S02.E01: A Son For A Son

[AimingforYoko]

No one to root for on this show, only performances to admire. At they didn't show the kid being slaughtered.

 

[AntFTW]

Watching Rhaenyra and Jace mourning Luke almost made me tear up.

[AnimeMania]

[Spartan Girl]

7 hours ago, AimingforYoko said:

At they didn't show the kid being slaughtered.

Hearing it was just as bad.

Edited June 17 by Spartan Girl

[Kmr]

Hearing that familiar piece at the beginning along with Cregan’s speech was great. Kudos on the actor playing him. He definitely felt like a Stark.

Do wish we could have gotten more of Jace’s travels. 
 

Feels like we are missing something with Alicent and Cole. 
 

It was interesting to see Aegon’s first instinct was to help the small folks.

[AimingforYoko]

1 minute ago, Kmr said:

It was interesting to see Aegon’s first instinct was to help the small folks.

Nah, it fits. He loves being adored.

[scarynikki12]

I thought Cristyn didn’t want to be anyone’s sex toy?

Jace’s trying to hold it together when he returned to Rhaenyra and failing was sad. I’m glad they grieved together.

SIGH. I know it would have been too on the nose but Alicent should’ve named her Cassandra. None of these fools will realize they need to be listening to her will they?

Daemon for fucks sake! You should have been VERY specific in your orders. That baby did nothing wrong and now YOU’RE the one crossing lines. It won’t happen but I want Haelena to usurp Aegon, forge a treaty with Rhaenyra, and co-rule while Aemon, Daemon, Alicent, and Otto are forced to watch from behind one way glass. 

It was nice seeing Winterfell and the Wall again. 

[AntFTW]

Helaena saw her baby killed then walked in on her mother having sex. A double whammy of trauma in a span of 60 seconds.

3 minutes ago, Kmr said:

It was interesting to see Aegon’s first instinct was to help the small folks.

1 minute ago, AimingforYoko said:

Nah, it fits. He loves being adored.

I also think it fits. He wants to be liked.

[magdalene]

It was good to see Rhaenyra's son allied with Ned Stark's ancestor.  A welcome reminder of Good in this world.

I thought the best performances in this somber episode of excellent performances was by  Rhaenyra and Aegon actors.  Rhaenyra in her grief was so moving. And Tom Glynn Carney was awesome and funny as hell - a lot of charisma this young actor has. 

Also a good time was had by Alicent the religious hypocrite having it off with dear old Criston.  Them fucking while the little prince was being murdered was a very ironic touch.  Isn't it one of Criston Cole's duties to protect the royal children? Oopsie!

I am sure Rhaenyra will be furious with Daemon that the wrong prince was murdered and it won't matter at all that Aemond was inconveniently absent and that it's much easier to kill a little child.  I fervently hope these child killers and dog kickers get their just deserts very soon.

[Constantinople]

I was underwhelmed particularly by the killing of Jaehaerys.

Looking back at Season 1 and Game of Thrones, I don't recall another child's death, or in the case of Bran, disablement, where we spent so little time with the victim and the perpetrators. As a result I didn't feel any emotional investment in it.

Credit to Phia Saban for doing what she could to sell the scene.

Edited June 17 by Constantinople

[AntFTW]

If they would have had a bow and arrow instead (and they were good at using them), they could have ended the war in one episode and we wouldn't have a season.

[Oscirus]

Regardless of their intention, team black just gave Team Green the moral high ground with that murder. I'd be shocked if they didn't politicize the hell out of that murder during the war. On a positive note, that eliminates one dragon since any chance team Green had of Helena willing warring on a dragon went poof with her son's death.

[thuganomics85]

Me before the last minute:  "Hmm, some interesting set-ups and intrigue here, but a little bit of a slow and quiet start for a franchise that is mainly... oh, damn, they just killed one of the kids!  Now, that's the Westeros I remember!"

 

House of the Dragon has finally returned and it continues to not sway me from thinking this really is like Succession if that show had dragons and actual murders on it (Aegon was damn near close to going full "Boar on the Floor!" with Tyland there.)  Just a colorful group of rich assholes fighting for a position and power that none of them really deserve and there is some irony going in, knowing how it is all going to end for House Targaryen.

Even if it is out of self-interest and need to be loved, it is kind of interesting that Aegon's style of ruling does seem to be based on pleasing the common folks, and it was Otto that kept undercutting him.  Still think he's generally a bastard, but it was an interesting twist.  Do get a kick out of him acquiring a group of lackies and yes men, and they seem to just being tooling around the palace like Westeros' version of Entourage.

Both Rhaenyra and Jace's reactions were hard to watch as expected.

Glad to get our first main Stark appearance!  Yes, that house might always be naive, but I do have some fondness for them and how unshaken their honor and word seems to be.

Yeah, I'm sure nothing bad is going to happen with letting Larys replace your entire staff with his own folks there, Alicent.  Maybe you and Cole should stop with the fucking for a second, and pay more attention to the guy who is pretty much wearing a sign that says "I am not to be trusted!"

Way to shit the bed there, Daemon.  You can clearly see you are working with two numbskulls at best or two psychos that make you look sane at worst, and you just give them half-assed instructions so that they decided to just take the lazy way out and kill some little kid because "Hey, it still counts, right?"  So, now one of the few actual innocent folks here is dead and you've probably escalated the war even more.  Hope you are proud of yourself, buddy.  At least you did have a great almost meta-like moment with Rhaenys, where you were practically like "You could have ended this all in episode nine last season!  You could have roasted them all!!  But nooooooooooo....!"

I've prepared for the worst at this point, but I'm dreaming of an ending where both Helaena and Jace somehow get out of this in one piece.  Still on Team Rhaenyra mainly, but I think the chance of a real happy ending for her as long since passed.  But Helaena and Jace both seem like the closest to not being consumed by the darkness.  Maybe Baela and Rhaena too.  This generation of Targaryens really got screwed over by their parents and grandparents.

[proserpina65]

Fuck you, Daemon!  I hope you die a horrible, painful death.

[Chicago Redshirt]

9 minutes ago, magdalene said:

Also a good time was had by Alicent the religious hypocrite having it off with dear old Criston.  Them fucking while the little prince was being murdered was a very ironic touch.  Isn't it one of Criston Cole's duties to protect the royal children? Oopsie!

Considering the position they were in, Crispy literally was fucking up...

I'll be here all week.

On a more serious note, I don't understand why the two cowardly murderers were unwilling to either check for the cock as one of them said, or to just kill them both.

Yes, a son for a son, but I feel like someone should be like upping the violence, THAT'S the Westeros way!

27 minutes ago, Kmr said:

Feels like we are missing something with Alicent and Cole. 
 

It was interesting to see Aegon’s first instinct was to help the small folks.

What are we missing? She has needs, and Cole likes him some royal Targussy, even if it's by marriage. Now once Larys finds out, I think it's not going to end well for the Lord Commander...but till then...

As others have said, it's vintage Aegon to want to do the thing he thinks is going to get him a pat on the back. it's also vintage Aegon to apparently not have a clue why the Crown had issued the livestock tax in the first place. And finally, it's vintage Aegon to not just say "Fuck it, Hand, I'm the king and I'll make a one time exception for this guy." 

[proserpina65]

33 minutes ago, scarynikki12 said:

Daemon for fucks sake! You should have been VERY specific in your orders. That baby did nothing wrong and now YOU’RE the one crossing lines

Oh, he was specific.  Jaehaerys was the plan b if they couldn't find Aemond.  Daemon didn't really care which one they killed.

[Joan van Snark]

My absolute favorite character is Cousin Rhaenys Targaryen.  This is primarily due to Eve Best's wonderful, regal portrayal.  She is one of the few that seems to think things through before acting on impulse and she is not one to be ordered around or trifled with.  I knew she looked familiar when I first saw her in Season 1 but it took me awhile to realize....OMG that's Nurse Jackie's English doctor friend!

Edited June 17 by Joan van Snark

[magdalene]

I was grateful that we were spared the murder porn sight of the child being killed, hearing it was enough for me.

I thought of all the main characters featured in this episode Evan Mitchell was oddly flat as Aemond, he conveyed no conflict over Lucerys at all and comes across as an anime villain so far.  I prefer the actor who played Aemond as a child who was so emotive and quite sympathetic. To be fair Mitchell didn't have that much to do, and he may get a chance to shine later.

I enjoyed the new opener with the tapestries.

Edited June 17 by magdalene

[proserpina65]

24 minutes ago, magdalene said:

Isn't it one of Criston Cole's duties to protect the royal children?

He can't be on duty all the time. There are other King's Guards.  But he'll surely feel extremely guilty, I imagine.

I'm wondering about Aemond's rooms.  Did he get the ones Rhaenyra used to have, minus the orgy tapestries?

[peridot]

It's good to have the show back.  I can barely remember the first season, but I really enjoyed all the locales they used this episode.  I'm glad they included Lord Stark being wary of providing too many men due to watchers needed for the Wall.

I was tearing up when Rhaenyra found the remains of the dragon and when Jace came into the room. 

I loved that Daemon tried to command Rhaenys and she just ignored him. 

I'm glad they included the twin at Dragonstone when he said what are they supposed to do when the royal family turns on each other.

Whoa at Alicent.  Last season, they made a point of inferring that Rhaenyra used her position to coerce Criston into sex and now the Queen seems to be doing the same?  He might not see it that way since he called Rhaenyra a spider (not sure why).

Ugh at that sawing sound.

[proserpina65]

36 minutes ago, thuganomics85 said:

You can clearly see you are working with two numbskulls at best or two psychos that make you look sane at worst, and you just give them half-assed instructions so that they decided to just take the lazy way out and kill some little kid because "Hey, it still counts, right?" 

You really think he didn't tell them that the kid would do if they couldn't find Aemond?  Especially since the ratcatcher actually asked?

11 minutes ago, magdalene said:

I thought of all the main characters featured in this episode Evan Mitchell was oddly flat as Aemond, he conveyed no conflict over Lucerys at all and comes across as an anime villain so far.  I prefer the actor who played Aemond as a child who was so emotive and quite sympathetic.

I think Aemond's learned not to be emotive in front of others after Driftmark.  I don't think he was flat at all but quite nuanced.  Ewan Mitchell does a lot with slight changes in his face.  Like his look at Cole when he made the comment about Alicent speaking with two tongues - it was a little thing but left me with know doubt that he knows about them.

That doesn't mean I don't agree that Leo Ashton was fantastic as child Aemond; he absolutely was.

1 minute ago, peridot said:

I loved that Daemon tried to command Rhaenys and she just ignored him. 

He really does think he's king in all but name.  So glad she put him in his place.

2 minutes ago, peridot said:

I'm glad they included the twin at Dragonstone when he said what are they supposed to do when the royal family turns on each other.

I liked that too.  He's supposed to protect the whole family but how do you do that when they're trying to kill each other.

[Oscirus]

26 minutes ago, proserpina65 said:

He can't be on duty all the time. There are other King's Guards.  But he'll surely feel extremely guilty, I imagine.

I'm wondering about Aemond's rooms.  Did he get the ones Rhaenyra used to have, minus the orgy tapestries?

Between this and the aemond blinding incident, these guards are coming off as horrible at guarding children.

[proserpina65]

11 minutes ago, Oscirus said:

Between this and the aemond blinding incident, these guards are coming off as horrible at guarding children.

True dat

[Stardancer Supreme]

Ahh. House of Dragons is back!

My chest hurt for Rhaenyra.

Alicent and CC? Ugh. So hypocritical of them. Hopefully CC will be taken off the board soon.  Alicent is still stuck on stupid, keeping Larys Strong around to eventually wreck her shop. She should realize that he probably knows about her and CC.

Vhagar looks so beat up. I guess old age accounts for the holes in her wings. I wasn't expecting the ratcatchers to be able to take Aemond off the board so quickly, but poor Helaena. I'm surprised they let her walk away with her daughter, honestly.  Still, it is a son for a son, just not the one Rhaenyra wanted dead. Damn it Daemon! Your Queen is going to be pissed at you...

Glad to see Corlys up and about.  I wonder who Alyn of Hull is to him... Bastard son, perhaps?

Justice for Prince Lucerys! Team Black!

Edited June 17 by Stardancer Supreme

[magdalene]

Are Alicent and Criston going to run off together to Essos to sell oranges? (catty alert!)

[AntFTW]

27 minutes ago, magdalene said:

Are Alicent and Criston going to run off together to Essos to sell oranges? (catty alert!)

I hope she's drinking a lot of moon tea.

[NeenerNeener]

They changed the opening credits! The first season was another little model like GOT, with blood running through it. The new credits are a tapestry being created in real time.

[baldryanr]

Say what you will about Daemon but the man still makes good points.  Rhaenyra flying around solo is incredibly risky with Vhagar around, and he's 100% correct about giving Rhaenys crap for not ending it all when she had the chance.

7 hours ago, magdalene said:

And Tom Glynn Carney was awesome and funny as hell - a lot of charisma this young actor has. 

Yup, which also means a lot of viewers will have already forgotten all the atrocious crap Aegon pulled last season and excuse any action going forward. 

I see that when Jace went North he took the time to visit a salon and get his hair done.

Edited June 17 by baldryanr

[Chicago Redshirt]

9 hours ago, Stardancer Supreme said:

Alicent and CC? Ugh. So hypocritical of them. Hopefully CC will be taken off the board soon.  Alicent is still stuck on stupid, keeping Larys Strong around to eventually wreck her shop. She should realize that he probably knows about her and CC.

I'm under the impression that Larys doesn't know about Alicent and CC. (She tells him she's in the sept but she doesn't go. Still she's on her knees and Larys doesn't know. So don't tell Larys!)

I think part of why she wants to break it off is knowing that her entire staff is now Larys-handpicked means that his finding out is likely inevitable if she continues. Although maybe she's now giving Larys more than the chance to wank it to her feet, or maybe Larys doesn't mind sharing.

I don't think Alicent has too many options to get rid of Larys. He's got blackmail on her, and as much as she might want to pat herself on the back as clever and independent, she has little real power other than influencing the men around her.

9 hours ago, Stardancer Supreme said:

Justice for Prince Lucerys! Team Black!

Justice would be making Aemond pay for what he did either through the justice system or terms or on the field of battle, not sending assassins in and having them kill an innocent.

I'm mostly Team Neutral, but this should come to bite Team Black in the ass, hard.

Edited June 17 by Chicago Redshirt

[ChicksDigScars]

7 hours ago, AntFTW said:

I hope she's drinking a lot of moon tea.

Oh, I hope she isn't, or it fails miserably. Alicent is still of child bearing years, she could use a dose of "bastard child" comments thrown at her after her pious attitude and facilitating all the "bastard" talk among her own children towards Rhaenyra's, not to mention demanding to see the babies within minutes of birth and her snide comment of "keep trying. Maybe you'll eventually get one that looks like you," to Laenor. Bitch.

That said, Alicent and Crispy would have beautiful children. But that's for a rom com, not the HOD.

Is it weird that the killing of the wolf pup in the beginning of GoT swore me off watching that show, but I just shrugged over last night's turn of events? 

Helaena's pointing out the actual male child to the two bumbling idiots, instead of "saving the heir," was interesting. Did she know it was inevitable and she saw what power was doing to everyone else in her family and thought that her son was better off dead than being the heir to the throne? That she could see what power has done to both her protector-brother and her brother-husband and didn't want that for her son? Or is she that blindly naive and incapable of lying? I think she is portrayed as a bit simple, but I think she knew what was up, here.

 

[MaggieG]

Hasn't been established that Haleana has some sort of prophetic abilities? 

I liked the moment between Jace and Rhaenyra when he came back. He was trying to tell his Queen about the men he was able to get but then he just needed to hug his mother. I also enjoyed our brief visit to the Wall.

[Chicago Redshirt]

34 minutes ago, MaggieG said:

Hasn't been established that Haleana has some sort of prophetic abilities? 

She has said things that have been prophetic a number of times now, but in world, nobody seemingly has caught on that her random weird sayings indicate any sort of clairvoyance.

[CountryGirl]

I don't think Helaena saw any choice in identifying Jahaerys. She first tries to offer herself, then her necklace, thinking they're after money. They had already indicated they were going to kill both children if she didn't comply. It was identify her son or lose them both.

[ChicksDigScars]

They all generally blow Helaena off as being "weird" or saying things that make no sense, which later have meaning. Last night she claimed to be "afraid of the rats," which her brother-husband dismissed and looked around, as if to look for non-existent rats in the room. Basically his version of an eye roll and pat on the head.  Later, the rat catchers show up and kill her son. 

I don't even think that Alicent takes her comments seriously. She just hugs her as if to say, "Oh, my precious airhead."

I do think that Helaena knew what she was doing in pointing out the actual boy, instead of bluffing, based on the beginning when Aegon shows up in the nursery, asking where his son was, with the intention of taking him to the council meeting and "beginning his training as heir to the throne," despite the fact that he's basically a pre-school age child incapable of giving two shits about adult conversation. She did not want Jaehaerys to go. She did not want her child participating in that shit. 

 

 

Edited June 17 by ChicksDigScars

[sashabear21]

We've seen the return of Daemon's doing crimes hoodie! Although I expect Rhaenyra will not be happy at the thought of a child being murdered, especially so soon after the loss of her own.  

No one can tell that Larys can't be trusted? No one? The guy is a walking red flag. 

Poor Heleana is having the worst night ever and it looks like Alicent stumbled into a pothole on that moral high road she was walking on! 

Rhaenys may be the "Queen that Never Was" but she's my forever queen! 

[Brn2bwild]

5 hours ago, NeenerNeener said:

They changed the opening credits! The first season was another little model like GOT, with blood running through it. The new credits are a tapestry being created in real time.

I liked it.  It felt more appropriate and made more sense than last year's opening.

Now I just wish they had used the Targaryen/dragons theme as the opening theme song.

[proserpina65]

10 hours ago, Stardancer Supreme said:

Vhagar looks so beat up. I guess old age accounts for the holes in her wings.

She's been through more than one war.  I imagine some of the holes are from them.

10 hours ago, Stardancer Supreme said:

Justice for Prince Lucerys!

Aemond's death would've been something akin to justice.  The murder of an innocent child is not justice at all.

 

16 minutes ago, sashabear21 said:

it looks like Alicent stumbled into a pothole on that moral high road she was walking on!

I was torn on that.  On one hand, it fits neither her character nor Criston's.  But on the other hand, she had to sleep with a walking corpse for years, so I guess I fall on the side of "You get yours, girl!".  Of course I'm sure it'll come back to bite her in the ass in the end.

[iMonrey]

It looks like the show got the message nobody liked the opening title sequence last season, but I'm not sure I like the new one any better. I'd still prefer some variation on the map.

I'm a little confused about the opening with the Starks. Was it Cregan Stark who was chosen to take the black? But isn't he the head of the family at some point? And is that who was talking to Jace at the Wall? Also, how much time is supposed to have passed since the end of last season? If Jace is still up in the North, I can't imagine more than a few weeks at most, yet his hair looks completely different.

And if nobody has found the remains of Luke's dragon until now, I still don't understand how Rhaenyra and Damon even found out Luke was killed, or how. There weren't any witnesses, unless Aemond went straight home and told everyone what happened. Even then, how would word have gotten back to Dragonstone?

When Criston was Rhaenyra's personal bodyguard he stood outside her bedroom door 24/7. But there's nobody standing guard at the door of the Queen and her two children?

I loved the shot of Rhaenyra dismounting her dragon at the beach - she slid right down like a pro. Quite different than the slow climb down from Drogon we used to see with Dany. Although Drogon was much bigger.

So I wonder if this war is just going to be a series of escalating mistakes, like Luke getting chomped or Aegon's firstborn getting murdered.

Edited June 17 by iMonrey

[AntFTW]

20 minutes ago, proserpina65 said:

Aemond's death would've been something akin to justice.  The murder of an innocent child is not justice at all.

Justice doesn’t exist in King’s Landing.

[ChicksDigScars]

35 minutes ago, proserpina65 said:

I was torn on that.  On one hand, it fits neither her character nor Criston's.  But on the other hand, she had to sleep with a walking corpse for years, so I guess I fall on the side of "You get yours, girl!".  Of course I'm sure it'll come back to bite her in the ass in the end.

THIS. Alicent is a widow, and unless there's some ancient code that widows cannot move on (Rhaenyra and Daemon sure didn't waste any time after their spouses passed, and Viserys eventually remarried after a time), then she can get her's. The only problem that I have is that she was so righteous and hypocritical regarding sexual behavior towards Rhaenyra and now she's finding out that hey...good sex ain't so bad. I mean, you know the King wasn't putting out like this. I can't stand the insufferable Alicent, but on this matter...whatever. Ride that bitter, petty, hot man. 

But her foot fetish scene with Larys. No thanks. 

I'm also on the side of Rhaenys and Corlys being the ones I root for. Rhaenys = Bad Ass. Also Jace, Baela and Raena. Probably Helaena, too, despite being one of the Greens. She's just so disregarded by her entire family. Ignored by her father (like all his second marriage children were, while their older half-sister was "The Rhelm's Delight,") Forced to marry her philandering idiot brother for the purpose of being a brood mare, and then being dismissed as an moron any time she opens her mouth, even by her mother. Forced to make a Sophie's Choice and then running in terror with the surviving child into a room where her mother is riding the help. Oy. Bad day, kid. 

And I also think there is a tie between Corlys and the younger man he was speaking to at the docks. Maybe the Seasnake found a little fun at a Port of Call many years back. 

 

 

Edited June 17 by ChicksDigScars

[paigow]

39 minutes ago, proserpina65 said:

Of course I'm sure it'll come back to bite her in the ass in the end.

foot

[Constantinople]

Having dragon dreams is all very well, but Heleana doesn't provide actionable intelligence

[baldryanr]

1 hour ago, ChicksDigScars said:

I'm also on the side of Rhaenys and Corlys being the ones I root for. Rhaenys = Bad Ass.

You mean the Rhaenys who likely has the highest body count in the series so far thanks to her killing hundreds, if not thousands, of civilians when she burst through the floor of the Dragonpit?  That event, which was only a few weeks ago in-universe, is what should turn the common folks against Team Black. 

It's not fair, but in-universe I think a single woman (especially a member of nobility) sleeping around is going to be extremely frowned upon.  Bonus points for Alicent, who is big on religion and has only officially been a widow for a few weeks.

[Uncle JUICE]

3 hours ago, Chicago Redshirt said:

She has said things that have been prophetic a number of times now, but in world, nobody seemingly has caught on that her random weird sayings indicate any sort of clairvoyance.

I think it's because her prophesies are, as are almost all prophesies, only prophesies when you look at them in hindsight. Like her beware the beast beneath the boards is prophetic only after Melys kills thousands of small folk, she doesn't say "I have a vision that at my brother's coronation in the Dragon Pit, whatever dragon is being held beneath it will rise through the floor and it'll be a disaster, so maybe don't have the ceremony there." THAT's a useful prophesy. Speaking in riddles is the "prophesy as a mule" model.

So, am I like the only one who wants a Rhaenys - centered sex scene?

 

[Chicago Redshirt]

1 hour ago, iMonrey said:

And if nobody has found the remains of Luke's dragon until now, I still don't understand how Rhaenyra and Damon even found out Luke was killed, or how. There weren't any witnesses, unless Aemond went straight home and told everyone what happened. Even then, how would word have gotten back to Dragonstone?

When Criston was Rhaenyra's personal bodyguard he stood outside her bedroom door 24/7. But there's nobody standing guard at the door of the Queen and her two children?

It seems plausible to me that there would be some witnesses who would have seen Aemond rush off pissed off and who would have been looking to see what happened next as best they could through the storm.

It also seems to me that common sense says that Luke not showing up for a time after he was known to have left Storm's End probably means that he is dead, or at best captured. Storm's End does not seem like it is very far from Dragonstone, and presumably less than a day's dragonflight. 

Also, it sounds like Alicent and the Greens sent the Westerosi equivalent of a Hallmark card saying "Sorry your boy got chomped" several times over via raven, according to this episode. 

A few potential explanations for the apparent discrepancy:

1. Viserys/the previous commander of the Kngsguard were generally more vigilant/strict about their protection duties than Aegon/Crispy.

2. Crispy was supposed to personally be standing guard over the queen but abandoned his post for a shag, thinking there was no harm in doing so.

3. The Kngsguard doesn't generally keep watch over the royal family when they are in the presumed safety of the Red Keep. Crispy wasn't obligated to be standing outside Rhae's door out of sense of duty or because he was specifically assigned to, but did because he was hot for her.

4. Rhae was a higher potential target as the heir and a grownish woman, while it is somewhat unthinkable that someone would target the queen and the little babies that way, even during a time of near-war.

[scarynikki12]

3 hours ago, iMonrey said:

So I wonder if this war is just going to be a series of escalating mistakes, like Luke getting chomped or Aegon's firstborn getting murdered.

I think this is it exactly. Each side will escalate, likely due to the outcome of whatever plan being different than the intent, until most of them are dead. In all likelihood the one left standing will win because they're the one left alive.

[paigow]

1 hour ago, Uncle JUICE said:

Speaking in riddles is the "prophesy as a mule" model.

[aghst]

There were  no guards at all up in the royal chambers.

Was the big guy a former City guard guy loyal to Damon?  Or just another rat catcher?

I expected that Amond would eviscerate them both but they threaten a woman and kill a toddler.

Damon is so rash and impulsive, like Agon and Amond want to be, going after the blockade, not looking at the chess moves ahead.

It's one thing for the kids who are young but Damon is middle aged now?  I don't recall him being quite like this in season 1.  Now his niece-wife Raynyra is going to have to explain to him how his action limited her options.

It's also surprising that Agon and Amond are ready to dismiss with Alicent and Otto's counsel and probably opt for Larys instead.  I thought they had to show some deference to the House Hightower.

Wasn't Joffery controlled by Cersei and Tywin?

But Agon and Amond saw no downside to forcing the other Houses to bend the knee under threat of dragon fire.  That should backfire on them, right?

[Cristofle]

I agree that Emma and Tom Glynn Carney were the standouts this episode. Emma for delivering so much when they literally only spoke one line. And for all the fuss of Aemond being like a mini Daemon, I'd say Tom comes much closer than Ewan having the kind of charisma that Matt Smith does. Still hate Aegon though, he's a serial rapist, fuck him. I will never root for Team Green as long as he is on the throne. 

YAY STARKS! As a member of Team Stark Forever. We need some Starks in this pit of vipers. I liked Cregan, and enjoyed that he had Ice. 

It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but the Helaena actress did a lot with what she was given - I especially felt for her when she was whispering "Please, please, please" as she rushed out of the room. And honestly, how does Criston keep his position with his never-ending string of epic fuck-ups. How is he going to explain how few guards were on that floor, presumably so he could fuck Alicent in peace? 

It'll be interesting to see how Daemon and Aemond separately react. It's unclear if this was what Daemon intended to happen and his reaction will be telling on that front, especially privately. Aemond thus far has shown no indication of regretting what happened with Luke, at least in this episode, he more seems annoyed whenever someone brings it up (I don't know if that's an actor limitation or purposeful), but he started the chain reaction that resulted in his nephew and heir to the throne getting beheaded. He's not directly responsible, the men should have waited to find him and NOT KILLED AN INNOCENT CHILD, but Aemond SHOULD still have some regrets.  

[PatsyandEddie]

Emma D’Arcy deserves all the awards for their ability to act non-verbally. They are amazing !