House of the Dragon Recaps 5-6 (Patreon)

I'm sorry I'm late! But I got them under the finale so I feel proud of that lol. Will add banner images after I get home from my weekend job for some more flare. Episode 7 recap is coming in a few hours to spread it out a little xxx

Season finale tonight.

Episode Five: “Regent

Directed by Clare Kilner Written by Ti Mikkel

Cinematography by Alejandro Martínez Editing by Frances Parker

Wait is that his mom?

Alright, watching Daemon Targaryen go down on a woman could have been an enjoyable experience as someone who does love the 11th Doctor, but it ended up being his mom so that was just … ick.

I am writing these in the context of a bunch of previous episodes, but since y’all are also reading it in that same lens. Lemme explain why I hate this.

Daemon is not my favorite. In fact, of the core cast of characters he is among my least favorites just based on his actions alone. I also really dislike how his actions impact Rhaenyra in a negative way. At the same time, I can say that this arc has been sort of a wash for Daemon’s character. Especially at this point. Daemon is one of George R.R. Martin’s favorite characters—which means he isn’t all good or all bad. He is charismatic, charming, loyal, tempestuous, craven to a degree, lustful and sexually manipulative, and his wig isn’t great.

A quote about Daemon dubs him: “the wonder and the terror of his age.”

Another says: “Over the centuries, House Targaryen has produced both great men and monsters. Prince Daemon was both. In his day there was not a man so admired, so beloved, and so reviled in all Westeros. He was made of light and darkness in equal parts. To some, he was a hero, to others the blackest of villains.”

We have not seen that Daemon this season. Instead, he is getting Freudian witch therapy while causing war crimes to be committed across the Riverlands. He has done so much damage to Rhaenyra’s cause, while the benefits of his role in their marriage are looking to be nil at this point. Rhaenyra married Daemon for a lot of reasons, good and bad, but one of the reasons is that he commanded respect. He was a skilled warrior and he wasn’t a complete failure at diplomacy.

Last season it was noted that the people behind the scenes didn’t “get” why Daemon was so popular, a statement that makes me laugh because literally, Tywin is one of the most popular characters on the show. Jaime Lannister. This series is made up of characters who exist beyond the binary of good and evil.

That’s why people like it.

Having Daemon have sexy dreams about his mom and her ghost voice telling him how good he is might have been compelling in season one where he was younger. At his big age, having this kind of mindless rivalry with his wife-niece is short sighted. But the show has invited this issue for the betterment of their adapted narrative.

I wish that we got more of an experienced warrior Daemon and not this. The scene also just uses the incest within the Targaryens as a punchline rather than an actual examination of what it means to grow up in a household that sexualizes itself.

ANYWAY.

Daemon enlists William Blackwood to do war crimes after the Brackens decide they would rather burn than submit. This turns Daemon on so he wants to do a rough woo-ing. Alys tries to talk to him about the toll of his actions, but he doesn’t care. He also says that he will take King’s Landing and Rhaenyra is free to join him if she wants.

… mkay.

Well, that will be hard to do when the Riverlords tell him to go fuck off.

Rhaenyra vs All The Men in Her Life

The death of Rhaenys is a heavy blow to Team Black with their most experienced dragon rider and second largest dragon now gone. Rhaenyra is fumbling and it isn’t helped by the fact that all the men around her doubting her abilities. She tries to make the point that no one around her has any true combat experience due to the years of peace in Westeros. Ser Alfred Broome is sent to Harrenhal to check in with Daemon because Rhaenyra needs her husband’s forces. And she knows Broome won’t betray her to the Greens even if he thinks she’s a silly woman.

Thank goodness for Mysaria who gives her the advice to start doing her psychological warfare. She sends her maid Elinda to King’s Landing as a spy in a very loud red cloak.

In softer news, she goes to Baela and tells her step-daughter/future daughter-in-law that she relies on her now. Baela has taken the death of her grandmother hard and says she “wishes she knew her when she was younger.” I wish we had gotten more scenes between Rhaenys and her grandchildren, as one of the few people who cared about the kids without any ambition. Rhaenyra asks Baela to bring the Hand of the Queen pin to Corlys.

The Sea Snake is sorrowful. He has lost a lot to his Targaryen kin and specifically Rhaenyra: his son, grandson, and now wife. Baela takes the dread to task and reminds him that Rhaenys wasn’t just his wife, she was a Targaryen princess, made of Fire & Blood, and died amongst dragonfire. The way Leana did and the way Baela hopes to someday. Corlys is roused by this and asks Baela to be his heir. She refuses:

“I am fire and blood, Driftmark must pass to salt and sea.”

Bars.

Jace goes over his mother's head and secures the Twins for his mother. They discuss after and Rhaenyra confesses her frustration at him being able to just go off as he wishes and defying her. Rhaenyra explains that their only hope are the dragons, but they lack riders for them. Jace suggests looking within the noble ranks for those with Targaryen blood who married into other houses. … He will regret that.

Alicent’s “storyline” featuring her anime hot son and the small council

Ser Criston Cole parades Meleys’ head through the city and is shocked to see them treat it as an ill omen. It’s alright Criston, you are not that smart. Aegon is alive, but he is KFC extra crispy and unseasoned. That means someone has to take over and you know who has the wig for it …Aemond.

Alicent is suspicious of her son and tries to ask her side-piece about it. However, Cole sees this as a situationship and in this situation, that ship has sailed. The lights are out, he is with his true family the patriarchy.

When it comes time to see who will be regent, Alicent nominates herself, but as it would be hella weird to have a female regent while denying Rhaenyra’s claim due to her gender—it goes to Aemond instead who Sephiroth swaggers over, gets that ball, and stunts. He makes the order to shut the gates, which traps the starving population inside, including Hugh Hammer and his family. His daughter doesn’t look well.

Aemond stands in front of the Iron Throne and Thanos—I mean Helaena asks Aemond if it was worth the price.

Alicent tries to mother a bit and sits at Aegon’s bedside, but not long enough to hear him weakly call out “mummy.” Tom Glynn-Carney, you are an actor … I salute you.

Other tings

Rhaena is at the twins resenting the fact that she is being made to stay behind and take care of the babies. Jeyne Arryn is upset that the dragons are not adult yet and both women are made less interesting by the dragging out of his storyline.

“Smallfolk”

Directed by Andrij Parekh Written by Eileen Shim

Cinematography by Vanja Cernjul Editing by Adam Bosman

Ghost Brothers

After reliving the moment when his brother stripped him of being his heir, it seems Daemon is finally concerned about the dreams he has been having. I guess his mother’s vagina wasn’t that traumatic. Despite really not caring for these visions in general because of how isolated they are—I was genuinely moved by how it seemed to conclude here. Daemon holding his crying brother while he mourned his wife.

I think that if Daemon ever really loved anyone it was his brother. They were close in age and survived the death of their parents together. As we know from Spare being the backup child comes with a huge amount of tension even between brothers who love each other. Marriage, children, and expectations split those bonds.

Daemon also decides to ask Alys for council about how to deal with the Rivermen and she tells him to just chill. He listens and we find out from Ser Simon Strong quickly that Lord Grover Tully died despite Alys being sent to treat him. We get confirmation that Alys is indeed a real person (something people were wondering about) and the rise of Sesame Street is at hand.

Speaking of Brothers?

Second son, Aemond is being hot and petty by choosing to not respond to Jason Lannister’s request for protection. He is not going to be pushed around by anyone anymore. He’s already a kinslayer and a half. Aemond decided to try and deal with the shipping blockage by bringing in the Triarchy back into play. The enemy of my enemy is a tool.

He sends Ser Criston to bring Hightower troops to Harrenhal and dismisses Alicent from the Small Council. He doesn’t need his mommy anymore, he needs Otto Hightower. Poor Otto, he is gonna come back to such a damn mess. After calling Larys a toad, he sends the man to summon his grandsire back to court.

Aegon isn’t doing too well, being treated by the maesters, but dragonfire does suck ass especially when you are wearing Valyrian armor. Aemond comes to bully him, pressing the white ball of the small council into his bruised chest. Aegon says he has no recollection of what happened despite the battering.

Larys knows that siding with Aegon is the best bet for him and tells the king that despite being permanently changed, his mind is still intact. Echoing themes we remember from Tyrion—Larys gives Aegon the advice to use his disability to allow people to underestimate him in order to gain power back. Until Aemond is gone the threat to his life remains.

Alicent’s Crisis of Motherhood

Alicent inquires about her youngest son, Daeron, and Gwayne tells him that Daeron is the best of the bunch. The Michael Jackson of her little Jackson four. Alicent wonders if his ability to thrive is due to being away from her influence. Probably girl. But you weren’t helped by having Otto as your father either.

She brings Helaena to the sept to pray, but end up in the middle of a mob when Rhaenyra, under Mysaria’s advice, sends food boats to King’s Landing. The smallfolk, who have been starving slowly are being slowly turned even more against the Greens by the whisper campaign. While fleeing (which guards wouldn’t the queen be safer in the sept than being dragged through the street in very visible finery?) Alicent is pelted by some very wet fish and the slice in her arm in the same spot where she cut Rhaenyra many years ago.

It makes you think, doesn’t it? (semi-sarcasm here)

I need an heir to take this salt and sea

Corlys decides to take his son with white hair (Alyn) officially under his wing as first make of his flagship. We see that Alyn shaves his head in order to hide the connection between him and his father. I wonder how long he has been doing that? Alyn is reluctant and doesn’t

Addam, who has dark har, feels frustrated that because he has dark hair, he has never been courted as family by Corlys. But don’t worry dread, something is coming for you.

While working on the beach, the dragon Seasmoke, who already turned a white man into BBQ earlier, is out looking for a brother with dreads and low and behold—he finds Addam. You see guys, if you stay strong to your standards things will work out for you even when you least expect it.

Chappell Roan Vibes

Rhaenyra is still getting patronized by her male team, with Lord Celtigar criticizing her for the death of Ser Steffon Darklyn. She finally decides to pop off and remind these folks that she is the blood of the dragon and slaps him.

Thank the gods. Look, I’m down for nuanced Rhaenyra, but even as someone who doesn’t feel like she is that passive they have dragged this out way too long. She has allowed others to forget to fear her. Plus she can’t rely on Daemon (Daemon, Daemon). Jace tries to talk to his mother and she shares her frustrations about being made passive due to her gender. Something Jace can’t understand even as he seeks to help her.

Rhaenyra expresses her frustrations to Mysaria and she shares her loyalty to the queen—expressing that as someone who has live under horrible abuse—Rhaenyra has proven herself to be kind and worthy of following. The two embrace and then kiss.

Sapphics we win again.

They are homophobic-ly interrupted by the news that Seasmoke has been spotted with a rider. Fearing it is an ally of the Greens, discounting safety Rhaenyra goes off to face them.