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for the last two episodes of House of the Dragon we've been treated to hints of the war in the stepstones. a site here and there of the crab feeder some geopolitical mutterings about it being evidence that the triarchy of free states in Essos are not taking the Iron Throne seriously anymore. and Corlys Velaryon repeatedly emphasizing how important this is to his house Velaryon and trying to push Viserys into taking action. Three years later this is the first of a few times jumps this season it's clear that Viserys has still not taken any action. instead, we have a sort of proxy war the crab feeder is technically not working for the triarchy but is supported by them and Daemon and Corlys are technically working without the approval of the Iron Throne. though Viserys has certainly not tried to stop them. it allows for a degree of deniability on both sides.
just a word on the crab Feeder first though he is
portrayed here as clearly suffering from pretty Advanced grayscale. this wasn't
in the book but adds an intriguing twist to the story for most people grayscale
is incurable and over time affects all parts of the body which explains his
peculiar jerking motions and perhaps even the fact that we never actually, hear
him speak. Perhaps also it has already got to his brain explaining his rather
twisted and gruesome approach to war.
anyway, the war there has reached an on pass of sorts
crab feeder has hold himself up on Bloodstone the biggest of the islands and
seems content to wait it out while Daemon rages overhead on karaxi's and Corlys
glowers on a nearby Island we'll leave them there for the moment. For the
majority of the episodes takes place in King's Landing and the Kingswood just
south of King's Landing.
three years have passed and although the cast of characters
is largely the same there have been some big shifts in power in King's Landing.
Viserys has married Alicent and they already have a two-year-old son Aegon with
another child on the way. the Velaryon are nowhere to be seen fighting in the
stepstones or chilling out on drift mark. Otto Hightower remains hand of the
king and also, now of course father-in-law to the king. another Hightower
Hobart has appeared on the scene and the Lannister’s make an appearance twins
Jason and Tywin Lannister. as you would
expect there is a marked shift in the dynamic between Alicent and Rhaenyra.
they were best friends and now Alicent has married Rhaenyra's dad Rhaenyra was
clearly the senior as heir to the throne, now Alicent can pull Rank by telling
Rhaenyra that her father wants her to do something all very awkward. it's a
nice touch to show this shift by Rhaenyra reading in the gods wood and hearing
a song about Queen Nymeria. back in episode 1 the two of them did something
very similar in the same place it was the establishing shot to show us how
close they were. and let's spare a thought for that poor Minstrel who clearly
isn't sure whose orders to obey. a lot has been left unsaid clearly. though Alicent
seems a lot Keener to heal the rift than Rhaenyra is. crucially Rhaenyra is now
alone and lonely. the importance of that will come up again later. but the court is clearly swirling with gossip
about two things both of which are about Rhaenyra. will the King still keep her
as the heir now he has a healthy son. and now she has reached the right kind of
age in their eyes will Rhaenyra and marry and if so to whom? clearly the two
issues are closely linked Rhaenyra is very politically eligible whatever her
status but there's a big difference between her being married to the Lord of
some great house as Lady of that great house if she is no longer Heir and
finding a prince consort for her as Queen if she still is heir.
Viserys clearly wants Rhaenyra to marry partly because he
wants to be a Granddad and partly because a marriage would be very advantageous
for the ruling family and he clearly encourages or suggests that Jason
Lannister introduced himself to her with that in mind it's not exactly the most
Suave of propositions but at least he's very clear about what he wants. Rhaenyra
is not so much the fact that someone is coming on to her as the clear
implication that Jason thinks he is being encouraged to approach her on the
basis that she will be taken out of the line of succession. so, on marrying him
she would become just a lady of Casterly rock not Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
Rhaenyra isn't stupid and if this approach was sanctioned by her father, then
it seems that her father has made up his mind about the succession and not told
her. as well as seemingly setting her up with someone without talking to her
about it at all. although seems to characterize her as being wilful and out of
control her choosing to ride off away from the camp at that moment for some
alone time is entirely understandable as is Kristen Cole, now member of the
king’s guard following her, it's his job to protect her. the two Bond a bit
here as we noted earlier, she doesn't really have anyone anymore and he as he
admits owes everything in life to her, she chose him to join the kings guard
despite his lack of station. Then a wild boar attacks. Kristen Cole saves her
life and she lets out her anger on the boar itself. when they return to camp
together it is with a shared Bond and respect between them and from others for
the kill. because all this is taking place at a hunt to celebrate the new
Prince Aegon’s second name day. and those looking to support Aegon’s claim to
the throne are starting to look for ways to prompt him into the decision they
think he has to make. for example, here there is a rumor of a white stag they
might be able to capture on the hunt.
white Stags were once seen as a sign of kingship and they
are there to celebrate Aegon’s name day so perhaps this is a portent from the
gods about Aegon and kingship nudge nudge. it's not very subtle. as an aside
Rhaenyra and Kristen Cole see the white stag and Let It Go. the high Towers
won't get them portent that Prince Aegon should be king today. instead Viserys
is presented with a not white stag to kill it's being held in place for him to
do the deed it can't move he's shown where to strike and he still takes two
goes shutting his eyes even. it's a pretence he knows that and the polite
Applause from the onlookers as he walks away. there’s a clear contrast here
between this and the ball that Rhaenyra and Kristen Cole kill. the showrunners
aren't really labouring this point but it's clear who has the Killer Instinct
here.
so, there are lots of people now swirling around Viserys
trying to manipulate him into doing what they want and we're starting to understand
that his default position is that of a conflict avoider. not confronting Daemon
about his clear insubordination not talking to Rhaenyra about all the things
they need to talk about. not doing anything about the stepstones not shutting
down talk about the succession. and now with all the politicking just getting
to him he decides to get drunk. there's a nod here I think to both Robert
Baratheon later who got drunk on a hunt in the Kingswood that didn't end well
for him and also dear and the dreamer a Targaryen for Whom the dragon dreams
were too much and he just drank to shut them all down. anyway, here Viserys is
drinking at least prompts him to face up to some home truths he talks about
that Dragon dream he had back in episode 1 about his son being born with Aegon
the conqueror's crown the splintering of shields all the dragons roaring as one
he had assumed it was about his son Balon with Emma who died. and he'd not had
that dream again so perhaps he'd got something wrong. that's partly why he'd named
Rhaenyra his Heir. yes, to stop it from being Daemon but also because he
thought he would never remarry, so heartbroken was he. no more children no more
Sons, Rhaenyra would be his only child so heir but now he has a son, what if he
was wrong about it all, what if the dream was about this son. he's drunk but
you can see how he's agonizing over it all. Giorgio R Martin talked about Paddy
Considine bringing a sense of tragic Majesty to this role and we're seeing it
in this episode.
but going forward the important point will be that
Alicent will have emerged from that conversation convinced that Viserys was at
the very least unsure about the succession.
not that Viserys actually does anything Otto eventually resorts to
simply telling Alicent that she will need to make the king face up to the issue
and name Aegon his Heir because he wouldn't be able to come to that decision on
his own. what Alicent does end up doing though is prompting Viserys to finally
support Corlys and Daemon's war against the crab Feeder. Raymond Velaryon calls
us his brother has written asking for Aid and Viserys sends it. you might think
that this would be well received by Daemon. after all they give the impression
that crab feeder was beating them but no, he beats the messenger who brings him
the news. Why? well, I think this is an insight into why he is there he doesn't
need to help call this. he's there partly perhaps to let off steam but also to
prove himself to Viserys perhaps or to himself. Viserys coming in after three
years to bail out Daemon just makes him look and feel like a loser who needs
his Big Brother's help. remember last week when Daemon went to elaborate
lengths to provoke Viserys and Rhaenyra into paying attention to him. this is
more of the same. this version of Daemon is very focused on his family. he may
not be able to articulate his love and need for their love and respect but it
shines through in everything he does. so, Daemon goes on what could have been a
suicide mission before Viserys's Aid has a chance to arrive. he will do this on
his own. now without the help from his brother he rose out under a white flag
of truce offers up his sword then when crab feeder and his forces emerge from
their cave. if Daemon is there, he can't be riding karaxi’s above them surely.
he attacks the valariyon’s charge, lianaVelaryon who is all grown up now rides
his Dragon "Sea smoke" overhead and the day is won.
The Velaryon’s have control once more of their shipping
lanes Daemon has his grisly prize of the crab feeder and he did it without his
brother's help.
before we leave that scene though let's focus on Liana Velaryon for a moment. amid all the lick spittle’s and politicians surrounding Viserys one of them Lionel strong actually offers a sensible solution. if Rhaenyra is to marry the best match would be lanal. all the same logic that was there for the match between Viserys and Liana still apply it would bring the two halves of The Wider House Targaryen together and strengthen the Iron Throne more on this next time. but we round off the episode with Rhaenyra because this episode has all been about her in a way whether she was there or not. she finally gets a quick heart to heart with her father he tells her again that she must marry. but the context here is very different he says she must marry to shore up her claim. And he promises her two things that she can decide on her own match and that no matter what he promises this on her mother's memory. she is and will remain his Heir. you will not be supplanted, he says. Can she believe him she doesn't seem completely convinced but at least they've had the conversation. and now we have a broader issue because Rhaenyra has heard from her father that she is staying heir, no matter what. but Alicent heard from Viserys that he is having doubts and perhaps he will name Aegon as Heir, unless Viserys clears it up publicly both will think that they are in the right, but what did I miss what did you like most about this episode let me know in the comments below. if you'd like to read more on the world of Ice and Fire particularly House of the dragon, please follow my blog.
