By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review contains spoilers.
First of all, we finally have a proper title sequence! The use of the blood to represent the bloodline of House Targaryen was a nice touch. I also enjoyed that they used an updated version of the iconic Game of Thrones theme. I don’t have any issue with reusing it, not when it is so good!
When the episode begins, we learn that there has been a six-month time jump, which is mentioned twice in quick succession to really hammer home that point. The Crabfeeder is attacking ships including those belonging to Lord Velaryon, and we, graphically, see firsthand why he is given that title…
Rhaenyra is sent from the Small Council meeting, for daring to suggest they send the dragons to tackle the Crabfeeder, to choose a new knight of the King’s guard. Ser Criston Cole is the only candidate with combat experience and is quickly chosen, much to Otto’s displeasure – due to the lack of political influence he brings.
There is a nice exchange between Alicent (Emily Carey) and Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) in which we explore their bond of friendship even further. It is clever to establish this bond in these early episodes so that we really get the maximum impact when we jump ten years to their older versions and the drama to come.
Lord Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys wish King Viserys to marry their daughter in order to merge their two houses and sure up the potential legacy, which is a good thing as Viserys’ hand has become infected and is undergoing treatment. Yet another red flag is that the King’s health is not the best and that he won’t be around for much longer. The fact episode focused on marrying again, to either his niece or Alicent – both of whom have been positioned there due to their parent’s positioning them to secure their own political standing. All this positioning and maneuvering into place for power is the type of content I want from a Game of Thrones property. It’s the type of story that interests me and something that the franchise has always done so well!
An emergency council is called as it is made known that Daemon has stolen a dragon egg, forcing King Viserys into action. Ser Hightower demands that take the place of the king in this matter, taking along a squad of his house guard as well as Ser Westerling and Ser Criston. They arrive at, a very misty, Dragonstone where Daemon and Mysaria greet the ensemble. In an incredibly intense standoff, Daemon plays his trump card – his dragon, Caraxes! The pendulum does not stay in his side for long though, as Rhaenyra arrives riding Syrax. With a dragon on each side, Rhaenyra is able to reclaim the egg without the need for bloodshed. While Viserys is angry that Rhaenyra put herself into danger, as his sole heir, he also understands why she did it, noting a similar trait that her mother had. The conversation soon turns to re-marrying…
The next day, at the Small Council meeting, Viserys announces his choice for a new wife – Lord Velaryon’s quiet confidence is soon upturned when Viserys announces his intention to marry Alicent. I’m not sure who took this news worse, Velaryon or Rhaenyra! While this news looks set to sure-up Viserys’ lineage, it forces Velaryon to move toward a new potential ally.
At Dragonstone, Lord Velaryon looks to secure an alliance with Daemon, noting their similarities in terms of having the fight for everything, nothing is given to them. The plan is to take on The Crabfeeder – not only will this free up the trade route that Velaryon desperately needs to maintain his house’s standing, but it also would help Daemon curry favour with the lords and people of the realm. It’s a perfect match and next week I am sure we’ll see the actions of this new alliance.
Overall, this was another strong episode of House of the Dragon, and all the political maneuvering is right up my street! The cast continues to impress, with a host of incredible performances across the board. They are clearly getting all their chess pieces into position and I can see next week being a more action-focused episode, which I think will appease some people who may not enjoy the politics of the realm aspect as much.
In terms of Easter Eggs, there was a fun line from Viserys when he sarcastically suggested sending Daemon to the wall or head on a spike – both things we’ve seen befall House Stark in Game of Thrones.
What did you think of this latest episode of House of the Dragon? Let us know in the comments!
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