HBO’s Original Game of Thrones Prequel Series House of The Dragon season one Episode Ten “The Black Queen” kicks off with Emma D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra Targaryen talking to one of her sons about the duty that he has as future ruler of a land. The viewer can see by the look on his face that he has serious doubts about if he is worthy of being a ruler. This is due to the fact that his uncle was killed for bad mouthing him and his brothers. This leads to Rhaenyra and him having a tender moment where she comforts him by embracing him and giving him words of encouragement as any mother would to their child. Ultimately, she gets the news that her father has passed, and her brother is now crowned king when she was to be queen. In her mind, she feels as if her birthright given to her by her father has been stolen. Not only that but her dearest friend has conspired against her taking what is rightfully hers. A bitter stab in the back then anything anyone could have ever done is done by her best friend. Also, to add insult to injury her baby is a stillborn baby leaving her to mourn her father, her stolen inheritance, and now her child.
Additionally, During the funeral of her stillborn baby Rhaenyra gets a visit from one of the white cloaks carrying her father’s crown so he could bestow it to her. At this point this makes the series right at the edge of the Dance of The Dragons. The surprising part is that Eve Best’s Rhaenys decides to ally herself with Rhaenyra and support her claim as queen of the kingdom. Even when her husband decides to remain neutral and leave everyone to their fates, she tells him no. It would appear to the viewer that she has reconsidered due to how Rhaenyra is keeping everything together and not immediately going to war. Not to mention that she also wants to keep Rhaenyra kids safe from those who want to hurt them. Whereas before she did not care about what happened to them. This demonstrates just how much certain characters have made a wonderful character development throughout the season and will continue to do so in future seasons.
At the end of the episode, the viewer sees Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen make plans of his own in preparation for the coming war he knows is on the horizon. In his mind, he knows no matter what Rhaenyra does to keep the peace with everyone war is inevitable. He sees how hungry Olivia Cooke’s Alicent Hightower’s people are and wants to do his best to stop them from taking the throne. Even though he loves Rhaenyra, he sees her as being foolish to try and keep the peace between everyone. When in fact it is better to burn their enemies and take the throne by force. All of this leads to a climatic end with Rhaenyra losing the son she was comforting in the beginning due to her younger brother losing control of his dragon and it kills her son. As a result of this action the viewer can see by the look on her face that she will no longer play nice and thus the Dance of The Dragons begins.
Rating 8.5/10