All that modifications with this week’s episode, when the inevitable battle between Rhaenyra Targaryen’s household at Dragonstone and Alicent Hightower’s at King’s Touchdown arrives, together with a number of tremendously massive CGI dragons.
With Otto stripped of his adviser function, planning for battle has been hasty and inept on the Hightower facet. However it seems that ever-watchful Aemond was taking part in three-dimensional chess whereas all people else was battling checkers. By the episode’s finish, he’s poised to carry probably the most energy in Westeros.
How’d we get there? Let’s recap:
Daemon, you’ll recall, is meant to be elevating a military for Rhaenyra, however he’s trapped in an Ari Aster film, taking part in “Excessive Fort Makeover” at Harrenhal. He retains seeing a younger, taunting model of Rhaenyra in his goals, who tells him, “You at the moment are set on destroying me all as a result of your brother liked me greater than he did you.” Daemon beheads dream Rhaenyra, however she continues to talk, at the same time as her head sits on the ground in a pool of blood.
So it appears Harrenhal would possibly actually be haunted, as revealed by Alys Rivers, the healer who advised Daemon he’d die there. We get to know her a bit extra after Daemon hears footsteps exterior his door and encounters her within the kitchen, the place she’s brewing up one thing nasty. He calls her a “unusual type of lady,” however she explains that she’s really a barn owl in human kind, which just about proves his level. Quickly, she’s making strikes on him, asking whether or not he’s at Harrenhal to get away from his spouse. How lengthy earlier than Daemon’s making extra silver-haired infants with this woman?
Daemon’s assembly with Samwell Blackwood, who Staff Rhaenyra desperately wants on its facet, doesn’t go nicely. Blackwood pointedly reminds Daemon that he as soon as vied for Rhaenyra’s hand in marriage and has nice respect for her — emphasis on “her.” He guarantees Daemon his armies if Daemon can “convey justice to the Brackens,” so apparently that beef remains to be ongoing regardless of the Battle of the Burning Mill.
In the meantime, phrase is that Criston Cole is taking fort after fort, and could also be heading to Harrenhal. Daemon must line up allies quick, however he falters once more: As an alternative of getting the assembly he desires with Riverlands chief Grover Tully, Daemon meets his grandson, Oscar Tully, the longer term Lord Paramount. Daemon wants a minimum of Lord Paramount Plus, however Oscar’s father is lengthy lifeless, and {the teenager} is unwilling to take any motion whereas his grandfather is incapacitated. Daemon, who makes a foul joke about taking a pillow to the Grandpa Tully’s face, is indignant, pissed off and presumably going loopy.
As hostilities proceed to ramp up, we lastly get the lacking backstory on two new characters, the brothers Alyn and Addam, who’re linked to Corlys the Sea Snake as a result of Alyn as soon as saved Corlys’s life at sea. The story will get much more genealogically attention-grabbing when Rhaenys exhibits up on the shipyard and instantly places her hand on Alyn’s face, observing that his mom will need to have been very stunning. “I do know who he’s, Corlys,” she tells her husband after Alyn is gone. Corlys appears to have come by his nickname truthfully, however Rhaenys doesn’t bear his illegitimate offspring any sick will and observes that Alyn’s previous is not any fault of his personal.
Whereas Rhaenyra was secretly visiting Alicent, her council received impatient. The crotchety outdated males quarreled with the youthful technology — Baela and Jace — about whether or not to take motion within the queen’s absence. Rhaenys returns, and Corlys, who has come along with her, chastises the council for infighting.
Rhaenyra ultimately returns to seek out everybody arguing about whether or not a dragon ought to be despatched to counter Criston Cole’s string of victories, together with his win at Duskendale (extra on that in a bit). Jace is indignant that his mom disappeared at this vital juncture, so she reveals that she met with Alicent in hopes of avoiding battle. That prompts much more criticism, however Rhaenyra assures the council it was needed. Now, she says, “Both I win my declare or die.” Rhaenyra agrees to ship a dragon to confront Cole, however won’t ship Jace or Baela. She desires an skilled fighter, and Rhaenys steps up.
In personal, Rhaenyra provides Jace extra particulars concerning the “Ice and Fireplace” prophecy. She tells her son that, as her inheritor, he must know they’re not simply preventing for the throne, however to guard of your complete realm after they unite towards a standard foe. After all, everybody on this present will likely be lengthy lifeless by the point that occurs, however in Westeros, it’s greatest to take the lengthy view.
Staff Alicent, that includes Larys the Sneaky
Alicent remains to be rattled by her dialog with Rhaenyra. Though she’s in denial, she immediately turns into within the historical past books that captivated Viserys. She even asks the Grand Maester whether or not he thinks Viserys needed Aegon on the throne. (The Grand Maester, who wasn’t born yesterday, says he doesn’t know.) He has additionally introduced her an abortion potion, ostensibly for a pal, that she drank herself.
After Alicent misses a council assembly, Larys visits. He clocks the potion however is cool with it, saying it’s a sin to disclaim our appetites. When he notices the ebook that Alicent has been studying, Larys says he didn’t know she shared her late husband’s love of historical past. Alicent, nonetheless soul-searching, admits it’s unimaginable to know what Viserys was actually considering in his remaining hours. In the end, she decides, what issues is who wins the battle: The ends justify the means, folks.
Ser Cole has received a string of battles, together with a shoreline battle at Duskendale. After we meet up with him, he’s providing the boys of Home Darklyn the possibility to show towards “The Whore of Dragonstone” — or else. Lord Gunthor Darklyn chooses “or else,” chastising Cole for un-knightly conduct and dropping his head to Cole’s sword shortly thereafter.
Again at King’s Touchdown, Aegon the Peeved, Most Stressed of His Identify, fumes that Daemon has already taken Harrenhal, however he’s unaware that the spooky stronghold may have been taken by three toddlers standing on each other’s shoulders in a trench coat. He lashes out at Larys — it’s his household fort, in any case — however Larys assures the king that Harrenhal will serve the twin goal of driving Daemon loopy and losing his time.
Aemond helps the concept of Criston holding off on Harrenhal and as an alternative marching to Rook’s Relaxation, the place they’ll lower off Dragonstone by land. In entrance of the council, Aemond switches to talking Excessive Valyrian, difficult Aegon to provide you with a greater technique. Aegon not solely doesn’t have a greater plan, he can’t communicate the language.
Later, luckless Aegon is confronted by Alicent. She’s pissed off that her son thinks the crown confers knowledge and tells him he has performed nothing to earn his seat. Aegon asks what she’d have him do. “Nothing,” she says. That, she tells him, is what she wants most from him. Cole is able to transfer on Rook’s Relaxation and plans to take action in broad daylight. As Cole is getting ready his assault, a shock! We see Aegon stepping into his battle gear to hitch the battle at the same time as Rhaenys is saying goodbye to Corlys and mounting her dragon. This time, there’s no person round to cease Aegon.
Staff Inexperienced approaches that fort and fends off rounds of arrows from the battlements. Then Rhaenys arrives, her dragon Meleys incinerating Cole’s males. As Cole’s troops summon Vhagar and Aemond, Aegon arrives, urging his dragon on with the extremely unthreatening battle cry “Ahead, Sunfyre!” Meleys and Sunfyre tangle within the air, with Meleys clearly profitable. Aemond and Vhagar come to Aegon’s support, however — plot twist! — Aemond instructions his dragon to fireplace on Aegon as an alternative. Aegon and Sunfyre plummet to the bottom and crash within the woods.
Rhaenys may have returned to Dragonstone and claimed victory at this level, however as an alternative she turns to assault. Aemond is able to battle, and their mighty dragons spit hearth and claw at one another in a midair dance of dying. Vhagar hits the bottom and crashes right into a bunch of troops, together with Cole, who’s knocked unconscious. As Meleys passes over the fort, Vhagar assaults from the bottom, seizing the opposite dragon by the neck. Meleys falls backward, and Rhaenys, realizing there’s nothing she will be able to do, lets go and falls to the bottom, touchdown along with her dragon in a burst of fireplace. RIP, the Queen Who By no means Was.
Cole involves surrounded by our bodies. He tries to get the eye of a soldier in armor, however the physique inside is nothing however ash. As Gwayne leads what’s left of Cole’s military to take the fort, Cole goes to search for Aegon within the woods. There he finds Aemond, sword drawn, about to strike what’s left of the king. Aemond doesn’t kill his brother however does choose up Aegon’s Valyrian sword. Cole, victorious in battle however unable to guard his king, falls to his knees. We shut on the grim scene.
