Dragon's Den Episodic Review: Season 2, Episode 5
Cunning Quests at the Dragon's Doorstep
Last week's House of the Dragon didn't miss a single beat, blending grand action with heart-wrenching tragedy. But it's the quieter moments, as twists and turns in the game for power mount, that truly captivate. With the Iron Throne at stake, schemes and betrayals unfold, as our characters reset their sights for the trailheads of the second half of season deux.
Knees trembling, we find ourselves back on the stony streets of King's Landing, awash with the palpable aftermath of Rhaenys' demise. Grief, as usual, doesn't take a holiday in Westeros, and the tension in Corlys and Rhaenyra's somber soliloquies tells us all we need to know: this conflict is far from over. Fueling the fire, theDemon's searing head makes its way through the city's gates, spawning whispers of doubt and fear among the rabble, who have never seen such terrors.
It's fair to say that visions of bloody victory lay shattered at Aemond's feet, as King Cole struggles to make sense of the stark reality: that the tired victory cry of King's Landing might not be enough to cut it. "Strange victory...if it was one," he mutters to Ser Gwayne, prompting the latter to muse deeper on the mysteries of war.
Lost in the rocky chambers of the Red Keep, Alicent and Aemond watch over the city, sizing up a box that the smallfolk overlook-yet seems to scream "coffin" to the Green cadre. Kicked up the castle walls, the soundtrack screams in turn, crescendoing as the box is carried unto the throne room, where the Grant Maester delivers the grim tidings: Aegon's flesh has melted to his armor-but fear not, the king is 'alive for the moment'. Let us reiterate: werewolves are extinct in Westeros. Silence, monster.
Enter Alicent, a picture of troubled resolve. The queen keenly senses that Aemond's hand may have played a role in what transpired upon that battlefield. But, fittingly, her suspicions go unsolved, as Cole peddles lies that would shame even the mummers on the streets.
No Stone Unturned: The (Not So) Merry Men of Dragonstone
Shaken up like dragon eggs, Rhaenyra's council finds themselves desperately scrambling to pick up the pieces. Alas, ominous whispers of absent Targaryens echo through the room, illuminating the task at hand. By some twist of fate, Jace dares to venture out on a mission-to the Riverlands, helmed by the nefarious House Frey, infamous in the annals of Game of Thrones lore as the architects of the Red Wedding. Jace's plan, borne of desperation more than wisdom, is to knit a noose around the Freys and steer the tide of the war in Queen Rhaenyra's favor.
Meanwhile, the mercurial Daemon finds himself outside the Twins, threatening the Brackens with promised fire. Alas, the simple people of Westeros have their limits, and the Brackens are no exception. They balk at dealing death to their enemies and, in a paroxysm of frustration, Daemon reluctantly abandons the pursuit of victory by force.
Not so overwhelmed by duty and honor, Daemon resumes his unconventional methods of persuasion with Willem Blackwood. The conversation, veiled in secrecy, promises only more bloodshed as the kinslayer murders yet another innocent through surrogates - a foreshadowing of events darker still to come.
Gone But Not Forgotten: A Fond Farewell to Rhaena
In the Eyrie, Rhaena seeks common ground with Lady Jeyne Arryn, offering up the cuddly baby dragons as a peace offering. True to form, Lady Jeyne shuns the dragons and, with barely disguised loathing, demands an army in exchange. Rhaena's presence is the only glimpse we receive of the Eyrie in this episode, but it doesn't go unnoticed: Rhaena is clearly out of her depth, and the meeting concludes with a sour aftertaste of defeat.
Back at Dragonstone, Rhaenyra voices her concerns to the wise Mysaria. Alone among her advisors, Rhaenyra finds understanding in the whip-smart, streetwise courtesan. Mysaria sheds light on the fear surrounding King Landing, painting a picture of citizens whispering about peace in the shadows. In a second conversation centered around alternative tactics, Mysaria counsel's Rhaenyra to let the discontented rumor, and make war not just with weapons but with words as well.
Walking a Lonely Path: The Queen Alone
The moment unfolds with beauty and pathos, as Rhaenyra and Baela reminisce about the tough and tender spirit of the Princess Who Fought. Baela promises staunch support to her queen as they chart the treacherous road ahead, and Rhaenyra vows not to face the trials of war alone.
Cloaked in shadows, Daemon succumbs to another hallucination; the enchanting blonde Targaryen wife he never knew greets him with praise and adoration, calling him her favorite son. As the vision fades, reality reasserts itself with the cold hand of Ser Simon, who brings news of Bracken capitulation to Harrenhal and talks of pressing preparation for Daemon's impending monarchical coronation. But Daemon bristles at the suggestion: our ambitious waif is not one to skip the heady ride of power.
Frozen in Fire: The Rise of a New Regent
Back in King's Landing, the Grand Maester delivers the grisly truth: Aegon's condition hangs by a thread, and only the gods can save him now. With the king's health hanging in the balance, it is time to name a Regent to rule in Aegon's stead. Alicent confidently declares her suitability for the role, but the council is not so ready to accept a woman sailing the treacherous seas of war and politics. With a heavy conscience, Aemond is named Regent, much to Alicent's silent, fuming irritation.
Moments later, as he oversees the cleanup of deceased ratcatchers, Cole is confronted by a furious Alicent. Their words cut like daggers, and the queen's voice drips with contempt as she reprimands him for denying her the right to lead her people through the fires of war. Alicent leaves Cole to stew in his own juices, casting a cold eye on the fractured dynamics of Westeros, where power is held and lost on the winds of chance.
Throwing the People's Worries to the Wind
As Hugh the blacksmith and his family attempt to escape the crumbling city, they find themselves denied passage by the new Regent himself, Aemond. With the gates locked, the smallfolk languish in their misery, spiraling deeper into darker days.
With its enriching tapestry of betrayals, alliances and moral Turkish twists, this fifth episode of House of the Dragon leaves us breathless, eager for the next dose of the dragonfire-filled world of Westeros. Come Sunday, venture back to the Iron Throne as the game of phoenixes intensifies on HBO Max. Godspeed, friends, and may the fires of war be kind to your heart.
Enrichment Data:
- Top Themes: Power Dynamics, Betrayals, Alliances, Moral Gray Areas
- Key Characters (with key traits): Queen Alicent (strong-willed, calculating, competent, yet ruthless), Aemond (arrogant, impulsive, destructive), Rhaenyra (vulnerable, strategic, determined), Daemon (ambitious, cunning, violent)
- Important Events: Aegon's health issues and entrance of a regent, Rhaenyra's quest to find new dragon riders, expanding alliances and rivalries among the houses
- Overarching Impacts: The Iron Throne is secured by Aemond, further widening the division between the sides. Rhaenyra seeks alternative methods to find new riders for her dragons, impacting the broader strategy of the war for the Iron Throne.
- Alicent, with her strong-willed and calculating demeanor, finds herself serving as a regent for the ailing Aegon, yet the council's disregard for a woman ruling in war and politics leaves her silent and fuming.
- The future of technology, though not explicitly mentioned, can be subtly inferred as the show's writers skillfully chart the moral gray areas and power dynamics, weaving a complex web of alliances and betrayals that echo the unpredictable nature of tomorrow.
- Despite the teeming whispers of doubt and fear in King's Landing, Rhaenyra, the determined and strategic queen, forges ahead with her quest to find new dragon riders, reshaping the course of the war for the Iron Throne.
- In a world where betrayals and alliances are as common as the Io9 spoilers, fans of the House of the Dragon series are left captivated, awaiting the next chapter in this captivating tale of power struggles, intrigue, and the determination of its indomitable characters to seize control of the Iron Throne.
