House of the DragonBrings the Fire and Blood in a Near-Perfect Episode

Targaryenblood has been splatter . The unlikely latent hostility that has been build between Rhaenyra ( Emma D’Arcy ) and Alicent ( Olivia Cooke ) since the beginning erupted in a mesmerizing episode ofHouse of the Dragonwhere secrets were exposed , Westeros ’ ultimatepower coupleemerged , and someone was press way past their breakage point in time .

As its title , “ Driftmark , ” signal , the installment takes place wholly in the ancestral home of the Velaryons where everyone has gathered for Laena ’s funeral after her self-destruction - by - dragonlast week . So even though Rhaenyra and Laenor leave King ’s Landing for Dragonstone to get away from Alicent , Criston Cole ( Fabien Frankel ) , and all the rumour spreading about how their children are bastards , everyone has been pulled back together almost immediately , and tensions are running high than ever .

The funeral itself is practically a “ antecedently on House of the Dragon ” because it so efficiently sum up everything you ’d need to know , even if this was your first installment . Viserys ( Paddy Considine ) is gloomy and ailing . Alicent stares daggers at Rhaenyra , who holds her nipper tight . Corlys ( Steve Toussaint ) and Rhaenys ( Eve Best ) are devastated by their girl ’s death , while Laenor ( John MacMillan ) seems absolutely broken by the loss of his babe . Daemon ( Matt Smith ) is … affected by the tragedy , but not so much he still does n’t bust out into laughter when the Velaryon funeral rites admit a speech about how “ their blood must remain dependable . ” devil does n’t reckon at Rhaenyra and her brown - haired children , but everyone else for sure does . It ’s so well - crafted that I assume it was live on to be the gamy power point of the episode . I was wrong .

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Things are tense all sidereal day , but it ’s that night when all hell interrupt idle . First , Rhaenyra and her uncle Daemon take a base on balls on the moonlit beach , and , as we all surmise it inevitably would , it happens : They diminish into each other ’s arms and have sexuality , becoming another in a long agate line of incestuous Targaryens . It is in spades icky , mainly because of the taboo and also because we ’ve seen them interact whenRhaenyra was a nestling , but House of the Dragon seek to mitigate their new relationship as substantially it can . When Rhaenyra blame her uncle for abandon her as a youngster , Daemon enjoin he left because she was a child , indicate he purposefully stayed for her security . Rhaenyra does all the instigating , showing more than enthusiastic consent , while Daemon hesitates . They make love tenderly , showing the two share real amatory affection for each other . Still , ick ! If this puts you off the show , I sympathize , but man , do Emma D’arcy and Matt Smith have some impressive on - screen alchemy together .

Meanwhile , Viserys and Alicent ’s second son , the mopey Aemond ( Leo Ashton ) , sneaks out to at long last get a dragon ( since the egg he was yield never dream up ) , and that dragon is none other than Laena ’s now riderless Vhagar . I know the dragon in House are conjecture to be adult than Daenerys ’ in Game of Thrones because they ’re in their heyday . But nothing in either series has ever move over me more of a sentiency of the scope and monstrousness of a dragon than watching the unbelievably tiny Aemond creep up to the utterly massive head of Vhagar . And when the prince rouses the brute and is about to be incinerated for his trespasses , Aemond stand up firm , commands Vhagar to not bolt down him , and climb on its back in an attempt to claim a dragon .

House of the Dragon pass water Aemond ’s first ride so harrowing I was sealed the shaver was go to die . Vhagar brutally tries to shake his impudent passenger off , and there ’s a long portion where Aemond dangle from his bicycle seat by his fingers . But eventually , he outlasts Vhagar ’s bucking and tames the animate being . The only problem is that Laena ’s daughters Baela ( Shani Smethurst ) and Rhaena ( Eva Ossei - Gerning ) saw Aemond in effect steal their female parent ’s tartar , and they are understandably very worried about it .

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

The fille are hold off for Aemond when he lands , and Rhaenyra ’s sons Jacaerys ( Leo Hart ) and Lucerys ( Harvey Sadler ) are with them . matter get out of hand directly . The girls are upset and furious ; Jace , still mourn the death of his actual begetter Harwin Strong , becomes enrage when Aemond mocks him for being a bastard , and Lucerys gets caught up in his comrade ’s annoyance . A fell four - on - one free-for-all break out between the kids , which is surprisingly even - match as Aemond is the firstborn and biggest among them . But as the blows fly and the injuries get bigger , Jace puff a dagger , Aemond knocks it out of his paw , and a frightened , tempestuous Luce pluck it up and thresh his untried uncle right in the human face . Right through his centre .

lyric ca n’t really do justness to what befall next ; if you ’re one of those people who read recapitulation before or without see the episode , rent me powerfully suggest you bookmark this and read it later . Because what materialise is everyone baffle in a room and stands almost dead still and it ’s some of the best television I ’ve watch this class .

Aemond ’s eye is lost , he has a giant , surly cicatrix on his nerve , and Alicent is horrified . Viserys demand response , Alicent slaps Aegon ( Ty Tennant ) for getting drunk rather of being with his untried brother , and all the child start screaming their versions of what take place . Alicent claim Rhaenyra ’s male child attacked and mauled her boy , while Rhaenyra says they were fight back their honor after a vile insult , and Rhaenyra instantly knows she ’s messed up because now she has to say , in front of the entire imperial family and Viserys ’ court , what the insult is .

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Almost everyone has been too frightened to tell Viserys that his girl ’s children are bastards , and the king has deny to let the few who were n’t voice the allegement loud . But luckily for Rhaenyra , he also refuses to believe them , and so he furiously demands Aemond tell him where he heard this despicable treachery . Aemond stare at Alicent but claims it was Aegon , and Viserys demands the same of his elder son . Aegon says , “ Everyone lie with , ” and Viserys acknowledge he must back down right away or be forced to declare his wife a traitor and carry through her . So , he demand everyone apologize and come out to storm off , hoping he can will the position into being over .

He ca n’t , because Alicent wants blood . She demands a actual eye for an eye from one of Rhaenyra ’s children . The court gasps in jounce , Viserys thinks she ’s extend mad ( correctly ) and refuses to deed over her reprehensible asking . Alicent doubles down and orders her Queensguard , Criston Cole , to take an eye , but even her lapdog refuses . So Alicent pulls a obelisk from Viserys ’ belt and straight thrust fore to get the eye her goddamn ego .

Rhaenyra manages to grab the queen ’s wrist , and the two struggle in front of their family , the B. B. King , and his purple cortege , one female parent urgently endeavor to protect her children , the other desperate to exact retaliation for hers . As they struggle , everyone just stops and stares in total blow , and Alicent gives interpreter to the hate that ’s been burning her up from the inside . “ What have I done but what was wait of me ? ” she cry out . “ perpetually upholding the realm , the family , the police force ? While you flout all to do as you please ? ! Where is duty ? Where is sacrifice ? It ’s trampled under your pretty foot again . And now you take my son ’s eye , and to even that , you feel entitled . ” And the miserable Queen stabs downward , cut the arm of the Princess who did n’t deny herself happiness .

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Alicent has her stock , but even she step back , shocked at what she ’s done . accidentally , it ’s the impressively pragmatic Aemond who defuse the spot , by claiming he ’s utterly hunky-dory . “ I lost an optic , but I gained a flying dragon . ”

There ’s absolutely no fit back now . The Queen has attacked the Queen - to - be , and sides have formed . As a majestic Otto Hightower ( Rhys Ifans ) tells his daughter Alicent , he has no doubt they will hold in time , confirm he has no intention of let Rhaenyra become the Queen . And Rhaenyra knows , as excited as Alicent acted in front of the entire court , her position has been weakened immensely after forcing the rumors of her affair into the twinkle . Her husband Laenor knows this as well , and although he want to reelect to the fight for the Stepstones , he rededicates himself to Rhaenyra , their tiddler , and her future succession .

But that ’s not enough . Their bond is too fragile and the rumors too public . So Rhaenyra ask Prince Daemon to marry her , not just for the affection they share , but because his former status as heir to the potty ( before Viserys chose Rhaenyra and then finally had a son ) will strengthen her claim . “ We have always been have in mind to cauterise together , ” she says , but there ’s one problem : Laenor has to die . So Daemon does what Daemon does ; he pays Laenor ’s squire and lover , Ser Qarl ( Arty Froushan ) , to off him . And poor Corlys and Rhaenys are horrified to discover their boy , their last youngster , has been pour down and his body thrown in a fire .

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Although Daemon murders a handmaid seemingly out of nowhere first , the picture is so fast — Rhaenyra and Daemon ’s conversation about bolt down Laenor gets intercut perfectly with the execution itself — that I barely had time to register it . And I wholly assumed Laenor was dead . Daemon would n’t intend doubly about it . And although Rhaenyra say her hubby he ’s a honest and genial human being , I imagine her equal to of having Laenor mangle to facilitate ensure her the jacket . I was very disappointed about it , but this is the game of can , where you win or you die . As Rhaenyra herself says , it ’s a remorseless plan , but her enemies will see her ruthlessness and think doubly about scotch her . She does n’t require to be a tyrant , but Daemon knows for her to prevail , she must still be feared . Killing a adept and kind man feels like a cost Rhaenyra must be — and is — willing to pay .

The episode ends with a little , placid wedding , done in High Valyrian , and the union of Westeros ’ young ability couple . Meanwhile , Ser Qarl sits on a small rowboat , and a robe man jumps in it and the two begin their escape … which is when the tv camera reveals Laenor , headspring shaved , off to live anonymously with his devotee in Essos .

The reveal that Rhaenyra did n’t bolt down her former husband to get a young one made me incredibly well-chosen , although I for certain believe she ’s adequate to of mystify her hired hand filthy to become queen — I mean , RIP random retainer , and now Corlys and Rhaenys believe both of their children are stagnant , although that ’s also on Laenor . ( Unless they bed about the scheme , but I do not believe they ’d allow their son to just go away and abandon his nobility . ) But Game of Thrones needed the Starks , and House of the Dragon needs someone for us to rout for as well .

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

The one problem with this fabulous hour of television is that it was take by Miguel Sapochnik , who co - created the series , but is leaving the show after its first time of year . He ’s been an enormous part of the reason House of the Dragon has been so effective , and while I totally understand his reasons for leaving , I vex the show will have for his absence . But that ’s a problem for time of year two . For now , there ’s nothing to do but wonder at what he ’s accomplished so far , and enquire how much worse matter can get before Viserys finally dies and the pedigree stops spill and get pullulate .

Assorted Musings:

When the incredibly messy family drama lead down , Daemon just watches from the avocation , and he ’s absolutely radiating pleasure . Matt Smith keeps a small , diverted smile on Daemon ’s face that looks subtle — you could see it above — but you know all Daemon only wish well he had popcorn .

There ’s a really good scenery between Corlys and Rhaenys sandwich in all the craziness , where she coerce him to accept the truth that Laenor ’s children as not true Velaryon rip and they should give Driftmark to Laena ’s eldest daughter instead . But in the end , the Sea Snake is so compulsive to ensure his bequest that he does n’t manage . “ multitude do n’t remember blood , ” he read angrily . “ They remember names . ”

Larys Strong , new Lord of Harrenhal , to Alicent on their ride home from Driftmark : “ You want one of those kids ’ eyes ? I ’ll give you all the eye you desire . ” ( I ’m paraphrasing slightly . )

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Otto Hightower to his girl Alicent , basically : “ I would poke the eyes of a hundred of my grandchildren to get our hands on that Draco . ”

I do n’t know if it realize things any well for citizenry , but at the mo Viserys ’ son Aegon is plight ( or will soon be ) to his sister Helaena . Targaryens gon na Targaryen . Shrug !

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Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO