It was dangerous to move the action ten years into the future midway through season 1, but episode 6 of that season was the strongest one yet.
Emma D'arcy, Olivia Cookie, Harry Collett, and Nanna Blondell assisted in making the significant casting adjustments as seamless as feasible. The show has received a lot of criticism for making this decision, but since there is such a big time gap being played.
It makes sense to choose performers who are more in line with the characters' ages. It's understandable that Milly Alcock and Emily Carey were dearly missed. However, it helps that the show has cast characters who have aged up but still resemble their older selves.
In the past ten years, King's Landing has seen significant transformation, but Rhaenyra has remained the most impressive figure. This is due to the complexity and tightness of her storyline. Over time, the bond between Rhaenyra and Alicent has gotten frostier, and in some ways, it's understandable how they arrived at this point.
When they had such a close relationship and Rhaenyra wasn't lying to Alicent. Alicent was Rhaenyra's strongest supporter. Although, due to how things have gotten between them, Alicent feels as though the gloves are off now.
Deeply seated problems in their relationship weren't much of a surprise because it was clear from House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 5 that Rhaenyra and Laenor's marriage was more about convenience than affection. Both of them aren't getting what they want out of this marriage, and they frequently spend the evenings apart, which inevitably raises doubts about their relationship. The fact that the offspring of Rhaenyra and Laenor do not resemble Targaryens or Velaryons is also troubling. That can be attributed to Rhaenyra's covert relationship with Harwin.
It's understandable why Rhaenyra and Harwin were attracted to one another to the point of having a covert relationship that resulted in the birth of three children. This is because their chemistry shone brightly. It's unfortunate that so many people point out that the children don't resemble their father, which puts the Princess and the Queen on a more direct collision course.
When Viserys passes away, Alicent is aware of the tension in the realm. A last-ditch effort to bring the families together before the impending fight begins was made by Rhaenyra when she offered to marry off one of her children to one of Alicent's. Viserys is fiercely protective of his daughter, which has caused a major rift with his wife. Her husband is oblivious to the fact that his daughter is obviously not in love with Laenor. Alicent went from pampering him to ignoring him, and, to be honest, it's starting to get a little tiring.
Given the commotion surrounding the dragons, Otto's daughter thinks her son ought to be in charge and has been preparing Aegon for the reign. Larys is more ruthless and devious than Littlefinger, so Alicent's friendship with him is quite concerning. The fact that Rhaenyra's sons would never be able to speak with their biological father again will make her even more furious when she finds out what happened to Harwin.
I wonder if Rhaenyra will learn about Larys and instantly conclude that Alicent was involved in the horrible incidents that resulted in the fatalities. Although the focus of the series is on uniting these two women, I would really like to witness a scene in which each realises how cunning the other may be. Also,how they must both step up their individual strategies if they hope to prevail in this Game of Thrones.
Rhaenyra's departure from King's Landing for Dragonstone with Laenor, his girlfriend, and her kids indicates that she is putting herself in position to one day occupy the Iron Throne.
As Viserys' condition worsens with each passing episode, I suppose it won't be long before a new king or queen takes the throne. If Alicent has her way, one of her own sons will rule the country in place of Rhaenyra. Up until this point, Rhaenyra has been friendly with Alicent, but I have a feeling that in the season's final episodes, the fire that burns through her veins will show.
Laena's passing was tragic, but it was also perhaps one of the most significant in the history of the Game of Thrones series. It's dangerous to stray from the original work, but her snatching the reins and having Vhagar kill her before she passed away elsewhere was rather savage.
Laena and Daemon had an incredible connection, so it was regrettable to have to part ways with her so quickly. While I'm still not completely sold on the CGI in House of the Dragon, it was amazing to see Vhagar on television. It was about time he received some screen time. Vhagar is enormous, standing taller than any other dragon we have seen on the show to date. Despite her advanced age, she will still be a formidable opponent.
There will undoubtedly be concerns over who will mount her next, and given the ongoing conflict between Rhaenyra and Alicent's children over dragons, we should definitely anticipate that those children will start fighting after that.
Fans will undoubtedly disagree with "The Princess and the Queen's" new route for the story, but it was executed quite effectively overall. Making this one of the best episodes so far.
Performance | 4.4/5 |
Enjoyment | 4.6/5 |
Overall Rating | 4.5/5 |