The crown continues to bear a crushing weight as Rhaenyra has a kingdom in disarray and a civil war that continues to wage despite her best efforts. The HBOMax ‘Game of Thrones’ spin-off, ‘House of the Dragon’ continues to be an absolute delight from week to week with the release of Episode 4. This week’s episode sees the Kingdom of Westeros buckling under the weight of war and loyalists to both Rhaenyra and the Hightowers spreading chaos across the continent. This series has been phenomenal, providing audiences with some of the most compelling storytelling and TV that they will find today.
Daemon, Sheepstealer, and the No Good, Terrible, Bad Day
Following the deception of Ormond Hightower, Daemon is sent to the Vale to obtain an army, finding something he wasn’t expecting. Confronted by Rhaena and her sins, Daemon begins to scramble for answers as any father would in this situation. It’s this sequence that audiences get some of the best of Matt Smith and Phoebe Campbell. They are stupendous as father and daughter. Smith’s Daemon pains over what to do as his daughter faces almost certain death, Campbell’s Rhaena seeking to face it head on.
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As is tradition in Westeros, Daemon murder’s a local shepherd (wrong place, wrong time, pal) and brings his charred head to Rhaenyra claiming it to be the rider of Sheepstealer. Rhaenyra, taken aback, is incensed. she wanted the opportunity to face her son’s killer. When Smith is at his most flippant, audiences get tastes of his former role. The one with a fez. It’s so fluid and funny, most importantly, it’s undeiably Matt Smith and audiences need more of that in their lives.
Queen Rhaenyra, First of Her Name
Ruling is never easy. Whether a monarch has followed a legend, a despot, or a failure, it takes time to wash the stink of a previous reign away. Rhaenyra is learning this by the bucket. Loyalists are within the walls of King’s Landing, undermining her very loose control of the kingdom. The crown finds itself void of coin with Ormond Hightower bunkered in at Tumbleton. Crushed by grief and flailing, it’s clear Rhaenyra is somewhat out of her depth, finding ruling more than she expected as any monarch would. Continuing to seek advice from Alicent where she can, Rhaenyra struggles to deal with a council that brings nothing but problems. Again, ‘House of the Dragon’ is at it’s best when Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke are on screen together. They’re magic and I love it.
To make matters worse, if they can be, Corlys is choosing battle over business meetings, leaving the job of Hand to Alyn, who begrudgingly accepts. I’m excited to get more screentime from Abubakar Salim as the shows progresses, specifically in this role. His stoic approach, lends itself to Alyn’s quiet, listening nature. Salim adds another beautiful wrinkle in a vast and wonderful world.
The Adventures of Aegon and Larys
Much of the internet refers to Aegon and Larys’ storyline as feeling more like an episode of ‘The Office’ and less like a serious drama. While that is a result of shot choices, in notion that this was comedic relief ended with Sunfyre. Finding the corpse of his dragon, Aegon embraces his fallen friend. Larys in the meantime is left to deal with a small band of rather unfriendly fellows. Tom Glynn-Carney truly embodies grief and the true depth of Aegon’s sorrow. He’s absolutely phenomenal in this moment.
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Returning to the sight of his fall, Larys and Aegon find themselves employed at Rook’s Rest doing menial labor jobs and being treated with vicious intent by the oppresive troop that currently occupies and rules the castle. Aegon, never one to take kindly to orders, finds himself on the boot end of manure covered ground. The current storyline that is running for Aegon is the most compelling side quest of the show right now. It has shades of Theon Greyjoy. While Aegon’s fate will most assuredly be his untimely death, audiences, in my humble opinion, will not revel in it as they did Joffrey and Ramsey.
Ser Criston Cole and How to Make the Worst Possible Decision
Ser Criston Cole is like a kernal shell in a tooth. Yeah, it was good when it started, but now, it’s just annoying and making everything worse around it. Cole’s storyline and plot continues to be one of the low points of the show as he makes poor decision after poor decision. Aemond’s absence has left him with no direction and, let’s be honest, he only got into all of this one for reason. Cole, listening to absolutely no one around him, wants to go across the land, attacking where they can, moving door to door. Gwayne Hightower, however, wants to unite with Ormond Hightower at Tumbleton, a much more intelligent proposition. It’s clear Cole is flailing and has no real clue what to do unless someone is telling him what to do. He is the definition of in over his head.
Tumbleton
Ormond Hightower is not in Tumbleton to make friends. He is there to make a stand. His troops torment the local townsfolk, seeing minimal reproach from their leader. Hightower is using this time to groom Daeron Targaryen into a leader. Daeron is young and obviously terrified of Ormond, as is apparent by his actions when Ormond loses his temper after taking a loss. Ordering the execution of one of the locals, Ormond instructs Daeron to earn his true place as King, starting with the execution of the local.
Final Thoughts:
‘House of the Dragon’ has been truly delightful. The highs and lows have been eloquently orchestrated, making for some of the most compelling TV since it’s predecessor ended nearly a decade ago. The focus on the duties of the crown have given the show a new element, adding another level to an already rich world. This is truly what must see TV is all about.
