We recall and discuss what we saw in the third episode of the series 'House of the Dragon': battles on the Stepstones, the king's new children, and dragons in action.
It feels like with each new episode, 'House of the Dragon' is moving further away from its legendary predecessor. While 'Game of Thrones' focused more on the feuds between families against a backdrop of a growing common threat, the prequel emphasizes the internal contradictions of one, albeit powerful, clan. And interpersonal 'battles' sometimes take the place of mass clashes.
If before we chose who we liked more between the Starks and the Lannisters, now we have to decide which of the Targaryens seems the most reasonable. And the new episode further reveals all three main characters: Viserys, Rhaenyra, and Daemon.
Previous recaps:
Warning: spoilers for Episode 3 of the series 'House of the Dragon' follow below
The Battle of the Stepstones
4 years later. It seems important to remind ourselves each time when the events are unfolding, so there is no feeling of something left unsaid or disjointed.
One thing you can't take away from the creators of the show 'House of the Dragon' is their desire and ability to show dragons in all their glory. The third episode starts off with a bang, showing Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) astride Caraxes destroying both friend and foe on the Stepstones. His main target is the Crabfeeder (Daniel Scott-Smith), who has been troubling the Velaryon family, which, as we learned from the end of the previous episode, has become an ally of the disgraced Targaryen.
Despite the dragon's lethality, the Crabfeeder avoids death this time. But the Velaryon forces again suffer losses. This is reminded to Viserys (Paddy Considine), who stays on the sidelines and pays more attention to the birthday of his son Aegon II, born to him by Lady Alicent Hightower (who, by the way, is already pregnant with her second child).
By the way, the scene where Viserys is asked to participate in the conflict on the Stepstones turned out so comical that the internet couldn't stay away:
The Bachelor Show. Vol.II
No sooner have we recovered from the guessing game of whom Viserys would take as his wife, which resembled 'The Bachelor' show, than Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock) finds herself in a similar situation. The first candidate for her hand and heart (or rather for the status of crown princess) is Jason Lannister (Jefferson Hall). The ancestor of Cersei, Tyrion, and Jaime, unlike his descendants, looks like a comical and clumsy character. Although we know that judging someone by their cover in the world of Westeros can be premature.
Naturally, this state of affairs does not suit the spirited princess. She expresses her displeasure to her father and declares that she does not intend to marry anyone. And this is before she hears the plan of Hand Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), who even suggests the king marry Rhaenyra and Aegon to each other!
After heated arguments, Rhaenyra mounts a horse and rides away from the celebration of her brother's second birthday into the forest. Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) follows her.
And what about Viserys? All he can do is get drunk and listen to advice about whom he should give Rhaenyra to. Déjà vu.
Symbols, Symbols Everywhere
Viserys and his entourage not only celebrate Aegon's birthday but also organize a hunt for a white stag. The king is told that this animal is a symbol of strength. And right now, this is an important sign for the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. In reality, however, they catch a large but by no means white stag. And even that one Viserys does not kill on the first try (not forgetting his illness). Is this a symbol of the decline of the king's reign?
But Rhaenyra is luckier. Well, sort of lucky. First, she fails to hide alone in the forest, as Ser Criston proves extremely agile in catching up and stopping her. And then at night (don't ask why a guardsman is sleeping in the forest with the princess), they are attacked by a boar. Together, Rhaenyra and Criston kill the beast, and the princess manages to literally bathe in blood in the process. Another symbol? A blood baptism?
While others flaunt a heroine who declares her strength with almost every word, the authors of 'House of the Dragon' confirm Rhaenyra's coolness through actions. Whether it's riding a dragon, calming her mad uncle alone, or now killing a boar with her bare hands.
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Open materialAnd What About Daemon?
Tired of endless calls to intervene in the fight against the Crabfeeder, which has been going on for 4 years, Viserys agrees to help his disgraced brother and Lord Velaryon (Steve Toussaint). However, Daemon perceives this not as a gesture of goodwill and a desire to help, but as an attempt to undermine his authority.
Daemon launches a decisive attack and finally kills the Crabfeeder, making the inhabitants of the Seven Kingdoms talk about him even more.
Alas, we won't see any interesting story behind Prince Craghas. No character arc was devised for him. But this is another indicator that the main threat to the rule of House Targaryen is the Targaryens themselves. We await the growing tension in the relationship between Rhaenyra and Daemon, who still clearly have to fight for the throne between themselves. In the meantime, they are preparing for it quite effectively, each in their own way.
Trailer for Episode 4:
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