As House of The Dragon approaches its mid-season, the show reminds viewers that this Targaryen war originated from the belief that a woman should not rule the Seven Kingdoms. The memory of Rhaena, The Fallen Queen That Never Was, refreshes both Team Green and Black to that fact.
The widowed Lord Coryls opens the episode with a dramatic single tear. Then, Criston Cole arrives back in Kingâs Landing parading the corpse of Meleys. This display disgusts the smallfolk who see the dead dragon as a dark omen. They realize the Gods of the sky are âjust meat,â a thing they are grossly lacking due to the blockade.
King Aegonâs injured body is tended by the maesters, and the worst two minutes of medieval medicine ASMR ever ensues. Aemond looks on from the foot of Aegonâs bed, satisfied with himself. The Kinslayer may be upgraded to Kingslayer, to Alicentâs absolute horror.
The Team Black Council is up to their usual bickering. Yet, this episode focuses on how Ser Alfred dismisses Rhaenyraâs ideas and viewpoints due to her being a member of âthe gentler sex.â The Team Black Council may bend the knee to the Queen, but they will not let go of the patriarchy.
Daemondâs drug-fueled gap year in Harrenhal continues. He mediates between the Blackwoods and the Brackens through sinister plots. The Brackens wonât bend the knee alongside the Blackwoods so Daemon suggests that Ser Ben Blackwood take other âpersuasiveâ measures to get them to heel.
Rhaena arrives in the Eyrie and becomes Lady Jeyn Arrynâs ward. However, Lady Jeyn does not feel protected by the mere dragon eggs sent. While Rhaenyra lacks allies in her male council, Mysaria reminds Rhaenyra of the biggest asset in the war: the smallfolk. Since Otto Hightower lost his position on Team Green, there has not been any challenger to stoke the propaganda war. âTo the discontented, rumors are feed,â Mysaria advises. Rhaenyraâs maid, Elinda, is sent to Kingâs Landing to start the gossip.
Alys Rivers has been augmenting Daemonâs reality in Harrenhal. She also has been reading Freud because, in this episodeâs most WTF scene, Daemon dreams of bedding a silver-haired woman revealed to be his dead mother. Later on, he hears distant cries and screams of the innocent. Despite Daemonâs insecurities and anxieties being exploited by Rivers, he becomes more reckless and publicly vies for the throne.
The Green Council reports that Aegon is alive but cannot rule in a coma. Alicent offers to return to her role as regent to the King, but the men in the room reject it. Alicentâs only allies, Larys and Cole, agree that a woman should not rule and Aemond fits better. The camera zooms in slowly on Alicent as she sits, fuming at being dismissed and fearing her violent son at the head of the table. This shot is begging for a Kill Bill fan edit.
We get a continuation of the blacksmith family storyline from Episode 2. The daughter is sick and the wife wants to flee Kingâs Landing. There is no food and the blacksmith is still waiting for King Aegon to fulfill his union demands. However, when they try to escape, Kingâs Landing is barricaded. The restless crowd cries and chants âmeat.â
Coleâs strategy may have lost him the smallfolk but his strategies have all changed since seeing dragons battle. There is no choice but to succumb to the mighty beasts, and Aemond will keep the battles coming.
Jace meets with the Freys and strikes a deal; The Freys will inherit Harrenhal if they bend the knee for Rhaenyra. This is the worst real estate deal ever because Harrenhal barely functions.
Rhaena tells Lord Corlys that Rhaenyra wants him to be the Queenâs Hand and gives a beautiful speech about supporting Rhaenyraâs ascent to the throne. Rhaena knows her role enough to reject being the Driftmark heir. She is of blood and fire.
Rhaenyra gets the annoying Ser Alfred off her back and sends him to bring her husband back from his nightmare vacation. Daemonâs crimes against humanity strategy fails as the Brackens and Blackwoods get him out of bed to bicker with each other in his presence. Finally, the Brackens and the Blackwoods agree on one thing: they will not fight one another under the same Team Black banner.
Aemond contently sits on the Iron Throne for the first time. Our prophetic Queen Halaena chillingly asks him if the seat was âworth the price.â Weâll have to see what her comment will yield in Aemondâs future.
The episode ends with Jace and Rhaenyra devising a strategy to strengthen their army. Team Black is blessed with dragons but short on Dragonriders. Jace suggests going down the Targaryen bloodline in other houses to find riders.
This week Alicent has lost power while Rhaenrya took her power. But how will that play when Daemon comes back? It begs the question: Has Daemonâs time in Harrenhal been a boring waste (as some fans feel) or is it subduing Team Blackâs biggest liability thanks to the witch? Or are we just building to the Daemon v Aemond fight that those characters want so badly?
