‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2, episode 4 recap: It’s best to just be nice to your siblings

Congratulations! You made it through the first battle episode of the season unscathed.

Congratulations! You made it through the first battle episode of the season unscathed. The chaotic fourth episode of “House of the Dragon” Season 2 marks a major turning point in the Dance of the Dragons, with King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), Rhaenys (Eve Best) and two dragons coming out of the epic Battle of Rook’s Rest not so unscathed. It also feels like a good opportunity to remember that teasing Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) is always a bad idea. Like, a really, really bad idea. The episode picks up with Daemon (Matt Smith) at Harrenhal waiting for Grover Tully to die so his grandson can inherit his authority and help Daemon procure an army. Daemon also summons the Blackwoods to Harrenhal, while Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) is gathering the Brackens for his army as they head to Rook’s Rest. King Aegon finds out about Daemon claiming Harrenhal, and he’s mad. Adding to his ire is his additional discovery that Aemond and Criston have been “plotting” war games without his authority, which is revealed when Aemond says that Criston is preparing an attack at Rook’s Rest instead of going for Harrenhal. The petulant King confides in Alicent (Olivia Cooke), who only offers tough love – if that’s what you want to call it – and tells him to pretty much do “nothing” at this point. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) returns to Dragonstone and fills in her cranky small council about her attempted peace talks with Alicent, the outcome of which she says has left her with only two options: win her bid for the throne or die.