'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Episode 2: Otto's lost the reins, and there's no turning back now
Contains spoilers and speculation 'House of the Dragon' Season 2
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Episode 2 dropped on HBO on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
The engaging episode had many moments that kept the audience glued to their screens, analyzing every single bit of this marvelous action-adventure series.
One standout moment in the episode was when Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) dismissed Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) as his Hand of the King.
If you had been watching closely, you could sense that this moment had been brewing for some time due to the clear difference of opinion between Aegon's impulsive nature and Otto's subdued and thoughtful ideas.
Otto was frustrated too with the nature of Aegon's actions that brought shame to the realm time and again. Things came to a head when Otto discovered Aegon's act of killing all rat-catchers.
Fans seemed to echo Otto's frustrations and expressed their support for him online.
Fans react as Otto Hightower is removed as Hand of the King in 'House of the Dragon' Season 2
Fans seemed to resonate with Otto Hightower's frustrations about his grandson and the company he kept. A Reddit user wrote, "Otto: I regret everything and I’m surrounded by idiots"
Another Reddit user commented, "I love how done he is with everything. Alicent: I've sinned. Otto: And I don't give a damn. BYEEE." This interpretation reflects how Otto reacted in a conversation with Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke).
Another Reddit user commented, "Aegon: makes literally any decision Otto: sighs," reflecting Otto's frustration with his grandson's actions or lack thereof.
Another Reddit user commented, "He’s like the Godfather in a family full of Fredos," drawing a comparison to the classic film 'The Godfather' directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
A Reddit user compared Otto to Kendrick Lamar, saying, "I loved Otto spitting insults like Kendrick Lamar out here. Yes, he was a major cause, but he called out the mess masterfully."
One Reddit user praised the actor for his performance as Ser Otto, saying, "Rhys Ifans deserves all the awards for this episode. The range on this man. His scheming, his brutality, his emotions. The man acted the fuck out of this episode. Had me hating and supporting Otto as the episode went on. Truly a masterclass in acting."
Why did Aegon remove Ser Otto Hightower from the Hand of the King?
The event of Aegon removing Otto as the Hand of the King is quite ironic, considering Ser Otto's actions during his tenure as King Viserys Targaryen's Hand of the King were aimed at ensuring Aegon's rise to power in the first place.
His plan to arrange the marriage between Alicent and King Viserys was driven by his ambition to secure the succession of his family line to the Iron Throne.
In Episode 2, Ser Otto Hightower expresses regret over his earlier actions, acknowledging that King Viserys was correct about Aegon's impetuous nature.
Otto wanted to groom Aegon, but in times of war, a ruler like Aegon acted on instinct rather than employing a well-thought-out strategy.
Lord Larys Strong also plays a significant role in this, planting the seed in Aegon's mind about Otto serving as his father's Hand and suggesting that if Aegon wishes to distinguish himself from his father, he should appoint a new Hand of the King.
Impressed by Criston Cole's action-oriented strategy, Aegon appoints Cole as his Hand of the King, thereby sending Otto away from his council due to perceived inaction.
How to stream 'House of the Dragon' Season 2?
'House of the Dragon' started streaming on HBO Max on Sunday, June 16, 2024. Episodes of the series will continue to air every Sunday until August 4, 2024.
To watch the series, you will need a Max subscription. The streaming platform typically offers three packages that you can choose from depending on your budget.
The low-cost plan that supports advertising costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually. The second package, which does not support advertising, costs $15.99 per month or $149.99 annually.
Meanwhile, the third package, titled Ultimate Ad-Free, costs $19.99 per month or $199.99 annually.
'House of the Dragon' Season 2 trailer
'House of the Dragon' started streaming on HBO Max on Sunday, June 16, 2024.