Only one weak remains of the first season of House of the Dragon. All that has been set up in the previous episodes is starting to pay off. The Green Council is forming, and the Hightower side of the Targaryen’s have struck first.
An Uneasy Council in the House of the Dragon
Courtesy of HBO
With Viserys gone, a move has been made to put Aegon II on the throne, despite his disinterest in it. Still, the way to navigate the situation is no longer clear. Alicent has long acted as a pawn for her father Otto, who is determined to completely remove Rhaenyra from the picture. Alicent, now finding her own agency, decides to progress on her own terms. Despite the Greens having a clear advantage with putting Aegon on the throne, cracks are easy to see. Alicent and Otto no longer are on the same terms, and conflict may well arise between the two. Aemond has greater ambitions, clearly jealous of Aegon’s ascension.
Even those in the court and among the knights are beginning to divide. A number of characters and houses declare support for Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne, bringing them into greater danger with the Green controlled throne. Even Corlys, a valuable ally to Alicent, acts out of line and shows a degree of faltering mental stability. All in all, the Green’s first strike is a potent one, but one that came at the cost of fractured relationships.
The Bell Tolls, Promising Fire and Blood
Courtesy of HBO
Within the previous episodes, the bells would always ring to signify some upcoming disaster. This episode is no different. It’s hard not to think of the infamous fifth episode of Season 8 of Game of Thrones. The episode brings the viewer into the crowds perspective via Rhaenys, attempting to escape from King’s Landing. The cluster of people moving to the keep where Aegon is to be crowned creates a lot of tension. Still, it’s clear that things won’t quite proceed as thought. Through clever foreshadowing, it’s clear that some sort of disaster will strike, but how so isn’t entirely clear. The destruction that follows is grand, epic, and a promise to the fire and blood that is to come.
Seeing the destruction from one dragon, even without flame, is a powerful sight. The idea of watching many of these large, grand beasts facing one another in grand warfare is an appealing prospect to say the least. It’s a small taste, but one which draws the episode to a stinging close.\
Closing Thoughts – Short, Sweet, and Sinister
Game of Thrones has always been known for stellar 9th episodes in their seasons. While it doesn’t quite reach the same heights as Battle of the Bastards, or Blackwater, it’s strength is in the uncertainty it creates for the future. In many respects, it’s similar to Winds of Winter of Game of Thrones Season 6. It just leaves one question, how will the Black Queen, Rhaenyra, respond to this first strike.
Check out the review of the previous episode.
Check out House of the Dragon on HBO Max.
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
