By the previous gods and the brand new, if “The Crimson Dragon and the Gold” didn’t have you ever on the edge of your chair—particularly throughout its closing 20 minutes—it’s possible you’ll need to test your environment and be sure you’re not lurking simply outdoors of actuality alongside Daemon at Harrenhal. Episode 4 of House of the Dragon gave us rulers making selections each snap and deeply thought of; it gave us characters each regretful and never contemplating the results of their actions; and it gave us dragons doing dragon issues. So many dragons!
We open within the gloomy environs of Harrenhal, the place Daemon continues to be doing much more “wandering in my thoughts palace” than “elevating a military for my spouse.” His newest dream of the younger Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock, again once more) sees her rising from the Iron Throne and strolling towards him, saying “You created me, Daemon, but you at the moment are set on destroying me, all as a result of your brother cherished me greater than he did you” in Valyrian. He slices off her head, and her crown goes clattering to the facet, however she retains speaking: “That is what you at all times wished, is it not?” When he startles awake, Ser Simon Robust tells him a raven has arrived. It carries information of Aegon’s military, which is on the march and has simply gained the assist of a number of noble homes alongside the best way (“that unhappy enterprise with the usurpur’s son” was a key cause why, Ser Simon says; after all, he doesn’t know that mess was Daemon’s doing). Because of this, Ser Criston Cole’s host has grown significantly, and Ser Simon thinks it’s unlikely Daemon will have the ability to elevate sufficient males to face them in the event that they assault Harrenhal.
“Let’s see what your Lord Paramount is product of,” Daemon replies as they head into a gathering with the nervously stuttering Ser Oscar Tully, teen grandson of the sickly Lord Grover Tully, Lord of Riverrun and the highest-ranking noble within the Riverlands. Daemon’s in no temper to cope with this powerless emissary, and tells him everybody could be higher off if Ser Oscar would hasten his inheritance by hastening his grandfather’s demise. A feather pillow would do fairly properly, Daemon suggests. The child is aghast on the very concept of even contemplating this, and Daemon—who looks as if he’s lastly prepared to begin on that entire army-raising factor—stalks off in disgust.
On the docks at Driftmark, Rhaenys seeks out Alyn of Hull. She is aware of he’s the sailor who saved Lord Corlys’ life, however as she touches his face she feedback on how “comely” he’s. “Your mom should have been very stunning,” she says with greater than a touch of unhappiness. When Corlys walks up, Alyn scampers off, grateful the awkward interplay can finish; it’s clear there’s extra occurring right here than Rhaenys wanting to satisfy the person who rescued her husband. “I do know who he’s, Corlys,” she says, and provides “Alyn’s previous isn’t any fault of his,” noting that there’s no cause to maintain him hidden. Corlys’ response is testy, however Rhaenys isn’t there to provide him a tough time about his relationship with Alyn (and Alyn’s mom). She’s been summoned to Dragonstone, the place the Small Council is rising extraordinarily stressed in Rhaenyra’s absence; solely Rhaenys (and the viewers, after all), know the queen was off making one final try at peace by sneaking into King’s Touchdown to satisfy Alicent.
Talking of, we see Alicent in her chambers, nervously turning a dragon determine over in her fingers earlier than by accident breaking it—a callback to the second early in her relationship with Viserys when she had a damaged dragon repaired to melt his coronary heart towards her. It’d even be the identical determine. The Grand Maester enters, carrying a particular brew all of us acknowledge because the tea girls in Westeros take to forestall or finish an undesirable being pregnant. (Alicent pretends it’s for another person, however we all know the reality.) Earlier than the Grand Maester leaves, she asks him—since he was there as her husband’s well being quickly declined on the finish—if he thinks Viserys wished Aegon to succeed him. Clearly, her clandestine chat with Rhaenyra is weighing closely on her thoughts. But when the spiritual man has any opinion on the matter, he’s not going to share it, and easily tells her he doesn’t know. After he leaves, she grimaces and gulps the medication.
On Dragonstone, the Small Council is certainly in disarray; the intel on Cole’s actions is skinny, Daemon is MIA, the previous males are snippy and sarcastic, and Jace and Baela are sarcastic proper again. It falls to Rhaenys to be the calming voice of cause, however the council doesn’t respect her both. At that second, Lord Corlys enters and he’s clearly essentially the most commanding chief of the bunch, however no one can act with out Rhaenyra current.
Within the Crownlands, we get an up-close take a look at what Cole and firm have been as much as: stomping their manner round, menacing smaller homes into bending the knee to King Aegon II—and beheading any lords who assist “the whore of Dragonstone.” When Cole receives a missive from King’s Touchdown, then tells Ser Gwayne Hightower they’re heading for the coast, Ser Gwayne snootily tells him that’s not the correct path to achieve Harrenhal. Twist! They’re not going to Harrenhal in any case. There’s a brand new plan afoot—and we be taught all about it after we shift to King’s Touchdown, the place one other dysfunctional Small Council is assembly. Aegon is dropping his thoughts screaming at everybody, however Lord Larys calmly tells him their scenario is simply superb, even with out controlling Harrenhal. “I must be knowledgeable of this stuff,” Aegon bitches. Then Aemond pipes in to inform his brother that Ser Criston is marching on Rook’s Relaxation, and everybody who’s learn Hearth & Blood leans in a bit nearer.
For the advantage of everybody within the room (and the viewers), Aemond explains the scenario: Rook’s Relaxation could be a small citadel, however its ruler, Lord Staunton, is on Rhaenyra’s Small Council—and extra importantly, it’s simply throughout the water from Dragonstone. If Cole takes Rook’s Relaxation, Dragonstone will likely be minimize off by land. There’s an uncomfortable second as Aegon realizes Aemond and Cole have been strategizing behind his again, whereas the remainder of the Small Council vigorously averts their eyes from the brothers. Aemond switches into Excessive Valyrian to insult him (“imbecilic lickspittles” is definitely a flip of phrase), then goads him into arising with a greater plan. Aegon can’t, after all—because the subtitles hilariously reveal, he can barely communicate Excessive Valyrian; Aemond’s bemused, dismissive “hmm” in response to this blatant ineptitude can also be hilarious—so Rook’s Relaxation it’s.
Upstairs, Alicent is feeling the results of her anti-pregnancy potion, so after all that is the second that Lord Larys—who notes the empty tea vessel introduced in by the Grand Maester, and instantly clocks what’s occurring right here—stops by to see why she wasn’t on the Small Council assembly. He updates her on what transpired but additionally pokes her about how apprehensive she should be for Ser Criston Cole’s security. “Ser Criston is the Hand of the King,” she says stiffly. “We must always all pray for his victory and protected return.” He additionally notices with curiosity that she’s studying one among Viserys’ books of Westeros historical past (trying up the Prince That Was Promised, maybe?). When Larys asks if she thinks “the voice of historical past” is why he modified his thoughts, and whether or not she now doubts her late husband’s intentions, Alicent can solely say “the importance of Viserys’ intentions died with him.”
At haunted Harrenhal, a stressed Daemon roams the halls, recognizing an phantasm of Aemond earlier than bursting into room occupied by a personality we’ve seen beforehand, however have but to really meet: Alys Rivers. The title means she’s a bastard (“When you get to know me you’ll discover I’m not so dangerous,” she shrugs), and she or he’s one thing of a healer, mixing up potions with an easygoing method as she launches right into a lesson about Harrenhal’s darkish historical past. When Daemon says she’s an odd girl, she says “I’m not a lady in any respect. I’m a barn owl, cursed to stay in human kind. He virtually smiles! However when she begins probing into his cause for being on the citadel (she’s onto his resentment about Rhaenyra being the boss as an alternative of him), he calls her a witch. However he drinks the concoction she fingers him to assist him get some much-needed sleep… and comes again to his senses at a desk with Ser Simon and different males, together with Ser Willem Blackwood, who’s there to lend assist to Daemon’s military however is visibly confused by his demeanor, which is each hostile and crazy. At one level, Daemon appears to be like on the girl serving wine and thinks he sees Laena, his late second spouse.
We reduce to a different assembly of males, this time Aegon’s Small Council, who’re nattering on about how the dragons are devouring quite a lot of livestock, the cash provide is dwindling, and Staff Black’s blockade has restricted imports, however not less than Cole’s efforts have been admirable to this point. “You bore me,” Aegon huffs. “You all bore me.” Then he flounces out of the room.
Again upstairs, he finds Alicent shuffling by means of his cupboards. She’s searching for extra of Viserys’ historical past books; Aegon, who’s undoubtedly not huge on studying, says he had them eliminated. She will be able to inform her son is in a tizzy, and asks what’s fallacious, extra out of obligation than concern. “They don’t care what I feel,” he whines. “What ideas would you have?” she replies, earlier than reminding him that sporting a crown doesn’t instantly imply he has any knowledge to again it up. At this level, she will’t maintain again her weary amusement that this petulant fool that she spent her complete life making an attempt to maneuver into energy turned out to be such a fuck-up. “It was my hope that, as soon as enthroned,” she chuckles, “you’ll honor the burden of your new duties: be silent, and try to be taught from the extra studied minds round you, within the hope that you just could be half the king your father was.” When he asks her what she desires him to do, she merely tells him “nothing.” Doing nothing is the perfect he can do. And she or he’s proper, after all. Will he hear? Effectively…
With 20 minutes left to go within the episode, Cole’s military arrives on the seaside citadel of Rook’s Relaxation and prepares for battle. Why sure, Ser Gwayne, they’re going to assault through the daytime! He’s simply as shocked, albeit far much less delighted, than the legions of Home of the Dragon viewers who have been Recreation of Thrones followers and suffered frustration and eye pressure because of that present’s deep, abiding love of extraordinarily darkish battles.
However earlier than the combating breaks out, there’s a brawl of a (barely) extra well mannered nature to get by means of: Rhaenyra has returned to Dragonstone, and everybody, particularly her son Jace, is cranky about her mysterious absence—particularly since they preserve receiving worrisome information about how huge Aegon’s military has develop into. Jace will get even angrier when he learns she went to King’s Touchdown to satisfy with Alicent. “I inherited 80 years of peace from my father,” she snaps again. “Earlier than I used to be to finish it, I wanted to know that there was no different path. And now I do.” The trail is that this: “Both I win my declare, or I die,” adopted not lengthy after by “there are those that have mistaken my warning for weak spot. Let that be their undoing.” Whereas she’s desirous to trip her personal dragon to Rook’s Relaxation, the Small Council talks her out of it; as an alternative, Rhaenys volunteers (nay, insists) to trip out on Meleys.
In King’s Touchdown, a petulant Aegon storms round—oh, that may’t be good—and Home of the Dragon ramps up its battle anticipation by intercutting between completely different scenes: Rhaenys on the brink of depart, Aegon donning his armor and going to his dragon, Cole’s military approaching the citadel at Rook’s Relaxation, and Rhaenyra explaining to Jace, who’s nonetheless in a salty temper, in regards to the Tune of Ice and Hearth. The Targaryen sitting the Iron Throne isn’t only a ruler, she tells him—they’re a protector, destined to unite and lead the folks of Westeros towards a standard foe (we’ve seen ‘em: Recreation of Thrones’ White Walkers). This battle isn’t just a few crown. It’s about saving the long run.
Then, the battle begins. And it’s value reiterating: IT IS DAYLIGHT. WE CAN SEE EVERYTHING. As arrows start to fly and cannons transfer into place, Rhaenys and Meleys come into sight, excessive within the clouds. Cole has anticipated this and we hear him give the order: “Make the sign!” A sequence of horn blasts start to sound as Meleys begins setting hearth to Aegon’s military; deep within the bushes we see… yep, that may solely be the extraordinarily massive define of Vhagar, with Aemond a tiny determine on his again. However wait! Wait wait wait? Who’s that flying overhead? Why, it’s Aegon, driving Sunfyre, barging proper into Cole and Aemond’s battle plan. “Fool,” Aemond mutters in Excessive Valyrian, and tells an keen Vhagar to attend. Simply as irritated as his rider, Vhagar flops his humongous head all the way down to the forest flooring and snorts in disgust, air billowing out of his outrageously outsized nostrils. On the bottom, Cole is equally livid, particularly when Ser Gwayne shrieks in his face about what a dumb plan that is. It’s not the plan. However it’s most definitely what’s taking place, so Cole rides out and rallies his males for battle, performing like Aegon’s arrival was prearranged, fairly than the annoying intrusion it truly is.
Whereas Rhaenys/Meleys and Aegon/Sunfyre do battle within the sky—utilizing hearth, tooth, claws, wings, and every thing else a dragon has at its disposal—the boys on the bottom slowly notice the largest dragon anybody alive has ever seen, Vhagar, is rising up from behind the tree line. Everybody appears to be like scared out of their minds besides Cole, who may be very clearly pondering to himself “Thank the gods!” In reality, that’s precisely what Aegon says when he realizes his brother has come to affix the combat… however his look of aid turns to horror when Aemond offers Vhagar the unmistakable order: “Dracarys!”
A shrieking Sunfyre plunges to the bottom within the woods past the battlefield; it occurs at a distance, however you must think about Aegon is shrieking virtually as loudly. Meleys and Rhaenys are flying within the different path when Rhaenys appears to be like again and decides it’s time to go once more. From the POV of the boys on the bottom, you possibly can see simply how a lot of a measurement distinction there’s between the 2 dragons, and the 2 beasts develop into a swirling ball of flames and scaly physique elements excessive above the battlefield that then briefly thunders to the Earth, squishing whoever is unlucky sufficient to be within the harm path. We see Cole go down, then the display fades to black earlier than returning for some slo-mo battle violence. Within the air, Rhaenys and Meleys share a look earlier than making one final cross over the smoldering discipline. They’re flying over the citadel when out of the blue Vhagar swoops up from behind the cliff face, clamps his huge-ass jaws round Meleys’ neck till she’s useless, then drops her physique from an excellent peak. Rhaenys gazes upward as she falls, sadly however peacefully accepting her destiny. Aemond gazes down, a glance of satisfaction crossing his haughty face, and we fade to black once more.
However there’s yet one more sentence we have to punctuate earlier than episode 4 can finish: the place’s Aegon? Cole sparkles again to consciousness and takes within the scalded wasteland that now surrounds him. Troopers have been lowered to piles of ash inside their armor; a useless dragon is conspicuously draped throughout the citadel within the distance. Additionally conspicuous: a large plume of smoke emanating from the bushes. That’s the place Cole staggers in the hunt for the fallen king. And he’s not the primary one there: Aemond, his sword able to plunge into…one thing… is shifting by means of the burning bushes forward of him. When he calls out, Aemond stops doing no matter he was about to do—one thing that comes into focus when Cole sees that His Grace is mendacity immobile on the bottom subsequent to a gurgling Sunfyre. Cole falls to his knees as Aemond stalks away. Is Aegon alive or useless? It’ll be subsequent week till we discover out.
New Home of the Dragon episodes arrive Sundays on HBO and Max.
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