It's time to head back to Westeros as House of the Dragon returns for Season 2 on HBO. The first season split fans, with some very eager to spectate another bloody battle for the Iron Throne and others dismayed at the grotesque premiere violence and the extra-slow rollout of exposition. Based on the first four episodes provided to press by HBO, Season 2 addresses those latter complaints, though the burn is still exceedingly slow in places which makes it tedious to wait for the more exciting action.

If anyone thought that the Season 1 cliffhanger of Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) killing Luke (Elliot Grihault) with his dragon would mean Season 2 picks up with immediate dragon battles, you should brew a cup of tea and wait a minute, because this is Westeros and political dealings move at a glacial pace here. That's actually not a detriment to House of the Dragon Season 2. After two years off the air, the initial episodes carefully remind you of who the central players are, what they want, and who is willing to do the most to get it.

While the Targaryens and Hightowers still teeter on the edge of war in the early episodes, the more-ambitious members of both houses make underhanded deals and rash plans that lead to the gasp-worthy moments that the Game of Thrones universe is known for. You don't have to wait until the penultimate episode of the season to be reminded that no one is immune from death in this universe, even if they have a dragon.