House of the Dragon

[The Cat]

Oh good god

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Im starting to wonder if we as a culture need to have the talk again about things being on television arent actually real.

 

[ceecee]

Oh good god

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smh We live in the stupidest time.

 

[ceecee]

S2E2 -- a Shakespearean tragedy in the making.

• Rhaenys doesn't get a lot of time in this episode, but she's still the boss. While Rhaenerys' council is floundering under how to respond to the beheading of the young heir and trying to figure out who orchestrated it, Rhaenys just looks right over and considers Daemon. She knows who he is.
• Which dragon did Daemon ride off on? And wasn't there another larger dragon (if this wasn't it?) he was befriending last season?
• Aegon isn't necessarily evil. He is basically just a boy with an inadequate upbringing, who has taken/been granted a position that is beyond his abilities. It's refreshing at least that he is direct about what he intends, rather than being duplicitous, but he's incapable of balancing the needs of the kingdom against his own. And again, the entire family is fubar -- Alicent withdraws from him when she finds him crying over his son's crib/belongings, whether out of leaving him some dignity or just being unsure of what to do (but I think he really needed consolation that time). Which leads us to Otto...
• ... the now-fired Hand of the King, which we saw coming since Larys began whispering in Aegon's ear last episode. Otto is crafty but also too presumptuous to realize his position was precarious. And no one feels bad for Otto because this whole war is kind of his fault, he's been plotting for years for his line to take the throne.... and the coldness he exudes and just using family as tools to achieve political aims is reflected down through his bloodline. Alicent goes to him to bare her heart ("I have sinned") and he says he doesn't want to hear it. Then Alicent fails to console Aegon. And the entire web of family is like that. All stemming from Otto's bad fathering, even if he succeeds at achieving some of his political aims.
• Okay, moving to the big one -- I want to call Criston the WOAT (Worst of All Time) but I can't claim he's worse than Jeoffrey or Ramsey. Those guys were monsters. Still, he's just a terrible human being. Here, because he was fucking around with Alicent when he should have been making sure the heir was protected (leading to heir's death), so to deal with his self-anger he directs it outward and picks a fight with Arryk and basically sends him to his death with the hail mary of "pretend to be your brother and murder the Black Queen." It was a great fight because we're not even sure who is who, and the ending is just as tragic because as soon as the fight began they were as good as dead. The winner commits suicide -- if it was Arryk, because he just murdered his own brother who he dearly loved, and if it was Erryk, it was because he knew no one would be able to trust him [because they didn't know whether he was his brother or not] + killed his own brother and thus made sure his Queen could sleep easy + assuage his guilt. Fucking Criston.... He's spent a lifetime blaming other people for his own critical errors and inability to uphold his own vows. edit: I read that the showrunner says Erryk won, so...doubly sad. The only way he could provide his loyalty was to end his life.
• I don't know what is going on with Hugh but I have a feeling it will be important.
• I am not really a fan of Sonoya Mizuno in this series. I do feel like she has been working on her french accent at least -- she sounds much better, even if a bit off -- but her acting ability just isn't on par with the rest of the cast and her scenes fall flat. (She's a great performance/body artist, but she's still learning how to act.)
• Emma D'Arcy is just wonderful in a few scenes, even with not a ton to do. I love how they walk and move around, like a Queen -- back straight, posture perfect -- and speak unapologetically and directly, like to Mysaria. They have such a regal and authoritative bearing -- open but intimidating just by their presence.

I'm pretty sure Daemon left on Carexes (with the long neck).

I don't think Aegon is evil - Joffery and Ramsey definitely were. His lack of self esteem, people rewarding his volatility and the total lack pf parental love from either parent (especially his mother who could have comforted her son in this episode but nope, more concerned with funeral PR) made him what he is . The parenting styles of Alicent and Rhaenyra are so different.

Otto, otoh, - all this work and scheming and giving his daughter to an old rotting man to get the Hightowers on the throne just for it to end like this. THEN for Aegon to turn around and make that bitch his hand?

He's also aware Rhaenyra would have and should have become queen, he knows they went against Vis' wishes. One thing is for sure - Joffrey would never have dared fire Tywin.

BROTHA! I just knew this was going to end badly and I never got the Erryk/Arryk fleshing out I wanted.

Poor Healena. I know what's coming, I just feel bad for her neurodivergent, misunderstood self.

We can end this masterful episode on a funny note.

 

[The Cat]

I'm pretty sure Daemon left on Carexes (with the long neck).

I don't think Aegon is evil - Joffery and Ramsey definitely were. His lack of self esteem, people rewarding his volatility and the total lack pf parental love from either parent (especially his mother who could have comforted her son in this episode but nope, more concerned with funeral PR) made him what he is . The parenting styles of Alicent and Rhaenyra are so different.

Otto, otoh, - all this work and scheming and giving his daughter to an old rotting man to get the Hightowers on the throne just for it to end like this. THEN for Aegon to turn around and make that bitch his hand?

He's also aware Rhaenyra would have and should have become queen, he knows they went against Vis' wishes. One thing is for sure - Joffrey would never have dared fire Tywin.

BROTHA! I just knew this was going to end badly and I never got the Erryk/Arryk fleshing out I wanted.

Poor Healena. I know what's coming, I just feel bad for her neurodivergent, misunderstood self.

We can end this masterful episode on a funny note.

I've always lowkey wondered what would have happened if Joff had ordered the Lion's head. I tend to suspect he would find out in short order what true disobedience and a quick trip out of a high window would like and Cercei would just have to fucking pour all her attention onto the new King Tommen after poor Joff's tragic bout of madness ultimately leading to his (un)timely suicide.

 

[Totenkindly]

So I watched all of episode 3 last night to avoid spoilers, but .... needn't worry about that much.

• Great opening sequence to bring the conflict down to earth.
• Aegon went from being a forlorn boy in a position he can't handle to being annoying again. The way he taunts Aemond is just horrific, and it's never clear whether that is going to come to blows at some point. The brothel and his relationship with Sylvi is like the only vulnerable relationship he has, and then Aegon ruins it all. I still haven't figured Aemond out. He reminds me of a Melnibone warrior of old -- the arrogance, coldness, internalized emotion, proud, buries any shame, angry, but always putting a brave face to the world as if he is untouchable.
• Larys manages to nicely play Aegon with just a few words. I hate this guy (and even his relatives hate him), but boy he's effective.
• Really liked the interplay with the Strong uncle in Harrenhal when Daemon arrives. Glad they are giving this show time to breathe a bit. Just... not what I expected, and kind of disarming but charming. Daemon is pretty much Daemon, as dickish as usual.
• I don't know the prophecies surrounding Daemon but apparently Harrenhal's cursed nature is rearing its head again. It was a shock seeing Milly Alcock unexpectedly. Did he wake up next to a weirwood tree? I've heard this witch is important.
• The whole scene with Ulf in the tavern was also unsettling, and I thought it might go another way at first. But apparently HotD will have a lot of bastards running around to complicate the plot.
• Barely any true action sequences this time out, aside from the one between Cole's company and Moondancer -- but boy was that harrowing in its brevity, and it conveys what it's like to deal with dragons. Just to see Moondancer swooping in so quickly. I wish it had been about 3 beats of its wings faster. Ser Gwayne is a welcome addition to this menagerie.
• I guess a callout to Dani's eggs this episode?
• So Mysaria did provide the warning I thought she did -- but decided to use it to get back into the game, claiming that Rhaenyra has mercy for the common folk compared to the side she left. I guess she's trustworthy? But I'm not entirely convinced here -- too many of her relationships have been transactional. I'm not quite sure I'd give her access to all information.
• I really love Rhaenys so much. She never got to be Queen, but she's judicious and thoughtful and perceptive, and she's using her influence to help Rhaenyra to be taken seriously and not make a mistake. Rhaenyra's slight glance to her during the council, trying to get input and favor, was remarkable -- a younger woman looking to the wisdom of the older woman who could have been Queen if the world had been kinder. But then you can also see the human side to Rhaenys when she interacts with Corlys.

So I guess getting to the craziest part of this episode -- Rhaenyra sneaking into the Red Keep and the Sept temple to surprise Alicent with an impromptu meeting. I'm still not sure I buy it because it's just so absolutely bonkers in terms of the level of risk involved, and they gloss over so much of how she gets there. It's also hard to believe no passers would wonder why the queen dowager is having a hushed argument with a nun. But at the same time the scene it triggers is so worth including and could be the last time both d'Arcy and Cooke interact in this series.

Both women are just so tremendous here -- an acting class in terms of line delivery and facial expression, and they run through cycles of emotion. It's that argument between people who used to be best friends, who wish for what they had but too much has gone down, and there's been painful damage done to their relationship over time. By the time they clear that, they are able to communicate a bit and Rhaenyra is very vulnerable (which is why Alicent bothers to listen), and then she is able to get from Alicent what her father actually said as he died. Just the expressions on d'Arcy's face and Rhaenyra's almost child-like expectation that now that it has all been shown to be a misunderstanding, things can be corrected...

...Alicent's response is rather chilling, even if not focused on her unwillingness to recant now (too much has gone down). Because... too much has gone down and the machinery of war has extended beyond her grasp. There is a refusal to suffer any humiliation for her misunderstanding that instigated the entire war, true, but there is also an awareness that it's all beyond her now (the dogs are loosed, there is no way to get them back in the kennel) -- a despair and fury that she is now mostly inconsequential because all the various men are bent on blood, she's lost control of anything, and she's both angry and horrified. Rhaenyra might hope for peace, but there is no way to achieve that now without bloodshed. I think her sincerity is shown most in not turning Rhaenyra in as she leaves, even though that would end the bloodshed -- Alicent isn't entirely calculating and still cares for her friend on some level, despite the ways Rhaenerys' death might spare her family -- but she's not going to recant because what would be the point?

 

[Totenkindly]

I was going to comment how Daemon and Aemond are pretty similar too me in feeling like the fierce prideful Targaryans (like Elric of Melnibone), moreso than the others, and then I realized again that Aemond is just a simple anagram of Daemon -- the D is moved to the end.

 

[SensEye]

I was going to comment how Daemon and Aemond are pretty similar too me in feeling like the fierce prideful Targaryans (like Elric of Melnibone), moreso than the others, and then I realized again that Aemond is just a simple anagram of Daemon -- the D is moved to the end.

Makes sense, but given there is also a Rhaenys and a Rhaenyra (and a Rhaena and a Jacaerys) it seems the Targaryen's are not too inventive with names.

"What shall we name our child dear?"
"Just pick another family member's name and add/subtract/move a letter or two, per family tradition."

 

[ceecee]

I just wanted Baela to dracarys Criston Cole and the Hightowers. Except Gwayne. I kind of like that lippy bitch.

 

[Totenkindly]

 

[ceecee]

Great intense episode.

So Alicent is pregnant and taking the OTC abortion Gatorade. Daemon is still at Harrenhal having nightmares and delusions. I like that they made Alys Rivers Scottish.

Rhaenyra tells a very impatient Jacaerys the Song of Ice and Fire.

Aegon's smile when cuddling Sunfyre was genuine (and drunk) - it makes me not hate Aegon. It's also pretty clear that Aegon clearly doesn't speak much High Valarian and Aemond is fluent. I'm also fairly sure Aemond dispatching Aegon was in progress.

Is he dead? is he dead? is he dead?? oh godDAMNIT!

Obviously having Vhagar lying in wait was a brilliant move but you can tell she is over it.


As soon as I saw this, I knew it was over. And Rhaenys volunteering to go was coming from someone ready to die in battle. But I was still like nooooooo

Crying dragons are worse than crying people in most instances of this universe.

 

[Totenkindly]

I didn't watch it last night, so I watched most of it over lunch today.

Sadly I had to cut out with 20 minutes left in the episode, but I have a bad feeling about all of it and am very worried about where things will head. The tension is building. I'll watch the rest when I am done at work this afternoon.

edit: Done. I'm not sure how many times I said "OMG OMG OMG" during that last 15 minutes with my hand over my mouth.

Yeah, I picked up on the abortifacent as well for Alicent. Larys isn't stupid either -- damn that guy.

<3 <3 RIP Rhaenys. She will always be the boss and I will always love her. As soon as she volunteered, I knew things were going to go badly. But damn. She took out Aegon and Sunfyre like child's play and even gave Aemond and Vhagar a run for their money -- like, she and Meleys fucking bounced them off the ground despite being dwarfed in size. That was spectacular. I wish it had felt a bit more believable that she would have skimmed the castle, I would have just headed over areas without blindspots... But Rhaenys. Never afraid, always spoke her mind, was of firm conviction, and she specifically came back after Vhagar and Aemond when she could have just fled. What a boss. YOu could tell she knew what she was doing, and Aegon found out the hard way. It was so sad watching her watch Meleys' eyes going out, and she was accepting of her fate; she played her hand as best as she could and had no regrets, and it was an act of love to die together with her dragon.

‘House of the Dragon’ Actor Eve Best on Rhaenys’ Game-Changing Scene and Filming That Epic Dragon Battle: ‘She Had to Take That Responsibility’

Eve Best explains the first major dragon battle in 'House of the Dragon', which saw the death of her character Rhaenys

variety.com

On top of the physical practicality of doing it, you also have to communicate Rhaenys’ emotional state through all of this.

Which was a very, very intense journey for her. That was challenging, to try and hold onto that. I spoke with [episode director] Alan Taylor. We’d had a session where we talked about what was going on with her emotions, because I felt very strongly that there were these really important beats that we needed to mark. In particular, the knowledge of the fact that it’s very likely a kamikaze mission. It has to be, because effectively, she’s starting a nuclear war, and she has been the one character throughout who’s done everything she can to stop them. Because she’s the one that knows from bitter experience, and all the younger generation are running around, saying “Send in the dragons!” She and Corlys are really the only adults left in the room who know, who’ve been there and seen it — what they’re facing.

The context of nuclear war was very, very helpful, because that’s the equivalent for us. And I knew that when she had proposed herself, that she knew she had to take that responsibility, if anyone was going to have that weight. It couldn’t be Rhaenyra. She had to do it. I think she knows that she has to sacrifice herself for the team. Another journalist described her as Lancelot, Rhaenyra’s Lancelot, in many ways. I felt like that was very apt. There’s such a deep reluctance. In the end of Season 1, she makes that conscious decision not to start a war, not to nuke everybody. Everyone ever since has been saying, “Why didn’t you nuke them?” Everybody’s taking it personal, and she’s all the time looking at the bigger picture. All the time rising up, putting the personal aside, and rising above.

The point is, ultimately, whatever we feel, however attached and however devastated we may be, the bigger picture is we must not send dragons into war, we must not go nuclear at all costs. So for her then to say, “I will be the one to do this,” she knows that there’s no living after that. The choice to go, that second return to plunge in with Vhagar — that’s an absolute kamikaze mission. To me, that was when she felt very samurai. It was that last stand of the noble warrior. She could have just about escaped, and they could have maybe left everybody to deal with it. But she turns because she knows that’s what she has to do, morally and spiritually.

Callout too to Rhaenys for not treating Alyn the way Catelyn treated Jon Snow. She was such a classy lady.

Aegon -- I mean, he is definitely sympathetic on some level. Again, he's just basically a boy who isn't capable of operating at the level everyone is requiring of him, and he is undermined and shunned and excluded and used as just a figurehead but he so desperately wants to be more and wants to prove himself and be loved and admired. Even his own brother shames him for not knowing the High Speech -- i looked at that subtitle for a second or two before I realized he had trouble understanding what Aemond was saying to him and wasn't skilled enough to respond well. And finally his mom (rightfully) telling him he should just pace himself and right now he's just a figurehead, so he should be LEARNING, not DOING... but his impulse control was bad. I couldn't tell whether he was dead or not from that final shot, but boy he's in a world of hurt.

It seemed clear Aemond fried Aegon on purpose under pretense of the fight, then went to finish him off by sword if need be as Cole caught up. I don't really hate Aemond either, although he's most easily painted as a villain. But as I said before, he feels the most competent and kingly and dangerous of all the Green brood, the "most" Targaryen of them all. And you could see how his pride was always hurt and shunned growing up, leading him to tame Vhagar (and he did, which was very much an act of courage) to prove himself. Strategically, he was accomplished far more than Aegon and planned the war effort with Cole. He could speak High Valyrian (which shows intelligence and actually giving a shit to learn it). He had a tender vulnerable side, with his ongoing affection for the first woman he slept with -- and when his brother mocked and bullied him, he proudly stood up in his nakedness and walked out without shame. They were brothers, but Aegon should not have kept shaming Aemond; this is a clear "FAAFI" scenario. I don't know how I am supposed to feel about him. If Aegon had killed Rhaenys, it would have been horrible... but Aemond at least was a worthy opponent, and I can relate to and appreciate him in some ways. He is also someone who is going to direct his own fate, rather than being swept along by the tide.

I don't really know how specific the book got about the fights. However, I like that the show is actually taking the time to develop character arcs and then letting them lead into the events as documented and how it might have actually played out based on the established character of each person. I feel like how they are fleshing out the plot actually makes sense with the character arcs we have seen develop -- which is how it should be done. You can see why Aegon felt compelled to fly to this battle, why Aemond sits out part of the battle (leaving his brother to his own fate), then so indiscriminately flaming his brother and Rhaenys, why Rhaenys agreed to go, and so on....

While I hate Cristen Cole, he did do a good job of managing this battle -- and even utilizing the unexpected appearance of the king. He's no dummy, he's just got a shitty heart.

I am not sure what happened to Gwayne.

 

[Totenkindly]

 

[Totenkindly]

Baela deserves an MVP award for that speech in an otherwise rather slow episode (S2E5)

I didn't really get a lot out of this episode, it was more plot developments versus anything large.

• Alicent has reinfored that as a woman she means nothing. And she's not even a dragonrider. Ironically, Rhaenyra is going through the same glum experience, having her male council hold her back from doing anything because of her gender and status.
• Pretty harrowing stuff, removing armor gummed up on Aegon's skin. Well, that is a total medical mess, isn't it?
• The smallfolk are revolting. No, seriously, they're not just revolting but are going to revolt! No food, now the ill omen of the dragon head, then being locked in King's Landing with no resource. Look out!
• Daemon is treading dangerous ground, but like a presidential candidate we all know, his own failings at statesmanship are at least mitigating his treachery to some degree -- although it might cost Rhaenyra the Tullys.
• So we might find new uses for men like Alyn, and a few bastards out in King's Landing -- maybe one of them has JUST ENOUGH pureblood of kings in their veins to activate a dragon able to handle Vhagar.
• Baela again finally comes into the sun this episode, with her comments to her fire (concluding with how she will end in blood and fire, not being made of sea and salt, when he offers her a political position). She also has a good scene discussing Rhaenys with Rhaenyra.
• Aemond might be ruthless but he does seem competent despite lack of experience.
• Gwayne survived the Battle of the Three Dragons.
• The Queen of the Vale has a point, she only got BABY dragons. Maybe there will be another available.
• Mysaria might do some good?

 

[Totenkindly]

S2E6 "Smallfolk"

• The city is starving; the peasants are revolting (literally); Rhaenyra's gifts of food are going a long way even if they are fighting in the streets to get some of it.
• Alicent is even more shunned than last week. This is what happens when you instigate a misogynistic (at core) rebellion; don't expect yourself to be spared. MAGA women, take note. Aemond manages a bit of gentleness (since it's his mom) but not much of it.
• "Queen of Fishes" lol! Her position is floundering.
• Aemond shoves Aegon's ball into this wound. No love lost there either.
• I like how Aemond's leadership strategy is very different from Aegon. They don't know quite what to do with him.
• Larys overplays his hand; Aegon was malleable, but Aemond isn't having any of it. And we might now have an Otto reboot - if he ever responds. I also like the little smirk by the other council guy when Larys makes his play -- and Aemond immediately exposed him and crushes him underfoot.
• Unable to get Aemond under his thumb, Larys goes back to manipulating Aegon and being his only friend.
• I knew things weren't going to go well as soon as Steffen utters those three little words: "I've done it." RIP toasty toes. Also -- a cold detail where the dragon keeper who was also engulfed in flames agonizingly cuts their own throat to end their own pain. Ouch.
• So it looks like along with humans wooing dragons, the dragons will woo humans. Interesting! Addam would have much more Targaryen blood.
• I like Gwayne a lot, he's not nearly as much of a dick as most of the royal male characters.
• "The Slap That was Heard Around the Nation." Damn, but I wanted to slap that mofo too. What a whiny little prattling bitch.
• Is Alys a ghost or real? her being a ghost would fit even better into the Harrenhal spookiness. Daemon needs some sedatives.
• And finally -- that kiss!

 

[ceecee]

S2E6 "Smallfolk"

• The city is starving; the peasants are revolting (literally); Rhaenyra's gifts of food are going a long way even if they are fighting in the streets to get some of it.
• Alicent is even more shunned than last week. This is what happens when you instigate a misogynistic (at core) rebellion; don't expect yourself to be spared. MAGA women, take note. Aemond manages a bit of gentleness (since it's his mom) but not much of it.
• "Queen of Fishes" lol! Her position is floundering.
• Aemond shoves Aegon's ball into this wound. No love lost there either.
• I like how Aemond's leadership strategy is very different from Aegon. They don't know quite what to do with him.
• Larys overplays his hand; Aegon was malleable, but Aemond isn't having any of it. And we might now have an Otto reboot - if he ever responds. I also like the little smirk by the other council guy when Larys makes his play -- and Aemond immediately exposed him and crushes him underfoot.
• Unable to get Aemond under his thumb, Larys goes back to manipulating Aegon and being his only friend.
• I knew things weren't going to go well as soon as Steffen utters those three little words: "I've done it." RIP toasty toes. Also -- a cold detail where the dragon keeper who was also engulfed in flames agonizingly cuts their own throat to end their own pain. Ouch.
• So it looks like along with humans wooing dragons, the dragons will woo humans. Interesting! Addam would have much more Targaryen blood.
• I like Gwayne a lot, he's not nearly as much of a dick as most of the royal male characters.
• "The Slap That was Heard Around the Nation." Damn, but I wanted to slap that mofo too. What a whiny little prattling bitch.
• Is Alys a ghost or real? her being a ghost would fit even better into the Harrenhal spookiness. Daemon needs some sedatives.
• And finally -- that kiss!

• Apparently the Lanisters have been shitheads since forever. But - I'm not moving until Aemond and Big V show up? What a bitch. Do they run around with lions at all times?
  [*]Alicent is at the point of - I didn't think the Face Eating Leopard Party would eat my face. lol I agree I saw the MAGA women example right away too.
  [*]When Aemond let Larys give his spiel and they says - send word to Otto I want him back. I laughed.
  [*]While were on the subject of Aemond, I bet he's even more pissed Criston Cole stopped him from dispatching Aegon in the first place.
  [*]Steffen was a red shirt from the get go. Seasmoke be like

  

  
  [*]I like Gwayne. That probably means a horrible death for him. Also explains where Daeron is.
  [*]If a dragon claimed Addam, one will certainly come for Alyn. Pretty clear he has the silver hair that he keeps shaved too.
  [*]Pretty brilliant PR move (sending food).
  [*]Rhaenyra didn't need to slap. She should have gotten on Syrax, pointed her mouth at him and said - I'll have one mistress here. And no master! (different movie but effective line.)
  [*]Those hallucinations with Viserys are heartbreaking. Maybe this will change Daemon for the better.
  [*]Sheepstealer is the wild dragon in the Vale? The baby dragons are so cute tho.
  [*]At first I was like awww (hug) then I was like oooh (kiss). I loved it and the women of Westeros need less men and more women around them, obviously.

 

[The Cat]

• Apparently the Lanisters have been shitheads since forever. But - I'm not moving until Aemond and Big V show up? What a bitch. Do they run around with lions at all times?
  [*]Alicent is at the point of - I didn't think the Face Eating Leopard Party would eat my face. lol I agree I saw the MAGA women example right away too.
  [*]When Aemond let Larys give his spiel and they says - send word to Otto I want him back. I laughed.
  [*]While were on the subject of Aemond, I bet he's even more pissed Criston Cole stopped him from dispatching Aegon in the first place.
  [*]Steffen was a red shirt from the get go. Seasmoke be like

  

  
  [*]I like Gwayne. That probably means a horrible death for him. Also explains where Daeron is.
  [*]If a dragon claimed Addam, one will certainly come for Alyn. Pretty clear he has the silver hair that he keeps shaved too.
  [*]Pretty brilliant PR move (sending food).
  [*]Rhaenyra didn't need to slap. She should have gotten on Syrax, pointed her mouth at him and said - I'll have one mistress here. And no master! (different movie but effective line.)
  [*]Those hallucinations with Viserys are heartbreaking. Maybe this will change Daemon for the better.
  [*]Sheepstealer is the wild dragon in the Vale? The baby dragons are so cute tho.
  [*]At first I was like awww (hug) then I was like oooh (kiss). I loved it and the women of Westeros need less men and more women around them, obviously.

The true riches of Casterly Rock have always been...the things they do for love.

 

[SensEye]

• Larys overplays his hand; Aegon was malleable, but Aemond isn't having any of it. And we might now have an Otto reboot - if he ever responds. I also like the little smirk by the other council guy when Larys makes his play -- and Aemond immediately exposed him and crushes him underfoot.
• Unable to get Aemond under his thumb, Larys goes back to manipulating Aegon and being his only friend.

Overall, I'd like to see the pace picked up a bit. Ep5 was slow and Ep6 was not much better (although there was some important maneuvering going on). I knew poor Steffan was going to get it, no way this whole new strategy was going to be that simple. The Larys power grab, fail, and go to plan B was a clear plot device to get Aegon back in the game. He's a no threat wuss without a cunning backer, and Larys can fill that role. There is potential great fun to be had if Otto and Larys go back and forth against each other in a battle of scheming/treachery!

I wouldn't say dragons woo humans so much as simply choose them. I doubt what's his face had to be wooed once he realized he wasn't a dead man. It's like Harris becoming nominee, look at what power just fell in my lap!

 

[Totenkindly]

The new word for today: Salubrious

 

[ceecee]

The new word for today: Salubrious

Lickspittle too. This show loves that word.

 

[Totenkindly]

I guess I wasn't the only one.

Mizuno's voice acting has always been rough, she's usually not at the same level of other cast. It only worked in DEVS because she was playing a female tech and a flat delivery was believable for her role.

That first season of HOTD was rough. Second season has been improved.

She is great at pure body movement (Alex Garland films).

'House of the Dragon' Star Sonoya Mizuno Explains Mysaria's Season 1 Accent Mishap

"House of the Dragon" star Sonoya Mizuno says her accent as Mysaria was changed in ADR, with Season 2 going back to the "original plan"

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