In the latest episode of House of the Dragon, entitled “The Red Dragon and the Gold,” our dueling houses commence their first battle with devastating results. Elsewhere, Daemon and Alicent grapple with their missteps.
The episode opens as Daemon continues to be haunted at Harrenhal. He hallucinates the Iron Throne with a young Rhaenyra (Mily Alcock) taunting him in High Velaryian. Having enough, he beheads his niece only to awaken in bed with blood on his hands. Later, he chases an apparition of himself throughout the halls, leading him to the quarters of Alys River, the sole woman of the castle. She exudes no fear of his grace, as their conversation is a query of riddles. She offers him an elixir and he comes to in the middle of a council meeting. Has he lost time? Just as he thinks the visions are over, he sees his late wife Laena, amongst the living. Daemon’s casualties of war have come to roost.
Daemon’s struggles could not come at a more inopportune time. With Lord Tully’s ailing health, he has yet to secure the Riverlands, leading him to seek the support of whatever remains of the Blackwoods. Meanwhile, word around the realm is Ser Criston Cole has tripled his army’s strength, securing two more houses under Aegon’s banner. This leaves Dragonstone worrisome. With no word from Daemon and their queen absent again, Princess Rhaenys and Lord Corlys attempt to qualm any haste actions from a trigger-happy council.
At King’s Landing, Aegon has grown agitated by his royal duties. He’s worried about Daemon’s presence at Harrenhal, but Lord Larys reassures his grace that Harrenhal has neither the coin nor manpower to go to war, leaving Daemon weakened. It’s also revealed that Aemond and Cole have taken actions without Aegon’s consent. He’s openly challenged by Aemond in front of his council. When he seeks his mother’s counsel regarding the betrayal, she scolds him for thinking that simply wearing the crown would grant him wisdom. She reminds him of the sacrifices that were made to place him on the throne, and that he should do what he does best: absolutely nothing.
Cole’s confidence grows with each successful feat, as he has now secured the Brackens and Duskendale’s support. His next target is the smaller castle, Rook’s Rest. Ser Gwayne Hightower protests especially as Cole plans to strike in broad daylight. Cole reassures his strategy will be successful in placing the whore queen right in their grasp.
Rhaenyra finally returns to Dragonstone. Accompanied by the new truth about her father’s deathbed confession, Rhaenyra is prepared to retaliate. Jacaerys volunteers to ride to Rook’s Rest but is denied by his mother, who quips she will go instead. Met with much protest, the council is quieted when the Queen That Never Was steps up to the plate. As Rhaenys prepares her dragon, Meleys, for battle, a dejected King Aegon and his Sunfyre secretly ascend King’s Landing. Dual scenes are soundtracked with Rhaenyra telling her heir of the Song of Ice and Fire.
Cole’s nearly 1500 men descend upon Rook’s Rest, a smaller castle with few forces. He appears to have the upperhand until Rhaenys arrives in the sky. Knights seek cover as the dragon soars above them, but Cole does not fret, for he is prepared to match Rhaenys with Aemond and Vhagar hiding among the trees. Before he can launch his secret weapon, King Aegon arrives unannounced and unprepared, jeopardizing the battle for Team Green. Rhaenys quickly attacks the king, forcing Aemond out of hiding to protect his brother.
Soon the three dragons are tussling, filling the sky and ground with firey breath. Cole, a decorated knight in his own right, has never witnessed the calamity dragons bring in battle. Hundreds of men are depleted in the blink of an eye. During the melee, the knight and king’s Hand is knocked unconscious.
Aemond, eyeing an opportunity, sets a blazing attack on Rhaenys, but hits Aegon in the process. The young king and his novice dragon plummet to the ground. As men swarm to the king’s aid, a battered but alive Rhaenys seeks to escape. Suddenly, Vhagar surprises Meleys with a fatal bite in a scene reminiscent of Lucerys’ final moments. As an admittance of defeat, Meleys sorrowfully eyes her master as the pair descend into Rook’s Rest.
Cole awakens amongst the war-torn debris. He frantically searches for his grace, whom he has failed to protect. He walks upon Aemond, in mid-draw of his blade. The one-eyed Targaryen points in the direction of the wreckage where his grace lies, condition unknown.
Directed by Alan Taylor and written by Ryan Condal, “A Dance of Dragons” finally delivered what fans had been promised: war. The battle scene was tremendously shot as viewers witnessed the first dragon v. dragon skirmish. The loss of Princess Rhaenys is catastrophic for Team Black, as she was Rhaenyra’s most trusted counsel and Lord Corlys’ life partner. Eerily, it seemed she knew her fate, facing Vhagar solo. However, her sacrifice left the king severely injured, which will cripple the throne. It will be interesting to see how Rhaenyra proceeds in her absence and whether Corlys does right by acknowledging Alyn and Addam.
Apart from the climactic ending, the parallels between Daemon and Alicent were very interesting. Both are coming to terms with truths they have long suppressed. Daemon’s Harrenhal haunting makes him face the man in the mirror, questioning his loyalty and the casualties in his wake. Alicent, on the other hand, is realizing her missteps as her role in King’s Landing devolves. The queen, in all her hypocrisy, seeks to rid of any sign of Cole’s intimacy while hoping to find proof of Viserys prophecy. Rhaenyra’s truth, no matter how late it came, has seeded doubt in Alicent regarding her son’s ascension.
Ewan Mitchell’s Aemond also stood out in this episode. Was his friendly fire a fault of war, or does he have more sinister intentions for his brother? Only time will tell as the Dance of Dragons roars on in the next episode.
Rating: 10/10