It is now impossible to root for any of these characters because of the betrayal. Future wars were foreshadowed, friendships were destroyed, and battle lines were created in House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 7.
It should have been a day of peace as the families came together for Laena's funeral, but the Targaryens make it impossible for that to happen. Since the beginning, Rhaenyra has been a fan favourite. Although the casting change on Episode 6 was flawless, I had the impression that I was watching a new character on "Driftmark."
It was expected that she would become more cruel, but her revelation that she had to wed Daemon and have her husband dead in order to accomplish this was an enormous heel turn. I know that in order to set up the conflict for the future, we must see these darker tones, but it felt really unexpected. However, Alicent forced her hand.
Aware of the lengths she must go through in order to place one of her offspring on the Iron Throne, Alicent can see her hold on authority eroding. Although it is a stark contrast to the Alicent we first saw in House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 1. The other characters have shaped how she views everyone.
She used to be deeply loyal to Rhaenyra, but now she believes that her friend is making fun of Viserys, the line of succession, and everyone else who values the Crown. Olivia Cooke does a fantastic job portraying Alicent in this deranged state.
After Aemond lost an eye, it's hardly shocking that Alicent was angry. The fact is that Aemond needed coaching from someone in order to take the dragon for himself. It's unbelievable that the constant tormenting made him steal such a large dragon. If he did make this decision on his own, you have to wonder what else he has planned for the future.
I was stunned by the woman's outburst about stealing an eye from one of Rhaenyra's children, but what really surprised me was how composed Rhaenyra remained during the entire argument. Despite suffering a cut made of Valerian steel on her arm. Viewers anticipated this because, on House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 6, Alicent told her daughter Helaena that her son would eventually have to lose an eye in order to have a dragon.
This franchise enjoys foreshadowing, so when it materialises it is pleasant. However, I would have rather seen Aemond fight harder for his dragon. The fact that the CGI was uneven obviously didn't help. The CGI on this programme seems to be growing worse as the season goes on, which is surprising considering the high production value of the show.
Otto's reappearance was unexpected, but given the significant gaps in time between episodes, he needed to show up sooner rather than later. Alicent was astounded by her father's wise counsel, which will help them become closer as the conflict progresses.
It was unexpected when Otto accepted the hand of the king role once more, but perhaps it shows how adept Alicent has become at manipulating. However, Viserys has been deteriorating quickly, so we shouldn't anticipate him to last for very long.
Up to the very last scene, it was painful to see Laenor plan to murder the monarch. You start to wonder who was involved in the scheme and, more significantly, why things turned out the way they did. Rhaenyra may have planned it so Laenor might lead the life he desires, but it's also likely that something more sinister, perhaps Daemon plotting, is at play. Regardless, Rhaenyra and Daemon's marriage should lead to more upheaval in the realm as we approach the season's final three episodes.
On this programme, it's never easy to predict what will happen next, but at least we know where the lines of battle are. Whether or not viewers can relate to such cunning people will be the challenging element. Since we have been aware of Daemon's true nature from the beginning, it is simpler to support him.
Throughout "Driftmark," Rhaenyra and Alicent's journeys have been dramatically accelerated. Battle lies have ben drawn and more furious sides to particular characters have been shown in this episode. Things are definitely building up for the final three episodes.
Performance | 4.2/5 |
Enjoyment | 4.3/5 |
Overall Rating | 4.3/5 |