From Aemond Targaryen claiming Vhagar to almost killing his nephew Jacaerys, we have a lot to talk about.
Check out Last Week’s Episode Review.
I enjoyed this episode, but I’m still not quite sure how the ‘Greens’ faction still has a leg to stand on at this point.
Why Did Aemond Steal Vhagar?
While Aemond Targaryen did not technically ‘steal’ the riderless Vhagar, everyone who attended Lady Laena’s funeral was under the impression that the dragon would be left alone.
Since Baela and Rhaena were mourning the death of their mother, I don’t think anybody expected Rhaena to jump up in the middle of the night and try to claim Vhagar – it would be in extremely poor taste.
Which is why Aemond waited until night – skulking around the beach and quietly claiming the dragon intended for Rhaena to bond with.
Aemond knows what he did to his cousin during the night of her mother’s funeral technically wasn’t right – but he didn’t care. He finally had a real dragon – despite being bonded to the ferocious ‘Pink Dread’ back in the dragonpit of King’s Landing.
I didn’t really agree with robbing the child who already felt like an outcast of her chance to claim a legendary dragon, but the same could be same about Aemond. Both Aemond and Rhaena had that in common – the desire to prove themselves, and prove the strength of their Targaryen lineage through their perceived dragonrider birthright.
What bothered me about Aemond claiming Vhagar before Rhaena even had a chance to wasn’t the act itself, but the aftermath.
Kids do fight, we all know that. But, I’m pretty sure Viserys did not raise his sons to beat on women and especially helpless girls. So far, it’s been Alicent who has been ‘putting the bug’ in both Aegon and Aemond’s ears to poison them against their ‘Velaryon’ nephews and cousins.
Aemond punching and shoving the twins down while antagonizing them after the death of their mother and claiming Vhagar – the only living thing the girls had left of Lady Laena – was not okay.
Aemond proceeding to fight with his nephews and even go so far as to pick up a rock to bash in Jace’s skull – his older half-sister and heir to the Iron Throne Princess Rhaenyra’s heir – was not okay.
I don’t agree with Luke slicing Aemond’s eye, but under the circumstances Luke was just trying to save his brother Jace’s life – and most likely did not mean to permanently blind his uncle.
Speaking of unexpected altercations and actions…
Where Was Ser Criston Cole When the Fight Broke Out?
Ser Harrold Westerling, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, gave Ser Criston the ‘nights watch’ – to which he somewhat looked annoyed at earlier in the day.
So…where was Ser Criston when the royal kids were fighting and almost killing one another?
It may be too early to say, but I believe Ser Criston may have been with Queen Alicent during the rugrats’ altercation.
In our last episode, Criston Cole seemed to have grown very close to Alicent during the 10-year timeskip, and there is this shot where Criston is facing the Queen with his sword very ‘erect’ and at attention to perform his duties.
When Alicent pleads King Viserys for vengeance against their son’s lost eye, Alicent openly undermines the King and demands her sworn knight Ser Cole to take Lucerys’ – son of the heir-apparent to the Iron Throne – eye and he begins to move without a second thought. It is only through a reproachful glance from Ser Harrold that Ser Criston remembers himself, and states that he is merely the Queen’s sworn knight.
Now I know this is a weak explanation for where Ser Criston Cole was when the fight broke out, but Queen Alicent makes the most sense.
Especially since Ser Criston immediately noticed how Larys was ‘admiring the Queen from afar’ after having just murdered his family to gain her favor…for whatever reason.
Queer Targaryen Customs
Alicent turned her nose up in disgust at the thought of Rhaenyra bedding her uncle Daemon a decade ago, and now she has betrothed her oldest son and only daughter to one another in an attempt to ‘keep the bloodline pure’.
We know this had to be Alicent’s plan, as she did not want Princess Rhaenrya’s ‘plain-featured sons’ mixing with her ethereal daughter Helaena. King Viserys was all for the marriage proposal between his oldest daughter’s son and his second daughter – wow that sounds so weird to type out.
(The Targaryen family incest is wild.)
Meanwhile, Queen Alicent’s children all exhibit very Targaryen traits despite her best efforts to dress them in a Hightower green.
Aegon seems like a lout who is deep in his cups and doesn’t care about much aside from chasing women and having a good time.
Helaena seems to be a dreamer who has given many prophecies that have already come to fruition – not to mention she just seems kind of weird?
Aemond has far too much ambition as a second son for his own good, and seems almost jealous that Aegon gets to marry their sister, Helaena.
Will Queen Alicent become the grandmother to a liter of Targaryen bastards of her own brood?
I’m excited to find out, and see what other developments arise in next week’s episode, but for now I think I’ll end this review here.
Tell me your thoughts.
Do you think Aemond is jealous of his brother Aegon?
Would Rhaena have successfully claimed Vhagar if given the chance?
And… Did Rhaenyra seem into her encounter with Uncle Daemon on the beach?
I’d love to know your thoughts and opinions! Leave them in the comment section below, and Subscribe to our Newsletter for more weekly House of the Dragon reviews.
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