It is House of the Dragon’s season one finale and the dragons are about to dance! Aegon II has been found, Otto Hightower wants to eliminate Rhaenyra, and his chosen heir is crowned king, the ceremony is interrupted by Rhaenys and her dragon Meleys. She has all of her enemies in front of her, but does not say, “Dracarys!”, so leaving them behind will have dangerous consequences. Rhaenys explains that she hasn't taken a side and the war was not her's to fight, but it does have consequences for her last children! We pan back from the map of Westeros on the stone, Luke slips his hand from Driftmark letters. Rhaenyra, with another child on the way, checks on Luke who is worried if Lord Corlys will die. He doesn’t want his title since his grandfather is the greatest sailor and he gets seasick! His mother tells her that she was also frightened at his age, 14, and says she will help guide him like her father did for her. Ser Lorent informs Rhaenyra that Rhaenys has arrived on Meleys. She wants a meeting with Daemon and herself.
High Valyrian words, “fire and blood” and “heir to the throne”, House of the Dragon: The Targaryen Dynasty exhibit, Natural History Museum Los Angeles, author’s photo.
Rhaenys gives them the update about Viserys’ death. Daemon turns at the news and Rhaenyra is tearful. Aegon II crowned king. Daemon wonders how Viserys died. Rhaenys explains that she was held prisoner. Daemon is quietly angry that Rhaenys left them alive after Viserys died and stealing the crown. She didn’t want to start a war. Really it would have ended the war, Targaryen style, with all of the Hightower court in flames. Rhaenys warns Rhaenyra that the Greens, the faction loyal to the Hightowers will come for her and the children! Rhaenyra is sickened and finds the baby is arriving! She tells the nursemaids that this child is different. Daemon has a council ready for a sneak attack by the Greens while Rhaenyra cries out in agony. Jace and Luke are dueling on the beach when Rhaenys tells them they are needed by their mother. She recovers to tell her boys about the update. Daemon is plotting the war and the boys goes to find him, but Jacaerys is called back.
Rhaenyra says he will be heir if she had any claim to the throne and that no moves can be taken except by her. These scenes are so gripping, the tension of the upcoming war is felt in the scenes while Rhaenyra goes through a difficult birth, like Aemma? Daemon is given the report that Corlys has recovered from his fever and left the place where he was recovering, Evenfall. He wants ravens sent to their allies; Darklyn, Massey, and Bar Emmon. Rhaenyra’s pains are heard and she calls for Daemon. Instead, Daemon says he will fly to get Lord Tully’s alliance. Jace shuts down that plan according to his mother’s orders. Daemon goes on to say Jace should patrol on Vermax. Lord Bartimos. Ser Steffon to gather the Kingsguard to Dragonmount. He passes Jace and tells him that he will see loyalty. On a boulder, in back of Dragonstone, the two knights to the left, and Jace to the right. Daemon asks the knight about his loyalty to the king. Then, Caraxes (Daemon's dragon) appears and climbs over rocks to face the knights.
Dragon eggs display, House of the Dragon: The Targaryen Dynasty exhibit, Natural History Museum Los Angeles, photo by the author.
Daemon asks them to swear oaths to Rhaenyra and Jacaerys, or Caraxes will kill them, and if they betray their oaths, Daemon threatens that they will die screaming. We see Rhaenyra in pain in cuts of the previous scene, another difficult to watch birth scene, she has the nursemaids away from her. Rhaenyra pulls out the baby herself! The nursemaids cry and turn away in sadness. We see Rhaenyra prepare the child. Daemon looks to the sea at the setting sun. Rhaenyra goes to her knees crying. Haven’t the Greens done enough? A funeral ceremony for the child has the gathering of everyone in formal dress. A knight walks up, the two Targaryen knights draw their swords, it is Ser Arryk! He bends the knee, presents the crown, and swears loyalty to Queen Rhaenyra! Awesome!, but does this mean he is divided against his brother? Daemon looks at the Targaryen symbol on the crown. Daemon places the crown on Rhaenyra’s head and kneels before her.
All of the others follow, her sons, the Velaryon sisters, finally only Rhaenys stands. Later, Queen Rhaenyra walks with her Kingsguard. We see all of the Westeros map lit by molten steel. Daemon announces her as queen. She is given her wine cup by Rhaena, now cupbearer?, and calls her over. Daemon gives the status of their army and sent for his loyal City Watch guards. Queen Rhaenyra says that her mother was an Arryn so the Vale should show loyalty with Daemon killing ? Riverrun is mentioned, the queen is uncertain of Lord Grover’s loyalty, and Daemon says he will go there himself. House Stark is loyal because of their oath someone mentions as well as the rest of the North. Rhaenyra notes that Lord Borros Baratheon needs a reminder of what his father promised. The queen asks Rhaenys about Lord Corlys. She asks about the Lannisters and Daemon says Lord Tyland is loyal to The Hand. Daemon says they will need the Riverlands. Next, they go over the dragons, Syrax (belonging to Rhaenyra), Caraxes, and Meleys (Rhaenys hasn't declared her loyalty), with Vermax, Arrax, and Tyraxes for the queen’s sons and Moondancer for Baela.
The Westeros map with the Riverlands, Harrehal is to the right of River Run’s name, House of the Dragon: The Targaryen Dynasty exhibit, Natural History Museum Los Angeles, author’s photo.
Rhaenyra notes that they have not fought in war. Daemon notes that Seasmoke, Laenor’s dragon, is at Driftmark and Vermithor and Silverwing are at Dragonmount, but the deciding factor is the three riderless dragons. A total of 13 against the 4 Green dragons. He notes the eggs that are incubating then the gathering point, Daemon places the marker on Harrenhal. Ser Arryk walks up reporting a ship sailing with a Targaryen banner. Daemon says that the watchtowers are to be notified and takes Dark Sister. The bridge again like in “The Rogue Prince”, Daemon meets with Otto, who says he is there representing Alicent. He wants to deliver his message to the princess. The queen appears on her dragon. Her dragon roars terrifying the knights, Queen Rhaenyra walks past Otto with her crown on to Daemon’s side. So Targaryen knights to one side, dragon on the other, Hand boy and his knights between them. He has the gall to call her princess and the queen says they are traitors. Otto gives ridiculous terms and Daemon says he would not like his sons to carry cup and shields. He says that the king has all of the legitimate claims, the queen rips off his Hand badge, and calls him a traitor.
Swords are about to be drawn. Otto has Grand Maester present the queen a message from Alicent. Daemon draws Dark Sister, the other swords are out, and he orders Ser Erryk to bring Lord Hightower so he can kill him. The dragon roars. Rhaenyra says a simple word, “No” and says that she will answer in the morning. Again, this war would be stopped if Alicent’s daddy died by Dark Sister and the others flame broiled. At council, Daemon speaks about the dragonslayers of the past, dragons vs. dragons, which Rhaenyra knew about from her father. How such a conflict would destroy everything. The queen doesn’t want a war and Daemon says the enemy has already declared war. Rhaenyra wants everyone to leave, Rhaenys passes her, Daemon is told that he wants a war. The queen also brings up The Song of Ice and Fire which Daemon doesn’t know. Daemon grabs her throat and says that his brother believed too much in omens to make his reign important. He pulls her close saying dragons not omens make them kings. Daemon releases her and Rhaenyra for some reason is stunned why he wasn’t told about the Song of Ice and Fire. Viserys clearly said it was only for the heir to know.
#HouseOfTheDragon, #TheBlackQueen, #EmmaDArcy, #HarryCollett, #ElliottGrihault, #BethanyAntonia, #PhoebeCampbell, #EveBest, #RhysIfans, #LukeTittensor
No comments:
Post a Comment