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This episode starts off with a grief stricken Corlys Velaryon (Steven Toussaint). He has lost his wife an epic battle with her dragon with King Aemon and Aemond’s dragons. Back with Team Green, they are parading Meley’s dragon head through the streets. Ser Criston Cole (Fabian Frankel) says to another guard that they have won the battle. Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Aemond are standing on the rooftop and looking over the commotion. Alicent for a second looks at Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and notices that he has King Aegon’s dagger, that is always in Aegon’s possesion.
As they arrive back to the castle, there is a box with King Aemond inside. It seemed by appearance first, that he might’ve been dead. There was no movement in the box. They get King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) to bed and immediately start medical care. Alicent blatantly asks, “Is he dead?” They are prying the armor off of him, that seemed to deeply wound King Aegon. Aemond said someone has to rule, but as the audience, we already know who that will be.
Alicent goes off to ask Ser Criston what happened. Criston explained as best as he can what happened and said that Aegon fought hard. Alicent asked if Aemond had something to do with this. The conversation ends with Alicent storming off, and said to Criston to not to talk to her anymore.
Back at King’s Landing, Rhaneyra is meeting with her council and Ser Alfred is furious as to what happened in Rook’s Rest. As they converse, at the end, Rhaneyra poses the same question as King Aegon did last episode: “What would you have me do?” That is interesting that the two people in the highest seats, are questioning their abilities in how to rule.
In another part of the castle, Jace (Harry Collett) is off to speak to the twins about making a deal with them. Baela (Bethany Antonia) stops Jace, and says that speaking to them is not a good idea. Jace replies that he wants to show Rhaneyra that he can make decisions on her behalf and that everything would turn out fine.
Now, Daemon (Matt Smith) who is terrorizing some people on his dragon. It is revealed that it is the Brakken’s and that they should bend the knee to him. They are not scared of Daemon and they would rather burn than bend the knee. That throws Daemon off and he has to figure out another way. He quickly realizes that they are more beneficial being alive, than being dead. He also wants to be addressed as being king. He runs into Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) and said he is alone in this fight. He says to her, “She cannot succeed Alys”, referring to Rhaneyra. “Even if I willed it to be so, the people who support her will not be led by her; they look to a man for strength”.
Back at Team Green, Alicent gets an update from the Grand Mister. They said that the medical team has done as much as they could and his fate is with the Gods. While Alicent meets with the council, they all are figuring out who can make the decisions in King Aegon’s absence. Alicent said she can do it, but the council shot that down. Everyone agrees that Aemond is the next person in line. Alicent sits and zones out for a second, because it seems she is not comfortable with that decision. Aemond goes right into business, as he sits in his brother’s chair. Aemond also stands in front of the throne and Helaena (Phia Saban) asks him, “What was the price?” referring to Aegon’s injuries.
Coryls has a visitor that came, and it is Baela. She brings him the familiar pin and asks him on behalf of Rhaneyra to be her hand. Corlys laughs and says, ”Has she not asked enough from my house?” She is not impressed and replies, “Rhaneys was not only your wife. Not a thing to be taken from you. She was a Targaryen princess, the Queen who never was, but she flew to Rook’s Rest of her own volition. She died in a fire”. She continues, “The way I myself wish to meet my end.” Corlys asked her to be his heir, and she declines. She said it must be someone from the sea, not like her, who is blood and fire.
At the end of the episode Rhaneyra is talking to Jace about his visit with the twins. He says, “We have no dearth of dragons. We have two large enough to stand against Vhagar. They are called Vermithor and Silvering and they sleep beneath our feet”.
Rhaneyra replies, “A dragon will only accept a dragon to ride it. Or say the histories”. He corrects his mother and says, “Valyrian histories”. She questions him, “Are you suggesting we put a Mallister on a dragon? A Tarly?” She smiles at the idea. “There could be scores of them” he says. “It’s a mad thought” she replies. So mad, that the plan might actually work.
This episode was a lot of setup for the future of the second season. I think next week’s there is going to be a lot of action, to the plans that are being made. I’m excited to see if Rhaneyra and Jace’s plan might actually work. Overall the episode was very dialogue heavy, hopefully next week there’s some more action.
I give this episode a 8.5/10.
