This show is what I imagine it’s like watching a car pileup in slow motion. You can see the bad trajectory everyone’s heading in, and maybe notice a few of them desperately trying to course-correct, but it’s still too late. They’re gonna crash, and it’s gonna get messy.
Even the little victories are just propelling these people further across lines they can’t walk back. Most of the characters are framed as trapped or otherwise desperate to escape their circumstances. A few even seem to get their wish.
This is a busy episode.
Alicent, Aemond and Alys have a most Oedipal get-together at Harrenhal. Very moody and uncomfortable on multiple levels. Alys tries to warn Aemond about Alicent’s ill intentions, but his profound mommy issues outweighs her new influence over him. Alicent exploits her son’s unhealthy affection for her, getting him to swallow poison before getting the hell out of dodge. Still not winning any Mother of the Year trophies, but it was quick thinking on Alicent’s part. And it took a ruthlessness that could match even her late father.
Of course, this is clearly not the end for Aemond. Alys seems disappointed and annoyed more than she was troubled or worried when he collapsed at her feet once again.
Meanwhile, Team Black is disintegrating. Last episode, Rhaenyra finds out Helaena has vaguely prophetic visions. Now she’s trying to threaten and bully her delicate half-sister into validating her queenship and assuaging her anxieties. Let’s not forget Rhaenyra herself has called Helaena an innocent in the past.
And it gets worse from there. Corlys just got his ring finger diced off by Westerosi Psycho Ormund Hightower, three of the blacks most valuable players are about to get into a spicy incestuous love triangle, and then we have the thing with Rhaena.
Daemon tries to protect his estranged daughter, but Rhaena gets found out, leading to a crazy dragon fight between Sheepstealer and Daemon, Rhaenyra and Addam’s dragons. As well as a not-so-crazy falling out between Rhaenyra and Daemon.
And as Rhaenyra continues to falter, we see Aegon begin to rise. Lord Mooton’s army catches wind of Tyland Lannister’s survival and cuts off Aegon and company’s escape, so Aegon decides to make a final stand. Larys flees, naturally, while Tyland is humbled into sticking with his king to the end. Then we get one of the best moments of the season, when Aegon’s dragon Sunfyre returns to his side after having been thought dead. Much like when he was crowned king, Aegon’s ego and self-esteem is magnified all over again as Sunfyre burns away the enemy forces. It still amuses me that Aegon of all characters has the most compelling storyline right now.
Blacks and Greens:
* This season, the writers really like having the characters say the words “in this moment.”
* The way Caraxes suddenly ambushes Sheepstealer in the sky was awesome.
* As amazingly rendered as the dragon scenes are, I can’t help but be saddened by them. The dragons are all so majestic, even deformed ones like Sheepstealer or horribly scarred ones like Sunfyre. It’s rough to see the damage they take in the name of these arrogant, unstable humans.
* Rhaenyra flies into action on Syrax for the first time... and Syrax nearly gets torn apart by Sheepstealer.
* Not sure why Daemon didn't finish Sheepstealer off. Maybe he thought he was already as good as dead after being wounded so badly. Or maybe Daemon was impressed with the dragon's strength; Sheepstealer put up a hell of a fight against three royal dragons, and even knocked Daemon off of Caraxes.
* Some great details in Aegon's big scene. First of all, I like that Aegon's first instinct was to cowardly turn to flee before deciding to die with dignity. But what I noticed on rewatch was that you can hear Sunfyre begin to stir in the background the moment Aegon unsheathes his sword to bravely face his own death. And, of course, Aegon and his dragon share the same scars, including one ruined side of the face.
* Despite her advocacy for the lower classes, her former peers seem to think Mysaria has forgotten her roots now that she’s a fixture in the Red Keep. Was Alicent right, and Rhaenyra’s flighty ass seduced the cynical lowborn spymaster too? Was that final seduction scene between them supposed to be Mysaria expressing her true feelings, or is she just doing what she must to manipulate her benefactor?
* Also, that last Mysaria/Rhaenyra scene was almost exactly like a scene between Stannis and Melisandre in Game of Thrones.
* Helaena has several visions in this episode, and they all seem to hint that a clean escape is impossible and despair is inevitable. A pale mare is present in her first and last vision, perhaps symbolizing death. In one vision, she sees herself mounted atop her dragon, Dreamfyre, preparing to burn their way through a raging crowd.
* The sticks of incense flanking Ormund and Ulf during their meeting was a nice touch. They're at least being consistent with Ormund's odor sensitivity, even if it hasn't been especially relevant.
Quotes:
Rhaenyra I: “You may refuse me as your sister, but I may compel you as your queen. Now, tell me what you know! Tell me there has been no mistake, that I will prevail, as the gods must surely intend. Tell me.”
Lady, chill.
Daemon: “You may blunt Rhaenyra’s wrath, but you will not evade it. Give me a day… Please.”
Not sure why Daemon thinks this way, when you consider how toothless Rhaenyra has been for most of the series. Did he overestimate how vengeful she would be over Jace's death, or was he just projecting onto her how he would have felt in her place?
Baela: “Why this concern now with names and titles? I understand your grievance, but surely you have a better thing in your dragon than any lordly appellation.”
She might be one of the most noble and dignified characters in the story, but it's fun to hear Baela express a bit of her father's sardonic wit here.
Alicent: (to Aemond) “You are all I have left.”
Gwayne: “Seems there’s no escaping it. The dream some men have of covering themselves in everlasting glory… of somehow transcending humanity’s common fate.”
Daeron: “I am sorry about your friend.”
Gwayne: “… He gave himself to the dust.”
Some viewers think Gwayne had feelings for Criston Cole. It's possible, but he might have just felt bad for him, since Gwayne had a front row seat to Cole's breakdown and disillusionment.
Daeron: “Where would I go? Who would receive a king who left his own men to their ruin? I have no fear of insignificance, Gwayne. Rhaenyra can keep her crown, for all I care.”
Alicent: “Aemond, I still don’t understand who this woman is.”
That makes all of us.
Aemond: “A new dawn is coming. A new line of unsullied kings. We need only bide our time.”
Alys Rivers: “You Targaryen boys all want the same thing, don’t you?”
I’m not sure if Alys is actively forcing these incestuous visions on Aemond and Daemon, or if she herself has no control over the visions and its simply the cursed castle playing on their twisted desires.
Ser Tyland Lannister: “If the king wishes to remain, then… I shall remain with him. I cannot leave him to face an army meant for me.” Lord Larys Strong: “You’re resolved in this then? Well then, my lords… it seems there is only one thing left for me to do. May the Seven be ever at your side.”
Daemon: “I had no dragon either when I was young. Did you know that? My mother died in childbed when I was three years of age. My brother sank into sadness. I was alone, just as you have been. I should have done better, Rhaena.”
We don't get a lot of scenes of Daemon opening up and talking about himself in a sincere way, so this was interesting.
Mysaria: “Do not lose faith. You are on the precipice of a great victory. The uncertainties that oppress you will soon be resolved. Those who oppose you will fall away. Even Aemond is all but vanquished. You will be queen for many years after this. And your children’s children after you. Just a little longer.”
Aegon II: “Sunfyre… Sunfyre. Dracarys.”
Not gonna lie, this might be my favorite “dracarys” moment in this show or Game of Thrones.
Ormund Hightower: “They will laugh at you no more when they see you as you are.”
Ulf the White: “No. They will burn.”
Look at that. He really is a Targaryen.
Four and a half out of five tragically mangled dragons.
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