House of The Dragon – Season 2, Episode 6

The Greens are gathering their army. We see Ser Jason Lannister meeting with Ser Humfrey Lefford at The Golden Tooth ready to march upon the Riverlands, their forces are strong and organised however they are cautious of Daemons and his dragon Caraxes, who dwells over Harrenhal and hence they call upon Aemond and his dragon Vhagar to support. But Aemond is no longer a soldier, he has been named Prince Regent and this ‘command’ will not be received lightly. In Kings Landing he has assumed himself as a dominant figure on The Small Council and is now able to lay down ‘his’ strategies (I say ‘his’ because he hasn’t welcomed the input of anyone else’s views) according to his own interests – specifically regarding Harrenhal. Unlike other members, he disregards Daemon as a threat saying ‘My Uncle is a challenge I welcome, if he dares face me’. Aemond’s actions are forged from his own ambitions, his own pride, he thinks of himself as superior and now The Council are coming to realise the danger of his rule. When Alicent – his mother confronts him about his boldness she is quickly disregarded and her voice dismissed, ‘relieved’ of her duties to The Crown and is again subjected to the same prejudice that accompanies her gender. ‘Have the indignities of your childhood not yet been avenged?’ as Alicent knows that her son is still consumed by a need for vengeance.

Dragonstone

On Dragonstone, Rhaenyra proceeds with her aim to gain more Dragonriders to support her during the war. She welcomes Ser Steffon to her table – a distant relative to House Targaryen challenged with the task to claim Seasmoke. But the blood of the dragon runs thin in his veins and were left to question if Seasmoke will accept Ser Steffon as his rider? Seasmoke is called forth by Rhaenyra, lured by the same song we hear Daemon singing to Vermithor in Season 1. ‘Fire breather, Winged leader’ – they are taming him, in hope that he will adhere to his new rider. ‘Do not show fear’ the Dragonkeepers tell Ser Steffon but Dragons are intelligent creatures and Seasmoke senses his fear, he will not calm, he will not serve and Ser Steffon will not become his rider. In Rhaenyra’s eyes, all hope is lost, she is consumed by regret as she watches Ser Steffon burn and Seasmoke retreat below. He will choose his own rider and later in the episode we see him claim Adam Hull, a supposed barstard of House Targaryen.

Rhaenyra will now face the consequences of Ser Steffon’s death. The Council have another reason to question Rhaenyra’s authority and they will do so readily. Daemon’s absence has put pressure on Rhaenyra, with everyone continuously raising there need for him, for Caraxes, for Harrenhal, even Rhaenyra’s own son Jace has confronted her – ‘We may Marshall the strength of the Vale, Maidenpool and all our allies besides. We will never outmatch the strength of the Green Armies’. Rhaenyra is struggling to rely on the words of her advisors, their interests undermine her as she is bound to Dragonstone while others fight this battle – her battle ‘They must see me a ruler’ ‘It is my fault that you have forgotten to fear me’ Earlier we see Rhaenyra wielding Dark Sister, the sword of Visenya Targaryen and in Episode 5 we see her reading about the conquest; she now turns to the histories of her house to gain strength and reestablish her power.

Harrenhal

Paddy Considine returns! In this vision, Daemon walks towards the Iron Throne, towards his brother Visery’s. He recites the same words from Season 1, Episode 1 after the death of his son Baelon and wife Aemma, he is broken, vulnerable ‘You should have been by my side’ Visery’s says and now Daemon has come to realise he was right. In Episode 2 after Blood and Cheese Daemon tells Rhaenyra that Visery’s was frightened by him while Rhaenyra recognises the reality that he just couldn’t trust him. Theres a parallel, one that I think will be of great significance for mending his and Rhaenyra’s relationship. As Visery’s names his new heir, Daemon understands the price of his selfishness and how it lost him his brother. Now his mind is clouded, he is confused, he is ‘done with it’ and Aly’s takes it upon her self to challenge him ‘It is you way, is it not? when something does not please you, you run’. He resents this, he resents Rhaenyra, his brother and it is this anger that has blinded him. Now he asks Aly’s for help, he has unburdened himself and can recognise her council. At the end of the episode Daemon has one last vision, a vision that concludes his journey, as he watches Visery’s mourn his wife, he embraces him ‘I’m sorry’, ‘I’m hear now’ and I believe this is his turning point, he has reached peace.

Kings Landing

We encounter a conversation between Aemond and Lary’s Strong in the Small Council room – this discussion isn’t official, they are both alone and Lary’s Strong takes this advantage to press upon his own claim as Hand. But he finds out that Aemond isn’t as easily swayed as Aegon, that his trust isn’t so quickly placed and when confronted with this suggestion Aemond dismisses Lary’s and instead commands him to call upon his Grandsire, Otto Hightower to serve as hand. However Lary’s is devious and knows where his influenced is most likely to prevail. He turns to Aegon, praises him; he’s has become a legend, he survived dragon fire but comes to the truth that he will never be whole. He tells him about Aemond’s ensued position as Prince Reagent and as a consequence he is in danger. I wonder how Lary’s role within Team Green will change as a result of this conflict.

Helaena still confines herself to the walls of the Red Keep, finding solitude after the death of her son Jaehaerys. ‘This one has stopped singing, isn’t that strange?’ she says to her mother. But what does this mean? Maybe Helaena is referring to Seasmoke who has been restless over the past few years after Laenor’s death, now he has found a new rider and has stopped singing. Maybe she is talking about the small folk, with Rhaenyra’s gift people have been given food and they are no longer begging at the gates. When Alicent and Helaena go to The Great Sept they are not yet aware of the chaos reeking outside. ‘Long live Queen Rhaenyra’ they shout and it is now clear that the smallfolk have turned against Team Green. In the carriage Alicent looks upon a scar drawn across her forearm, placed in there same spot where she cut Rhaenyra in Season 1. Rhaenyra was right, ‘now they see you as you are’ and now the smallfolk have seen the Crown for what it is and have turned against them.

As the season progresses Rhaenyra starts to form a closer relationship with Mysaria and relies on the advice she provides when her council are lacking. Unlike her council, Mysaria also provides Rhaenyra with comfort and reassurance to aid her during this war. In this episode the show shifts to a different dynamic, where both characters start to develop a more personal relationship. Rhaenyra confides in Mysaria about her troubles with Daemon, she longs for his presence ‘were two halves of the same whole’ and now she feels broken given he is away. Since she was a child Rhaenyra has looked up to Daemon, he was everything she wanted to be, carefree, dangerous but now she realises that these are qualities Daemon has because he’s never been at peace. Now Rhaenyra must find peace in the reality that Daemon may have turned against her, maybe she has lost him. I think this strongly ties into Daemons storyline at Harrenhal, Alys River’s is forcing him to come to peace with himself so that he may to return to Dragonstone and Rhaenyra. And Mysaria as well unburdens herself. She speaks of fears Rhaenyra struggled with as a child, Mysaria is unable to bear children and Rhaenyra has recently lost her daughter during childbirth, so is Mysaria trying to appeal to Rhaenyra’s grief? Is she seeking this as an opportunity to become closer with Rhaenyra? Are her intentions pure or is it all just a game? Rhaenyra is vulnerable and perhaps she has made the mistake of opening up to someone she cannot trust.

Let us know your thoughts on the episode below.