By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review contains spoilers.
With the passing of King Viserys I and Queen Alicent getting the wrong end of the stick about the prophecy, it was a sombre opening to this week’s episode, that is, until the convening of the Small Council! Within the meeting, the Queen learns that a plan for Prince Aegon’s succession has always been ready in the background upon the King’s passing. Ser Criston Cole kills Lord Beesbury in a fit of rage for daring to stand up for the King’s last wishes, with Ser Otto turning a blind eye and remaining focused on the task at hand. The only person, left alive, to come out of this clean is Ser Harrold Westerling, who resigns and hands in his white cloak. After witnessing the murder of Ser Beesbury and not wanting any part in this coup, he is allowed to leave – much to Ser Criston’s delight!
It’s now a race to find Prince Aegon, who has fled in secret into the city, with both the Queen and the Hand wanting to find him first, with Ser Arryk and Ser Erryk Cargyll searching for Otto and Ser Criston and Prince Aemond on the side of the Queen. While the search continues, Ser Otto rounds up the Lords and Ladies of King’s Landing and forces them, to bend the knee, with those who fail to do so being rounded up by the ‘Green cloaks’.
The Queen offers up Driftmark Princess Rhaenys, anything she can do to get her to turn on Princess Rhaenyra. Rhaenys, still eager to see a woman on the throne, seeds the idea that maybe the Queen should look to rule instead, rather than being trapped within the game of men that seek rule. Another woman making her move is Mysaria, who has Prince Aegon in her possession and sells him to Ser Otto for both coin and the promise that an end to the suffering of the children in Fleabottom comes to an end. With the Prince now in the charge of the Cargyll’s, Ser Criston and Prince Aemond strike! Aegon offers up the crown to Aemond, as he does not want to rule, so that is an interesting story seed planted for the future, as Aemond clearly desires this. With the Prince in the Queen’s custody, she wins this round and orders her father to send word to Dragonstone, offering up Princess Rhaenyra’s surrender as heir and that Ser Criston is to become the new Lord Commander.
Lord Larys Strong has gathered intelligence of the White Worm’s network of spies within the Red Keep. But in order to offer up the information, the Queen must offer up her feet so that Larys can pleasure himself. I’m not sure what to make of this scene. It really felt out of place and I’m not comfortable with the apparent link the show is making between disability and some sort of sexual deviancy. This isn’t a case of ‘modern sensibilities acting in contrast with ‘of the time’, as this felt very much like the show shoehorning in some sort of sexual content, despite there being absolutely no need for it. It doesn’t have to pursue the nudity and sexual content of its predecessor. So for me, this was a black mark on the episode, which is a shame, as everything else was good!
At The Dragonpit, Prince Aegon is crowned ‘King’, in front of a sea of unwilling common folk witnesses and much to the frustration of Prince Aemond. ‘King’ Aegon II’s reluctance to take the throne is soon forgotten, as the cheering crowds, albeit delayed, soon feed into this rapist’s ego and he laps up the adulation. Before he can get too carried away, Meleys, ridden by Rhaenys, smashes through the floor and causes untold chaos and destruction. Princess Rhaenys makes her point to the Queen and her family and then flies away, presumably heading to warn Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon. As good as this scene was, and how this show nearly ended with, literally, smashing the patriarchy, it can’t be ignored that Princess Rhaenys killed A LOT of innocent civilians making her escape. These were people rounded up and forced to be there. So while I want to cheer her, it’s not as black and white as good and bad, but that is to be expected in this show.
Overall, I thought this was a really good episode, barring a few unnecessary missteps. I enjoyed the pace of the politicking and the tense drama, as well as the incredible music used throughout – especially the use of the same concurrent theme. The stage is set for next week’s series one finale, at the end of which I fully expect ‘The Dance of Dragons’ to have begun!
What did you think of the latest episode of House of the Dragon? Let us know in the comments or find us on social media.
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