Overview: Get ready for some dragon vs. dragon action! Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood” and set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, the prequel series House of the Dragon tells the epic story of House Targaryen during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen and the high drama that ensue when he installs his first-born child, Princess Rhaenyra, a dragonrider of pure Valyrian blood – as the first woman to be named heir to the Iron Throne.

​Season 2 follows up on what’s already taken place. The death of King Viserys has triggered a succession crisis. Though his named heir is Princess Rhaenyra, his wife Queen Alicent and her father Otto Hightower have schemed to put Aegon II on the Iron Throne.​

4K UHD Blu-ray Verdict: Warner Bros. Entertainment is expanding their 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray catalog offerings this month with the release of the highly-anticipated House Of The Dragon - Complete Second Season in the expansive 4K Ultra HD video format this November 19th, 2024.

For my money, this House Of The Dragon - Complete Second Season [4K UHD Blu-ray + Digital] combo pack sharpness takes a fairly large step forward from others in their 4K Ultra HD catalog and even comes with HDR (High Dynamic Range) for the complete 4K Ultra HD experience, of course.

So, what we have is House Of The Dragon - Complete Second Season presented to us as a four-disc combo pack with a sheet for a Digital HD Copy. Other stand out points you should know are: Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: Native 4K (2160p), HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10, Aspect ratio: 2.00:1 and Original aspect ratio: 2.00:1.

Featuring Dolby Vision and HDR10 for brighter, deeper, and way more lifelike colors, as with most all 4K UHDs, everything that we watch features these qualities - but somehow, this film gloriously shines within them all.

Noticeably crisp with the overall clarity receiving an obvious boost here on this release, what is more is that it is enjoyably noticeable. For as well as some new nuances to the somewhat drab palette courtesy of Dolby Vision, we also get to witness sudden bright pops of color, which makes the eyes draw in, for sure.

One of those moments is notably when the atmosphere of this scene in question is absolute perfection in every way. I will not give it away here, but once you come across it, you should be able to distinguish it from the multitude of others as I continue onward here.

So, Aegon’s arrogance, wrath and lack of understanding all lay on the table as he is questioned by his grandsire, Otto who makes ease of tearing down the logistics of the King’s methods of retaliation.

The vocabulary of Otto is astounding, spoken with such force and confidence. Any time Rhys (Otto) is given a moment to shine he truly does, every time. The way it is cinematically filmed, the lighting, the color scheme, the whole cultured ambiance of the scene (and many others) is simply incredible to behold.

I love how he’s brought the role of Otto to life and Tom (Aegon) minor facial expressions, varied deliveries and body language really sell Aegon’s desire to play the Dance of the Dragons and win. He is slowly coming into his own, realizing his power now his son has been butchered by the enemy, and he wants to make change.

I think this scene best represents how EVERY conversation behind the scenes should be playing out. War makes people make very rash and ugly decisions and these will never be the ambitions of every man and woman loyal to that decision maker, thus causing outburst, criticism and doubt. Arguments will spark, desperation starts to pool and emotions will be at an all time, volatile, high.

As for the audio, well we get: English: Dolby Atmos, English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), French: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1 and Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1.

Overall, this is a very strong 4K HDR Blu-ray presentation, and, for the most part, the audio track remains fairly similar to its DTS-HD counterpart; with much of the action occupying the surrounds with outstanding directionality and placement where effects flawlessly pan between the sides and rears.

As for the secondary story to hand, well, House of the Dragon is progressing remarkably well, filled with many ups and downs that keep the series interesting. The music is also impressive, especially in key scenes like when Daemon goes to face the enemy alone on the beach - it’s perfectly fitting.

One of the most dramatic moments is when Viserys sits on the throne for the last time; it’s a highly intense and emotional scene. The series maintains a well-balanced mix of action, drama, dialogue, and intensity, making it a standout. The dragons are spectacularly portrayed, adding to the epic feel of the show. Overall, House of the Dragon is a must-watch series that truly delivers on all fronts.

But diving a little deeper, and after the gripping and intense first season, House of the Dragon’s second outing isn’t as wholly captivating as its predecessor, sure, but nonetheless it continues the depth of political intrigue, complex characters, and stunning visuals.

If there is a small complaint, it’s that they want to develop characters a lot and hope we get attached to them in order to prepare for what’s next, but it doesn’t work all the time. For the most part, yes, it works, but occasionally it doesn’t seem to, that’s all.

HotD’s story is supposed to last for two years, but this season only covers two months, and not the most exciting ones with only a few noticeable events, in truth. They have a blurry redline (especially compared to S1 when they had a clear situation at the start and a satisfying conclusion at the end of each) combined with a wee bit too much fill sometimes, but the overall character development that threads throughout at least allow the characters evolve at their own, albeit at times slow, way.

Again, Daemon, Otto, and Aemond are the standouts (as well as Larys Strong), but we almost end the season where we started. The stakes are low, with few character deaths - certainly ones we don’t have much emotional attachment to. I was most disappointed in Alicent and Rhaenyra, the latter who seemed to make inconsistent strategic decisions and the former who was ineffective and unconvincing that she actually holds power.

In closing, I read that David Zaslav made cuts to Season 2 because of the actors strike so they cut it down from 10 episodes to 8, hence the awkward anticlimactic ending. Maybe that is correct, maybe not, either way I’m already salivating for Season 3.

SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE (2) NEVER-BEFORE-BEEN SEEN FEATURETTES EXCLUSIVE TO 4K UHD, BD and DVD:
Family Tree (TRT 05:12) - Westerosi family ties can be confusing. This primer will help viewers keep track of the complex and far-reaching branches of House Targaryen.

Divided Kingdoms (TRT 09:05) - Join Co-Creator/Showrunner/Executive Producer Ryan Condal and the cast and crew as they provide an overview of Season 2 and a glimpse of the war to come.

Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” the series, set 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones,” tells the story of House Targaryen. Following King Aegon II’s coronation and the death of Queen Rhaenyra’s son, House Targaryen is divided in two. In King’s Landing, Aegon II rules from the Iron Throne, supported by Alicent and the Green Council, under the protection of the largest dragon in Westeros. From exile on Dragonstone, Queen Rhaenyra and her Black Council consider their next move. Civil war looms as both sides seek support from the great houses of Westeros, ultimately amassing armies — and dragons.

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2 has captured acclaim from critics for its “breathlessly exciting and gripping tale” (TheWrap) that “really is a return to Thrones’ golden age” (GQ). Esquire has deemed the second season “the biggest show of the summer,” while TV Guide has hailed the series as “the grandest TV available,” and Collider declared it as “the best fantasy television show of the decade.” HOUSE OF THE DRAGON is currently HBO’s #1 New broadcast series and has been renewed for a third season.

House of the Dragon Season 2 | Official Trailer | Max