No Place for Women Here
One of the best parts of the episode was Alicent’s realization amidst the heated debates in the council that she had lost her power. Alicent thought she would sit on the throne during her son’s recovery, but now she has completely lost control. Those at the table do not want Alicent. Their reasons are quite reasonable: While we are fighting to keep a woman off the throne, it would be contradictory to place another woman on it.
Control within the Greens has now entirely passed into Aemond’s hands. The father’s heirloom dagger is now with Aemond. Everyone, including Criston, stands behind him. Vhagar, as you know, is already on his side. Aware of this, Aemond can roam freely within the Red Keep. There is not a single person who can challenge him. Aemond’s visit to his brother Aegon was also a highly impressive scene. Like an artist checking on his work, he entered the room and glanced at the situation with an air of indifference.
Aemond has finally reached the throne he had dreamed of. But the question is, is Aemond capable of being a king? When it comes to cruelty, Aemond, who has a razor-sharp mind, starts off questionably when it comes to ruling the people. His decision to close the city gates was one of the worst decisions he could have made. We will see the harsh impact of this decision soon enough.
Common Folk Begin to Boil
One of the most striking aspects of Fire and Blood is the role the common folk play in the Targaryen civil war. Although in the book, this role appears to be “taking advantage of opportunities,” Ryan Condal and his team continue to invest in the people, just as they have with the more nefarious elements. The populace, once living in peace under Viserys’s patronage, now faces famine with the Greens in power. While Corlys’s naval blockade has a significant impact, it is clear that the administration does not take the people seriously. Westeros is a vast land. If they wanted to feed the people, they could have. Instead, they are preoccupied with their own war, thus forgetting the needs of the common folk. The underlying theme here is this: While the people posed problems at certain points during Jaehaerys’s reign, they never became a concern for the palace under Viserys. Consequently, the current council members, especially the Greens among the Targaryens, have no real understanding of the people’s influence on governance.
“I thought the Dragons Were Gods.”
While the people are already struggling with hunger, parading the head of the slain Meleys through the city is hardly a sensible decision. Dragons symbolize gods in the eyes of the people. Demonstrating that even gods can die creates not only disillusionment among the populace but also shatters the chains of fear born from faith.
However, I was surprised by the people’s astonishment at seeing the dead dragon. While their belief in dragons as gods is understandable, a story from the past should be passed down, suggesting that they are not immortal. Exactly 86 years ago, Maegor the Cruel fought against Prince Aegon’s dragon, Quicksilver, with his own dragon, Balerion, and killed both the prince and his dragon. I attribute this story’s lack of widespread knowledge to general ignorance, as such tales would normally circulate widely during medieval times. Of course, the passage of 86 years might have contributed to the story being forgotten.
In the matter of the people, the constant presence of Hugh Hammer suggests, as I have unfortunately mentioned several times, that his daughter is likely to die this season. Every villain has a reason for participating in the Targaryen civil war, and Hugh’s motive will likely be revenge.
The Queen Trapped
Just as the Greens’ council is chaotic, so too is the Blacks’ council in disarray. Rhaenyra believes she is on the brink of losing the war. The deaths of Meleys and Rhaenys represent a tremendous loss for the Blacks. Likewise, Criston and his army’s capture of Rook’s Rest marks a significant victory against the Blacks. Daemon’s absence also drives Rhaenyra to anxious thoughts. For this reason, she has sent Ser Alfred Broome to the Riverlands to uncover the true state of affairs there.
Being trapped within Dragonstone disturbs her. Although she wishes to mount her dragon and engage in battle, the council forbids her. The idea of attacking the city is something we are hearing for the first time here. While the council conveys a message that rulers should not fight, Rhaenyra constantly conflates this message with her gender. Her lack of combat training and swordsmanship due to her gender and being kept inside by the council drives her to deep despair.
Currently, the only person who understands Rhaenyra is Mysaria. As someone from within the common folk, Mysaria telling her that they can win the war without wielding a sword was one of the most impactful moments of the episode. It seems that Rhaenyra and Mysaria are poised to undermine the already volatile populace of King’s Landing.
Treaties and Dragons
Like Rhaenyra, her son Jace also feels trapped. He, too, wishes to mount his dragon and become part of the war story. However, unlike Rhaenyra, no one holds him back, allowing him to make bold decisions. Mounting his dragon Vermax, Jace’s first stop is the Freys at the Twins.
In this episode, we encounter Lady Sabitha Frey and Lord Forrest Frey. Jace negotiates with them, seeking their involvement in the conflict. Yet, the reputation of Vhagar has spread far and wide. No one wants to oppose Vhagar. The neutrals are highly hesitant about joining the Blacks. But everything has a price, doesn’t it? The grandeur of Harrenhal overshadows the fear of Vhagar. If Jace can promise them Harrenhal, the Freys are ready to surrender the Twins to the Blacks.
The Riverlands Slip Away
Daemon, who came to find an army for the Blacks at Harrenhal, has not yet achieved his goal. And it appears he is quite far from succeeding. The Brackens are ready to die by the flames of Craxes rather than ally with the Blackwoods. Realizing that he cannot solve the problem through force, Daemon decides to resort to cunning and sends William to address the issue. As you know, political maneuvering often proves successful, and so it does here. The news reaches Harrenhal, and we learn that the Brackens have joined the Blacks.
However, humanity often finds itself uncertain of where to stand. Seeing an opportunity in the Brackens’ submission, the Blackwoods invade them ruthlessly and dishonorably. These privileges granted to the Blackwoods, of course, disturb the Riverland populace. The people, seeking refuge at Harrenhal, encounter a prince who is far from understanding their plight. As the Riverlands slip away, Daemon remains trapped within the castle, chasing ghosts of the past.
I must say, the visions at Harrenhal have dragged on a bit too long. The series now needs to shift focus from Harrenhal to the burgeoning wars across Westeros. Daemon has seen his entire family in succession, to the extent of encountering his mother, Alyssa Targaryen, whom he never knew. Not only does he see her, but he also engages in an intimate scene with her. This passionate moment is interrupted when Alyssa says, “You were my favorite son.”
As Daemon wanders, demanding to be called king in daylight, he spends his nights confronting the painful realities of why he could not and will not become king. I hope that the significant investment in Daemon will yield a richly developed storyline in the upcoming seasons.
Dragons Are Present, Yet Absent
The only thing distinguishing the world of Game of Thrones from that of House of the Dragon is the dragons. Both the Blacks and the Greens cannot fully rely on their ground forces, as a potential dragon attack would render their armies insignificant. Consequently, in any potential treaty or maneuver, dragons are a subject of intense scrutiny.
In this episode, we meet Jeyne Arryn, one of these scrutinizers. Upon arriving at the Eyrie with Rhaenyra’s children, Rhaena is dissatisfied with her situation. Jeyne Arryn presses Rhaena with Jace’s promise of a dragon. Although Rhaena attempts to defend herself, she is acutely aware of her weak position. Even though she has three dragon eggs, it will take considerable time for these dragons to hatch and grow.
At Dragonstone, Jace and his mother, Rhaenyra, discuss how to exploit their surplus of dragons. For the dragons to fight for them, each must have a rider. This is where the topic of potential Targaryen bloodlines comes into play, setting the stage for the bastards and their eventual connection with the dragons.
Some Beautiful Details
When Alicent confronts Criston Cole, we see him cleaning his sword with a lemon. In the medieval period, lemons were used to disinfect or polish steel. The intent here is likely to disinfect.
Rhaenyra offers to serve as the queen’s hand to Corlys, who has lost his spouse through Baela. Corlys, who has been relatively absent from the story since the beginning of the season, thus makes a significant entry into the narrative. After this episode, Corlys’s role and the importance of the seas in the storyline will considerably increase.
We do not encounter Lady Sabitha Frey and Lord Forrest Frey for the last time. We will see them again in the upcoming seasons. The role of the Freys in the civil war is substantial. Sabitha’s role will continue even after the war.
At midnight, Daemon receives visitors at Harrenhal from the Mallister, Piper, and Darry families. Members of these three families will later become part of the massive battles that will unfold in the heart of Westeros.