The second season of HBO’s fantasy drama series House of the Dragon recently came to a close with its final episode titled “The Queen Who Ever Was”, which currently has an IMDb rating of 6.3. It was largely subdued and many fans felt it was underwhelming as they were left craving for more. Some even quipped that the finale, and even the entire season, felt more like a teaser for season 3. Not surprisingly, it has become one of the lowest-rated House of the Dragon episodes as per user ratings on IMDb. Here is a ranking of every single episode of the House of the Dragon, ranked in order of lowest to highest.
House of the Dragon is a spinoff series of Game of Thrones (2011-2019). Also a prequel, it is set around two centuries before GoT and chronicles the Dance of the Dragons, a war over the Iron Throne’s succession between rival factions of House Targaryen. While the show is much smaller in scale than the original, there were a lot more dragons in the world back then. So, it is not light at all in terms of action.
House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones and the latter’s other, upcoming spinoffs are based on the fantasy books and the world created by author George R. R. Martin. This fantasy world has a long history going back millennia and the spinoff shows are set in different points of time in Westeros’ history. Though the show is quite faithful to the book, it deviates from the book, Fire & Blood, in a few significant ways.
In lead roles, the show includes Paddy Considine as King Viserys I Targaryen, Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Queen Alicent Hightower, Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower, Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon and Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole.
Other prominent House of the Dragon characters include Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen, Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II Targaryen, Milly Alcock as young Rhaenyra Targaryen and Emily Carey as young Queen Alicent Hightower.
The list is ordered from bottom to top. However, House of the Dragon episodes with the same IMDb rating are listed according to votes they have garnered — those with more votes are placed higher on the list.
As we await House of the Dragon season 3, here is a ranking of all the 18 episodes of the show based on IMDb ratings.
House of the Dragon episodes ranked based on IMDb ratings, bottoms up
Smallfolk: Season 2 episode 6
Release date: 21 July 2024
IMDb rating: 6.2
Director: Andrij Parekh
Other cast members: Sonoya Mizuno, Gayle Rankin
Runtime: 1 hour 7 minutes
Synopsis: One of the lowest-ranked House of the Dragon episodes in terms of IMDb rating, this shows Rhaenyra Targaryen (D’Arcy) searching for people with Targaryen ancestry who can potentially be dragonriders for dragons like Vermithor and Seasmoke. On the advice of Mysaria (Mizuno), she sends food and supplies in small boats to King’s Landing to win over the smallfolk. Seasmoke finds a new rider. Daemon Targaryen (Smith) is still beset with visions at Harrenhal.
The Queen Who Ever Was: Season 2 episode 8
Release date: 4 August 2024
IMDb rating: 6.3
Director: Geeta Vasant Patel
Other cast members: Tom Bennett, Kieran Bew
Runtime: 1 hour 10 minutes
Synopsis: The season 2 ending shows the Greens finalising an alliance with the Triarchy to break the Blacks’ blockade of the Gullet and the Blackwater Bay. Daemon raises an army at Harrenhal. Rhaenyra promises knighthoods to Dragonseeds like Hugh Hammer (Bew) and Ulf (Bennett) if they comport themselves appropriately and prove themselves in the coming war.
Regent: Season 2 episode 5
Release date: 14 July 2024
IMDb rating: 7.4
Director: Clare Kilner
Other cast members: Tom Glynn-Carney, Ewan Mitchell, Harry Collett
Runtime: 1 hour 2 minutes
Synopsis: In the aftermath of the Battle at Rook’s Rest, Aegon II Targaryen (Glynn-Carney) has survived but barely. Aemond Targaryen (Mitchell) is chosen as the Regent. Rhaenyra and Jacaerys Velaryon (Collett) discuss riderless dragons like Vermithor and begin searching for people with Targaryen blood who could potentially ride them.
The Burning Mill: Season 2 episode 3
Release date: 30 June 2024
IMDb rating: 7.6
Director: Geeta Vasant Patel
Other cast members: Sir Simon Russell Beale
Runtime: 1 hour 6 minutes
Synopsis: Ancient enemies House Bracken and House Blackwood fight a bloody battle, called Battle of the Burning Mill — officially the first battle of Dance of the Dragons. Daemon claims Harrenhal from Simon Strong (Beale) without any opposition. Rhaenyra sneaks into King’s Landing to meet with Alicent in a last-ditch attempt to stop the war.
The Princess and the Queen: Season 1 episode 6
Release date: 25 September 2022
IMDb rating: 8
Director: Miguel Sapochnik
Other cast members: Nanna Blondell
Runtime: Alicent Hightower (Cooke) discusses with King Viserys I Targaryen (Considine) that Rhaneyra’s children bear no resemblance to her husband and that they are bastards. Viserys ignores her allegation. Daemon and his second wife Laena Velaryon (Blondell) visit Pentos, one of the Free Cities.
A Son for a Son: Season 2 episode 1
Release date: 16 June 2024
IMDb rating: 8.2
Director: Alan Taylor
Other cast members: Phia Saban, Ewan Mitchell, Sonoya Mizuno
Runtime: 59 minutes
Synopsis: After the death of her son Lucerys at the hands of Aemond, Rhaenyra is vengeful. She flies on Syrax to find her son’s remains. Daemon offers Mysaria freedom in exchange for helping him recruit assassins in King’s Landing to get back at the Greens.
Rhaenyra the Cruel: Season 2 episode 2
Release date: 23 June 2024
IMDb rating: 8.3
Director: Clare Kilner
Other cast members: Phia Saban, Tom Glynn-Carney, Fabien Frankel
Runtime: 1 hour 9 minutes
Synopsis: Rhaenyra and Daemon fight over the murder of Jaehaerys, Aegon II and his sister-wife Helaena’s (Saban) infant son. Aegon II dismisses Otto Hightower (Ifans) as Hand of the King, believing he is too weak-willed. Criston Cole (Frankel) sends a knight of the Kingsguard to assassinate Rhaenyra.
The Rogue Prince: Season 1 episode 2
Release date: 28 August 2022
IMDb rating: 8.3
Director: Greg Yaitanes
Other cast members: Steve Toussaint
Runtime: 54 minutes
Synopsis: Prince-Admiral of the Triarchy, Crabfeeder, becomes a pain for Corlys Velaryon (Toussaint) after he attacks Westerosi ships in the Stepstones. But King Viserys I fears angering the Free Cities and refuses to take action. The king also says he will wed Alicent Hightower, vexing both young Rhaenyra (Alcock) and Corlys. Corlys and Daemon forge an alliance to take on the Triarchy.
King of the Narrow Sea: Season 1 episode 4
Release date: 11 September 2022
IMDb rating: 8.4
Director: Clare Kilner
Other cast members: Steve Toussaint, Fabien Frankel
Runtime: 1 hour 3 minutes
Synopsis: Young Rhaenyra is at Storm’s End, the seat of House Baratheon, to choose a suitor for herself. She meets and rejects many would-be consorts. Daemon says he has a new title called King of the Narrow Sea but swears fealty to his brother Viserys, and they reconcile. Rhaenyra and Criston begin a torrid affair.
The Green Council: Season 1 episode 9
Release date: 16 October 2022
IMDb rating: 8.7
Director: Clare Kilner
Other cast members: Eve Best
Runtime: 58 minutes
Synopsis: Otto and Alicent plot to install Aegon II as the king after Alicent misinterprets the dying words of the late King Viserys. Otto calls on the lords of the Westeros to swear allegiance to Aegon. Aegon is crowned king, as Rhaenys Targaryen (Best) bursts through from the Dragonpit on Meleys and flies off.
Second of His Name: Season 1 episode 3
Release date: 4 September 2022
IMDb rating: 8.7
Director: Greg Yaitanes
Other cast members: Steve Toussaint
Runtime: 1 hour 3 minutes
Synopsis: Daemon and Corlys’ forces battle the Triarchy. At King’s Landing, Aegon II’s second birthday is being celebrated. Young Rhaenyra and young Alicent (Carey), childhood friends, become estranged.
The Heirs of the Dragon: Season 1 episode 1
Release date: 21 August 2022
IMDb rating: 8.7
Director: Miguel Sapochnik
Other cast members: Siân Brooke
Runtime: 1 hour 6 minutes
Synopsis: Viserys Targaryen, then the Prince, is chosen as the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms by the Great Council. His wife, Aemma Arryn (Brooke), has been unable to bear a healthy son. Viserys quarrels with his brother and heir presumptive Daemon and decides to designate his daughter, the young Rhaenyra, as heir to the Iron Throne in the absence of a male heir.
We Light the Way: Season 1 episode 5
Release date: 18 September 2022
IMDb rating: 8.8
Director: Clare Kilner
Other cast members: Theo Nate
Runtime: 59 minutes
Synopsis: Rhaenyra Targaryen and Viserys I Targaryen travel to Driftmark, the seat of House Velaryon, to arrange Rhaenyra’s marriage to Ser Laenor Velaryon (Nate). Alicent is miffed by Rhaenyra’s promiscuous ways and wears a green gown at the latter’s nuptials.
The Red Sowing: Season 2 episode 7
Release date: 28 July 2024
IMDb rating: 8.9
Director: Loni Peristere
Other cast members: Harry Collett
Runtime: 1 hour 4 minutes
Synopsis: Rhaenyra Targaryen is desperate to find dragonriders for Vermithor and Silverwing and agrees for smallfolk to try their hand. This angers Jacaerys Velaryon (Collett), who thinks only Targaryens, the literal house of the dragon, should ride the fire-breathing beasts.
Driftmark: Season 1 episode 7
Release date: 2 October 2022
IMDb rating: 9.1
Director: Miguel Sapochnik
Other cast members: Leo Ashton
Runtime: 59 minutes
Synopsis: At Laena Velaryon’s funeral at Driftmark, King Viserys visits to pay respect. Rhaenyra and Daemon reunite. A young Aemond (Ashton) claims Vhagar, the biggest dragon in the world, but loses an eye in a confrontation against Rhaenyra’s sons.
The Black Queen: Season 1 episode 10
Release date: 23 October 2022
IMDb rating: 9.1
Director: Greg Yaitanes
Other cast members: Elliot Grihault
Runtime: 59 minutes
Synopsis: This is one of the best House of the Dragon episodes which shows Rhaenyra Targaryen being crowned Queen of the Seven Kingdoms at Dragonstone. While others call for war, she focuses on securing allies. Otto leads a peace delegation to Dragonstone, urging Rhaenyra to accept Aegon II as the King.
The Lord of the Tides: Season 1 episode 8
Release date: 9 October 2022
IMDb rating: 9.3
Director: Geeta Vasant Patel
Other cast members: Wil Johnson
Runtime: 1 hour 7 minutes
Synopsis: Corlys Velaryon is injured while fighting at the Stepstones against the Triarchy. Vaemond (Johnson), his younger brother, requests King Viserys to name him Corlys’ heir.
The Red Dragon and the Gold: Season 2 episode 4
Release date: 7 July 2024
IMDb rating: 9.5
Director: Alan Taylor
Other cast members: Eve Best, Tom Glynn-Carney
Runtime: 55 minutes
Synopsis: Criston attacks a Blacks-allied fortress called Rook’s Rest. Rhaenyra sends Rhaenys atop her dragon Meleys to defend the castle. Aegon II also joins in with Sunfyre. Vhagar and Aemond are there as well.
So that’s it. This was all the House of the Dragon episodes ranked according to their IMDb ratings.
(Hero and featured image: Courtesy of Ollie Upton / HBO)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
‘House of the Dragon’ season 2 has 8 episodes.
There will be a total of four seasons of ‘House of the Dragon’.
Not yet, though it is under development. It is expected to premiere in 2026.
‘House of the Dragon’ is a spinoff and prequel series to ‘Game of Thrones. It is set two centuries before the events of 'GoT'.
"The Red Dragon and the Gold", the fourth episode of second season of 'House of the Dragon' is the best episode of the show according to IMDb rating.
Until now, there are 18 episodes of 'House of the Dragon'.
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Kshitij is a journalism graduate who did not initially intend to become a film critic, but such are the vagaries of destiny. Now, Kshitij is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and a member of the Film Critics Guild, bringing expertise and experience in evaluating entertainment content with him. Additionally, he serves as a jury member on the Critics' Choice Awards in India. When he's not busy wielding words, catch him nose-deep in books or joyfully lost in the realms of gaming and photography.
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