“Nicely, nicely, nicely.” – Daemon Targaryen
“I used to be mistaken, I am shocked!” – Larys Robust
“He was stern however mild.” – Baela Targaryen
“I confess I underestimated your slipperiness.” – Daemon Targaryen
“I’ve enterprise with him.” – Rhaenyra Targaryen
None of those traces from Sara Hess’ script are outright disasters. However in addition they aren’t notably novel or intelligent. And so they’re a hell of an extended methods away from one thing like “A lion doesn’t concern himself with the opinions of sheep.” The language is overly easy (“stern however mild”), touches on cliche (“I’ve enterprise with him”), or is simply outright foolish (“I underestimated your slipperiness”). Add in Larys Robust’s Whedon-era Avengers “Nicely, that simply occurred” vitality and you’ve got an entire bunch of characters talking extra like writers than Westerosi.
Generally, some uninspired dialogue wouldn’t be sufficient to sink a TV present – particularly one as visually bold as this one. However Home of the Dragon isn’t simply any present. Not solely is that this saga half of a bigger IP wherein characters have confirmed themselves to be demonstrably extra articulate, it additionally belongs to a fictional historic universe that depends on verisimilitude. As has been famous time and time once more, Martin’s Hearth & Blood is a historical past ebook, in the beginning. Whereas the present clearly can’t current that historical past as a black-and-white Ken Burns documentary, it may at the very least deploy language that reads as extra genuine.
Merely put: when the dialogue breaks, different stuff begins to interrupt as nicely. And we see that play out in season 3 episode 2. This is among the most consequential hours of Home of the Dragon but. Jace (Harry Collett) will get a correct goodbye, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) conquers Harrenhal, and Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) is beheaded. And oh yeah: Rhaenyra conquers King’s Touchdown and sits the Iron Throne. Roll credit.
All of this feels prefer it ought to have the import of a season, if not collection finale (once more lending credence to the speculation that the primary two episodes of this season have been meant to be the ultimate two of final season). However most of the time weak dialogue or typically poor execution (not simply referring to Otto) lets a scene down.
Rhaena’s (Phoebe Campbell) pursuit of political asylum within the Vale ought to really feel determined. Her involvement, albeit unintended, in Jace’s demise is undoubtedly essentially the most terrifying factor to ever occur in her life and her unwelcome presence exterior the Eyrie is equally horrifying for Woman Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin). And but the scene, whereas tense, hardly reads as urgent. The pair stand a soccer discipline’s size aside and shout negotiation phrases. All of it culminates in a line that I’m shocked didn’t make it into my “dangerous dialogue catalog” above: “Would you like a dragon or not?” That’s presupposed to be implied, Rhaena! First you kill Jace and now you kill subtext?
