Wow, this episode was fantastic! It’s not my favorite,  but definitely my second favorite of this season. The dragonseeds claiming Vermithor and Silverwing were the highlight of the episode, but for now let’s start with everybody’s favorite King Consort – Daemon Targaryen.

Daemon Gets Humbled at Harrenhal

Can I just say how much Oscar Tully kept it real with Daemon?

To be honest,  all of the Riverlords as well basically tell Daemon to his face that he desecrated their homeland, they hate him, and they are only supporting him because they swore an oath to follow Rhaenyra years ago. Daemon got so humbled that even Ser Simon kept looking at him like “wow, is the King Consort going to start tripping out again?”

Honestly, that was a fantastic way to end off Daemon’s time at Harrenhal. His ego was humbled – hard – and Alys Rivers (Ghost? Owl familiar in human form?) was nowhere in sight to bail him out of that situation with kind words or sound advice.

Also, it’s a shame Queen Rhaenyra has lost yet another loyal vassal, but Oscar Tully was right to tell Lord Blackwood that he “wanted to” do the vile things he did. Which…is true. Daemon made a vague suggestion, but it doesn’t mean he had to do his worst, and like Lord Tully pointed out he did not have to follow the King Consort’s command.

Maybe it’s because he’s been trapped for weeks at Harrenhal, but that beheading scene was a shadow of the smooth death Daemon gave Vaemond at court last season for insulting his niece-wife Rhaenyra.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Rhaenyra and the Dragonseed Sacrifice

During the Inside the Episode segment, Ryan Condal mentioned that the dragonseeds were a “blood sacrifice” of sorts and that they wanted Rhaenyra’s talk to the dragonseeds to feel like a religious cult meeting – to paraphrase. 

And – I could totally see all of those things, because that is what went through my mind while watching the events unfold. I think they may have said it was Rhaenyra’s actor’s idea to conduct the scene in that manner, but I may be wrong. Either way, what got me about that scene is the Dragon Vermithor literally laughing at the dragonseeds before him, before giving a look to Rhaenyra like “are you sure about this?” before roasting them all.

Viserys told Rhaenyra “it is an illusion that we control the dragons” in season one and that has never been more clear than right now. Seasmoke wanted to fight Syrax (his supposed sibling) and Rhaenyra over Addam on the beach and Seasmoke literally started smiling when Rhaenyra accepted Addam’s fealty like “See, I knew it would work out buddy, I wouldn’t steer you wrong”.

Not to mention Silverwing not even being mad about her eggs being stepped on because Ulf apologized.  From my understanding,  all of the old books (fiction or otherwise) dragon eggs are fairly impregnable so the eggs should be fine.

How to Claim a Dragon

“Only death can pay for life” and the new dragonriders Ulf and Hugh were reborn in the flames – or “fire and blood” that allowed them to claim and bond with the old dragons.

I have a theory here, and it might sound crazy, but – I think a rider’s ability to claim a dragon is already pre-determined.

Let’s take Vermithor, for example.

It headed Rhaenyra’s command, and honestly if Rhaenyra had not “grown up” with Syrax, she most likely could have claimed Vermithor when she was older (and when he was rider-less). Vermithor has been around for quite some time, and may require more from a rider that he deems “unworthy”.

In the opening credits sequence, we have a tapestry of ancient valyrians offering sacrifices to a human-headed dragon (or, a god in disguise if you believe in mythology) for the ability to ride dragons. They may have even slept with dragons, as the tapestries in the Red Keep show capitulation between humans and serpents (unless the serpents/leviathan are meant to represent centuries of intermarriage with the true Valyrians/”Velaryon” family).

Also, this is a tad bit unrelated,  but I think House Velaryon’s sigil is not a seahorse but a Kelpie.  It would make more sense for their sigil to be related to a leviathan that resides in deep waters (as sailors) rather than a damn wimpy seahorse.

I think the three-headed and two-legged dragon of House Targaryen, red on a field of black, was changed to a three-headed and four-legged one in the show, as well. Which would make it an entirely different creature/subspecies of dragon if that is the case.

(Like from a two-legged American winged serpent “quetzal” to a four-legged European one, for example.)

In order to pay for new life, something must die – the occult (secretive) philosophy of equivalent exchange. Daenerys sacrificed Rhaego “kings blood/Valyrian maegi blood”, her husband Khal Drogo (“kings blood”, the Witch Mirri Maz Duur (maegi blood) and her fertility to bring life to the three petrified eggs from Syrax’s 200 year old clutch and become “Mother of Dragons“.

We also don’t know if this is true or not, but Dany’s child was said to be deformed and more dragon than human – something that also happened to Rhaenyra and countless other Targaryen women in the past. The child was burned in fire – a sacrifice of blood to bring forth new dragon life.

Because didn’t Syrax lay Dany’s clutch after the death of Rhaenyra’s daughter Visenya?

Those willing to sacrifice it all recieve great power from even greater dragons. Viserys ended up sacrificing his peace of mind and literal physical body in service to the crown, and he was Balerion the Black Dread’s last rider. Aemond sacrificed his eye and old self (along with his reputation) in exchange for the largest dragon in the world from the Age of Conquest, Vhagar. Rhaena seems to be sacrificing her dignity in order to bond with Sheep-Stealer. You get my point.

Hugh just lost his daughter, a pulled a Jon Snow by “yelling at a dragon.

While seemingly stupid on the surface, Hugh sacrificed his fear of death and Vermithor smelled that, which impressed the dragon. Hugh (like Ulf) might also smell like Jaehaerys and Alysanne, from whom they are descended and the grandchildren of. Hugh’s mother seems to be Saera Targaryen, who ran away to work in the pleasure houses of Pentos – for fun, apparently. Rhaenyra smells like her grandparents and dragonrider father. Addam of Hull smells like his half-brother, Laenor.

In short, my theory is that the (blood and spiritual) sacrifices a rider is willing to make, alongside their proximity to the former rider in the line of dragons bonded to their lineage through blood is what enables a Targaryen, Velaryon, or Valyrian dragonlord in general to bond and claim a dragon. 

(Also after seeing this scene, I’m really excited to see the animated TV series about Corlys Velaryon’s adventures and voyages that is currently in production.)

Jace’s Inheritance

Honestly, Jace is 100% correct to worry about his inheritance when there are lowborn men (and women) with silver hair who could challenge his claim with a dragon. Jace’s whole thing since he was little was that he and his Strong brothers got the Strong black hair genes from Harwin.

Because, well – the seed is STRONG.

I can get Jace being (somewhat) jealous of Mysaria because she has Rhaenyra’s ear for council, but he really does need to chill out a bit on his tone when addressing his mother – the Queen.

Besides, the small council wasn’t listening to Rhaenyra anyway, and half of her best advisors are dead anyway so what’s she going to consult them for, at this point?

Alicent Goes Swimming

You know to be honest, I don’t blame Alicent for retreating to the Kingswood for a swim and some camping. She was getting her arm stitched up by Maester Orwyle and sees a rat (Larys greenseeing) and realizes just how “dirty” the Red Keep is.

Then we get the most beautiful sequence of Alicent walking through lush green forests and walking through fields of tall grasses with foxgloves and I felt like I was watching an Edwardian period film.  Which gave me the thought that I would love to see this actress in another period piece – something a bit happier,  like a Bridgerton type of series.

Anyway, I hope Alicent recharges in the Kingswood because she’s going to return to an absolute disaster once she gets back to the Red Keep.

But, tell me your thoughts.

What do you think about both Larys and Ironrod deciding not to tell Aemond about Seasmoke being claimed?

Why do you think Vhagar thought she could take on 3 dragons at once?

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 : ~

“This world is a shadow of the real one”.

❂ Stories From the New World

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