The Red Dragon and The Gold – House of the Dragon S2 Ep 4 Review
While Daemon Targaryen is stuck at Luigi’s Haunted Mansion, the Dance of Dragons has begun! I must say, I didn’t expect to get so emotional seeing Vhagar, Meleys, and Sunfyre fight.
I did however, expect to be upset about Rhaenys’ death – Rhaenyra just lost another great councilor on her side.
Daemon at Harrenhal
I feel like I should get Daemon’s segment out of the way, since all of the action is happening finally and he’s miles away from it all.
It’s ironic really, the one person raring to fight the Greens and Hightowers is instead stuck in a dilapidated castle fighting ghosts and encouraging young men to murder their grandsire.
I mean this probably goes without saying, but why on earth would Daemon take a mystery drink from Alys when an episode earlier he was bemoaning being “felled by poison peas” in the castle?
Is Daemon really being subject to torment by the Old Gods via his weirwood bed, as Alys explained?
Even Larys already knew of Daemon’s condition relating to madness, although I’m not sure if that is due to his Greenseer abilities, or simply from growing up in the cursed castle.
Aemond Tries to Kill Aegon
We all knew this was coming after Aegon (unintentionally) embarrassed Aemond in the brothel – it’s the “pink dread” all over again. Only this time Aemond has the world’s largest dragon and something to prove to the world, as well.
I guess Aemond doesn’t mind being called a kinslayer as well, since despite this being a Targaryen civil war, this is the third Targaryen kin he has maimed or injured, despite outright killing Lucerys on accident and then Rhaenys on purpose using the same exact move with Vhagar.
I know Vhagar is an old, sloppy she-dragon who is a slowpoke, but I truly believe that without that sneak attack move, Meleys could have taken Vhagar out.
Maybe Daemon was right to suggest taking Meleys and Caraxes on an ambush in King’s Landing to take out Vhagar before she became a bigger issue during the war.
The Inside the Episode segment basically said that Aemond’s betrayl is one of Aegon’s worst fears. Aside from Alicent speaking plainly to Aegon that he is essentially a puppet king, I think Aemond was the only person Aegon thought he had left in his corner.
Despite this, we saw Otto walk in on Aemond and Criston scheming, something brought up at a small council meeting by Aegon himself. Not denying it, Aemond humbled his brother even more by speaking High Valyrian – all of which Aegon could understand but lacked the knowledge and skill to adequately formulate a response in the foreign language.
(I’m pretty sure the Grand Maester understood what went on.)
Queen Rhaenys Perishes at Rook’s Rest
Okay, I don’t care what anybody says, Rook’s Rest was always intended to be a suicide mission.
Rhaenyra quite literally makes a point to state that once she finished speaking and trying to reason with Alicent, she could sally forth in complete defense of her claim to the Iron Throne. Rhaenyra specifically mentions that she is “willing to die” to defend her throne, and insists she herself go to Rook’s Rest on Syrax to see the castle defended from the Green forces led by Criston Cole.
Of course, the Black Queen’s council talk her down, and in turn Rhaenyra talks down her heir Jace from seeing any open battle after the death of Luke to Vhagar. Instead, Rhaenys – Rhaenyra’s closest female advisor and unofficial Hand of the Queen to her court at this point – volunteers to go with her red queen dragon Meleys.
Seemingly earlier that day (and all season, honestly) Rhaenys pesters Corlys to name an heir to the Driftmark throne. With his intended heir Lucerys Velaryon gone and his trueborn son and daughter Laenor and Laena gone, Corlys has refused to pass the throne to either of his trueborn granddaughters Baela or Rhaena.
His lady wife Rhaenys even went so far as acknowledging Corlys’ bastard son Alyn who saved Corlys’ life at sea and often sails with him. Corlys abruptly ends the conversation and says they will revisit it at a later time.
In short, it seems Rhaenys was ready to get her affairs in order and more than willing to die for a cause she believed in.
Rhaenys’ ascent to Rook’s Rest and her tragic battle with Vhagar were unavoidable, as Rhaenys strapped herself into Meleys she was determined to have the honorable death of a dragon rider and that’s what she got – even if it was hard to watch her death by Vhagar onscreen as a fan of her character.
It seems like nobody wins when dragon fire is involved in battle, despite the Greens clearly being the “winners” of this round.
But, tell me your thoughts.
Do you think Rhaenys knew she would die at Rook’s Rest?
Why can’t Corlys Velaryon – a man obsessed with legacy and his family name over his own blood, find a worthy successor for his house and the Driftmark Throne within the 6 kingdoms?
Do you think Rhaenyra would have died if she instead went to face Vhagar (and Sunfyre) alone?
Let me know your thoughts, leave them in the comment section below! And follow us for more House of the Dragon Season 2 Reviews.
Until next time : ~
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