Honestly season 2 episode 8 is a fantastic setup for season 2 episode 9. All our characters are in motion.

Daemon has built an army.

Rhaenyra has 7 dragons behind her.

Hugh & Addam are loyal but inexperienced.

Ulf is a wildcard and inexperienced.

Aemond is ready to fight.

Rhaena is about to get a dragon.

Daeron is going to be introduced in Oldtown.

Allicent is giving up on Aegon.

Aegon is giving up on being King.

Otto is jailed!

Allyn spoke truth to Corlys.

Corlys has lost nearly everyone, but heads to battle at sea.

Tyland has recruited an ocean army.

And I’m sure I’ve missed stuff. Holy shit am I hyped.

…

Except there isn’t a season 2 episode 9. Season 1 ended with Vhagar killing Luke and his dragon. War! It is time for WAR!

And we had moments early in the season. A son for a son. Brother v brother. Meleys v Vhagar & Sunfire. Daemon failing to but via crazy dreams ultimately recruiting the Riverlands. Jace making treaties with the Freys. Rhaenyra hail mary recruiting new dragon riders.

The first half of the season gave us small doses of he war. The second half was slower but building to the next big thing.

IT’S ABOUT FUCKIN TIIIIIIIIIIIIME!!!

(roll credits)

(The fuck?!)

(I don’t know how long this story is supposed to be but don’t milk it. Season 3 better be non-stop action and the series finale. That’s the only way I can justify stopping season 2 where they did.)

Edit: (As noted in https://lemm.ee/post/38872178 the show will have 4 seasons. I trust there is enough story that that makes sense, but season 3 still has a lot of work to do.)

Felt more of a setup to the finale, rather than a season finale itself. Armies are marching towards each other and then just roll credits, could have given us one nice battle.