Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra.
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This can be a recap of the latest episode of HBO’s Home of the Dragon. It comprises spoilers. That’s what a recap is. Chaos within the Purple Maintain! The inheritor to the king is lifeless! Li’l Jaehaerys’s physique – and solely his physique, as assassins Blood and Cheese have scampered off together with his head – has been found, and the guards are rounding up everybody. By this logic, their subsequent transfer must be to run to the now-empty royal barn and shut its doorways. King Aegon is livid, and takes it out on the late King Viserys’s elaborately sculpted facsimile of Outdated Valyria, the Targaryen ancestral residence. Confronted with the destruction of his line’s future, Aegon destroys a illustration of its previous. Option to stay within the now, there, My Grace.
Aemond finds the key door Blood and Cheese used within the room that he and Criston Cole had been plotting in. He then picks up a coin that the present appears to need to make investments with symbolic significance, however I rewound a number of occasions and nonetheless couldn’t make out its design, so your guess is nearly as good as mine.
Alicent is a wreck over the information and blames herself, suggesting that the gods are punishing her for … one thing she has the nice sense to not point out to her father. (Learn: The truth that Cole’s White Cloak is extra of an Ecru Cloak, as of late.) Otto is predictably sanguine: “Some good could but come of this,” he says. Actual goblet-half-full man, is our Otto. On the Small Council, Aegon is fuming and foaming, blaming everybody, together with Criston Cole, who tells the king that he was “abed,” however not what he was adoing, or awhom he was adoing it with. Lord Larys seems with information that they’ve caught Blood red-handed (and platinum-headed). Otto suggests Aegon can garner public assist and sympathy for himself whereas turning the individuals – and the Nice Homes who’re nonetheless undecided — in opposition to Rhaenyra. He suggests a funeral procession by way of the streets of King’s Touchdown, in order that the smallfolk can see Rhaenyra’s cruelty for themselves. That Citadel extension course in advertising and marketing is de facto coming in useful.
Neither Alicent or, particularly, Helaena is strictly jazzed concerning the concept, however they acquiesce. Throughout the procession, the wagon bearing Jaehaerys’s physique hits a pothole, as a result of though Aegon II is at all times saying Infrastructure Week, nothing ever will get achieved. The wagon rocks forwards and backwards; Jaehaerys’s tiny physique will get jostled. For those who, at this level within the proceedings, felt sure that Jaehaerys’s treasured little noggin was gonna come unfastened and bounce down the road like a platinum-haired soccer ball, then A. You’re a dangerous particular person, and B. Come sit right here by me. In the meantime, within the Purple Maintain’s dungeon, Blood swiftly confesses that Daemon employed him and a ratcatcher to kill Aemond. However that doesn’t spare him a mace to the face from Aegon. (Within the e-book, Blood suffers 13 days of torture earlier than being “allowed to die,” so we’re spared that subplot, not less than.) “Errors had been made.” On Dragonstone, on the Painted (However Really Not Painted, Technically Glowing) Desk, Rhaenyra hears from her advisors about Jaehaerys, and that she’s being held accountable. She’s legit shocked, however Rhaenys the All the time Proper isn’t; she casts an accusatory have a look at Daemon, who avoids her penetrating and insightful gaze. Rhaenyra’s a bit slower on the uptake, however she will get it will definitely.
Alicent (Olivia Cooke), Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney), Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), Ironrod (Paul Kennedy), and Orwyle (Kurt Egyiawan).
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In non-public, Rhaenyra lays into Daemon concerning the homicide. He makes an attempt to shift the blame, and conspicuously refuses to inform her what his particular directions to Blood and Cheese had been, in the event that they couldn’t discover Aemond. (You’ll keep in mind the present reduce away from that scene earlier than he gave these directions.) She begins itemizing his manifold shortcomings – can’t be trusted, thinks solely of himself, and so forth. It’s about rattling time; dude’s received extra crimson flags than the Kremlin on Might Day.
Daemon … doesn’t take this nicely. He snarls, hurls his goblet throughout the room and backs Rhaenyra right into a nook, as a result of that has at all times labored for him. However Rhaenyra’s not having it. She lastly sees him for what he’s, and lets him realize it. He nonetheless resents that King Viserys handed him over for Rhaenyra, and has satisfied himself that that Viserys selected her as a result of he knew that she might by no means overshadow him the best way Daemon would. Rhaenyra corrects him: Viserys didn’t concern him, he distrusted him, simply as she now does. She calls him pathetic; he storms out. This was a corker of a scene, and one which Emma D’Arcy dominated, even when Daemon was bodily threatening Rhaenyra. That’s as a result of Rhaenyra’s written and carried out with extra nuance than Daemon is, with entry to wider vary of feelings. As a personality, Daemon’s nonetheless caught in Underwritten Perma-SmirkTM mode; right here’s hoping Matt Smith will get a bit extra to work with because the season performs out.
Daemon (Matt Smith) and Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy).
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Rhaenyra summons Baela to her chambers. Participant Scorecard Time: Baela is certainly one of two children that Daemon had together with his earlier spouse, Laena Velaryon, who final season immolated herself by dragonfire. (Laena’s dragon, Vhagar, is now ridden by Aemond.) Rhaeyra asks Baela to take her dragon Moondancer and monitor King’s Touchdown, ensuring to fly excessive sufficient to keep away from their weapons. We get just a few scenes establishing that each Criston Cole and Alicent really feel responsible about Jaehaerys’s homicide, provided that they had been each in, let’s say, a compromising place when it occurred. They determine to take a break.
A guilt-ridden and sexually annoyed Cole must do one thing with all that pent-up vitality, so he lashes out at Ser Arryk; accusations of dereliction of obligation get heatedly exchanged. Cole takes Arryk’s insubordination as a flimsy excuse to process him with infiltrating the closely defended Dragonstone to kill Rhaenyra. What transforms this Mission: Unimaginable right into a Mission: Extremely Unlikely, after all, is that Arryk can pose as his twin brother Erryk. On Dragonstone, Baela and Jacaerys examine their Daddy points, which is nearly as good a subject as any for these two to bond over, provided that they’re betrothed to one another. Jacaerys acknowledges each his dads – his dad-on-paper, expensive queer Laenor (“He had a weak point for cake,” which, hell yeah he did!) and his organic dad Harwin Robust (“They known as him Breakbones”).
Through which an ill-advised try is made to offer Aemond some depth We interrupt this episode to remind you that this can be a Sport of Thrones present on HBO, so yeah anyway right here’s your periodic network-mandated Brothel Scene, ya filthy animals. Aemond is visiting his favourite intercourse employee, and confesses to her that he regrets killing Lucerys. Now, I suppose that is one other instance of the present making an attempt to lend its characters a little bit of nuance, one thing I’d usually recognize. (As I mentioned, Matt Smith’s Daemon desperately wants extra layers – that man’s an enormous hunk of narrative matzo.) However this one actually doesn’t sit proper, as a result of the present has already tried to difficulty Aemond a move for that deadly act. You’ll recall that the season 1 finale went out of its method to depict Lucerys’s homicide as a wilful, disobedient act by Aemond’s dragon Vhagar. Between that, and the bit on this scene the place Aemond whines that Lucerys used to tease him as a result of he was completely different, it looks as if the writers don’t perceive the distinction between humanizing a villain (a very good factor!) and considering they should excuse them (very dangerous!). Sufficient with the mealy-mouthed pop-psych justifications! Let Aemond be Aemond, present! We get a fast scene in King’s Touchdown with Hugh the blacksmith – the man who requested King Aegon to pay for the weapons and armor he solid, final episode. That fee nonetheless hasn’t come, and he’s received a sick child and a spouse who’s discovering it more durable to place meals on the desk, on account of Queen Rhaenyra’s blockade of the bay. Appears random, I do know, however it isn’t – Hugh’s thread will get embroidered into the “Die, You!” Tapestry quickly sufficient. Minimize to: the island of Driftmark, residence of Home Velaryon. Alyn the sailor, whom we met final episode, greets his brother Addam, a shipwright. They focus on the warfare, and Addam mentions that Lord Corlys, head of Home Velaryon, “owes you. He owes us.” Hunh. How about that. Positive looks as if they’re introducing lots of non-noble randos for us to comply with, abruptly. I ponder what that’s about. (I imply, I don’t, as a result of I learn the e-book. However you must.)
Addam (Clinton Liberty) and his brother Alyn (Abubakar Salim).
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Minimize to: Pillow discuss between Corlys and Rhaenys, each of whom fear about Daemon’s ambition. They point out that he’s left Dragonstone on his dragon Caraxes to attempt to seize the stronghold of Harrenhal, within the Riverlands.
Talking of Dragonstone: Rhaenyra is pondering over many a quaint and curious quantity of forgotten lore in a spiffy new season 2 set. She summons Mysaria from the dungeons, and asks about her position in Jaehaerys’s homicide. Mysaria provides Rhaenyra a model of the spiel she gave Daemon final week: I’m a leaf within the wind, I’m going the place the cash is, and so forth. She mentions that Daemon promised her her freedom, however Rhaenyra is unmoved. Mysaria, who is aware of easy methods to learn a room, mentions that the highly effective males of the Seven Kingdoms have by no means seen her as an individual. This, as meant, lands with Rhaenyra, who sees a little bit of herself in Mysaria – all the way down to the scar she nonetheless carries from her personal stint as Daemon’s lover. On the seashore of Driftmark, Addam spies Seasmoke, the dragon as soon as ridden by the dearly departed Laenor (who let’s keep in mind will not be lifeless, simply … departed). The beast appears stressed. Foreshadowing? Extra like fiveshadowing.
In King’s Touchdown, we meet nonetheless one other random, lowborn dude that we’ll see much more of within the weeks forward. (His identify’s Ulf; clip and save to your information.) For now, we comply with him by way of the streets till he stumbles throughout a grisly scene – by order of King Aegon, each ratcatcher within the metropolis has been hanged by the neck. And sure, Cheese is amongst them, although the birds have pecked sufficient holes in him that it’d be extra correct to name him Emmentaler at this level. Let’s give the boy a Hand Within the Purple Maintain, Otto storms in on Criston Cole and King Aegon, bitterly berating them for ordering the mass execution of harmless residents. He fumes to a tipsy, uncaring Aegon that the king’s brutal motion has simply squandered all of the goodwill that Jaehaerys’s funeral procession earned them.
It’s good to see Rhys Ifans let off the leash on this scene – gone is Otto’s static pose of sage and sober-minded concern, changed by the fury of man who can not abdomen serving somebody as weak as Aegon. Otto will get to spit phrases like “fool,” “idiot,” “inconsiderate,” “feckless,” “self-indulgent,” “ill-considered” and “trifling” and throws his entire physique into it. For my cash, although, it’s Ifans’s hilarious, slow-burn response to listening to about Criston Cole’s Erryk vs. Arryk plan that’s the excessive level of this episode.
Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower.
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“I want to spill blood, not ink!” whines Aegon, which is a line straight from the e-book, however it’s a very good ‘un. He tells Otto to give up his standing as Hand of the King, and names Criston Cole Otto’s successor. Otto leaves, however not earlier than letting on that he’s at all times recognized that Viserys by no means actually named Aegon as his successor. The truth that he accompanies this revelation with a wealthy, sneering, villainous chuckle? Icing on the cake. That Laenor had a weak point for. That cake. On Dragonstone, Rhaenyra decides to maintain Daemon’s promise and frees Mysaria. On her method all the way down to the docks, nonetheless, Mysaria spots a disguised Ser Arryk Cargyll making his method as much as the citadel. She pauses. Arryk simply Splinter-Cells his method into the citadel (it’s all about timing the guard’s actions and taking pictures out the safety cams). He tells the member of the Queensguard stationed outdoors her bedchamber – Ser Lorent Marbrand, in the event you’re scoring at residence – that he’ll take over. As quickly as Lorent is gone, he enters her room and advances on her. And promptly will get interrupted by his brother, Ser Erryk Cargyll. They struggle. The funk soul brothers, verify ‘em out now As epic throwdowns go, Cargyllbowl isn’t any Cleganebowl. However then, how might it’s? That matchup was looming for years, and it pitted one character we’d come to know sufficient to dearly love in opposition to one other we knew sufficient to dutifully detest.
Against this, these beardy bros haven’t clocked practically sufficient screentime to really register, individually or collectively. Nonetheless, it’s a strong struggle, and it locations Rhaenyra in additional hazard than the e-book model does. However in the end Erryk defeats Arryk. The victory is fleeting, nonetheless, as a remorseful Erryk throws himself on his sword. Which is silly and pointless however, it’s important to admit, steel AF. Again within the Purple Maintain, Otto is doing the Seven Kingdoms equal of packing up his desk right into a cardboard field from the availability closet – you understand: image frames, succulents, a few Dilbert strips. He’s nonetheless indignant, cursing Aegon and Criston for his or her foolishness. Alicent agrees – principally. Her eyes dart guiltily as she avers that Criston, not less than, is loyal, so you understand … there’s that.
Otto says he’ll return to Oldtown, residence of Home Hightower, the place Alicent’s youngest son Daeron awaits. WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP NEW CHARACTER ALERT WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP. No, you’re not loopy. That is the primary we’ve heard point out of Daeron on the present. Daeron’s an adolescent who’s been in Oldtown performing as a squire to the pinnacle of Home Hightower. He’s received a (very younger) dragon named Tessarion, and so they’ve each received a job to play on this story. Dunno if he’s gonna present up this season, however not less than we all know he formally exists on the earth of this present, now. Alicent urges Otto to not go to Oldtown, however to Highgarden, residence of Home Tyrell. (Odds of Daeron exhibiting up this season … shrinking … ) She assures Otto that she will discuss some sense into Aegon, and he appears to imagine her, as a result of clearly neither certainly one of them has been watching this present. The truth is, when Alicent does attempt to go to Aegon’s chambers for a few of that sense-talking, she finds him weeping – alone, grieving, frightened, caving below the stress. She leaves.
In her bedchamber, Criston is ready. Parting Ideas Rhaenyra, Rhaenys, Rhaena. Daemon, Aemond. Jacaerys, Jaehaerys. And now, with this episode: Daemon, Daeron. I do know George R.R. Martin has pointed to English historical past – all these Edwards and Henrys – to justify so many characters having such maddeningly comparable names. However then a factor like Daemon-Daeron comes alongside and it begins to appear like he’s simply goading us.Home of the Dragon focuses on the noblemen and noblewomen of the Seven Kingdoms. However meaning it’s lacking one thing Sport of Thrones had in spades – the attitude of the commoner. Don’t get me improper, all this palace intrigue is enjoyable. However I’ve been lacking the earthiness and ego-puncturing humor of characters like Bronn and Davos and Sandor. This episode appears intent on course-correcting that, tossing Alyn and Addam and Hugh and Ulf within the combine.I do know I’ve already praised it, however Rhys Ifans’s incredulous take upon listening to Cole’s plan was iconic. Jack Benny-level. He ought to take it on the street, if Westeros has a vaudeville circuit.How we feeling concerning the pacing, this season? I figured we’d be within the thick of it by now. However then Alyn’s nonetheless all “Battle is coming,” and I noticed I’m evaluating the e-book, which is a faux-historical account, to a dramatized TV sequence, which appears in no explicit hurry to get to the wildfire manufacturing unit.