The second half of House of the Dragon is off to a spectacular start. Jumping ahead ten years, many changes present themselves in the first frame.
A New Princess and Queen
Courtesy of HBO
Rhaenyra gives birth to her third son, and rather than Milly Alcock, Emma D’Arcy greets the audience as adult Rhaenyra. Of course, Alcock is missed, but D’Arcy’s performance throughout the episode is nothing to scoff at. They manage to carry the crass and intimidation of young Rhaenyra, but the added maturity and determination coming from D’Arcy shows just how exceptional the casting has been in this show. Of course, the second notable changed Olivia Cooke as the adult Alicent. Compared to D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra, Cooke’s Alicent displays far more authority and animosity towards Rhaenyra. Her frustration at Rhaenyra’s affair and the influence of her father is in full effect. She’s bitter, jaded, and in her words looking to restore honor and dignity to the house. Both continue to display what made both of these characters stellar, while showing how ten years have affected them.
A Concise Time-skip
Courtesy of HBO
On the subject of those ten years, many stories would often have a difficult time addressing the events unseen. It’s difficult moreso considering the number of characters and plot lines House of the Dragon covers. Despite all of that, Episode 6 masterfully informs the viewer of the changes that have occurred. This, without needing to kill the pace and have long bouts of exposition. Rather than telling the audience what Daemon is up to, the episode shows his life now after events of Episode 5, and manage to work in his reasoning as part of a conversation that feels entirely natural. The audience already knows that Viserys’ condition likely worsened, but seeing him crusty and withered does more to show how far his sickness has gone.
The Parent-Child Cycle in House of the Dragon
While this theme is present in the previous episodes, Episode 6 puts the theme of problematic parent-child relationships on full display. Otto’s lessons and influence on Alicent have carried over to her, and are amplified. While Otto was careful and cautious about his warnings about Rhaenyra, Alicent is the opposite. She is loud, to the point, and determined to get it through Aegon’s head that Rhaenyra would have no problem disposing of him. This dynamic even extends to Rhaenyra to an extent. Although not shown much, towards the end of the episode, her firstborn son confronts her about the nature of his parentage. It’s a small moment, but it promises a conflict of interest between her and the child. This, in some ways, is the result of Viserys doing everything in his power to get Rhaenyra out of trouble.
Final Thoughts
The second half of House of the Dragon promises more drama, heartbreak, and bloodshed that was set up in the first half. Echoes from the past ring as loud as the bells in this episode, and tensions only continue to mount. With the end of the episode, the first move is made. The next episode, promises the onset of a power struggle.
Check out House of the Dragon on HBO Max.
Check out reviews for previous episodes below.
Graduated from Point Park University in 2021 with a Degree of English Creative Writing.
Author of the Chronicles of a Broken World Series
Avid Nerd and Enjoyer of All Things Fun and Thoughtful
