It’s all too tempting to make a bunch of fire jokes when speaking about House of the Dragon, however this week’s episode, “Smallfolk,” was genuinely scorching. With simply two extra episodes to go after this week’s, we’re within the prime second for the present to construct its rigidity as excessive as doable—and the muse is already forming for a hell of a season two finale.
We open with a military on horseback, and primarily based on their banners and the truth that they’re toting lions in cages, we all know that is the Lannisters—led by Lord Jason Lannister, whose twin brother (sure, there are a variety of twins in Westeros!) Tyland sits on the Inexperienced Council. Home Lefford—hailing from the Golden Tooth—greets Jason with deference, proudly providing 500 males to struggle for Crew Inexperienced, and is met with an avalanche of traditional Lannister snobbery. Additionally, Jason has determined his military gained’t head to Harrenhal till Aemond’s in a position to be a part of them on Vhagar; in spite of everything, Daemon’s personal beast, Caraxes, is dangerously close by.
In King’s Touchdown, Aemond angrily crumples the raven-sent message—the Westeros equal of leaving somebody on learn—and rages at the concept that anybody thinks he’s at their beck and name. “I’m the Prince Regent, not a canine to be referred to as to heel,” he grumbles, making an particularly uncomfortable second for Ser Tyland Lannister. The awkwardness will get worse when Aemond leans over Ser Tyland’s chair and tells him to go make a treaty with the Triarchy—the identical Free Cities alliance we encountered throughout season one, throughout the show’s “Crabfeeder” era.
Ser Tyland isn’t on board with this plan, not one bit, and neither is Alicent, who pipes up that King Viserys wouldn’t have dared enter an alliance with the Triarchy, who’re to not be trusted. (Moments later, she has to snap “out of the query” when one other member of the Inexperienced Council suggests providing up the Dowager Queen’s hand in marriage may tempt the notoriously salty Greyjoys to hitch their trigger.) Even Ser Criston Cole dares to talk up in opposition to Aemond’s scheme. However the Prince Regent simply tells him it’s time to march his military to search out Daemon at Harrenhal, and brushes apart all of Cole’s seemingly legitimate factors about why ready a bit can be higher. “I’ll fly out to fulfill you when the time is true,” Aemond smirks. “My uncle is a problem I welcome, if he dares face me.”
“I see we’re all agreed,” he says to a room that may be very a lot not in settlement, and because the assembly ends he tells Alicent to remain behind—so he can inform her he doesn’t need her sitting in on council conferences anymore. He talks over her protests: “I launch you of your seat, such because it was. I’m certain you’ll be much-pleased to return to extra… home pursuits.”
“Have the indignities of your childhood not but sufficiently been avenged?” she asks her son, and everyone knows the reply.
At Dragonstone, one other council is about to fulfill. Lord Corlys is now sporting the Hand of the Queen pin—and admittedly, we’re relieved to see him again in motion. There’s a particular visitor star within the room: Ser Steffon Darklyn. Rhaenyra’s genealogical analysis has decided he simply may need sufficient dragon blood to develop into a dragon rider, and although it’s an outrageously harmful factor to try, he’s profoundly moved by the request, and agrees.
At Harrenhal, Daemon continues to be being haunted by his previous. This time, it’s Paddy Considine reprising his position as King Viserys, kind of taking us by the very same change he had along with his brother final season, after he discovered Daemon had cruelly referred to as Viserys’ useless new child son “inheritor for a day.” He tells Daemon he’s eradicating him from the road of succession, naming Rhaenyra as inheritor to the Iron Throne as a substitute, and Daemon has to re-live the agony of that second. For the primary time, we begin to assume that possibly Daemon is able to feeling remorse.
Daemon’s yanked out of the imaginative and prescient by Ser Simon Sturdy, and his response is especially cranky and paranoid. He accuses the outdated man of sabotaging him, and even wonders if he’s secretly working for one in every of Daemon’s many enemies (which now embrace Rhaenyra). Ser Simon, who’s been nothing however hospitable for this troublesome visitor, manages to assuage him, nevertheless it’s very clear that Daemon has develop into extraordinarily unglued.
As Daemon, his man-bag packed, is flouncing away from the fort and towards Caraxes, he encounters—after all—Alys Rivers, who appears to be like spooky and filled with secrets and techniques even when she’s simply standing round. She teases him a bit of bit about being a scaredy-cat, and offers him shit for as soon as once more pulling the set off on his “I don’t like this, I’m outta right here” lifestyle. She additionally ranges with him: “There are older issues on this world than you, or I, or residing reminiscence. You aren’t the participant, however a bit on the board. As am I.” After she lectures him about why Rhaenyra would make a greater ruler (and he yells “Don’t lecture me!”), she reminds him that the crown isn’t a prize. It’s a burden.
After which… what’s this? Daemon Targaryen asking for recommendation? Alys herself can hardly imagine it. However she turns considerate, and goes on to level out the significance of Home Tully’s assist with regards to convincing the Riverlands to assist Daemon (particularly after his merciless ways had been uncovered, as we noticed final week). “Do nothing now,” she advises, trying extraordinarily badass as a hawk screeches down and settles cozily on her arm. In a couple of days, the winds will shift, she says, and walks off together with her hen with out explaining what meaning.
Within the Dragonpit of Dragonstone, it’s Ser Steffon’s second. From the depths, Seasmoke—riderless and lonely since Laenor Velaryon faked his personal dying in season one—seems, with all of the snorting menace you’d anticipate. “Don’t present worry,” one of many Dragonpit attendants mutters to Ser Steffon, which is hilarious as a result of nothing concerning the scene is something in need of terrifying. Although it looks like for a second Seasmoke is likely to be prepared to play alongside, he all of the sudden attracts his large head again and torches Ser Steffon, in addition to the poor man standing subsequent to him (who cuts his personal throat fairly than die any extra slowly within the inferno).
Within the background, Rhaenyra and Jace watch in horror. Not solely have they misplaced a courageous, loyal knight—their dragon plan, a determined ploy below any circumstances, has seemingly resulted in catastrophe.
Down on the docks, Addam watches with bemusement as Lord Corlys walks as much as his brother, Alyn, and asks him to be his first mate; they’ll be setting sail quickly as a part of the conflict’s sea effort. Alyn appears to be like like he’d fairly step into Seasmoke’s line of fireside than agree, however Lord Corlys frames it as an order—a pleasant order—so he has no alternative.
In King’s Touchdown, in a half-empty tavern, patrons—together with Ulf, the Targaryen bastard we met earlier this season—complain about shortage within the capitol. The dearth of meals may be very actual and really troubling, however you must assume one lady’s gossipy particulars concerning the ample feasts nonetheless being held within the Pink Maintain (“racks of lamb, mince pies, honeycakes, beef and gravy”) are a part of Mysaria’s whisper marketing campaign, particularly when she brings up Rhaenyra—the rightful inheritor of Viserys, a ruler that might by no means have let his individuals starve.
And talking of Rhaenyra, she’s strolling by Dragonstone being nattered at by an aged lord—Lord Bartimos Celtigar, Lord of Claw Isle, to be precise—concerning the Seasmoke snafu when she stops, turns, and slaps him throughout the face. “It’s my fault, I feel, that you’ve forgotten to worry me,” she hisses. It’s a turning level for her. She returns to her chamber and is rummaging by her sword assortment when Mysaria walks in. “It was definitely worth the threat, irrespective of the end result,” Mysaria assures her, and encourages Rhaenyra to maintain looking for new dragonriders.
She additionally affords an optimistic replace: the smallfolk of King’s Touchdown are listening, they usually’re getting angrier and angrier at Crew Inexperienced. Plus, regardless of the subsequent step of Mysaria’s plan is—it’s about to occur very quickly. Whereas they’re speaking, Rhaenyra is holding her sword, and Mysaria pauses. “If I’ll, Your Grace: this turns into you.” Is that… flirting?
We minimize to King’s Touchdown, the place the smallfolk desperately looking for meals gawk as a cart filled with sheep—meals for the royal dragons—clatters by. Within the Pink Maintain, the one one that might probably be protecting tabs on the scenario, Lord Larys, warns Aemond that the smallfolk have gotten “stressed.” Aemond’s reply is ideal egocentric Aemond: “So?”
Larys’ recommendation, delivered in essentially the most unctuous method, continues to be proper on. “The enemy with out could also be fought with swords; the enemy inside is extra insidious,” he says, whereas reminding the Prince Regent that the individuals look to him to make sure their well-being. Then, a uncommon Larys misstep: he brings up the truth that Aemond has no Hand (Ser Criston being the out of fee Aegon’s alternative, after all). Simply while you assume he’s steered Aemond into giving him the gig, Aemond tells Larys (after disdainfully calling him a “toad”) to summon Ser Otto Hightower. Time to offer grandpa his job again!
Simply then: terrible/miraculous information, relying on who hears it. Aegon has briefly regained consciousness! Possibly his dying isn’t imminent in spite of everything? Aemond’s first transfer is to go to Aegon’s room, kick everyone out, and threaten his brother to by no means inform the reality about what occurred at Rook’s Relaxation. “I bear in mind nothing,” Aegon wheezes.
Within the Eyrie, Rhaena—who bought a point out earlier within the episode, within the context of “she failed at dragon driving”—is strolling with one in every of Rhaenyra’s little sons after they come throughout an enormous patch of burned land, far too massive to be made by one of many child dragons they introduced from Dragonstone. Is there one other massive beast roaming the skies? When she asks the brittle Woman Arryn, she admits that there is a big dragon within the Vale: “It’s massive and formidable. However alas, wild.” Rhaena agrees (“Alas”), however you’ll be able to see the wheels in her head start to show. Possibly she gained’t should go to Pentos in spite of everything?
On Dragonstone, Alyn is fastidiously shaving his Targaryen-blonde stubble as Addam (who does not have the trademark hair colour, although they’re brothers) provides him a tough time about being reluctant to just accept Lord Corlys’ supply. Alyn provides him a tough time proper again, saying the Sea Snake won’t ever acknowledge them as his sons: “Cease losing your life ready for one thing that may by no means come.”
Rhaenyra appears to be like out throughout the water—she’s bought so much on her thoughts, understandably—when Jace seems. He brings up THE SLAP, and he or she explains she’s bored with feeling like the boys round her are defending her as if she’s a spouse or daughter. She’s their ruler, dammit. And whereas Jace largely believes in her, he says that to defeat the Inexperienced military, they’ll want Daemon and his dragon. “Might I be free for even one hour of the fixed chorus of Daemon, Daemon, Daemon?” she moans. Simply then, Mysaira seems with a message: “Our present is shipped.” Jace wonders what meaning, and so will we—till we see a fleet of small, unmanned boats filled with meals, drifting to the shores of King’s Touchdown.
In Aegon’s room, a kinder presence watches over him: Alicent, who’s not trying very hopeful. “What is going to he be if he lives?” she asks the Grand Maester, who tactfully refrains from answering. She additionally asks him about all these letters she’s been sending to attempt to observe down her father, with out response. She gazes as Aegon and whispers “I’m sorry.”
Within the subsequent scene, the troopers are getting ready to go away—following Aemond’s orders, after all—and Alicent wanders into the yard. She appears to be like over at Cole, however she talks as a substitute to her brother, fretting about the truth that Ser Otto is MIA. Ser Gwayne says he hasn’t heard something, but when anyone would hear something, it might be Alicent—their father’s favourite. Additionally, “Otto Hightower is ever-resourceful. He’ll ship information when there’s information to ship.”
Briefly—however within the longest dialog we’ve ever seen them have—they commiserate about their lives till this level; he was raised away from his quick household in Oldtown, she accompanied her father to courtroom. “You get on with it, don’t you, when there isn’t any alternative,” he says. He additionally affords an encouraging replace on Daeron—Alicent’s son, additionally raised in Oldtown—who’s now a young person, a intelligent child who’s huge with the women. However the true balm for Alicent is listening to her son is “sort,” as a result of “kindness is a high quality I’ve discovered missing in his brothers.” Ser Gwayne, ever droll, opines that the Pink Maintain may maybe be “a less-than-salubrious setting” for younger males. Alicent worries that it’s her fault, however her brother, who additionally possesses a few of that very uncommon kindness, says “I’m certain you probably did your greatest.”
She doesn’t converse to Cole, however there’s a significant look exchanged, and you may see Alicent giving him a tiny nod as he rides off. With no different allies to show to, Alicent finds Heleana and suggests they go to the sept to gentle a candle for Aegon, “and all our misplaced souls.” However the timing on that, she’ll quickly understand, is fairly, fairly horrible. In King’s Touchdown, the individuals—together with Hugh the blacksmith, and ANOTHER DOG CAMEO FOR GEORGE R.R. MARTIN!—are in a frenzy over the Rhaenyra-send bounty that’s simply appeared on their shores. The streets erupt right into a riot simply as Alicent and her daughter are making their means again to the tank-like carriage that they use to maneuver across the metropolis. It’s virtually a catastrophe (the queens are pelted with rotten meals; a member of the Kingsguard slices off a person’s grabby hand; and a minimum of one different guard will get swallowed up by the group), however the queens make a secure escape within the nick of time.
Within the Pink Maintain, Aegon has one more customer: Lord Larys, who interrupts the king’s pressing pain-medication schedule to offer him some recommendation, drawn from his personal expertise. “Your thoughts is all that continues to be to you. I don’t say that gladly… individuals will pity you, both behind your again or in your presence, and can stare at you or flip away. And they’re going to underestimate you, and this shall be your benefit.” When he tells Aegon his life is in peril so long as Aemond’s in cost, the king says “Assist me,” and a smile very faintly slithers throughout Larys’ face.
In Harrenhal, Daemon’s having one other imaginative and prescient: this time, it’s of Viserys sobbing over the physique of his first spouse. It’s a touching second between brothers, however after all Ser Simon is there to blunder in and pull Daemon again to actuality. There’s been information, you see: Ser Grover Tully is useless. He’s been unwell for a while, and even the efforts of Harrenhal’s personal healer, Alys Rivers, couldn’t save him. , Alys, who simply paid the outdated man a particular go to. A still-emotional Daemon is aware of what meaning, and so will we.
In the meantime, Addam is on the seaside, going about his enterprise, when all of the sudden Seasmoke seems, screeching and doing fly-bys. Everybody scatters, however the dragon zeroes in on Addam, who cowers as Seasmoke pushes his large snoot nearer to the terrified younger man.
We’ll get again to that shortly, however first, Mysaria has an replace for Rhaenyra. It’s excellent news (their plan labored!) however Rhaenyra continues to be melancholy. Daemon is weighing on her thoughts, particularly now that their difficult relationship with one another and their household legacy is coming to a head. “I worry what he could now do,” she confesses. “I worry he could have turned in opposition to me.” She’s additionally fearful about what shedding Daemon means for the way forward for the conflict.
Mysaria’s there with a pep discuss, and it turns right into a confessional as she explains the scar on her neck. It was left by her abusive father; he’s additionally the rationale she will’t have youngsters. “I swore to myself that I might by no means belief one other and that oath has served me properly,” she says. “This world is chilly and merciless, and there are few in it who’re steadfast. You, I feel, are steadfast.” She appreciates that Rhaenyra has seen her as equal and worthy, and he or she believes Rhaenyra is supposed to be queen. The 2 girls embrace. An extended embrace. A loooong embrace. After which: they kiss! They make out! It will get heated!
However they’re interrupted by a giant piece of reports: Seasmoke has been noticed round with a rider on his again. We know who it’s, however Rhaenyra doesn’t—might or not it’s the dreaded Greens? She saddles up Syrax to go see what’s what.
New episodes of Home of the Dragon arrive Sundays on HBO and Max.
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