June 30, 2024
Courtesy: HBO
This episode was one of the best of the series, filled with action and suspense, but it also raised an important question: Should commoners be treated equally to those of royal blood?
There's only one episode left, and the seventh episode sets up the finale in spectacular fashion. In this episode of House of the Dragon, Rhaenyra seeks answers, Daemon gets a win, and the dragon seeds unite in the penultimate episode, "The Red Sowing."
Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) wastes no time and confronts Addam (Clinton Liberty), and we get a beautiful shot of their dragons, Seasmoke and Cyrax, at oceanside. She demands answers, and poor Addam tells her Seasmoke chose him. He quickly bends his knee and pledges his loyalty to her. Even though she is initially skeptical, Rhaenyra is satisfied and knows that her plan to get Dragonriders with the Targaryen bloodline works. Poor Addam just wants to prove himself since Corlys (Steve Toussaint) refuses to acknowledge him.
Courtesy: HBO
The two quickly return to Dragonstone, and Rhaenyra's council informs Corlys that the rider is a shipwright in his employ. Bartmos Celtigar, always one for theatrics, starts hammering commoners shouldn't be allowed to be Dragonriders and that the "thief" should be apprehended. The politics of this situation were striking because Bartmos's entire diatribe amounted to commoners not being worthy of riding dragons and having no place among the Targaryens, as that honor should only be bestowed to those of Royal blood. This gets Jace's (Harry Collett) attention, and he has much to get off his chest to Rhaenyra. The wheels start turning in Corlys' head, but he keeps his suspicions to himself, so when he confronts Addam and realizes it's true, Addam requests leave of being a shipwright, and Coryls tells him, "Well done." He almost seemed begrudgingly proud. It's confusing why Corlys is hellbent on not acknowledging him or Alyn (Abubakar Salim) as his sons. It's actually cruel, and no one cares that they are bastards. On the contrary, when Rhaenyra finds out, she will be extremely happy.
Courtesy: HBO
It's amazing how Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) is now the only person Rhaenyra trusts. Their relationship has come a long way, and it's actually one of the most interesting on the show. Her advice is always spot on, and even though it's not said, Rhaenyra has now come to trust her wisdom explicitly. Rhaenyra surmises Addam must have Targaryen blood and starts looking at ancestry bloodlines. Mysaria tells her it's better to look "under the sheets and woodpiles," meaning there are Targaryen bastards right under her nose. Mysaria says she used to work for a pleasure house, and many of those bastards would seek their pleasure, and there may be bastards even on Dragonstone.
Rhaenyra takes issue with the fact that they are recruiting commoners who are "lowborn." They are not royalty and allude to having no honor; however, Mysaria, in her infinite wisdom, reminds her that Aemond and Aegon are royalty and there is no honor in stealing the throne from her. Addam, who is not of royal blood, vows to serve her, but her half-brothers, who are of royal blood, vow to destroy her. As Rhaenyra mulls over Mysaria's excellent point, Rhaenyra says for 20 years, she has had to endure the insults of Jace being a bastard. With finality, she says she will raise an army of bastards, and finally, Rhaenyra is thinking outside the box and ready to embrace change with progressive thinking. She quickly sends word to King's Landing that she's looking for Targaryen bastard riders for hire. Not really in those words, but equally effective as Ulf (Tom Bennett) and Hugh (Kieran Bew), who finally reveals he is Targaryen ( his mother is Saera Targaryen and the grandson of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen). His white hair was always a dead giveaway, so we're not surprised, but it is surprising that his mother is Saera, which makes him Daemon's half-brother, and Aemond and Aegon are his cousins. His daughter has succumbed to sickness and is now dead, so he tells his wife he's going, knowing that their lives will change for the better if he can claim a dragon.
Layrs (Matthew Needham) and Ironrod watch Aemond punish the soldiers he blames responsible for the riot in the previous episode. He tells Layrs there are rumors of Seasmoke having a rider and decides Layrs should tell Aemond to gain his favor. Being the greasy car salesman Layrs is, we're surprised he didn't jump at the chance to gain Aemond's favor, but when he hears the rumor came from the stable hand who heard it from a fisherman who heard it from a shipmate, who heard it from... it sounds sketchy. Layrs is no fool and knows better than to run and tell Aemond information that could be false, fearing Aemond's wrath.
Daemon (Matt Smith) is still in Harrenhal, and again, it seems like he's been there forever. We know why he's there; we just wish it didn't take six episodes and that he was back at Dragonstone. The young Oscar Tylly (Archie Barnes) is now Lord Paramount since his grandfather Grove Tully died, and he has brought the Riverlords with him. He is disgusted with Daemon and the war crimes he unleashed upon the Brackens, and rightfully so; however, he decides to continue the pledge of allegiance to Rhaenyra and House Targaryen as the House of Tully before him swore their allegiance to Viserys (Paddy Considine). In return, he wants justice for the war cries that Daemon so casually unleashed on the Brackens, using Willem Blackwood (Jack Parry-Jones) to do it. Daemon was the one who told Willem to initiate mass murder and kidnapping of women (and we can only assume sexual assault) as an incentive for them to bend the knee. Oscar decides someone has to pay, and that person is Willem. As Willem reminds Daemon that he only did it because he told him to, Daemon executes him anyway. Let it be known that Daemon has no honor and has never been a good person. His saving grace is Matt Smith in the role, who brings complexity to an otherwise soulless character. Willem's execution leads him to have yet another dream (sigh!). He dreams of a dying Viserys with the crown in hand, offering the crown to him.
Courtesy: HBO
Jace confronts Rhaenyra, and he's furious. He wonders if it was Mysaria's idea to let commoners ride the dragons and call them mongrels. Interesting choice of words coming from Jace, who is very much a bastard even though he is heir to the throne. He is surprisingly elitist, so when Rhaenyra reminds him that the idea was initially his and he no problem when Ser Steffon tried to claim Seasmoke. He tells her Steffon was the Lord Commander of her Queensguard, who was of high ranking. He does have a point, House Targaryen is the blood of the dragon, if anyone can claim a dragon, it dilutes the prestige and honor of the Targaryen name, and it also threatens his own legitimacy to the throne, especially since his father is not Targaryen making it that much easier for any dragon rider with white hair to usurp his throne. These were excellent points, but Rhaynera says she has no choice. They lack dragon riders, and if she can stop the war with dragon riders who happen to be commoners, then so be it.
Coryls has found a new heir in Alyn when Alyn tells him he is of salt and sea after Corlys tells him Addam is now a dragon rider. At least Corlys can take comfort in that since he has no one. His wife and oldest daughter died, and his two youngest daughters, Baela and Rhaena, want to be dragon riders. Alyn should start growing his hair and finally let his true Velaryon roots show.
Alyn helps carry out Rhaenyra's plan and sends word she's looking for Targaryen bastards, which the dragon keepers emphatically reject as she's spitting in the face of Targaryen tradition. She makes a compelling argument to the men and women small folk who want to take the risk. If they fail, death is imminent, but if they succeed, it's immediate prosperity for them and their families, and the realm is for the taking. Who can resist such temptation when their realities are poverty and starvation. Being a dragon rider is like winning the lotto. They all go to the pit, and Rhaenyra summons Vermithor in what can only be described as a cinematic experience, as Vermithor's sheer magnificence is absolutely beautiful. The first of the dragon seed meets his demise, and Vermithor unleashes immediate carnage in a special effects bonanza. Hugh, showing no fear, faces Vermithor as Hugh claims it. Ulf claims Silvering in a more comedic fashion.
Courtesy: HBO
Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) learns that Daeron, his brother, will join the fight with his dragon Tessarion, but they're interrupted by shouts of Silverwing flying overhead. Aeomnd takes off in hot pursuit of Silverwing, and it's always great when we get aerial shots of the dragons. As Aemond gets closer to Dragonstone, he sees the full force of Vermithor, Cyrax, and Silverwing ready for battle as he quickly commands Vhagar to turn around outmatched.
With Rhaenyra now having an entire fleet of dragon riders at her disposal and Daemon finally forging the army that she needs, it's safe to say that Rhaenyra is ready to win this war, but we fear another heartache is awaiting Rhaneyra. There always is.
Side notes:
Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) is seen trying to rehabilitate, screaming in pain. Kudos to the make-up department once again. With one ear completely burned off, Aegon looks a decrypt mess and every bit like his ailing father. Layrs commands the Grand Maester to push him even harder in his rehabilitation. Layrs seems genuine, but Larys always has a hidden agenda.
Alicent (Olivia Cooke) decides to go for a swim to "find herself" in screen time that could have been used for other more deserving characters (Corlys, Alyn, Baela, Rhaena).
Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) decides to search for Sheepsteaeler, and we wish her all the luck. She deserves a dragon of her own.
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Watch the trailer for the thrilling finale below:
House of the Dragon airs on HBO and streams on MAX Sundays at 9 EST.
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