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House of the Dragon Episode 8 Review

Well, we all knew this day was coming. It would happen before the first season ended, no less. However, knowing that it was coming didn’t make it any easier for us to watch. Especially since this moment would doom almost everyone in the cast to what will come next, this week on House of the Dragon, King Viserys breathes his last. It’s the beginning of the long end of House Targaryen.

The Driftmark Affair

After yet another time skip (the last, I hope), the episode opens up on Driftmark in a succession crisis. Corlys was badly injured fighting in the Stepstones (again), and his survival remains doubtful. Thus, his brother Vaemond’s trying to press his claim to the lordship of House Velaryon since it’s obvious that Rhaenyra’s kids aren’t Laenor’s. While Corlys seemed aware of this, he ignored it, preferring to let House Velaryon live in name if not in blood. In the end, House Velaryon decides to take the issue to King’s Landing, now firmly a Hightower stronghold.

Side note, I never read the books, but I know that Corlys Velaryon made it to the end of what’s to come and was a major player in the Dance of the Dragons. While his fate’s unknown, his death would be a major change of events with massive consequences. Hearing about this, Rhaenyra’s family heads to King’s Landing to head Vaemond off, since if he wins, it could cost her the Iron Throne.

Aegon the Elder Belongs in Jail

I wasn’t joking when I said King’s Landing is under Hightower control. Otto and Alicent have redecorated to focus on the Faith of the Seven, and stacked the court with their loyalists. Worse, Alicent has gotten even more paranoid. Though given how her firstborn son is a rapist, she has every right to be.

I’m being serious here. In a series filled with plenty of dark moments, one of the darkest might be learning that Aegon forced himself onto a poor servant girl. And he considers it to be harmless fun. I could spend an entire post listing all the reasons why this is messed, but the bottom line is that if Aegon weren’t a Prince, he’d be thrown in the cells. Alicent’s ready to disown him, she’s so beside herself. The message is clear: Aegon as King is a bad idea. 

King Viserys: Too Good for This World

However, the most surprising part of the episode is what we see of King Viserys…or what’s left of him. Already in poor health at Driftmark, Viserys has become little more than a living corpse. His body’s covered in sores, his hair’s gone, and he’s missing an eye! He looks absolutely horrible…and it makes it even harder to see what’s become of him. It also hit…really close to home.

A few years back, an older relative of mine passed away in the hospital while we were visiting them. While they looked nothing like how King Viserys does, the sight of seeing someone that you’ve known all your life, that you see so full of life, hooked up to machines and tubes, is heart-wrenching to see. That’s how I felt when watching Viserys. The curse of the Iron Throne led him to this state!

In essence, this whole episode painted King Viserys’ entire life as this great tragedy. All Viserys ever wanted to do was protect his Kingdom and make others happy. As a result, others took advantage of his good nature to manipulate him for power and create discord. And even now, when he’s in so much pain that he can barely move, he still tries to keep his family together! The sight of Viserys limping toward the Iron Throne was a brilliant example of how far he’s fallen, and how determined he is to keep his family together. 

I swear to God, if Paddy Considine doesnt win an Emmy next year, I’m going to be so pissed.

A Last Hope Snuffed Out

In the end, it seems like Viserys determination to keep his family together might have worked. Some negotiation between Rhaenyra and Rhaenys has her eldest sons promised to her granddaughters, ensuring Velaryon would survive in blood and name. Vaemond suffers from death by Daemon in the process, though. Daemon is such a badass!

In addition, Viserys organizes a family dinner for both sides, and, despite everything, Rhaenyra and Alicent find that they still have things in common. Rhaenyra thought that Alicent was exaggerating how hard it was looking after her father, but seeing King Viserys’ made her realize that she wasn’t. It was that hard for Alicent. So Rhaenyra genuinely thanks her former friend for what she gave up. And for a brief moment, it looks like both sides can reconcile. Which is why what happens next made my heart sink like a stone. 

Firstly, the animosity between the kids still leads them to come to blows, a result of the hate their parents encouraged in them. Rhaenyra ends up deciding to take her kids back to Dragonstone as the dinner ends with her and Alicent seemingly parting on good terms. They don’t know it, but this proves to be a tragic decision could doom them all.

As the episode ends, King Viserys lies on his deathbed in the dark, alone. No family to be found. With his final breath, he speaks of the Song of Ice and Fire and Aegon’s dream and how he believes in it. There’s just one problem: he thinks he’s talking to Rhaenyra. In reality, it’s Alicent who hears his last words. And she ignorantly thinks he’s talking about making Aegon king. Without even realizing it, Viserys destroyed his family as he died.

The Storm Breaks

The King is dead. Long live the King.

I don’t blame Viserys for what’s happened beyond the death of his wife; at least, not entirely. Viserys was a man who saw the forest for the trees. While everyone else schemed for power, Viserys knew the evil from beyond the Wall would come, and the blood of Aegon would have to face it. Ultimately, Viserys was vindicated. It would Rhaenyra’s descendants in Daenaerys Targaryen and Jon Snow that would rally Westeros against the Night King. It was Aegon’s dagger that Arya used to kill the Night King. In the time of House of the Dragon, though, most of the players will die.

I promised I wouldn’t hate or get attached to any characters in this show, but after seeing the preview for next week’s episode, I feel my anger rising. Alicent, you just doomed everyone. 

King Viserys is dead, and the storm will break next week. The dragons shall begin to dance, and it will tear Westeros apart. Man, this was such a good episode. Kept me glued from start to finish!

I Give “Lord of the Tides” a 4.8/5

House of the Dragon S1, Ep 6 Review

Until tonight, I thought the Lannisters were the most messed up family in Westeros. Emotionally abusive dad, incestuous twins, and alcoholic son. However, after seeing what House Targaryen was like in their heyday, it’s clear that I was mistaken. The Targaryens take the top spot as Westeros’ most messed up family. A family that’s only staying civil while the King lives. Once he dies, the House of the Dragon will go to war…and it already has its first casualties.

New Girls on the Block

This episode marks the debut of Emma D’arcy and Olivia as the now adult Princess Rhaenyra and Queen Alicent, and they hit the ground running and don’t stop. I was skeptical that we couldn’t replace Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as the female leads, but these post-timeskip actors do a wonderful job. In their first scene as Rhaenyra, we see Emma play the Princess as she goes through the labors of childbirth, which the show depicts in vivid detail. Ten years have not softened Rhaenyra one bit, as no sooner has she given birth than she heads off to see Alicent with her newborn son, even while trailing blood on the way.

While Rhaenyra’s now the mother to three sons, there’s a problem, and everyone but the King seems to know it: they’re not Laenor’s sons. They’re all bastards, born from Rhaenyra and Ser Harwin Strong of the City Watch. And the more that are born, the more frustrated Alicent gets. Her attitude makes it clear: she doesn’t understand how her husband doesn’t see that his daughter’s undermining the marriage he worked to build.

In all fairness, Viserys might be aware of what’s going on, but chooses to ignore it. What matters to him is Rhaenyra’s sons are of his blood, regardless of who the father is, though everyone else may not feel the same way. Or maybe he’s just deluding himself in the hopes that his family will be as happy as he wants them to be.

Targaryen Family Is Messed Up

Truthfully, the whole Targaryen family is messed up, best shown through how Rhaenyra and Alicent’s kids interact with each other. Rhaenyra’s eldest boys, Jace and Luke (they’re nicknames) are nice enough, but it’s Alicent’s kids that are odd. Aemond laments how he’s the only Targaryen without a dragon, leading him to be the butt of a cruel prank by his brother.

As for Aegon? He acts like a spoiled brat. We see him standing naked on a window doing his…business, which is not something I want to remember. He’s basically a foolish boy.

Daemon Has a Happy Family, Though.

Ironically, the family that has it best ends up being Daemon’s new family with Laena Velaryon. They’re now living in Pentos as guests with their dragons, and this marks the first time that we see Vhagar, the largest dragon alive and the last one from the time of Aegon the Conqueror. She easily dwarfs all other dragons and is a triumph of CGI. 

In other words, Daemon goes from being unhappy to having a loving wife, two daughters, and another one on the way. Best of all, he’s away from the toxic environment of King’s Landing.

If only fate would be kind enough to spare the kids the heartache of what’s to come. Westeros doesn’t work like that, though.

Scandal Rocks the Royal Family

After what he did at the end of last week’s episode, Ser Criston’s gone from golden boy to hated by the show’s fans, and it only gets worse from there. This week, he provokes fights between the Targaryen kids, and when Ser Harwin steps in, he accuses him the things he’s guilty of. So, Harwin beats him up, and the resulting scandal opens the floodgates.

And from here, the bodies start dropping.

The First Big Casualties

I never mentioned him last week, but there’s another member of House Strong, Larys Strong. And he’s this era’s Littlefinger, acting the mild-mannered servant in public. In private, though, he’s just as cunning. Maybe even more so, to the point that Alicent fears him.

Case in point, when Lord Strong takes Hardin back to Harrenhal to quell the rumors of Rhaenyra’s children, he burns them alive. He wipes out his own family, which isn’t new, but still disturbing. It also prompts Rhaenyra to take her family and leave for Dragonstone, depriving her of her power base.

Meanwhile, Laena dies from the stresses of childbirth in Pentos. In a moment meant to contrast Viserys’ decision to sacrifice his wife to save their child, Daemon hesitates to take the same route. However, Laena takes the choice out of his hands by approaching Vhagar and having the ancient dragon immolate her. It’s a tragic example of female agency and one that leaves everyone saddened. 

A Family Divided Against Itself

Thus, the episode ends with the die already being cast. The first members of the house of the dragon have fallen, and more will follow.

Watching all this, I’m mentally berating everyone for pushing things to this point out of pride. At one point, Rhaenyra even offers an olive branch by promising to marry Jace to Alicent’s daughter, Helaena. The latter refuses to marry her daughter to a bastard, and another chance to make peace flies out the window.

Right now, I’m glad I promised not to become attached to the characters in House of the Dragon. It lets me see the entire Targaryen family for what they’re being: dumb. And once King Viserys dies, fire and blood will consume them all. Meanwhile, I’ll be munching on popcorn, lamenting the foolishness of everyone.

That, and the sight of Prince Aegon doing his business in a window. Who does that?!? Even if that was David Tennant’s son playing him.

I Give “The Princess and the Queen” a 4.5/5

House of the Dragon Ep 5 Review

WHAT. THE HECK. JUST HAPPENED? I knew knives would come out on House of the Dragon, since this is Westeros, but damn. I didn’t expect that to happen so soon! We are now past the point of no return for House Targaryen. In what should be a “joyous” royal wedding, instead becomes a tragedy. And for once, Daemon wasn’t at fault.

No, seriously, Daemon wasn’t at fault this time. 

In the episode’s opening minutes, we get our first look at Daemon’s “bronze bitch,” Rhea Royce. It’s also the last because Daemon kills her.

The books say Rhea died when she fell off her horse. The show takes some creative liberties that would make George RR Martin proud. Daemon tricks Rhea into causing her own fall…and then just kills her. The knives have come out, and Dameon’s taking crap from no one.

A Mutually Beneficial Relationship?

For the players in King’s Landing, though, there’s plenty of crap to go around, especially for Rhaenyra and Set Criston Cole. Rhaenyra heads to Driftmark to meet her betrothed, Ser Laenor Velaryon. On the surface, it seems like an ideal match. Both houses are Valryian, and both have dragons. However, there’s an issue: Laenor’s gay, and Rhaenyra knows it. While the parents discuss inheritance, Rhaenyra and Laenor come to an understanding. They essentially agree that after they do their duty, they’ll have an open relationship. It’s not that bad of a deal, honestly. Unless your Ser Criston Cole.

Poor Ser Criston Got His Heart Broken

Oh, poor Criston. My heart couldn’t help but go out to you just as much as I wanted to slap you across the face. Rhaenyra made him break vows of celibacy as part of the Kingsguard, something he deeply regrets. Being the idealist he is, he gives Rhaenyra an offer: walk away from all this madness. They can leave for Essos, forget everything, and leave the insanity behind. 

Hindsight has never felt more painful than it does here. Because if you know the story, then you know how it will likely end. What Ser Criston’s offering is the best chance Rhaenyra could get for a happy life. If this weren’t Game of Thrones, then maybe Rhaenyra would take that offer. Instead, her sense of duty, pride, and desire for the Iron Throne make her turn him down. And he’s not happy with the idea of sharing Rhaenyra with someone else. 

Again, I feel for Ser Criston. From his perspective, he feels like Rhaenyra just used him for her own amusement. The Lords and Ladies can afford that kind of slip-up, but someone common born like Ser Criston? He tarnished himself as part of the Kingsguard for nothing. It’s painful to watch, especially when he just admits it to Alicent when she lightly prods him. 

Knives Come Out With Blood in the Water

Things come to a head at the feast that’s supposed to mark the start of Rhaenyra and Laenor’s weeklong wedding celebrations. Alicent comes dressed in Hightower green, which is her way of saying to Rhaenyra, “I know what you did. I know you lied to me, and our friendship is over.” 

It gets worse. In the middle of the dancing, Ser Criston lets the guilt and resentment he’s feeling get to him, and he snaps. What happened next was a tragedy that left people horrified and me with my jaw on the floor. Thus, Rhaenyra and Laenor hastily wed in a private ceremony, even while blood lays dripping on the floor as a rat comes by.

So, to recap: two minor characters are dead. Any relationship Alicent and Ser Criston had with Rhaenyra’s damaged beyond repair. And if it’s not clarified, King Viserys won’t live to be old. 

Knives Out, Lines Drawn, Bonds Destroyed

Can someone ring the gong to announce the impending doom for the Targaryen’s? Because, as Princess Rhaenys said this episode, knives will come out. People will fight over who sits on the Iron Throne. All because they can’t accept having a woman as a leader. 

What’s especially tragic about all this is that Rhaenyra had an out. She had the chance to walk away with Ser Criston. They could’ve taken Syrax and left for parts unknown, but pride and duty made her stay. Now she must face the consequences of what comes.

This episode also marks the final appearance of Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra and Alicent. Starting next episode, they’ll be played by older actresses to signify the big time skip. They both did an amazing job as these two women, and I hope they find success in the future. 

Alright, people, the knives are out. Let’s watch the Dragons tear at each other’s throats!!

I Give “We Light the Way” a 4/5