House of the Dragon: Regent

This episode felt like a set-up. We need to move a bunch of pieces around, so we get a fairly low-key episode. I do not think we could have handled too much more dragon battling after last week.  

-Aemond definitely tried to kill his brother. You can just tell by the way he is handling the regency. Also, his mother is horrified at the idea of Aemond being in charge. She was denied the position of Regent by the Small Council, and it seems that only Larys Strong notices how weird it would to put a woman in charge of the realm, when that is the whole basis for the succession war–the lords would not want to be ruled by a woman. 

-Does Daemon ever do anything right? He has the Blackwoods commit horrible acts against the Brackens, causing them to join Daemon’s host, but that decision leads the other Riverland lords to reject Daemon. Also, sex dreams about his mom? Oh, and admitting to the witch that he plans to rule Westeros, and that Rhaenyra can be by his side as his queen. Just a little light treason. Way to go Daemon!

-Jace and Baela at least have Rhaenyra’s back. Jace heads to the Freys, and cuts a deal with them. He is there to secure crossing for the Stark men, but Jace goes ahead and makes a deal to give the Freys Harrenhall if they join his mother’s side. Baela convinces her grandfather to be Rhaenyra’s Hand. 

-Is it hard for anyone else to see the families and not think about the awful things they did in GOT? Like, the Freys? Or Lysa Arryn? 

-I love that Jace provides his mother the idea of looking for more dragonriders. I think we have seen a few of the future dragonriders. I wonder if the blacksmith will end up being one, or does he have a different story coming? I do not think things will go well for his daughter…

-Cole messed up by parading Meleys head through King’s Landing. People now know the dragons are vulnerable (one person even says they thought they were gods). Plus we have Rhaenyra’s girl heading back to the city to meet with the serving girl that Aegon assaulted…time to stir things up amongst the small folk. 

-Speaking of Aegon…eek, he looks a little crispy.