I knew how the episode would end. Any of us who have read the book knew what would happen. It did not make it any easier to watch. Also this is another of those times when the show does a much better job than the book. It should be mentioned that the book is a biased account, whereas I guess the show is the actual telling.
This episode is the Black’s reaction to Viserys death and learning that Aegon II has been crowned as the king. The news hits and Rhaenyra goes into labor too early, which results in her losing the baby. Remember, childbirth is the woman’s battlefield. This season has truly hammered that point home to us.
Daemon is all about attacking, especially once Corlys shows up and bends the knee to Rhaenyra. They can basically put an economic blockade on King’s Landing. Rhaenyra also meets with Otto Hightower and even mulls over the Green terms. She does not want the realm to be split apart, she wants to hold things together and she even says to Daemon that stability will help keep the Targaryen line intact for the prophecy.
She does send her sons on a mission though. Lucerys heads to Storm’s End, while Jacaerys heads to the Vale and then will head to Winterfell to secure the House Arryn & House Stark. Luke has to convince Lord Borros Baratheon. He does not seem to care about his oath to Rhaenyra and since Aemond is there with a proposal from Alicent (Aemond is to marry one of Borros’ daughters), he wants to know what Luke has to offer. The boy has nothing and he says that he is already betrothed. He is told to fly home.
Aemond demands that Luke give him an eye. Borros says there will be no bloodshed under his roof. So Luke takes to the sky on his small dragon. The storm is awful and he soon sees Vhagar overhead. It is terrifying how much bigger Vhagar is than Arrax. Remember what Viserys said about dragons earlier? That they were a power that should have never been released, dragons cannot be controlled, dragons are not slaves. Arrax hits Vhagar with some fire, and that pisses off the older dragon. Aemond is trying to tell Vhagar no, but again, a dragon is not horse. Vhagar swoops down and rips Arrax in half and it looks like Luke was eaten (or did he fall?). It was heartbreaking to watch.
Then Rhaenyra learns of her son’s death and her demeanor changes. She turns to her council and we know there will be bloodshed.
-In a rational/sane world, Aemond would fly to Dragonstone and tell Rhaenyra and Daemon what happened himself. He would say that it was an accident and beg forgiveness. It would have probably averted the war. I mean, there would have probably been a trial by combat, but that could have settled everything. But this is not a rational world. Aemond will probably head back to King’s Landing and he will bluster and say that he had his vengeance. Or he will spin it that Luke and Arrax attacked him. Either way, first blood has been drawn and this is all on Aemond.
-Daemon choking Rhaenyra was a bit of a shock. Not to us, but Rhaenyra has never seen his anger directed at her (obviously that we know about, but she totally looks taken aback by his outburst). She realizes that her father never shared the Song of Ice & Fire with Daemon, that Viserys must not have been ready to share that part of the duty of heir with his brother. Daemon is angry because he always saw his brother as a man of inaction, stuck in prophecies and history books. All he ever wanted was to be unleashed and given permission to make the Targaryen Dynasty even greater.
-I hate Otto Hightower, but damn Rhys Ifans is sooooo good. He plays the role to perfection. He is devious and a bit unassuming, while at the same time still feeling he is better than others. It is easy to compare him to Tywin Lannister, but I do not think they are as similar. Tywin felt that everyone was beneath him. Hell, he thought the world should bow to him. He had an utter contempt for everyone and everything. I do not get that vibe from Otto, maybe it is the way he smirks at times, like when presenting terms to Rhaenyra. LIke he is a chess grandmaster saying “check” for the fifth time.
-Next season we get Jace in the North. I cannot wait to see Cregan Stark. I wonder who they will cast. I keep hearing Henry Cavill, which would be freakin’ perfect. Jace has a good time in the North (especially if Mushroom is to be believed). Also, will we find out if Vermax truly laid a clutch of eggs in the crypt at Winterfell?
-Ser Arryk coming to Dragonstone to pledge his sword to Queen Rhaenyra was another nice moment. Especially after we had that scene of Daemon threatening the other two Kingsguard.
-We got to see Vermithor, the second oldest living dragon after Vhagar. The Blacks will need Vermithor in the battle to help counter Vhagar. It was cool to see Daemon singing to the dragon, whose last rider was his grandfather, King Jaehaerys. Will the show have the same rider as the book or will it take a different route?
I cannot wait for season two. What did you think of the first season?
