Political musical chairs, Game of Thrones style, has a new player setting up the rivals in this part of "The Lord of the Tides"! Summing up last ep, Rhaenyra ends her marriage with Daemon arranging Laenor’s death!, Daemon’s wife, Laena, had her dragon, Vhaegar, cremate herself, plus we have Rhaenyra marriage to Daemon! In Westeros, 2 out of 3 marriage end in horrible death! The bully, Aegon, now rides Vhaegar, but lost his eye to Luke and his dagger! We open with Rhaenys asking her Maester Kelyvn (Haqi Ali) about the fate of her husband, gone for six years, he explains that Corlys was ambushed. His throat was slashed and he fell into the sea. The maester says even worse was his fever. They recieved ravens and Corlys is expected in three days. Her oldest daughter, Baela (Bethany Antonia) is there and uncle, Vaemond (Wil Johnson), who says that the blood fever is strong. He questions about who will rule on the Driftwood Throne. Vaemond says the same scenario as when she was expected to be crowned that Rhaenys’ rule is only temporary until Corlys dies. Rhaenys says it will go to Lucerys, Rhaenyra’s son, Vaemond says he should be the ruler.
Rhaenys warns him that he may be guilty of treason. He questions that Luke is more House Strong, Vaemond is really headstrong in his ambition, he says he has the support of the Iron Throne. Vaemond says Alicent is making the decisions. We move across the castle, Dragonstone, to the cliffs where a figure is climbing down to reach a sea cave. He uses a pick ax to reveal a dragon egg! It is of course Daemon Targaryen. He tells the dragonkeepers in High Valyrian that Syrax has produced three eggs. They take the eggs to the warming chamber and give Daemon a note from Lady Baela. Lady Rhaenyra walks in to see the older Jace practicing High Valyrian with the maester. She corrects him as the maester recites the words. Daemon walks in, a bit downtrodden, and the children are sent away, Jace and his younger brother, Joffrey. He shows his wife the message. Vaemond is questioning Luke and Rhaenyra adds Jace’s legitimacy as well as her own claim to the throne. Daemon wonders if Vaemond has gone to Otto Hightower. He says Vaemond is only interested in Driftmark for himself.
A dragon’s egg at the House of the Dragon: The Targaryen Dynasty exhibit, Natural History Museum Los Angeles, author’s photo.
Rhaenys is going to King’s Landing and Daemon brings up that Baela is her ward. This is difficult with people making decisions for Viserys. Daemon touches his wife’s belly and says they are headed to King’s Landing. The black sail of the Targaryen ship heads to the Red Keep across Blackwater Bay. Wagons enter the castle and Rhaenyra is announced. Rhaenyra leaves the wagon with a suspicious look. She is greeted by Lord Caswell with Daemon behind her. At the Small Council, Alicent is sitting at the head of the table hardly listening to Lord Beesbury and the costs of another battle’s end at the Stepstones. Her father, the Hand, sitting next to her. No one wonders why the two strongest members of the Small Council and the Seven Kingdoms are House Hightower? Ser Harrold Westerling announces that her “guests” have arrived. The question of Corlys’ successor is brought up to be decided by the Small Council. Alicent leaves to greet her guests and Ser Erryk (Elliott Tittensor) says there is an urgent matter, she doesn’t give him the courtesy of knowing him. He says it is about the prince in his apartment!
Rhaenyra and Daemon see smoke rising from her father’s model of Valyria. She parts the curtain to his bedroom and hears his raspy breathing. On his bed, Viserys has half his head bandaged and he is bald and pale, sleeping. He doesn’t know who it is and Rhaenyra identifies herself. She says Daemon is with her. Daemon says that the Sea Snake was wounded, Viserys thought it was the past battle, but his brother tells him about the Triarchy returning. He brings up the successor to the Driftmark as we continue to hear Visery’s troubled breathing. This scene is just so sad. Viserys says Alicent and Otto are in charge. Daemon doesn’t accept that and presses him to recognize Luke. Viserys is confused and wonders about Lord Corlys. Rhaenyra brings in her children, Aegon and lil’ Viserys. King Viserys reels back in pain and the children cry. He asks Daemon for his tea, after his brother drinks it, Daemon sniffs the cup. A poison or drug? Alicent doesn’t care.
A girl (Maddie Evans) cries on the floor before the imperious queen. Alicent is now Cersei Lannister. She pulls the girl up who says her name is Dyana. The girl is too broken up, but says she was getting wine for. Dyana had asked Aegon to stop. Alicent hugs her and then says she believes Dyana, she doesn’t, she’s protecting her family’s reputation, Cersei style. This is how she tells with illicit relationships. Dyana says she only told Ser Erryk and Talya, um, I guess they have to die too. Talya (Alexis Raben) brings the queen some tea, do not try Alicent’s blend!, and Dyana drinks it. Alicent shouts at her son, Aegon, asleep. He asks if something happened. She is angry that Dyana ran out and how this will look to his wife. Spoiled, dangerous brat. Alicent has no control over her children or the throne. Aegon says he has done everything that his mother told him to do, not really. Heleana (Phia Saban), Aegon's wife, appears asking about Dyana to help dress the children and Alicent hugs her. Aside from these creepy matters, Rhaenyra consults with Daemon if Maester Gerardys could check on Viserys. The queen enters and notes the last time she saw them, Rhaenyra pulls back her arm scarred by Alicent.
The kingly robes of King Viserys Targaryen, House of the Dragon: The Targaryen Dynasty exhibit, Natural History Museum Los Angeles, author’s photo.
Daemon brings up the lack of a formal greeting, Otto Hightower’s doing, Rhaenyra notes the weak excuse that Alicent was too busy. I really, really like Matt Smith’s don’t care look with Alicent. The queen says she and her father are stewards, ok, Daemon has a low tone offended at the state of his brother. You can feel his anger simmering. Alicent says the king looks worse and that the maesters care for him. Rhaenyra confronts her mother-in-law about the milk of the poppy, a drug like morphine that makes him weak for the Hightowers to take over. Daemon has had enough and stands up asking Alicent if the maesters wanted the removal of Targaryen symbols for decoration of the Seven, the main religion of Westeros. Then, Rhaenyra asks who will judge the succession of Jacaerys, her son. I like the tag team of Daemon and Rhaenyra. Of course, Alicent says it is Team Hightower. She leaves them with the reminder that Viserys will not remember what they had said. Jace and Luke return to the courtyard where young Jace and Aegon dueled. They are eyed by everyone in the courtyard which Luke points out to his brother.
Practice duels with metal blade swords, no, for one you dull the edge, and two it is just dangerous. All of the swordmasters that I’ve seen on YouTube point this out. Their attention is drawn to a duel, between Ser Criston and the other has an eye band, Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney). Criston slices Aegon’s shield. The brothers look at each other recognize the bully that lost his eye to Luke. Aegon, now, reminds me the most of Michael Moorcock’s Elric of Melniboné. Aegon dodges Ser Criston’s swings and holds his sword to the knight’s neck. The brothers don’t clap with the others. Aegon asks the brothers if they want to “train.” They are interrupted by the gates opening to House Velaryon. It is the arrival of Vaemond. Otto tries to reassure Alicent that they act for the “good of the realm”, read: theirselves, but the queen is uneasy. She doesn’t know about Corlys’ fate. They are speaking with Aemond quietly there. Aemond sits and Otto goes on about the peace, he poses to his daughter if she wants a child, Luke, in charge of the Velaryon fleet.
Alicent doesn’t have a will of her own and sides with daddy. Aemond says that Driftmark will ally with her. At the godswood tree, Rhaenys regards it, when her granddaughter, Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) calls for her. Rhaenyra walks up and once alone, says that she wondering about Rhaenys backing Aemond. Then, she says she realized that it is Rhaenys who wants to rule Driftmark. Rhaenyra brings up that the Hightowers will be against Jace taking the throne. Rhaenys counters blaming Rhaenyra for the fate of her son. Rhaenyra says she was not responsible for Laenor’s death, kind of a lie, but it was all Daemon. Then, she makes a deal, if Rhaenys supports Jaecrys’ kingship, the Velaryon girls will marry her sons. Baela would be queen, the children will be heirs to the throne, and Rhaena will be in charge of Driftmark. Rhaenys says it sounds good, but the Hightowers “will strike”, and House Velaryon will not take any side! The political players are a bit confusing, characters grow up, then who is whom?, new characters how up and not identified, and who is on what faction now? “Lord of the Tides” is centered around the fate of Corlys Velaryon, but the question of succession sets up the two factions with Aemond trying to be a major player!
Four Dragon Saddles out of Five!
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