sacramental nun to be able to talk to Alicent… It’s fine to delay the action and the dragons (which CGI costs), but repeating the same dynamics three times doesn’t exactly do the season any favors either. I give a 2 for variety of this first part of the season.
The capture of Harrenhal has also proved to be a disappointment and the arrival in the area of Sir Criston Cole and his four riding companions will do little. Like the first season, these new episodes are also slow burner waiting to explode. And we can’t wait.
Photo: HBO
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