| Key Points |
|---|
| 1. The episode delves into the “Evil Twin” and “Fake Twin Gambit” tropes with the Cargyll twins, Arryk and Erryk, portrayed by Luke and Elliot Tittensor. |
| 2. Disgruntled commander Ser Criston Cole orders Arryk to impersonate his twin brother Erryk and assassinate Rhaenyra. |
| 3. The tragic end of the Cargyll twins, with Arryk being slain and Erryk committing suicide out of grief, underscores the broader themes of bloodshed and moral ambiguity in the quest for power. |
In the latest episode of House of the Dragon, Season 2, Episode 2, the series delves into classic storytelling tropes with a dramatic twist involving the Cargyll twins, Arryk and Erryk, portrayed by Luke and Elliot Tittensor. The show expertly navigates the familiar yet powerful “Evil Twin” and “Fake Twin Gambit” tropes, adding layers of complexity and tension to the unfolding narrative. As the brothers find themselves on opposing sides of the brewing conflict, their story becomes a poignant exploration of loyalty, identity, and the devastating consequences of power struggles
The use of twins to create narrative confusion and emotional depth is a tried-and-true device in entertainment, from silent films to modern-day fantasy epics. House of the Dragon employs this technique to both entertain and provoke thought, pushing the boundaries of character development and plot progression. The tragic fate of Arryk and Erryk not only captivates viewers but also serves as a microcosm of the larger themes at play in the Game of Thrones prequel, highlighting the inevitable bloodshed and moral ambiguity that defines the quest for power in Westeros.
| House of the Dragon | |
|---|---|
| IMDb Rating | 8.5/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | 84% |
| Where to Watch/Buy | HBO, HBO Max |
| Creators | George R.R. Martin, Ryan Condal |
| Producers | Ryan Condal, Miguel Sapochnik, Sara Hess, Alan Taylor, Melissa Bernstein, Kevin de la Noy, Loni Peristere, Vince Gerardis |
| Main Cast | Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney |
| Release Date | August 21, 2022 |
| Number of Seasons | 2 (Season 2 premiered June 16, 2024) |
| Genre | Fantasy, Drama |
| Synopsis | Set nearly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, the series chronicles the history of House Targaryen and the events leading up to the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. |
| Latest Season Update | Season 2 premiered on June 16, 2024, featuring new dragons and an intense focus on the civil war between the Green and Black factions of House Targaryen. |
| Awards and Nominations | Won Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama, and received nine Emmy nominations including Outstanding Drama Series. |
Did House of the Dragon’s Risky Twin’s Gambit Add Depth or Just Confuse Viewers?
But did this gambit actually pay off for House of the Dragon? Or was it yet another TV show clinging to low hanging plot devices that declare twins two polarised sides of the same coin and little else?
In a knee-jerk order, disgruntled commander Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) throws some of that volatile Westerosi male ego around and orders Kingsguard white cloak Arryk on a secret mission to Dragonstone to assassinate Team Green’s enemy, Rhaenyra. Arryk is a twin, whose brother Erryk stands opposed within Rhaenyra’s Queensguard, so it’s an order of impersonation, and essentially, a tragic fool’s errand.
“What [the filmmakers] were trying to do narratively was confuse the audience.” Luke Tittensor told The New York Times:
When Arryk stands at the door, there’s a moment of you thinking, ‘Is that actually Arryk, or is it Erryk?’ You’ve seen us do a bit of a Scooby-Doo moment. That’s a little bit of a trick with twins.
Audience Confusion as a Narrative Tool
Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) saves the day by spotting Arryk arriving at the Dragonstone docks and raising the alarm. Arryk and Erryk battle in a whirl of identical confusion, despite Erryk’s pleas for his brother to yield. Unfortunately, Arryk is slain, leading to Erryk falling on his own sword out of immediate grief and despair.
The Tragic End Reflects Broader Themes
The show plays out this duel slightly differently from George R.R. Martin‘s Fire and Blood. While undeniably devastating, it feels like another series leaning on an Evil Twin trope for dramatic effect. But why is this duel significant?
The kinslaying tragedy between Arryk and Erryk embodies the broader implications of the Dance of Dragons – no good or evil exists here, only bloodshed in pursuit of power.
The Gravity Behind Horror Tropes
This scenario dives deep into their conflicting familial polarity. House of the Dragon takes these characters’ heavy choices seriously. Sarah Hess explains this poignantly:
We always love that moment of these two brothers who love each other more than anything also being set to kill each other…
This isn’t simply about twin gimmicks; it underscores every tragic note within their pledge to their respective houses.
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