As House of the Dragon Towards the middle of the season, the series reminds viewers that this Targaryen War was born out of the belief that a woman should not rule the Seven Kingdoms. The memory of Rhaena, the fallen queen who never was, reminds both Team Green and Team Black of this fact.
The widowed Lord Coryls opens the episode with a single dramatic tear. Then Criston Cole comes back to King’s Landing and presents the body of Meleys. This display disgusts the common people, who see the dead dragon as a dark omen. They realize that the gods of the sky are “mere flesh,” something they completely lack due to the blockade.
King Aegon’s injured body is tended to by the maesters and the worst two minutes of medieval medical ASMR ever ensues. Aemond watches from the foot of Aegon’s bed, pleased with himself. The Kinslayer could be promoted to Kingslayer, to Alicent’s absolute horror.
The Black Council is engaged in its usual bickering, but this episode focuses on Ser Alfred rejecting Rhaenyra’s ideas and views because she is of the “gentle sex.” The Black Council may bend the knee to the Queen, but they will not give up the patriarchy.
Daemond’s drug-induced gap year at Harrenhal continues. He mediates between the Blackwoods and the Brackens through dark intrigues. The Brackens refuse to bow to the Blackwoods, so Daemon suggests that Ser Ben Blackwood take other “persuasive” measures to bring them to their senses.
Rhaena arrives at the Eyrie and becomes Lady Jeyn Arryn’s ward. Lady Jeyn, however, does not feel protected by the mere dragon eggs she is sent. While Rhaenyra lacks allies in her men’s council, Mysaria reminds Rhaenyra of the greatest asset in the war: the common people. Since Otto Hightower lost his position on Team Green, there is no longer a challenger to fuel the propaganda war. “Rumors are spread to the discontented,” advises Mysaria. Rhaenyra’s handmaiden Elinda is sent to King’s Landing to spread the gossip.
Alys Rivers has expanded Daemon’s reality at Harrenhal. She has also read Freud, because in the craziest scene of this episode, Daemon dreams of sleeping with a silver-haired woman who turns out to be his deceased mother. Later, he hears screams and cries of the innocent in the distance. Although Rivers takes advantage of Daemon’s insecurities and fears, he becomes more ruthless and publicly fights for the throne.
The Green Council reports that Aegon is alive but unable to rule in a coma. Alicent offers to resume her role as the King’s Regent, but the men in the room refuse. Alicent’s only allies, Larys and Cole, agree that a woman should not rule and Aemond is a better fit. The camera slowly zooms in on Alicent as she sits, angry at her dismissal and afraid of her violent son at the head of the table. This shot just screams for a Kill Bill
We get a continuation of the story of the blacksmith family from episode 2. The daughter is sick and the wife wants to flee King’s Landing. There is no food and the blacksmith is still waiting for King Aegon to meet his union demands. However, when they try to escape, King’s Landing is barricaded. The unruly crowd screams and chants “meat.”
Cole’s strategy may have cost him the common people, but his strategies have completely changed since the battle of the dragons. He has no choice but to succumb to the mighty beasts, and Aemond will continue the fighting.
Jace meets with the Freys and makes a deal: the Freys will inherit Harrenhal if they turn their backs on Rhaenyra. This is the worst real estate deal ever, because Harrenhal barely works.
Rhaena tells Lord Corlys that Rhaenyra wants him to be Hand of the Queen and gives a beautiful speech about how she supports Rhaenyra’s rise to the throne. Rhaena knows her role well enough to turn down the role of heir to Driftmark. She is made of blood and fire.
Rhaenyra gets rid of the pesky Ser Alfred and sends him to bring her husband back from his nightmare vacation. Daemon’s strategy of crimes against humanity backfires when the Brackens and Blackwoods get him out of bed to argue in front of him. Finally, the Brackens and Blackwoods agree on one thing: they will not fight each other under the same flag of Team Black.
Aemond sits contentedly on the Iron Throne for the first time. Our prophetic Queen Halaena asks him coldly if the seat is “worth the price.” We will have to see what her comment means for Aemond’s future.
The episode ends with Jace and Rhaenyra developing a strategy to strengthen their army. Team Black is blessed with dragons, but lacks dragon riders. Jace suggests exploring the Targaryen bloodline in other houses to find riders.
This week, Alicent lost her power while Rhaenrya took it. But how will that play out when Daemon returns? It begs the question: was Daemon’s time at Harrenhal a boring waste of time (as some fans believe) or is he overcoming Team Black’s biggest weakness thanks to the witch? Or are we just setting ourselves up for the Daemon vs. Aemond battle that these characters so desperately want?
