House of the Dragon S2 Ep 6 Review
After spending most of the season dragging its feet on the matter, HoTD is finally getting somewhere with the Dragonseeds. In the books and the show’s universes, the Dragonseeds are Targaryen and Velaryon bastards with the potential to become dragon riders. While that makes them a very hot commodity in the Dance of Dragons, what interests me is how most of the named seeds come from the smallfolk. By its nature as a medieval fantasy, the smallfolk are often out of focus in the Ice and Fire franchise. Smallfolk have been essential characters, but they mainly exist on the sidelines, with most of the elites not thinking about them. However, if you’ve seen Game of Thrones, or read your history, then you should know how looking down on the smallfolk can be a terrible idea. Especially when said smallfolk could potentially bond with dragons!
Also, the title sequence starts getting updated again. It now includes the Battle at Rook’s Rest.
Don’t Underestimate the Smallfolk
As the title of the episode suggests, a good part of the episode focuses on the smallfolk. Besides scenes that focus on specific members of the smallfolk in the form of the Dragonseeds, the episode touches on how they perceive their lords and ladies. While the Great Houses make their moves in the growing civil war, the smallfolk of King’s Landing end up suffering. They’re running out of food and can’t leave the city thanks to Aemond barring the gates, and the while, they have to watch as meat gets carted off to the Red Keep and the Dragon Pit. And while the Greens are too busy fighting their war to care about them, the Blacks show us why it’s important to have the people on your side.
First, Msyaria has her spies stir up discontent among the people. Then she and Rhaenyra smuggle boats of food across the Blackwater for the people of King’s Landing.
This was a master stroke of good PR on Rhaenyra and Mysaria’s part. While Rhaenyra doesn’t wholly understand their plight, she’s pragmatic enough to recognize that having the smallfolk side with her makes her job much easier. Their plan works even better than they hoped: not only do the smallfolk of King’s Landing start Rhaenyra’s name, but the rush for food erupts into a full-blown riot that nearly kills Alicent and Helaena.
I should also point out that several scenes are focused on two smallfolk characters: Ulf the White and Hugh Hammer. Both of them have Valyrian ancestry and want to make a better life for themselves, and if the show continues following the books, they will have roles to play.
The Hulls Are Gonna Move Up in the World
Meanwhile, across the Blackwater, we have two more Dragonseeds in the form of Alyn and Addam of Hull. By now, people watching should know they’re the illegitimate sons of Corlys Velaryon. However, what sets them apart is how they each handle that. Alyn is far more guarded about that fact, believing it isn’t his place to claim his family ties and cause Corlys problems. Despite the fact that he’s not only a capable sailor, but saved Corlys’ life. In contrast, we have Addam, who wants nothing more than to move up in the world and doesn’t get why his brother isn’t taking this opportunity. He would do anything to get the chance Alyn has.
Thankfully, he does.
Seasmoke: “And THAT is how I Adopted Addam”
I can’t lie: my favorite part of the episode was the plot with Rhaenyra trying to find more dragon riders. Her plan to find descendants of the Targaryens and Velaryons in the other Houses seems solid…but the results prove otherwise. RIP to Ser Steffon Darklyn and that dragon keeper.
The sight of Seasmoke rejecting Ser Steffon symbolically represents how the Targaryens don’t have full control of the dragons and never have. The dragons are their own beings and follow their own rules, and if they don’t like someone, they will make it known. It did feel like a waste for the show not to change things up by acknowledging that in this version, Laenor’s still alive. But what happens next more than makes up for it.
As dark as it was to see Seasmoke burn two people, I thought his actions the rest of the episode were pretty funny. He basically decided “Screw this! I’m going to go pick my own rider.” He then proceeded to fly to Driftmark, single out Addam as Laenor’s half-brother, chase him down, and corner him in the forest while the man’s scared out of his mind. It reminded me of videos I’ve seen of cats running up to humans and adopting them. Because humans don’t adopt cats; cats adopt humans. It’s funny.
I Didn’t Think We’d See Paddy Again
There were plenty of other moments from the episode that I liked beyond the stuff with the smallfolk, but the best, ironically, came from the plot line that has been the season’s weakest: Dameon. This week, Daemon’s Harrenhal induced dreams revolve around his relationship with his brother and the deep-seated regret he feels. I did not expect Paddy Considine to return as Viserys, but seeing him and Matt Smith play off each other again was immensely satisfying. For all of his bluster and bad boy behavior, Daemon did care about his brother, and a part of him always regretted not being there for him when Aemma died.
The storyline culminates in an entirely new scene, where Daemon dreams of what he should’ve done. Instead of partying at a brothel, he chooses to comfort his brother as he grieves the loss of his wife and son. Had he done that, the Dance of Dragons may never have happened.
This Next Episode Could Cook
Sadly, the episode ends on the disappointing note of Rhaenyra riding out on Syrax to find Seasmoke’s new rider. However, the ending gets counter-balanced by how much “Smallfolk” set in motion. The Dragonseeds begin to enter the game, Daemon deals with his inner demons, and in the Vale, we get our first hint about the dragon that I’ve been wanting to see more than any of them. And he’s a real…sheepstealer. If you know, you know.
Also, who’s hearts melted when they saw Rhaenyra’s kids playing alongside the baby dragon?
I Give “Smallfolk” a 4/5
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