Second of His Name

"Second of His Name"
House of the Dragon
Season 1  —  Episode 3
Original air date	September 4, 2022
Running time	58 minutes
Credits
Directed by	Greg Yaitanes
Written by	Ryan Condal Gabe Fonseca
Episode chronology
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List of episodes

"Second of His Name" is the third episode of the HBO medieval fantasy television series House of the Dragon. The runtime is 58 minutes. It is written by co-creator Ryan Condal and Gabe Fonseca, and directed by Greg Yaitanes. Music was composed by Ramin Djawadi.

Official synopsis

Daemon and the Sea Snake battle the Crabfeeder. The realm celebrates Aegon’s second nameday. Rhaenyra faces the prospect of marriage.

Plot

See also: Differences between Fire & Blood and House of the Dragon

The episode takes place three years after the announcement of King Viserys I Targaryen's intention to marry Lady Alicent Hightower. During this time the two have wed and had a son, Prince Aegon Targaryen, and are expecting a second child. Viserys has lost two of his injured fingers on his left hand during this time. Ser Tyland Lannister has been named to the small council as master of ships to replace Lord Corlys Velaryon who has departed with Prince Daemon Targaryen to fight the Triarchy in the Stepstones.

King's Landing and the kingswood

King Viserys organizes a great hunt in the kingswood to celebrate Aegon's second nameday. Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen resents the attention her father bestows on her half-brother. She believes Viserys intends to marry her off and to depose her in favor of Aegon. After confronting Viserys about a marriage proposal, Rhaenyra angrily flees the camp as her sworn shield, Ser Criston Cole of the Kingsguard, follows her.

While Rhaenyra is away, Lord Jason Lannister asks for the princess's hand in marriage. Viserys refuses, however. Ser Otto Hightower, pressed by his brother Lord Hobert Hightower to push the king to name Aegon as his heir, suggests the king betroth Aegon and Rhaenyra. Viserys later listens to his master of laws, Lord Lyonel Strong, who proposes Ser Laenor Velaryon as a candidate for Rhaenyra's hand.

While camping overnight in the woods, Rhaenyra and Criston are attacked by a wild boar. The boar first runs down Criston then focuses on Rhaenyra, but the two of them manage to kill the animal. On their way back to camp the next morming, they see the white hart Viserys planned to hunt. Rhaenyra decides to let the stag go unharmed.

Back in King's Landing, Viserys reassures Rhaenyra he has no intention to replace her as his heir. Viserys insists Rhaenyra must marry to strenghten her claim and announces he will let her choose her future husband on her own. Following his brother's desire, Ser Otto tells Alicent that from now on they will push Viserys to name Aegon heir.

Stepstones

Despite their two dragons (Caraxes bonded with Prince Daemon Targaryen and Seasmoke bonded with Ser Laenor Velaryon), the Westerosi are losing their three-year-long war against the Crabfeeder, as he prefers to use guerilla tactics and sending men to sabotage the ships of the Velaryon fleet to demoralise his enemies. The Crabfeeder has now gathered his men in caves on Bloodstone, out of reach of the dragons and heavily fortified. The situation is so dire for the Westerosi army—composed of men from crownlands Houses: Velaryon, Celtigar, Staunton, Sunglass, and Bar Emmon—that Ser Vaemond Velaryon has sent a call for aid to King Viserys.

On Dwarfstone, the Velaryons meet for a war council. Ser Laenor proposes a desperate plan; he wants to use Daemon as bait to lure the Crabfeeder and his men out of the caves and force them to fight in the open. The war council is interrupted by the arrival of Ser Addam, a messenger from King's Landing sent by Viserys, promising men and ships as reinforcements. Furious at the idea of being unable to win the war without his brother's help, Daemon beats Ser Addam with his helmet before they are separated by the Velaryons.

Daemon rows a boat alone to the beach of Bloodstone where he creates a white flag using parts from wreckages. After waving the flag in the direction of the entrance of the caves, Daemon adopts a position of submission by going to one knee and holding out Dark Sister. One of the Crabfeeder's soldiers approaches Daemon and takes his sword before Daemon stabs him with his dagger and recovers Dark Sister. Daemon runs towards the Crabfeeder, slaying men in his passage and avoiding arrows for a time before being shot by three of them. As the Crabfeeder's soldiers move in to slay Daemon, Laenor arrives on Seasmoke and bathes them with dragonfire. Lord Corlys and Ser Vaemond lead the Westerosi army to battle on the ground. Daemon pursues the Crabfeeder into the caves and later emerges, dragging his bisected corpse as the Velaryons celebrate their victory.

Cast

Starring

• Paddy Considine as King Viserys I Targaryen
• Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen
• Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower
• Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon
• Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
• Milly Alcock as Young Rhaenyra Targaryen
• Emily Carey as Young Alicent Hightower
• Graham McTavish as Ser Harrold Westerling
• Matthew Needham as Larys Strong
• Jefferson Hall as Lord Jason Lannister and Ser Tyland Lannister

Guest

• Gavin Spokes as Lord Lyonel Strong
• David Horovitch as Grand Maester Mellos
• Bill Paterson as Lord Lyman Beesbury
• Ryan Corr as Ser Harwin Strong
• Wil Johnson as Ser Vaemond Velaryon
• Theo Nate as Ser Laenor Velaryon
• Steffan Rhodri as Lord Hobert Hightower
• Solly McLeod as Ser Joffrey Lonmouth
• Jonny Weldon as Samwell
• Daniel Scott-Smith as Prince Craghas Drahar
• Edward Rowe as Ser Howland Sharp
• Lucy Briers as Lady Ceira Lannister
• Joanna David as Lady Joselyn Redwyne
• Alana Ramsey as Lynesse Hightower
• Thom Ashley as Brett Lannister
• Oscar Salem as Ser Addam
• Aron von Andrian as Velaryon knight
• Clea Martin as Royal handmaiden
• Kathryn Delaney as Wet nurse
• Chris Jarman as Triarchy lieutenant

Reception

Despite airing on Labor Day weekend, the ratings of the episode were good. Less people tuned in to watch the episode during its premiere on Sunday night but the viewership exploded on Monday on HBO's platforms. It was watched by more than 16 million U.S. viewers on all platforms during the first three days following the premiere, based on data from the Nielsen Corporation and HBO. HBO Max viewership on Monday was up 27% compared to the previous episode.

External links

• "Second of His Name" at HBO
• "Second of His Name" at the Game of Thrones & House of the Dragon Wiki
• "Second of His Name" at the Internet Movie Database
• "Second of His Name" on Wikipedia