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House of the Dragon S3 Ep 6 Review

You feel that, you guys? It’s like this four-year-long headache that I’ve had has finally ended? By that, I mean that Ser Criston “The Kingmaker” Cole, the jerk who helped start this civil war, is dead. And yet, I feel no sense of satisfaction from it. Because at this point, I know that the majority of the cast of House of the Dragon is going to be dead before the show ends. It’s how history is supposed to play out to set the stage for Game of Thrones, but it’s no less frustrating to see everyone acting like this. Especially since in the end, these players will just be faceless men, destined to be forgotten.

The episode opens up on a very important note as we see one of the most important events of the Dance take place: the Butcher’s Ball. This battle is where Ser Criston Cole meets his end at the hands of the Blacks. Calling it a battle, though, would be too generous. It was a slaughter that Ser Criston walked right into. The Riverlanders placed the most obvious of traps by having their men play dead, and the Greens still walked into it. Then, to add insult to injury, Oscar Tully and the Winter Wolves marched in and surrounded Ser Criston. Knowing that he was about to die, he tries to go out on his terms in a valiant last stand that will immortalize him. Instead, he dies by arrows shot by Alysanne Blackwood, never even getting the chance to fight.

This feels like the perfect ending for Ser Criston, and the show lifts it so perfectly from the books. All Ser Criston wanted was to make a name for himself as a knight. But thanks to the people he served, he lost sight of who he wanted to be and became a terrible, spiteful man. If you ask me, he didn’t dishonor himself when he slept with Rhaenyra. He did it when he let his hatred for her consume him. And in the end, he doesn’t even get the dignity of going out on his terms.

And neither will Ormund Hightower, hopefully.

I have only known Ormund Hightower for a few episodes on this show, but I already have a solid opinion about who he is: a jerk. He thinks he’s so smart and has got it all figured out. What with his plan to make Daeron king and using spies to mess with Rhaenyra in King’s Landing. And his plan is working: after what happened to Ser Luthor, most of the Gold Cloaks have resigned. But that doesn’t change the fact that he’s a pretentious d*****. Even Daeron doesn’t like him; he even tells Gwayne that he’s only doing what he says because he’s afraid of him! If I were the boy, I would’ve take Tesarrion and just flown all the way to Essos.

This episode perhaps gives us the most blatant example of how Ormund isn’t as smart as he thinks when he’s nearly assassinated by Baratheons pretending to related to Lord Boros. If it wasn’t for Ser Gwayne, Ormund and Daeron would have died. And Ormund pukes in response to what happened. Imagine that?

Meanwhile, things are spiraling out of control with everyone else. After catching Alicent and Helaena trying to flee, Rhaenyra puts them under even stricter house arrest. As a result, Helaena’s refusing to eat, threatening to kill herself and her unborn child. It’s the only way she can protest her lack of agency in her life and stick it to her mom. Meanwhile, Alicent tries to make another bargain with Rhaenyra by saying how Aemond is at Harrenhal. Her response? She wants her to go there and kill him. She wants her to kill her own son in exchange for her and her daughter’s freedom. We know Aemond’s a monster right now, but that’s still messed up.

Meanwhile, Aemond continues to be wrapped around Alys’ finger as she offers him sanctuary at Harrenhal and the chance to build his own power base with a clutch of Dragon Eggs. But we know that nothing’s going to come of it!

This entire episode feels like a lesson in the futility of this entire civil war. Which is the whole point, really. We all know that this is what leads to the eventual downfall of House Targaryen and the events of Game of Thrones. I would say it reminds me of the Star Wars Prequels, but at least I can watch those knowing that the next two generations will eventually make things right. That barely happens in Westeros.

I swear, if I ever try my hand at this kind of high fantasy storytelling, I want to make it a point to avoid this kind of ending!

I Give “Faceless Men” a 4/5

House of the Dragon S3 Ep 5 Review

Hatred and madness. Those are the only two words that I think can properly describe what the entire cast of House of the Dragon is falling victim to. Almost everyone in House Targaryen or serving them are just so consumed by hatred for each other, it’s sickening. And I didn’t think that the people in this story could stoop any lower than they already have, but you would be surprised! The sheer amount of hatred I see spewing out of the characters in this episode is palpable enough for me to feel it. It’s enough to make me wanna recoil but also refuse to look away, and I don’t know how to feel about that.

Criston Cole Wants to Die

Firstly, we need to talk about Ser Criston Cole, the Kingmaker. I barely knew anything about him before the show started, but when I learned it, I asked myself, “how? How could this spitting image of what a knight should be turn into such a jerk?” Yeah, Rhaenyra did use him, but he chose to hold a grudge. And then he put Aegon on the Iron Throne in what can only be described as a coup, making me dislike him even more. But now? Now I can’t help but feel pity for him.

The show has made it clear that the Battle of Rook’s Rest broke Criston Cole. He realized just what madness he helped unleash on Westeros and regretted it. That hatred he had for Rhaenyra has turned on him into a deep self-loathing that has only gotten worse this season. As we see him try and wage a guerrilla war in the Riverlands, trying to keep the Blacks from making to…whatever their destination is, he’s at his lowest point. He’s tired, depressed, and is ready to die. In fact, Gwayne Hightower realizes that Ser Criston intends to get himself and what men he has left killed in a blaze of glory.

I’m all for the idea of going down fighting. I would rather die on my feet in defiance than on my knees. But this isn’t going to be some glorious last stand that people will romanticize centuries from now. It’s just a guy who got a horrible lot in life trying to take as many people down with him as he can, and it’s sad. It’s sad and disappointing, and I feel sorry for Ser Criston.

But then there is the hatred we see between Aegon and Aemond in this episode.

Brother against Brother

Aegon and Aemond are both waylaid in different parts of Westeros. Aegon is hiding at a refugee camp at Rook’s Rest, while Aemond is healing at Harrenhal while bounty hunters keep coming to try and claim his head. They’re both at their weakest and without their dragons, and that leads them both to open up to their respective companions. The irony is that we get to hear the brothers both envy each other for how their lives have gone. Aegon envies Aemond for being a genuinely good warrior and more of a king than he is as well as Alicent paying more attention to him. Meanwhile, Aemond envies Aegon for being the firstborn son and the one who got crowned King. This is in spite of the fact that their father never wanted this to happen, and the fact that Aegon was unfit to rule.

The difference is in how their companions react to their complaints. Whereas Aemond at least has a somewhat supportive ear in the form of Alys, Aegon has Larys. And Larys gives it to Aegon straight: he sucks. He was given all the best opportunities to succeed in life, and if he had applied himself and worked to be better, then maybe he could have earned the Iron Throne on merit alone. It was a long shot, but it could’ve happened if he proved better than Rhaenyra, but he didn’t. He had to have the Throne handed to him by his grandpa. Not only that, but he spent his life reveling in mediocrity and just assumed that he would never be king. If he was as smart as he thinks he is, he would’ve shut that down.

At the same time, this episode has us see Aemond open up to Alys about his own envy towards his brother. He knows, or thinks he knows, what it means to be a king. And like I said the moment he claimed Vhagar, he has the will to be one. But this episode also reminded us why he’s not fit. Yeah, he’s a good warrior, but as we’ve seen in Game of Thrones, that doesn’t equate to being a good king! But the worst part? Its that when Vhagar flies off to who knows where, he breaks down in fear. That shows just how skin-deep his bravery really is. Without his Dragon, he’s nothing. If anything, Daeron has more potential as a king than both of them.

Daeron is too Good for this world

Speaking of Daeron, I feel sorry for the young man. The only decent son of Alicent, thanks to being raised away from King’s Landing, and the most humble. But he’s now just a pawn of Ormund Hightower, whose teaching him to hate his Valyrian half. That can lead to serious psychological problems in the future, assuming Daeron survives the war! And I can’t say without spoiling anything!

A Feast for Traitors

While all of this is going down, things keep going downhill back at King’s Landing, for everyone. Alicent has found out that her daughter is pregnant again, and tries to get her to abort the baby. But Helaena, bless her soul, can’t bring herself to do it and keeps refusing. Knowing that they can’t keep this fact hidden forever, and that Rhaenyra may end up killing the baby, they try to escape. But in doing so, they get trapped in one of the hidden passages, along with some cats.

Yeah, the Red Keep now has the cats that will catch the rats from now on. Honestly, they’re the only happy thing to come out of this episode.

As for Daemon and Rhaenyra, they are facing an insurrection from people either working for the Greens or for Ormund. The Gold Cloaks are being killed off one by one, their disembowled bodies left for all to see. They’re afraid, they want their payment, and their loyalty to Daemon is reaching its limit. Talking to them is all the Dragon Prince can do to get them to stay loyal, but that may no longer be an option. Because by the end of the episode, we see one of the most grisly sights in the entire franchise.

Looking at the dead Luthor and his men like this almost felt like looking at sacrilege. Whoever did this set the whole thing up like a serial killer would! Even Daemon, who has seen it all and done it all, was shaken at the sight. I don’t know about you guys, but I would be packing my bags after seeing something like this!

Yeah, the madness is spreading to every corner of Westeros. Nowhere is safe anymore, and if I remember right, then almost everyone is gonna be dead before this is over.

I Give “Unbowed, Unbent” a 3.5/5

House of the Dragon S3 Ep 4 Review

You know, the longer I watch House of the Dragon, the more I’m reminded of why I stopped giving a darn about the end to Game of Thrones. Up until Arya killed the Night King, I wanted to believe that everything that had happened would end up being worth something in the end. Instead, I had to watch as the cruelty of reality led to Westeros continuing to turn on itself even after the war against the dead came to an end. And the further we get into House of the Dragon, the more I see the rot set in that will doom House Targaryen, and it’s so disappointing. But as disappointing as that is, I think my disdain for the Faith of the Seven, or at least its fanatics, is even greater. Case in point, I watched as Ormund Hightower starts to sink his claws into the one decent male Targaryen that’s part of the Greens, and it breaks my heart.

Tumbleton threatens King’s Landing

Rhaenyra is beside herself with problems, both of her own making and created by her enemies. She’s broke, her city is hungry, and she’s still grieving the loss of her eldest son. Needless to say, her mental state is starting to deteriorate, and if this keeps up, she’s going to succumb to the madness that will eventually doom her house. At the moment, though, the biggest thorn in her side goes by one name and one name alone: Tumbleton.

After lying right to Daemon’s face last episode, Ormund Hightower took his army to capture Tumbleton, a town on the road to King’s Landing. Throughout the episode, we see him lording over the place like he’s a king, openly bathing in the hall of the rightful lord and lady while his soldiers force themselves into the homes of the citizens. One of which, I might add, is now home to Hugh Hammer’s wife and her family. And when one of the soldiers tries to assault her, everyone’s lives are put in more danger than they realize.

It should be noted that this episode also our formal introduction to Daeron Targaryen, the youngest of Alicent’s children, and next to Helaena, the only decent one. That was due entirely to Alicent’s decision to have him fostered by her relatives in Oldtown under Ormund, which she thinks was the best decision she ever made as a mother. And you know what? She’s right. I’ve read the wikis and listened to the audiobooks, and by all accounts, Daeron is awesome. He’s kind, caring, and doesn’t want to hurt a fly. Not to mention just how sweet his relationship is with his dragon, Tessarion. Unfortunately for everyone, Ormund Hightower proves to be as rotten as so many of the men in his family.

Ormund Hightower is as bad as the other guys in his family

According to Alicent, Ormund considers himself a scholar, and he certainly appears so. The show does attempt to make him look good at first, as when Kat is almost assaulted by a Hightower soldier, he orders the culprit to be gelded as punishment. Unlike the Starks, who genuinely want to be just and fair, though, Ormund is only doing this to look good. In truth, he’s an insufferable man with a holier-than-thou attitude, with the final part of the episode showing just how corrupt he is. He brings Kat’s brother to Daeron and forces the boy to execute him for hitting one of his soldiers, showing he doesn’t care about what’s right. In that same scene, he also demonstrates that he’s a religious fanatic regarding the Faith of the Seven and a racist, saying that the Targaryen’s are savages and their dragons abominations. And he’s saying that right in front of Daeron, a Targaryen himself. The cherry on top? He tells his charge that he should make his own play for the Iron Throne.

This is why I have no respect for the Hightowers on this show. They act so smug and self-righteous and think they’re smarter than everyone else. But in truth, they’re just selfish, power-hungry fools who can’t stop pissing off the people with dragons. Ormund doesn’t know it, but he just killed Hugh Hammer’s brother-in-law and is basically holding his wife hostage. The moment that Kat dies, which I know she will, he is going to crash out, and him and Ulf are going to burn Tumbleton to the ground!

Which reminds me: Ulf is more upset at the Targaryens than ever. When Rhaenyra finds out he’s been going out to taverns and his old drinking buddy’s are trying to get favors out of him, she bans him from going out. Yet another reason for him to become disloyal to her.

Daemon faces the consequences of his bad parenting

The other big highlight of the episode, though, was Daemon’s trip to the Vale. He was successful in getting Lady Jeyne Arryn to give Rhaenyra money, but then Caraxes senses Sheepstealer nearby and goes to investigate. As a result, Daemon discovers that he was claimed by his own daughter, Rhaena, putting him in an impossible situation. If he spares her, he will be denying his wife justice for her son’s death. But if he brings her in, Rhaenyra will kill her stepdaughter. And it looks like Rhaena is going to spend the rest of her life on the run, thereby making her the Nettles of the show. Which, personally, I’m not a fan of. Nettles was one of my favorite characters from this era in the books, not only because she tamed Sheepstealer through cunning, but at the end of the Dance, she is one of the few people who manages to survive with her dragon. She and Sheepstealer disappear to who knows where, and to the best of our knowledge, they live the rest of their lives freely, however long that may be.

Thankfully, Daemon does have some standards, and he realizes that his neglect of his daughter is what led her to do what she did. Therefore, Jace’s death is on his hands as much it was the Triarchy and Rhaena’s. Though, his decision to kill a random goat-herder and pass him off as Sheepstealer’s rider makes those standards questionable, at best. Rhaenyra buys it for the moment, but I’m convinced that this will not last. When she finds out the truth, this could drive a rift between Rhaenyra and Daemon at the worst possible time, and make her already questionable mental state even worse. But, at least Rhaenyra is doing better than Aegon is.

I Still think Sunfyre is alive

As many of us guessed, Aegon was taking himself and Larys back to Rook’s Rest to find Sunfyre, who was so badly injured that he had to be left there. In the books, Sunfyre does survive the battle, but in the show, everyone keeps saying that he is dead. Sure enough, when Aegon finds the one being in his life that made him happy, Sunfyre isn’t moving. The squatters at Rook’s Rest are all convinced that the dragon’s dead, but Aegon thinks otherwise, and I’m inclined to agree. It’s been months since that fight took place, and it doesn’t look like Sunfyre’s body has started to rot. Then again, we don’t really know how long it takes for a dragon’s corpse to decompose. Case in point, the headless body of Meleys remains where she fell in the castle, and looks largely fine.

This episode continues Aegon’s humiliation, as Larys insists on keeping his identity a secret, especially since Rhaenyra’s declared him dead. He is forced to harvest animal waste for money, and is, understandably, grossed out about it. In addition, when he mouths off about it, the garrison leader forces him to kiss his smelly, stinky boots!

In many other stories, going from being king of an entire nation to being on the run and forced to do work considered beneath him would trigger some character development in Aegon. He would learn humility and other important life lessons that will make him a better person. Sadly, the world of Ice and Fire rarely ever lets this kind of positive development play out. We all know that when this is done, Aegon will have learned nothing!

Tumbleton is gonna Burn!

Tumbleton marks the halfway point of the season, and the war itself. In the weeks to come, it’s likely that we’re going to see the battles of Tumbleton, which go down as one of the worst moments of the Dance of the Dragons. Considering how this war has already seen Aemond manslaughter Luke, the war crimes of Blood and Cheese, and the tragedy of the Gullet, that’s saying something. The worst part for me, though, is knowing that this fight is going to kill some of the few characters on this show that I still consider decent. And I’m going to hate that.

I wonder if there’s a high fantasy series out there that refutes the cynicism of R.R. Martin’s world. Because I am past the point of being fed up with the cynicism.

I Give “Tumbleton” a 3.5/5

House of the Dragon S3 Ep 3 Review

Well, Rhaenyra got what she wanted. King’s Landing is hers, and with it, the Iron Throne that she was promised. Otto is dead at her hands, and Aegon is on the run m. She should be happy that she’s righted this injustice towards her, but she’s not. Far from it, this entire episode demonstrates that the Iron Throne has become a curse. And while the show doesn’t show the Throne cutting her like in the books (yet), it comes up with an even better metaphor for her rule already starting to crumble: rats. There are already rats in the Red Keep, and the symbolism the show gives them in this episode is just amazing. And that’s not even getting into its name, either.

Rhaenyra is in a Worse State than Ever

I heard tell that the last two episodes of HOTD were actually meant to be the finale for season two. If that’s the case, then I think the second season would not have been so heavily criticized. More importantly, though, it feels like this episode is the start of an entirely new season. And unfortunately for Rhaenyra, she’s not starting things off on a high note.

To put it bluntly, Rhaenyra’s household is in shambles. King’s Landing is starving from lack of food, partially thanks to her blockade and the nobles’ hoarding it. In addition, the Greens saw fit to pilfer the Crown’s treasury and move it elsewhere, leaving her short on money. Now she can’t pay anyone or help people get back on their feet. And to make matters worse, the Red Keep is dealing with an infestation of rats.

Rats are Everywhere in the Red Keep

The rats are a very big symbol throughout this episode. Throughout history, they have been maligned as harbingers of plague and death, as while they themselves are often very diligent with their hygiene, they carry diseases and parasites. Hence why they are so hated by most other beings. And in this case, the constant presence of rats is meant to symbolize what Rhaenyra’s status is like right now: it’s rotting from the inside out. And nowhere is this better shown than with Rhaenyra herself.

The thing I hate the most about the world of Ice and Fire is just how much it beats down good people. Like her descendant, Daenerys, Rhaenyra has the potential to be a truly great leader. However, because of the mistakes she makes and the actions of the buffoons around her, she isn’t getting the chance to be the leader she could have been. It also doesn’t help that she’s trying to act like her father, Viserys, ignoring the fact that while he was a good man, he was a weak king. She’s getting no chance to show what she can do, mostly because she is a woman. Even the Faith is getting bold enough to defy her, saying her dragons are abominations.

Putting the Rats in their Place

Now, the way that Rhaenyra tries to assert her dominance and gain some favor is pretty badass. She gets rid of the rats by feeding them to her loyal nobles as a show of force. She takes their hoarded food and gives it to the poor. It’s a pretty badass way to let everyone know that she is in charge, and in a kinder world, this would be enough. But it ain’t. Coryls criticizes her for refusing to legitimize his sons, potentially costing her her biggest ally. And then there are the problems outside of King’s Landing.

At the beginning of the episode, we saw Lord Ormund Hightower apparently bend the knee to Daemon and head home. Daemon captures the youngest of Viserys and Alicent’s children, Daeron, AKA the only decent kid besides Helaena. However, it is a ruse. Honestly, the fact that his dragon, Tessarion, didn’t react should have been a dead giveaway that Daemon should have seen. And the worst part? Ormund has now taken Tumbleton, a town on the road to King’s Landing.

Yeah, is it any wonder that Rhaenyra is starting to lose it? Emma D’arcy is knocking it out of the park showing just much she’s starting to lose it.  I love it.

I Give “Rhaenyra Triumphant” a 4/5

House of the Dragon S3 Ep 1 Review

Remember back when Game of Thrones was in its heyday, and every episode was enough to make the Internet shake? The battles were epic, the betrayals and drama had us on the edge of our seats, and we cared when the characters we liked bit the dust? So many of us were hoping that House of the Dragon would recapture that feeling, but outside of a few key moments, last season was a snooze-fest. For all this talk about a civil war between the Targaryens, there was barely any war involved. But that has now changed. The fight at Rook’s Rest was a good warm-up, but Season Three opened up by giving us the best battle the franchise has seen since the original series! Smoke and salt, fire and blood, the gullet runs red!

So Much to Keep Up With!

It’s been two years or so since we last saw House of the Dragon, so I was a little disappointed to see the new season not open with a recap. Plus, I still don’t know if I like the tapestry intro. It was hard for me to keep track of things on this new tapestry, but that’s just one small gripe.

Given how massive the show’s cast is, there’s a lot of jumping around, with some moments proving to be more important than others. However, the most important aspects of the episode center around a few key plot points. Firstly, Alicent has now decided to sell out the Greens to stop the war that she partially started, offering Rhaenyra King’s Landing in exchange for sparing her and her daughter. Her plans are almost derailed, though, by Aegon’s flight (the irony that he’s captured by Rhaenyra’s supporters is not lost on me), and Aemond now declaring himself King like he always wanted.

Which reminds me. Remember how I said that I respected Aemond more than his older brother, and thought that he at least had the potential to be a king? What respect I did have for him is largely gone now, and it all has to do with that one scene with him and his mother. I know that incest is common in the Targaryens, but kissing your own mother? Somehow, that feels even worse than kissing your sister! What the heck were the writers thinking with that? Furthermore, it feels like Alicent’s attempts to trick her son out of King’s Landing were way too telegraphed! Aemond should be smart enough to realize his mom was up to something, but no! He falls for it hook, line, and sinker.

I know the show is trying to follow the established history, but come on. The writers can do better!

Speaking of doing better, we have one of the moments that I wanted to see only for it to get rushed: Rhaena and Sheepstealer.

Sheepstealer Didn’t Disappoint…but his Rider did

I was excited when the season two finale gave us a look at Sheepstealer, the wild dragon that will come to have a role to play in the Dance of the Dragons, and while I’m sad that his rider from the books was written out, I’m happy to see another dragon. Though I have to admit, Sheepstealer is one ugly-looking SOB! His scales are jagged, his teeth are crooked, and it’s obvious that he’s had a hard life. I guess the dragons the Valyrians raise tend to look much healthier, given how they’re probably well-fed and groomed. Beyond that, though, I didn’t like how quickly Rhaena was able to gain Sheepstealer’s trust onscreen. It should have taken her more than a single episode to win him over, but she does so by eating some of the sheep he cooked? That doesn’t make much sense! In all honesty, it feels like the show was rushing things just so it could get to the real highlight of the episode, the Battle of the Gullet.

Why didn’t we get the Battle of the Gullet in Season Two?!?

This was the kind of battle that we expected to take place in season two. The Battle of the Gullet is the biggest naval battle that we’ve ever seen in the franchise, and HBO clearly went all out on it. The sight of ships being set aflame, the brutal melee combat on the decks, and the sight of dragons flying overhead all made for spectacle that we haven’t seen since the heyday of Game of Thrones. I think that the franchise has improved its combat scenes since then, if this is any indication. I especially appreciated the one on one between Corlys Velaryon’s crew and Admiral Lohar of the Triarchy. That chase between the shallows was nail-biting! And then seeing Corlys lose the will to fight as Driftmark was sacked! Watching his legacy be tarnished while his own ship, the Sea Snake (I’m assuming), died under him is just incredible! Even if he survives the war, House Velayron may never recover what it has lost.

Speaking of which, this battle sees Rhaenyra suffer another devastating loss: her son, Jaceaerys. And the worst part is that it was his decisions that got him killed.

RIP, Jace

I think we all saw the red flags waving when Jace ordered his Mom be kept in her room so she couldn’t join the battle. I know he was trying to keep her safe, but he was depriving himself of another dragon rider in a situation where that was desperately needed. Maybe if she and Syrax had been there, Jace wouldn’t have had to die. Of course, it wasn’t just Jace’s desire to prove himself that did him in. Why Rhaena thought it was a good idea to take Sheepstealer into battle right after she got him to let her ride on his back is beyond me. She wanted a dragon so badly, she forgot the training that goes with it. And now, her cousin’s death is on her hands.

The Battle of the Gullet is nothing short of a bloodbath that neither side can say they won. The only real winners were us, the viewers, who got to see the bodies hit the floor, and it’s only going to get worse. By the time the show’s done, almost everyone on the cast will likely be dead, and the show knows it. Steel yourselves for what’s to come, guys.

I Give “Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood” a 5/5

How to Train Your Dragon (2025) Review

Would DreamWorks and Universal please take a bow for How to Train Your Dragon? Not only did they manage to do the original film justice, they managed to utterly embarrass Disney in the process. The House of Mouse is going to be smarting from this for a while!

As a teenager, I never saw the original How to Train Your Dragon in theaters. I would see bits and pieces of it and its sequels, spin-offs, and specials over the years, though, so it’s safe to say I’m a casual fan. However, when I heard that DreamWorks and Universal were doing a live-action remake, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. I was never on board with these remakes to begin with, and years of hits and misses by Disney haven’t helped matters. It doesn’t matter if they have nostalgia bait or try to add something new to the story. At the end of the day, if people dont think that a remake measures up to the original, then what was the point of making it? If the recent failure of Disney’s Snow White is anything to go by, more and more people are starting to realize this. That movie is so bad, it usurped Dragonball Evolution as the worst-rated movie on IMDb.

So, with people turning on live-action remakes, how does the one for How to Train Your Dragon prove itself? How does it justify its reason for existing? The short answer: it doesn’t…because it knows it doesn’t need to.

How to Train Your Dragon had nothing to prove…

Loosely based on a book series of the same name, How to Train Your Dragon could be considered a timeless animated film. It centered around Hiccup, a scrawny outcast in a village of brawny Vikings who spend their time fighting dragons. In a society of jocks, he’s the lone nerd who wants to win everyone’s respect. Yet when he gets the chance to kill a dragon no one’s gotten close to, he realizes he can’t do it! That act of kindness leads Hiccup to discover that everything his people thought they knew about dragons was wrong, leading to a great change in how they view the world.

The reason why How to Train Your Dragon could be considered a timeless film is because, at its core, its a coming of age story. Hiccup is an awkward teen outcast who can’t fit into his people’s norms even when he tries. When you’re a teen trying to find your place in the world, that can be the scariest thing. It’s only when he chooses to accept himself for who he is and quits trying to be something he isn’t that he becomes the badass he was meant to be. It’s a well-written, well-executed story!

So if it ain’t broke, dont fix it.

…And DreamWorks and Universal knew that.

Someone at DreamWorks or Universal must have been taking notes on everything that Disney was doing wrong, because they avoided the Mouse’s pitfalls. It didn’t try to add any overly preachy, woke messages like Snow White. It used CGI only when necessary for the dragons. And best of all, the characters and their motivations more or less remained the same. While they did tone down Hiccup’s sarcasm to play up his angst and insecurity, it never reached insufferable levels. If anything, Mason Thames’ earnest performance endears him to me all the more. Everyone seemed to bring their A-game.

It also helped that the director of the original film came back for the remake. That meant that they knew what they were doing.

Remaking a film can often be like walking on a tightrope. You have to balance between being faithful to the original and trying to improve on it. How to Train Your Dragon, though, didn’t need to change much. It already knew that it had a winning story that people would love. It knew it had nothing to prove, and that allowed it to soar to new heights. It’s likely the first big hit of the summer, and I might end up seeing it a second time.

As for Disney, maybe getting embarrassed by their rivals will be the wake-up call they need. We dont want another Snow White incident!

I Give “How to Train Your Dragon” a 4.5/5

House of the Dragon S2 Ep 8 Review

I don’t know when it happened, but I do remember my reaction when I learned that season two of House of the Dragon would only be 8 episodes: disappointment. It felt like HBO hadn’t learned the lessons from the final two seasons of Game of Thrones. By shortening the season, they fail to give the show the time it needs for the plot to properly develop. The end result is the episodes trying to tell too many stories at once, damaging it as a whole with important moments not being given the time or focus they need! And despite making up for Blood and Cheese with Rook’s Rest and The Red Sowing, my worst fears came true. The finale is incredibly mid, capping off a season that, outside those and a few other key moments, fails to deliver on the show’s premise: dragons fighting dragons!

The Beginning of the Mid!

Did HBO learn nothing from the shortcomings of Game of Thrones‘ final seasons? The season finale to House of The Dragon seems to indicate that they didn’t because they made the same mistake. Rather than giving the various stories it has to juggle time to breathe, the finale seeks to cram as much in as possible to its own detriment. And that becomes especially egregious when it comes to three separate storylines that take up valuable time.

Firstly, we have Tyland Lannister trying to recruit the Triarchy for the Greens. Normally, I would like this because the setting and local attire remind me of pirates. However, while seeing the haughty Lannister mud-wrestle the Triarchy admiral was amusing, this bit of worldbuilding took up valuable screen time it couldn’t afford to waste. Thsts only made worse by the fact that all this does is confirm that the Triarchy will fight for the Greens in exchange for the Stepstones. That could’ve been explained through a bit of exposition.

Secondly, there’s Rhaena’s search for the mystery dragon. They shouldn’t have wasted time showing the progress. Instead, it makes more sense to have opened up on her finding the dragon, Sheepstealer, and the rest of her scenes showing her taming it. The episode doesn’t even have Sheepstealer appear until the final moments, far too late to make an impact. Considering he was the dragon I wanted to see most, this was dissappointing.

Lastly, we have the scene between Alyn of Hull and Corlys Velaryon. I loved seeing Alyn blow up at his father for only caring about him now that he needed a male heir. It’s rare for the Westerosi elite to get called out for how selfish they can be. However, I didn’t like how this happened in the season finale. Had we got more episodes, seeing the fallout to this and how it affects Corlys would be interesting. It’s apparent that what Alyn said, combined with his wife’s death, aged him a lot!

The Good Stuff

All these missteps made the finale a very mid one. And that doesn’t even get into the fact that we got little time with the other Dragonseeds. But there were still a few good moments.

The first involves Daemon’s Harrenhal arc finally coming to an end. Having had his ego knocked down by…whatever is messing with him, Daemon reunites with Rhaenyra and makes amends with her. Seeing him finally accept that he’s not fit for the Iron Throne is some major character development, but time will tell if this humility will stick. However, some fans are already upset about what it was that made Daemon change his mind: a vision of the future.

The weirwood trees give Daemon a vision of what will come centuries from now: most notably, the White Walkers and the rise of Danaerys. Thanks to that, Daemon gets the bigger picture. He finally understands why Rhaenyra and Viserys are so serious about ensuring their rule. I thought that it’s a cool call-forward to the events of Game of Thrones, but I know many fans won’t agree and call it mid. In addition, there’s also the matter of how Daemon could see the future.

The headcanon I’m going with is a fan theory that Brynden Rivers, Daemon and Rhaenyra’s descendant that everyone believes will become the Three-Eyed Raven, sent him a message from the future. The reason why is to ensure that events proceed as they do and lead to the White Walkers eventual defeat. It seems a little contrived, but I don’t care.

Alicent’s Bargain

The moment that I do care about is when Alicent sneaks onto Dragonstone to talk to Rhaenyra. After losing all her power and influence and doing some soul-searching, Alicent came to a single conclusion: she wants out. She wasted her whole life doing what others expected of her, and she’s done. She just wants to be free of it all, so she offers Rhaenyra a deal: she opens King’s Landing for her, and in exchange, she can take her kids and granddaughter and leave.

Rhaenyra, still salty about Alicent rebuffing her earlier, makes a counter offer: Aegon (and likely the rest of her sons) must die. It’s a very sadistic choice, and both of them know it. Alicent is being asked to betray two of her sons, something no mother should ever have to make! However, both of them know that it’s the only way. Now that Aegon took the Throne and Aemond also wants it, they wont stop until they’re dead. And, Alicent actually agrees.

For such a mid episode, this moment was a major highlight to me. The irony of how the two women’s positions are reversed isn’t lost on me, either. Speaking of which, the irony is that when Rhaenyra gets to King’s Landing, Aegon won’t be there. He and Larys fled to escape Aemond, who responded to being driven off by burning down an entire town.

Rhaenyra is right: they have to die. Aemond’s a war criminal and Aegon’s a usurper and rapist. Even the pity I feel for Aegon for what happened to him doesn’t change that fact.

Unfortunately, this is where the episode, and the season, choose to end things. No major deaths, no big battle; nothing. Hence why the episode is mid.

What a Mid Ending!

Truthfully, it feels like the entire season was mid. All that build up for the Dance of the Dragons, and outside a few moments, the season barely gave the fans what we wanted. Fans wanted to see the two sides tear each other to pieces. I wanted to munch popcorn and laugh at how pointless the whole thing was! Instead, the whole season is mostly just more talking and teasing us about what comes next. But that’s not what we wanted to see, and the whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth. And the fans know it. This post on Twitter stood out to me the most:

I don’t know what made HBO decide to do things the way they did, but they’re losing the faith they worked so hard to regain from viewers. What makes it worse is the fact that when the series decided to buckle down and follow through on its potential, it was awesome! This ending, though, wasn’t awesome! It was mid as they come!

We don’t know when the third season of House of the Dragon airs, but something has to change at HBO. They need to give the show whatever they need to give us more of Rook’s Rest and The Red Sowing. This is a show about a war between dragons. It needs to start acting like one!

At least next year, we get “The Adventures of Dunk and Egg.”

I give “The Queen Who Ever Was” a 2/5

House of the Dragon S2 Ep 7 Review

I’ve been waiting for three moments to happen in season two of House of the Dragon: Blood and Cheese, the Battle at Rook’s Rest, and the Red Sowing. AKA the moment when the Dragonseeds claim their dragons for the Blacks. Or rather, when the dragons claim their riders, because, as the last episode made all too clear, the idea that a rider can claim their dragon is a lie. The dragons choose their rider, regardless of who they are or where they come from. But while letting Valryian bastards claim dragons might seem like a good idea on Rhaenyra’s part, is it worth it? The events of the Red Sowing put that into question before it’s even done.

Firstly, though, let’s go over the other plots in the episode.

Oscar Tully Goes Full Gangsta on Daemon

Daemon Targaryen might be one of the best characters in House of the Dragon, but his time at Harrenhal has not done his character justice. For weeks now, Daemon’s time onscreen has either been about him trying to raise an army or being haunted by visions of his regrets and misdeeds. At first, it was interesting to see Harrenhal mess with Daemon like that, but it quickly got old. It feels like a waste of Matt Smith’s acting abilities; he was my second favorite Doctor!

Fortunately, it would seem that Daemon’s time at Harrenhal is coming to an end. Now that the old Tully lord is dead, his grandson, Oscar Tully, is Lord Paramount of the Riverlands. And, unlike his first appearance, Oscar has taken a level in badass. He’s much more willing to sass the adults in the room. Firstly, he takes jabs at Daemon for being just a Prince and for having the Blackwoods commit war crimes. Then, he throws shade at the Riverlords when they question him because he’s a child. Oscar’s less an Edmure and more like a young Brynden the Blackfish!

Oscar does agree to honor his oath to Rhaenyra, but there’s a catch: the Riverlords want justice for what the Blackwoods did. And, despite being the one who gave Willem Blackwood leave to commit said war crimes, Daemon doesn’t hesitate to turn his sword on him. It’s not made clear if Willem is dead, but I just looked it online, and he’s not a character from the books. Thus, he’s likely dead. I’m only bringing that up because the fact that Daemon was willing to betray someone who followed his orders could hurt him in the long.

Alicent’s Woes and Aegon’s Physical Therapy

On the Greens’ side of things, the episode focuses mainly on two characters, Alicent and Aegon. Both have endured great pain throughout the series thus far, each in their own ways, and it feels like the episode puts great emphasis on what they have to go through. And despite giving fans plenty of reasons to hate them, I still couldn’t help but feel pity for the mother and son.

Alicent has lost almost everything she had and is deeply depressed over it. That prompts her to leave the Red Keep with her sworn sword for the isolation of the Kingswood, and there’s one scene where she strips down to her undershirt and starts swimming in a lake as a bird flies overhead. Since they can fly, many people see birds as a symbol of freedom. For Alicent, they’re a symbol of the freedom that she’s never had. All her life, she tried to follow the rules and act like how the men expected a woman to act. Alicent has realized that she should’ve followed Rhaenyra’s example and played the game by her own rules, which is the most tragic aspect of her character.

Then we have Aegon. I’ve made it no secret that I think he’s a loser and a terrible excuse for a person. But even I can’t help but feel bad seeing him try to walk across his bedroom in excruciating pain. He knew he wasn’t worthy of the Throne, but he let himself buy into the hype, and now he’ll remain like this for the rest of his life. Aegon may be a sad excuse for a man, but no one should have to experience this.

How Can a Commoner Claim a Dragon?

Now we have the best part of the episode: watching the Dragonseeds claim their dragons in the Red Sowing. And long-time fans know that any event in the franchise that starts with the word “Red” is bad news, and the Red Sowing lived up to this. But before that, there’s the event that gives birth to the idea.

After Rhaenyra confronts Addam and Seasmoke and they pledge their loyalty to her, the Queen and Mysaria go on a recruitment spree. They invite dozens of lowborn Targaryen bastards to Dragonstone like it’s an audition for Westerosi Idol. But while Rhaenyra sees this as a great idea, others either scoff at it or flat out refuse to accept it. While the Dragonkeepers refuse to help her, Jace argues that letting commoners claim dragons breaks the myth that the Targaryens are these godlike people. He’s right, but his argument stems from him fearing letting others claim dragons robs him of his greatest claim to the Iron Throne since he’s also a bastard. He might be right, but for the wrong reasons.

The Red Sowing Was Worth the Wait

Then we have the Red Sowing itself. Rhaenyra has all the Dragonseeds audition for King Jahaerys’ dragon, Vermithor, at once. And I don’t understand that for the life of me. Rhaenyra saw what Seasmoke did to a smaller group of people, so imagine what the second-largest dragon in Westeros would do?

The Red Sowing is as horrific as you expect. The show does a good job of using camera’s and special affects to play up Vermithor’s slaughter of most of the Dragonseeds. All of that leads to Hugh Hammer, the blacksmith of King’s Landing, claiming Vermithor. I really liked this moment. The fact that Hugh chooses to stare down Vermithor while trying to save another Dragonseed speaks a lot about his character up to this point. And unlike the others, Hugh faces Vermithor without any fear or arrogance, neither of which the dragons seem to like. And it seems to seal the deal for Vermithor.

As for Ulf, he flees from Vermithor, only to run into the nest of his mate, Silverwing. Luckily for him, Silverwing chooses him as her new rider. Silverwing was also pretty friendly with other humans. The entire scene is pretty funny, as is the reveal of what Ulf does next. He proceeds to fly Silverwing to King’s Landing, scaring everyone below and likely impressing Ulf’s fellow barflies. And with the three dragons, Aemond is forced to retreat from Dragonstone when he tries to pursue Ulf.

There’s also more hints about the dragon in the Vale that Rhaena is looking for, but nothing comes of it…yet.

What’s in Store for the Finale

And thus, the Red Sowing comes to an end. And with how bloody it was, it seems like Rhaenrya starts to question whether or not this was worth it in the end. However, that doubt seems to have evaporated with the sight of Aemond and Vhagar. Or I might just be reading too much into her actions. Either way, Rhaenyra now has the advantage against the Greens in terms of dragons as we head into the season finale.

Yes, the show ends its second season, but the preview seems to be promising. I don’t want to spoil what might happen, but we might get a battle that’s on-par with the one we got at Rook’s Rest. Until then, though, I’m going to look back on the Red Sowing with morbid fondness. The one complaint that I might have, though, is the fact that a few dragons from the books have not been introduced. And I’m not just talking about the one in the Vale, but two other dragons.

I Give “The Red Sowing” a 4.5/5

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

House of the Dragon S2 Ep 5 Review

When I watched Aemond burn Rhaenys and Aegon with Vhagar at the Battle of Rook’s Rest, a thought crossed my mind: this reminded me of The Lion King. To be more precise, it reminded me of the moment when Scar let Mufasa fall to his death so he could become King. The look on Aemond’s face, as he ordered Vhagar to attack Rhaenys, Aegon, and their dragons, screamed, “Long live the king,” to me! And while Aegon, unlike Mufasa, remains alive, the result is the same. Aemond is now King in all but name, and both sides are left to deal with the fallout of this and Rhaenys’ death. And it’s not pretty!

Parading Meleys Around Was the Stupidest Thing the Greens Could Do

After a quick stop at Driftmark, the episode shifts to King’s Landing, with the Greens having yet another procession. Whereas the previous one was meant to show off the murdered Prince Jahaerys and discredit Rhaenyra, this time, it’s meant to celebrate the Greens’ “victory” at Rooks Rest. The centerpiece is the severed head of the slain Meleys, claimed to have been slain by Aegon himself. But if Ser Criston and Aemond hoped to hype up their side, they fail. Miserably.

The Battle of Rooks Rest was hardly a victory, and everyone who took part knows it. In a later conversation, Criston Cole shows signs of PTSD, haunted by the burning bodies consumed by dragonfire. To make matters worse, the smallfolk take one look at Meleys’ severed head and realize that when Rhaenyra comes for King’s Landing, she’ll be low on mercy. However, what I consider a bigger problem is how this act of showing off the head of Meleys destroys the mystique of House Targaryen.

A comment from one of the smallfolk reminds us of Viserys and Rhaenyra’s conversation from the pilot. The people of Westeros see dragons as gods, and their Valyrian riders thus closer to gods than mortals. By showing off the head of a dead dragon, the Greens are letting everyone know that dragons aren’t invincible gods. They can be killed, even if by other dragons. That thought will stay in the minds of everyone in King’s Landing, and thus have serious consequences for House Targaryen in the long run.

Aegon’s In a Coma. Aemond is In Charge Now

The more immediate consequences are shown once we see the state Aegon’s in…or what’s left of him.

I’ll be honest: as bad as Aegon looks, this isn’t the worst I’ve seen someone get burned alive. That honor falls to Anakin Skywalker being set alight by lava in Revenge of the Sith. That being said, the sight of Aegon having compound fractures and having his valyrian steel armor peeled off is a close second. As bad as Aegon is, seeing him cry out weakly for his mother is still hard to look at. All he wanted to do was prove he wasn’t a failure, and this is what happened to him.

As for Aemond? He doesn’t even care.

At the next meeting of the small council, the question arises as to who will rule in Aegon’s stead. Alicent, having done so for Viserys for years, tries to put her name forward. And, in hindsight, this might have been subtly influenced by her realizing she helped started this because of a misunderstanding. However, it’s like she told Rhaenyra: there’s no stopping what’s happening. So it is no surprise that the small council chooses Aemond. And with that, Westeros’s second most dangerous man is King in all but name. And knowing him, I expect Aemond plans to stay there for as long as possible.

The Blacks Mourn Rhaenys’ Passing

And while the Greens deal with this shift in power, the Blacks reel from the death of Rhaenys and Meleys, with everyone dealing with it in different ways.

Rhaenyra is devastated to lose her biggest supporter and her side’s strongest dragon in one fell swoop. And that’s on top of everything else she’s dealing with. Her husband won’t listen to her; her council can’t agree on anything, and she can’t go charging into battle on Syrax despite wanting to do just that. At one point when she’s talking to Jacaerys, you can feel her frustration.

Speaking of Jace, the young heir to Rhaenyra also wants to fly out into battle, but is continually frustrated by his Mom’s unwillingness to let him do so. That reaches a breaking point here when, at Baela’s advice, he sneaks out of Dragonstone and manages to talk the Freys into siding with his Mom. I liked this, as it shows that Jace can step up and be a leader, even if that means putting him at risk of being attacked by Aemond and Vhagar. Plus, when Rhaenyra bemoans not having dragon riders for her many dragons, it’s Jace who comes up with the idea of seeking out Taragaryen and Velaryon bastards. Which is going to play a huge role in events to come!

Corlys is a Just a Broken Man Now

The one who’s taking Rhaenys’ death the hardest, though, is her husband, Corlys, and it’s not hard to see why. Compare him to the start of the series. In another life, he could’ve been the King’s consort, which led him to make a play for the Iron Throne through his daughter. Now, that very same Throne has cost him his wife, his children, and one of his grandchildren. He’s had enough of the game and just wants to save what he has left. Yet the game won’t let him, with Rhaenyra offering to make him Hand, and Baela intending to keep fighting for her. Time will tell if takes up that offer, though.

Can We Please Get out of Harrenhal Now?

Then, we have the weakest part of the episode, and this season as a whole: Daemon at Harrenhal. If it seems like I haven’t talked about that as much, there’s a reason for it: I don’t know where to include it. As interesting as Harrenhal was initially, it’s already started to wear out its welcome. What’s worse, I feel like Matt Smith is being wasted as Daemon in these moments as the castle (which may actually be haunted) is getting to him. In one of the series creepiest moments yet, we get Daemon making out with a beautiful woman…only to learn its his mother. Not. Cool.

Daemon’s behavior isn’t winning him any fans, either. Getting involved in the Blackwood-Bracken feud, he discreetly lets the Blackwoods commit war crimes on the Brackens. Instead of cowing the Riverlands, they’re so disgusted they tell him to his face that they won’t follow him. So, good going, Daemon.

Let the Dragonseeds Come!

This episode might seem weak compared to the aboslute banger we had before. However, like the season premiere, “Regent” deals with the aftermath of a major watershed moment in Westerosi history. I hope things start to pick up once more before the season ends, and the next episode already looks promising. After building them up throughout the season, the Dragonseeds might start to play a role in the Dance of the Dragons. Until then, though, we must deal with the fact that Aemond the Kinslayer is the King of Westeros.

I Give “Regent” a 3.5/5