"The Princess and the Queen" has our two strong women, Rhaenyra and Alicent, grown into their adult selves with more complications at King's Landing! At the wedding celebration, a group of Nobles bend the knee to the king and Rhaenyra, Jason Lannister tries to pay homage himself. The Iron Throne is behind their dinner table. Then, he asks about the queen, Viserys says she is getting herself ready. Jason says that women would be late for a battle, Rhaenyra thinks this over, probably how she will make him pay. Ser Gerold is there for congratulations, but Viserys mentions the death of Lady Rhea. Rhaenyra is about to offer help, but the drums sound art the arrival of Lord Corlys. There is also the arrival of Velaryon family; Lady Rhaenys, and Ser Lyonel, who will be the king consort. Ser Criston looks on. Laenor bows and then meets with Rhaenyra. The wedding party is about to sit and there is the arrival of Prince Daemon in his black leather vest. He smiles at his brother as a seat is brought in for his place at the table.
Viserys is about to give the speech to begin the celebration and then there is the arrival of Queen Alicent. She wears a dress that is in the green color of House Hightower. Alicent walks across the silent hall and then her subjects begin to rise from their chair. The king declares that there will be seven days of feasts and tournaments. Rhaenyra and Ser Lyonel walk to the floor for a dance. The young people Join the dance. Ser Gerold meets with Daemon and gives him the charge of killing Lady Rhea. Lady Laena dances with Daemon. Joffrey Lonmouth speaks to Laenor that he suspects Ser Criston is in a relationship with Rhaenyra. Laena flirts with Daemon as Ser Joffrey says that Rhaenyra knows their secret and know they know her secret. The dancers let out a cheer, “Hey!” which really should be “Huzzah!” Ser Joffrey mets with Ser Criston, he is called the Knight of Kisses, and notes that they should both protect the secrets. The music plays, Viserys feasts on crab, the dancers cheer. Daemon leads Rhaenyra away.
They speak in High Valyrian. Daemon of course says Laenor is not for her. Rhaenyra says he should take her away to Dragonstone and marry her if that’s what he wants. Viserys watches them concerned. Then, there is a woman’s scream! Red Wedding Part 0? Knights rush in and the crowd panics. Rhaenyra calls out for Laenor. He is slammed into a table. There are no guards?, where is the Kingsguard? Ser Criston punches Ser Joffrey repeatedly. Alicent has no expression. Viserys leans over, blood splatters from his nose. Ser Criston pulls back, Ser Joffrey’s face is shattered, the crowd watches him. He stumbles away, Rhaenyra is returned to her father, Lyonel looks up. Joffrey’s body is on the floor, Laenor crawls over to him, and cries. The High Septon presides over the ceremony, Criston staggers over to the weirwood tree. The wedding vows are made. Criston puts down his sword and takes out a dagger. Rhaenyra can see the sadness in Laenor’s eyes. Criston is about to go all seppuku with the dagger, but he is stopped, it is the queen. An assassin working for the queen?
Viserys collapses. A rat drinks at the blood on the floor. Nasty beginning of a marriage, but the body count is less than Red Wedding 1.0. We pick up almost ten years later, darkness, then the older Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), 28, struggles to give birth coached by the midwife. The words of her mother, Aemma, come to mind about the battlefield. The midwife says the child is a boy and he cries, a healthy boy. A messenger tells her that the queen wants to see the child that moment. Rhaenyra forces herself to stand with her boy and asks the others to help dress her. They take the baby clip off his umbilical cord and ties it. The handmaidens try to dress Rhaenyra and then she has the afterbirth. The older Laenor enters, proud of his boy, Rhaenyra walks to see the queen. She is one of the toughest mothers! They pass the courtiers and Rhaenyra forces herself up the stairs. Laenor can’t believe the queen’s request and Rhaenyra’s strength, that their feud has continued. They see Ser Criston who allows them into the queen’s room.
Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke) pretends that Rhaenyra needs rest and has her sit on a couch. King Viserys, bald up top, asks to see his grandson. Laenor hands him his son. The queen asks about his name. Lyonel immediately says Joffrey after his confidante, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth. I prefer this Joffrey over the Baratheon version. Laenor l asks the king that his wife should rest. Rhaenyra hugs her father. Alicent whispers to Lyonel that one day a child will look like him. Evil queen! Rhaeyrna walks with Laenor telling him that she had no say in her baby’s name and walks away as he carries Joffrey Velaryon. He turns to see the blood trail she left behind next to Ser Criston. She returns home to see her other sons; Jacaerys (Leo Hart), Jace, and his younger brother, Lucerys (Harvey Sadler), Luke, watched over by Ser Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr). They have chosen a dragon egg for their new brother. Ser Harwin asks to hold baby Joffrey. Laenor takes his other sons back to the Dragonpit.
A young dragon, Vermax, growls and moves forward watched by dragon handlers. In an arena, Young Prince Jacaerys is told to face the green, horned dragon, very velociraptor. No longer an infant, the older Prince Aegon (Ty Tennant), 13 years old, yawns. The Dragonkeeper Elder (Patrice Naiambana) tells Jacaerys to bring the dragon to heel. He says, “Jaehaerys”, the name of the Old King? I use “Lykiri” to calm my dragon down. A goat is brought in. The Dragonkeeper translator (Anna Sari) helps Jacaerys to know the elder’s High Valyrian. The prince is happy to use the word he knows well, “Dracarys.” The goat is roasted and Vermax feasts on it. This happens many times playing DracARys. Aegon, his brother Aemond (Leo Ashton), who doesn’t have a dragon, bring a dragon for Luke. It is a large pig, a big joke. Aemond walks back to the Dragonpit. He finds a large dragon that blasts the ceiling of the cave! Aemond runs away. Helaena is checking her insects. Aemond is brought in and said he was bullied with a pig.
At his model, Visery is working with his assistant, Eddard, who is sent away. Alicent says three children coming out different than Targaryens with dragon connections is strange. Viserys makes a comparison to his black mare who had a foal that looked brown. Alicent asks if he saw the silver stallion and Viserys says she is treading dangerous territory! Alicent talk and walks with Ser Criston who doesn’t have a good opinion of Rhaenyrs. On a castle ledge, Aegon is naked, and his mother catches him. She chastizes him when Rhaenrya takes the throne, his life would be in danger, which her father told her. Over Pentos, Caraxes wings and legs out has his tail curving through water. Above him is the massive, green dragon, Vhagar, ridden by Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell) now 26. She screams out, “Dracarys”, Daemon rides through the fiery burst, and continues the chase. Afterwards, Daemon is enjoying the feast set out by Prince Reggio. He is offered Pentos, the city and the harbor, and told about the Triarchy allying with Qoren Martell of Dorne. Laena doesn’t want to overstay their trip, but Daemon is considering it.
A map of Westros, The House of the Dragon: The Targaryen Dynasty, Natural History Museum Los Angels County, author’s photo.
Later he speaks alone with his wife and likes the arrangement. He seems calm now that he is married with children. Laena wants their new child to be born in the Driftmark. Aegon and Jacaerys are sword training with straw dummies under the guidance of Ser Criston. This is admired by Viserys and the Hand, Lord Lyonel Strong. Ser Criston takes on both brothers. Ser Harwin says that Ser Criston’s attention is focused on the Targaryen boys. So Ser Criston takes Jacaerys to duel with his bully, Aegon. Of course, Aegon strikes Jacaerys down and he rages back in turn until Aegon pushes one of the dummies on him. Ser Harwin takes him aside and tells him in a low voice how to use his advantages. Ser Criston gives Aegon advice as he knocks Jacaerys down. Ser Harwin pulls the angry youth back and Criston says Aegon is the prince. Ser Criston pushes Ser Harwin saying his interest to Jacaerys is like a son. He is punched and struck repeatedly just like at the wedding, reversed! Knights pull off Ser Harwin, I guess Ser Criston doesn’t like to get the same treatment, bloody, Ser Criston just smiles.
Rhaenyra attends to baby Joffrey and gets yet another message about what happened in the yard. She goes up steps to hear the argument between Ser Harwin and his father, Lyonel Strong. Ser Harwin is told his illict relationship with Rhaenyra could get them all killed including the children. The knight says he has his own honor. Rhaenyra is given some medical treatment from a handmaiden when her husband is drunk with his friend Qarl (Arty Froushan). He tells her that war is breaking out again in the Stepstones. She tells him about the rumors and reminds him of their agreement. She commands him as princess to stay at King’s Landing. At a fireside, Rhaena, wonders if she will leave Pentos since she doesn’t have a dragon like her sister Baela. Daemon is alone at a parapet when his wife goes to talk to him. She remarks that he doesn’t want to go home, not really a home, but doesn’t go into the city of Pentos. Daemon is only reading about dragonlords. Laena sees potential in Daemon. This time jump is welcome after the violence of last episode! Still, no consequences for Ser Criston? Instead, a promotion? The older Rhaenyra, Emma D’Arcy, and Olivia Cooke, are interesting actors. “The Princess and the Queen” has drawn the sides of this family conflict, still building towards the Dance of the Dragons.
Four Dragon Saddles out of Five!
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