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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 2 Review

The season three premiere of House of the Dragon managed to start things off on an absolutely crazy note. HBO proved that the time and money they put into the season opener was well spent with The Battle of the Gullet, one of the biggest clashes of the Dance, as this war shall be called. Thanks to the impulsiveness of Rhaena Targaryen, we had to watch as Prince Jacaerys and his dragon were slain by the Triarchy, depriving Rhaenyra of her eldest son and heir to the Iron Throne. And as we know thanks to her descendant, Danaerys, when Targaryens lose the ones they love, they will set the entire realm on fire. And that is what pretty much what happens in this episode as Queen Rhaenyra gets what she wants: she gets the Iron Throne. But I think she’s already questioning if it was worth it or not.

Rhaena is a Dead Woman Walking!

The opening to this episode is a somber one as Baella and Moondancer return to Dragonstone with Jacaerys’ body. Everyone on the island is shocked and horrified by the death of the prince, but the person who is most horrified is, naturally, Rhaenyra herself. Emma D’arcy has proven an oustanding actor as Rhaenyra, as they manage to have the Queen go through multiple stages of grieving in a matter of moments. Seeing her be in initial denial that her son is dead to howling in tears over it is absolutely heartbreaking to watch. It was Jace who chose to fly to what would be his death so he could prove himself a worthy heir, but Rhaenyra still blames herself like any good parent would. That, and she blames the person who rode Sheepstealer. Though she doesn’t know that it was Daemon’s own daughter…yet.

As for Rhaena, she is pretty much a dead woman walking. She defied orders to flee to Pentos so she could claim a dragon. Then she impulsively decided to ride said dragon into battle without any further training, leading to Jace’s death. She knows that Rhaenyra will kill her for this, so rather than let that happen, she flees back to the Vale to hide, though Lady Arryn say she doesn’t want to see her again. I don’t blame her, either. I was happy that Rhaena got her own dragon at last, but what Sheepstealer did only proves the late Viserys point that dragons are too dangerous for man to control. Which sucks, because the dragons are the coolest part of this entire franchise!

The one Silver Lining

The only silver lining to all of this is that Corlys Velayron is still alive. But Driftmark is now in ruins, and it’s likely the Triarchy made off with a lot of his fortune. His house will never be as big as used to be. But at least he has his granddaughter and sons, Addam and Alyn. The latter of whom is now ready to accept Corlys as his dad.

So, with Aegon in the wind and Aemond having flown to capture Harrenhal, Alicent has held up her end of the bargain to Rhaenyra, but it almost gets her r*ped in the process. No, really. Lord Jasper, the Master of Laws, figures out what she’s up to and tries to blackmail her for s*x in exchange. And then we get a very graphic moment where he attempts to r*pe her! I actually thought the show was going to go through with it, but thankfully, Alicent is saved at the last second. Sadly, she and Helaena are unable to escape King’s Landing before Rhaenyra, Daemon, Hugh, and Ulf fly in to capture it.

The Queen Lands

The capture of King’s Landing is incredibly well-executed, in my opinion. The sight of the people panicking as Queen Rhaenyra’s dragons fly overhead is an excellent contrast to how nonchalant they were about in the first episode. Seeing Rhaenyra and Daemon tear through the Red Keep and take it for themselves is an excellent display of assertiveness. And that moment when the City Watch helps them take the city out of loyalty to Daemon? Chef’s kiss. Of course, I think that my favorite scene has to be how Rhaenyra deals with those who tried to deny what was promised to her.

So Long, Otto!

Like Littlefinger centuries later, Otto Hightower is the man responsible for the chaos unfolding in the show. He tried to put his own blood on the throne by selling off his own daughter as a bride. He and his conspirators basically enacted a coup by putting Aegon on the throne against the wishes of Viserys. Otto was a traitor hiding behind a veil of tradition, and it cost him his life. I was happy to see him go, but that joy was muted by the show’s decision to have Rhaenyra execute him herself.

The bloody footprints as she climbed towards the Throne that was promised to her is peak symbolism, in my opinion. It’s a Throne she’s had to win in blood, and the distraught look on her face as Alicent enters the throne room says that she is shocked at what she had to do to get it. But the bloodshed has only just begun.

The season is far from over, and while Rhaenyra can now say she is Queen, she has to hold it while Aegon and his brothers are still on the loose. And holding the Iron Throne is even harder than winning it! Ball’s in your court, Rhaenyra. Let’s see how long you can hold it.

I Give “Queen’s Landing” a 4.5/5

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

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 2 Review

From the first episode of House of the Dragon, I’ve made my disdain for Otto Hightower no secret. More than anyone, I consider him the main culprit for the Dance of the Dragons. He had his daughter marry King Viserys to give him a son and a new heir he could guide like a puppet. However, by doing so, he destroys the friendship between Alicent and Rhaenyra, splits the realm in two, and condemns the dragons to a long, slow death. And if the show follows the books well enough, then Otto’s efforts will end up being for nothing. And while plenty of others are equally responsible for what’s to come, it’s still satisfying to see Otto get his first dose of karma in this episode. Otto Hightower gets fired. Again!

As I said on Twitter: He should’ve stuck with Rhaenyra. And this episode was

Peace is Now Dead. Let the Carnage and Power Plays Begin

The end of the season premiere was disappointing, but its follow-up starts on the strongest note possible. The entire Red Keep is in chaos as guards start rounding up everyone, determined to find the assassins. Meanwhile, the Greens spiral as they each try to grasp what has happened. It’s through this that I think the episode truly shines, with the actors getting to display the full extent of their emotions.

Aegon demonstrates what happens when a Targaryen snaps when he lashes out at everything in sight, with disastrous consequences. You can practically see the flames bellowing from his mouth as he declares war on his half-sister while also destroying his father’s model of Old Valyria. Meanwhile, Aemond is left shaken at how narrowly he avoided death by being out at a brothel. Now his nephew is dead thanks to his actions. Some would say it wasn’t his fault, but I don’t think that. Vhagar may have gone AWOL, but Aemond created the circumstances that led to her killing Luke and Arrax. Silver lining? It gave us some good memes comparing a naked Aemond to Lord Voldemort.

The murder shakes Criston Cole because he failed to uphold his Kingsguard vows. Both by sleeping with Alicent, and failing to protect Helaena and her kids. As if to show just how far he’s fallen, instead of admitting his mistakes like he did in the past, he tries to deflect blame onto others. In this case, he berates Arryk Cargyle for getting his cloak dirty and for his brother choosing to join Rhaenyra. So he forces him to go to Dragonstone as part of an insane plan to kill Rhaenyra, which goes against what the Kingsguard stands for. Now the hate for Criston Cole has reached new highs.

Otto, What You Do is Messed Up

The Green who has the most unsettling reaction, though, has to be that of Otto Hightower. Whereas everyone around is visibly upset, Otto decides to milk this tragedy for all its worth. He has Jahaerys body displayed in a public funeral procession to gain sympathy from the smallfolk. And the whole time he has people proclaiming this to be the work of Rhaenyra, dubbing her ‘Rhaenyra the Cruel.”

Using the deaths of children for political purposes is not new, but watching this was just…wrong. Seeing the child’s body, its head sewn back on, paraded in front of everyone was wrong. Forcing the traumatized Helaena and guilt-ridden Alicent to take part was wrong. Otto is sad that his great-grandson is dead, but he doesn’t get how reprehensible this act is.

Plus, its rendered moot thanks to Aegon. But there’s also the reactions of the Blacks to consider.

I Think Rhaenyra and Daemon Just Broke Up

Contrary to the history books, Rhaenyra’s horrified by the death of Aegon’s son and the accusations that she ordered it. In truth, Daemon ordered the hit by Blood & Cheese without her knowledge or consent. And after figuring that part out almost +immediately, she’s livid at her husband.

That’s when HOTD starts to show the visible cracks in their relationship. Rhaenyra calls him out for going behind her back to do this, saying his impulsive decision destroyed any remaining chance at peace. She proceeds to pick him apart bit by bit, telling him that, despite claiming to support her claim to the Iron Throne, he doesn’t. Deep down, he’s still bitter and resentful at having what he thinks was his birthright passed over by his brother. While he does love Rhaenyra, he also sought to manipulate her, hoping to rule the Seven Kingdoms through her. In short, Daemon may be the biggest badass in Westeros, but on the inside, he remains a bitter, insecure man grasping for a station that’s not his. Nor is it it one that he deserves.

Daemon departs on Caraxes for Harrenhal afterwards, and I don’t remember if he returns at any point during the coming war. Even if he does, though, the damage is already done.

Not that the Greens fare any better, either.

Otto Has Zero Emotional Intelligence

When I say that I place most of the blame for the Dance of the Dragon on Otto Hightower, I mean it. He used his daughter to create a male heir to the Iron Throne that he could control. He thought that he could make Aegon into his puppet, through which his family could rule Westeros forever. But despite being an undeniably intelligent man, Otto was also a fool playing with fire.

Aegon proved utterly unworthy of being king, and everyone knows it; including Aegon! Case in point, after capturing Blood and learning it was a rat catcher who helped kill his son, he killed all the rat catchers in the Red Keep. Whatever sympathy the Greens won was lost thanks to this act, and Otto was livid. He yells at his grandson and wonders how he could be so foolish. And what does Aegon do, in response? He fires his grandfather.

And I relish the look on Otto’s face when that happens.

Otto is a smart man, and he’s great at thinking things through logically. That’s a useful trait in the royal court but also a weakness. He’s so lacking in empathy that he cannot understand why Aegon’s acting as he is. It just doesn’t compute to him! And while he’s right about Criston Cole’s plan being stupid, Aegon refuses to listen as he makes Criston the new Hand.

Otto, You Backed the Wrong Dragon

I loved this scene. Rhys Ifans gave an Emmy-worthy perfomance as Otto sees his plans blow up in his face. And he has no one to blame but himself. If he hadn’t pushed his daughter to marry Viserys and just accepted Rhaenyra as heir, none of this would have happened.

Reap what you sew, Otto. And when your death comes, may your last thoughts be “I wasted my life for nothing.”

The Dance of Dragons in Microcosm

The major highlight of the episode, though, was the battle between the brothers, Ser Arryk and Ser Erryk. As expected, the infiltration of Dragonstone fails when Arryk is spotted by a departing Mysaria. The fight between the two brothers, while not flashy or filled with cool effects, is still very emotional. In the end, neither brother walks away from this fight. Erryk kills his brother and overwhelmed with guilt; he proceeds to commit suicide.

The duel between the Kingsguard brothers is this entire conflict in microcosm. Two siblings are fighting for what they think is right (or something), and in the end, neither of them survives. The sheer waste of life is tragic. And soon, all of Westeros will repeat this battle. Families will be torn apart, lives destroyed, and a great house rent asunder.

This could have been a better episode, but I’m hoping for House of the Dragon to rally. Bring on the dragon fights, HBO!

I Give “Rhaenyra the Cruel” a 4/5

House of the Dragon S2 Ep 1 Review

It has been two days since House of the Dragon returned with its second season, but I had to think everything over. When it came out two years ago, fans and critics said that HBO’s prequel to Game of Thrones did much to eliminate the bad taste the disastrous finale left us with. We said it was like the golden age of Game of Thrones had returned. Which is fitting since the show’s first season was about the beginning of the end of House Targaryen’s golden age. But with the Dance of the Dragons set to begin, expectations were high for season two’s premiere. And, though I hate to say it, the episode didn’t meet mine. Namely due to the ending and how it depicts the actions of two characters: Blood & Cheese.

How could HBO mess up what should’ve been the Red Wedding 2.0?

An Interesting New Opening

First things first, though. In a surprising twist, Season Two of House of the Dragon has done away with the show’s original introduction. Rather than juxtaposing the bloodline of House Targaryen against the late King Viserys’ model of Old Valyria, the show does away with it entirely. Instead, the family’s history is told through a medieval tapestry.

I didn’t understand what happened during my first watch and had to see Heavy Spoilers videos to understand it. Now that I do, I think that’s a pretty cool idea. Believe it or not, there is, in fact, a tapestry about Game of Thrones. Hand-crafted and woven by loom, it depicts the show’s events from start to finish and is house in a museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland. And I’m willing to bet that the events of House of the Dragon will end up similarly immortalized in the future. I dont know if HBO intended to do this knowing about the tapestry, but its still cool.

Speaking of which…

Return of the Wolves, and Fallout of Death

The episode starts off on a pretty strong note, with the return of (what I think) is the coolest House in Westeros after the Targaryens, House Stark. And more importantly, Winterfell and the Wall. Having been sent to the North by his mother, Jacaerys successfully persuades Cregan Stark to keep his family’s oath to Rhaenyra. Not only that, but the show gives us a cool moment of Jace and Cregan overlooking the Wall together.

I loved this moment, and considering what happens in Game of Thrones, its a great use of foreshadowing. Knowing that Cregan Stark is the ancestor to all the Starks we see in Game of Thrones, you can’t help but note how much of him is in his descendants. Sadly, the moment is ruined when they receive news of Lucerys’ death.

The entire episode focuses on how everyone on both sides reacts to Luke’s death. Rhaenyra is near-catatonic with grief until she finds what’s left of Luke and Arrax, and Emma D’arcy gives a very moving performance for this. Daemon immediately wants to retaliate with or without Rhaenyra’s approval. But the Greens’ reactions are most compelling since they’re more divided on it. Argon and Aemond treat it like a great victory. Alicent and Otto, though, see it as a disaster.

Too bad that this is where some of my problems start popping up, mainly thanks to Alicent’s actions.

Cracks, Green Hypocrisy, and Blood & Cheese Screw-Up

In the first season, I couldn’t help but feel bad for Alicent. Her father used her as a pawn, she married a man she didn’t love, and her best friend lied to her face about having pre-marital sex. Little wonder their friendship fell apart. She did try to reach out to her before Viserys died and again after Aegon usurped her throne, but it’s too late… She doesn’t get that.

For some reason, Alicent spends this episode thinking that her son and Rhaenyra can still make peace. I’m sorry, but I fail to see how that’s possible. Even if Aemond didn’t intend to kill Luke (Vhagar did it), that doesn’t change the fact that he’s dead. Alicent should know Rhaenyra well enough to know she won’t forgive this. Yet she has the gall to think peace is still possible! This feels like either great stupidity on Alicent’s part, or a major oversight by the writers.

Not to mention that this episode reveals that Alicent and Sir Criston are hypocrites when they’re shown doing it! Twice! Criston made a huge deal out of breaking his Kingsguard vows of chastity and Alicent felt betrayed when Rhaenyra lied about losing her virginity before marriage? And now they’re both doing just that?!? Any moral high ground they once had is dead and buried.

The only reason I refuse to support either side is because of what happens next.

This Was NOT Blood & Cheese

After Rhaenyra recovers enough to lead her side, she’s out for blood. Aemond’s blood. So, Daemon sneaks into King’s Landing using his old contacts and hires two men, a Goldcloak and rat catcher, to kill Aemond. Or kill another prince from Aegon’s bloodline. Their names are Blood & Cheese, and I have to say…they are the worst part of this episode. And their entire portion of the episode drags the whole thing down.

If I sound salty, that’s because I am, and many fans feel the same way. In the show, Blood & Cheese were supposed to kill Aegon, but end up settling for one of Aegon and Helaena’s infant son. And the entire experience is just so disappointing when compared to the books! Here’s how it was supposed to go:

What Blood & Cheese Should Have Been Like

That is what we were supposed to get. Game of Thrones fans waited two years for the moment that should’ve rivaled the Red Wedding in terms of shock value. Instead, for whatever reason, HBO decided to pull its punches. It should’ve done the exact opposite with Blood & Cheese!! It should’ve been as horrifying and traumatic as the books and specials described it!

Out of all the moments I was looking forward to in this scene, Blood & Cheese’s murder was the biggest. And HBO completely botched it. It felt like watching Cersei and Jaime die from the collapsing roof all over again. I felt robbed! I’m sorry, but it brought the entire episode down for me.

I’m hoping that the rest of the season lives up to my expectations because that ending felt like Game of Thrones all over again. It had some good scenes and good acting, but the bad writing ruined it for me. They ruined Blood & Cheese!

I Give “A Son for a Son” a 2.5/5

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

House of the Dragon S1, Ep. 1 Review

It’s been three years since the end of Game of Thrones, and I thought that the world had moved on from it. I know I did; the final season left me as disillusioned as everyone was with Daenerys Targaryen. And with how much flak HBO Max’s gotten with their recent Purge of the Batgirl film and shows like Infinity Train, I had even less motivation to support their Game of Thrones prequel. Yet, as last Sunday night came around, I found myself sitting in front of the TV, ready to watch House of the Dragon. I convinced myself I wanted that I wanted to see it simply for the dragons. I didn’t want to deal with the hot mess that was House Targaryen again anytime soon.

It looks like I was lying to myself. I got sucked right back into the world of Westeros, albeit one that’s far different from what we know. 

Westeros Under Targaryen Rule

Taking place almost 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon shows us a much different Westeros. One ruled by the Targaryens at the height of their power, with plenty of dragons to go around. It’s a Westeros that’s, for the most part, free of the corruption and rot prevalent in Game of Thrones, and the madness of the Targaryens. At least in the beginning. After all, the whole point of House of the Dragon is to show the events that would lead to House Targaryen’s slow decline over the next two hundred years.

For those who don’t know, House of the Dragon aims to cover the Dance of the Dragons. In a nutshell, it’s a civil war that pits House Targaryen against itself over who gets the right to sit on the Iron Throne. One of the candidates has yet to be born, but the other one gets introduced in the show’s opening scene riding her own dragon: Rhaenyra Targaryen, the eldest child of King Viserys I. 

Whether intentional or not, there is a lot of Daenerys in Rhaenyra. They’re both beautiful, smart, and skilled dragon riders. The main defining difference is that Rhaenyra’s a lot happier overall since she got to have a happy childhood with loving parents. Since this is Westeros, though, don’t expect that happiness to last. Count on it not to last. 

The Players Emerge

Much of the first half of the episode sees most people in good spirits in the Royal family. Viserys is due to have another child any day, with the whole realm participating in a tournament to celebrate the birth of his soon-to-be heir. However, cracks already start forming with the arrival of his brother, Daemon, played by Matt Smith, aka the 11th Doctor (and one of my favorites!)

I was initially hesitant to see Matt Smith play someone who, according to lore, is the deadliest man in Westeros during this time. However, my doubts burned away after seeing Matt’s performance as Daemon. He plays him as this arrogant, self-assured jerk who’s abrasive to everyone except his niece. Unlike Joffrey, though, he’s got the chops to back up all these claims and the dragon. 

As fun as it is to see Westeros at the height of the Targaryens, nothing lasts forever. Pretty soon, trouble comes when the Queen goes into labor. In what has to be one of the bloodiest things HBO’s ever done, we watch as the Queen dies due to a C-Section, and her infant son not long afterward. Everything gets worse from there, and soon, it’s clear that the Iron Throne will be contested.

The Big Twist About House Taragaryen

It’s not until the final minutes of the episode, though, that we get the biggest plot twist, which affects everything about Game of Thrones. In a conversation between father and daughter, Viserys reveals there was another reason why their family conquered Westeros. Aegon the Conquerer had a dream about the future, where death marches from the far north and threatens to destroy all life. In other words, the White Walkers. So, Aegeon knew that the only chance the world had was if Westeros was united, leading to his conquest of the Seven Kingdoms. 

So, all that talk about Jon Snow being the “Prince That Was Promised” wasn’t just a red herring. The Targaryens tried to set themselves up so that one of them would be the one to save the world from the White Walkers, and they’ve passed that knowledge down from King to King for generations as a warning. 

This Only Means They Screwed Up Even Worse Than We Thought

Of course, this only makes what happens during Game of Thrones all the more important since Aegon’s dream became a reality, though not in the way he thought it would. Of course, it also makes the Targaryen’s fall all the more tragic. They forgot their true purpose, squandered their potential, and almost left Westeros in ruins before the Night King ever marched south. Even though they ultimately succeeded, they lost everything, with their last remaining member exiled to the far north. 

I thought this inclusion was a cop-out meant to make up for what happened with Game of Thrones ending. However, the revelation that this reveal was due to info directly from George R.R. Martin, I’m willing to tolerate it. I’ll like it even more if Martin finally finishes the last two books and gives us a better ending. 

So, despite my reservations, I find myself hesitantly returning to Westeros. I will try and avoid getting attached to any characters, though, since I expect many of them to die before the series ends.

I Give “The Heirs of the Dragon” a 4/5. Don’t Waste this, HBO.