Crazy plans to involve ancient dragons in the war, a new Hand – we cover this and other events of the past episode of 'House of the Dragon' in our recap.
After the sweeping and tragic episode last week, this one was relatively calm. It serves as a tribute to Rhaenys's sacrifice and gives both the Greens and the Blacks time to lick their wounds, count their losses, and prepare for the next clashes. But there was plenty of tension and important plot developments in this episode, so let's dive right into discussing them.
Previous recaps:
Warning: Spoilers for Episode 5 of Season 2 of 'House of the Dragon' below
Bad Omens
Everyone mourns Princess Rhaenys, as is fitting. Her husband Corlys is at Driftmark, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) is on Dragonstone, and film critics are behind their monitors.
In King's Landing, the naval blockade by the Blacks has halted trade, and it's clearly affecting the people. Everyone looks miserable, and they become even more so when they spot Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), probably his effect on people returning to the capital, parading the head of Rhaenys's dragon, Meleys, for public display. The common folk see this not as a symbol of victory, but as a bad omen, as many consider dragons akin to gods. And everyone knows that such an act will not go unanswered by Rhaenyra.
Interestingly, this way Aegon's (Tom Glynn-Carney) army diverts attention from the king himself, who is being transported almost in a coffin. However, the young Targaryen is alive, though in critical condition after the battle with Rhaenys and his brother Aemond (Ewan Mitchell).
Maesters carefully try to remove the armor fused to Aegon's skin and set his broken bones. A moment of body horror. And since there's no guarantee the king will survive, Aemond tells Alicent (Olivia Cooke) that someone must take over the rule in his absence.
Alicent goes to Cole, who is cleaning his sword with lemon and soda (give the ser a like for the life hack). When asked what happened in that battle, he replies that he lost 900 men on the battlefield and left a small garrison to defend the castle and the wounded Sunfyre, Aegon's dragon.
Cole also tells Alicent that Aegon fought valiantly, though both know it's not true. And about Aemond and his controversial, to say the least, actions, the Hand prefers to remain silent.
What Women Want
On Dragonstone, Rhaenyra's council, as per tradition, talks about the need to act. And they also claim that the fairer sex is not suited for war, strategy, and tactics. The queen rightly notes that the same Ser Alfred has seen no more battles than she has, since during Viserys's reign there was peace in Westeros for many years.
The council is divided, the lords bicker about something, and Rhaenyra's disappointment, on whom the camera focuses, grows. No one has a clear answer to the question of what she should do. Remember this moment, because later we'll recall its 'synonym'.
Rhaenyra's son Jace (Harry Collett) tells Baela that he wants to go to Harrenhal and call Daemon (Matt Smith) to the queen's aid, but then another plan comes to mind. The prince remembers that the Stark army (yes, there is one) is marching south to support Rhaenyra, but they will need to cross the Riverlands. If they can pass through the Twins – the stronghold of House Frey – the queen will not depend on the army Daemon is gathering at Harrenhal.
Meanwhile, Daemon, riding Caraxes, threatens Ser Amos Bracken and his knights, convincing them to swear fealty to the Blacks. And the king consort is very surprised when Bracken prefers to burn rather than join Rhaenyra's side and his hated enemies, the Blackwoods, who had previously agreed to join Daemon's army on the condition of victory over the Brackens.
Seeing such stubbornness, Daemon suggests Ser Willem Blackwood abandon the centuries-old open war with the Brackens and use... other means to convince them to fight for the Blacks.
High in the mountains of the Vale, in a castle well known to 'Game of Thrones' fans called the Eyrie, Lady Jeyne Arryn speaks with Rhaenyra's stepdaughter Rhaena, who, as we recall, was sent away from Dragonstone in the third episode. She brought with her two small dragons from the Blacks' royal 'stock' and asks for the promised support from House Arryn in the form of 15,000 swords.
Lady Arryn is not impressed by the tiny dragons, which cannot protect her from Vhagar and the other Green monsters. But due to a mutual sense of helplessness, she grows closer to Rhaena, and it's clear that something might come of this endeavor.
In the library on Dragonstone, Rhaenyra vents her frustration to Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno), who can now be fully called the local Master of Whisperers. Her contacts in King's Landing inform her that Cole's procession with the dragon's head through the streets only increased the anxiety of an already tense and superstitious population. Such a situation, with a few well-placed rumors, could easily lead to a riot. 'Can rumors really destroy stone walls?' the queen asks. Mysaria reasonably replies that there are many ways to wage war. She then sends her man to the capital with some message, the nature of which we will learn in the following episodes.
Another important moment on Dragonstone – Rhaenyra and Baela remember Rhaenys, after which the queen sends the girl to her grief-stricken grandfather, Corlys Velaryon, to offer him the position of Hand of the Queen.
At the council in King's Landing, Alicent proposes choosing a regent to act in Aegon's stead while he recovers... or dies. She offers her own candidacy, but it is rejected in favor of Aemond. Interestingly, neither Cole nor Larys Strong support her.
Aemond moves to the head of the Small Council table – the king's place. He begins issuing orders: command the Lannister army to hasten to Harrenhal so they can attack Daemon while the Riverlords are in disarray; close the city gates of King's Landing; remove the hanged ratcatchers.
Throughout the conversation, the camera focuses on Alicent's face, who is literally panicking. That same 'synonymous' episode with what Rhaenyra experienced earlier. At the same time, we notice that almost all female characters in the series have suddenly found themselves in a dependent position, unable to bring about any change.
Daemon's Troubles
Daemon not only has difficulties gathering an army. He continues to be tormented by terrible dreams. This time, in one of them, he makes love... to his mother! She tells him: 'What a pity you weren't born first.' It's easy to believe in one's own infallibility.
At dinner, Ser Simon notes that repairing Harrenhal will cost a pretty penny – Daemon dismisses his concerns and says he will find the gold himself and handle everything.
To top off his problems, the lords of the Riverlands come to him with complaints that under his war banners, women and children are being abducted and killed. And they promise that they will never swear allegiance to a tyrant (although Lord Blackwood had done so shortly before).
Jace's Successes
Jace goes to the Freys. At the meeting, they say they agree to provide passage for the Stark army and fight for the Blacks in exchange for two things:
- a promise that the Blacks will protect them from the Greens' dragons;
- they will receive Harrenhal when the war ends.
After this, Jace returns to his mother. Rhaenyra worries that she cannot defeat Aemond and Vhagar without her own involvement. Daemon is far away in Harrenhal, and his intentions are unclear. And the other dragons are too small.
Jace recalls that there are two powerful dragons without riders in the Dragonmont: Vermithor and Silverwing. Rhaenyra says that only Targaryens and Velaryons can be riders. To which her son rightly notes that there are surely those who do not bear noble surnames but carry their blood. A crazy plan, but not without merit. Now they just need to find suitable candidates.
New Hand (?)
On Dragonstone, an angry and grief-stricken Corlys meets his granddaughter Baela, who reminds him that Rhaenys was not some object he lost; she was a warrior, a Targaryen, who went out in a blaze of glory as she wished. In an episode full of women being ignored, this moment shows a young girl calmly and confidently challenging patriarchal notions of ownership. It's great.
Baela gives Corlys the 'Hand of the Queen' pin received from Rhaenyra and says he can accept it or not. In response, he offers to make her heir to Driftmark, but she declares that he is blood and fire, and Driftmark should remain under the rule of 'salt and sea'.
Aemond and His Dream
A short but important scene takes place in the throne room. Aemond stands staring at the symbol of power in Westeros, with Helaena behind him, who asks if it was worth it. Of course, we don't hear an answer, but it's clear that for the one-eyed Targaryen, all means are good, and the end always justified them.
Teaser for Episode 6:
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