House of the Dragon Episode 6 Recap and Reactions

Spoilers underneath.

10 decades have passed since Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Lord Laenor Velaryon’s “red wedding” and considering that Queen Alicent created her first revolt against Property Targaryen with a symbolic eco-friendly dress. When we reunite with Property of the Dragon’s leading women this 7 days, substantially has transformed. They are not only performed by new actresses (Olivia Cooke for Alicent and Emma D’Arcy for Rhaenyra), but also in unique destinations in their life. They’re each moms now each and every a person is looking out for her own blood. They’ve drifted even even further aside, with petty ability moves and paranoia about succession wedged deeply in between them. And they’re also more confident of themselves, specially Alicent, whom audiences came to know as a meek young woman (performed fantastically by Emily Carey). Now, a 10 years later on, she’s far more aware of her power and how to use it: She pushes towards her getting older husband King Viserys, she orders servants to go away the home, she schemes, and she is a lot more targeted than ever on putting her son on the iron throne. (Do I scent a trace of Cersei Lannister?) Rhaenyra is a worthy match. She was often headstrong and rough as a woman, but her childhood petulance has advanced into a mature confidence—and stubbornness—and her tough exterior has developed even tougher. She’s absolutely nothing like her partner Laenor, who is primarily seen laughing and ingesting with his secret lover, or yearning for fight, when he’s not with his wife. With Rhaenyra and Alicent grown up and empowered, and with allies at every of their sides, a new match of thrones is in movement.

But initially, an additional beginning scene. The episode opens on Rhaenyra’s sweaty face mid-labor. She’s pushing, if you couldn’t convey to from the midwife’s coaching, her hefty grunts, or the squelching noises of an infant rising from her entire body off-display. Soon after looking at her mother Queen Aemma die brutally during childbirth in the premiere episode, I viewed this sequence cautiously and on-edge, anticipating to be bombarded with nonetheless an additional gory visible of a lady enduring violence or a supply gone mistaken but luckily Rhaenyra’s start is a accomplishment. And to the court’s delight (apart from for Queen Alicent), it’s a boy! Rhaenyra holds her kid proudly in her arms for only a few moments in advance of a messenger comes in expressing the queen has questioned that the child be introduced to her. Rhaenyra understands the absurd ask for is just Alicent’s try at pushing her buttons, but she will not acquiesce simply. She’ll bring the infant to the queen herself, even though she should be resting, and even even though her placenta is slipping out of her as she struggles to get dressed. She will not give Alicent the gratification of viewing her weakened.

Laenor (John Macmillan) is no enable, half-jokingly asking, “Was it terribly painful?” as he walks Rhaenyra to Queen Alicent’s home. Please, Laenor, not now. Not when your wife is keeling over in soreness on a flight of stairs to her previous good friend-turned-stepmother’s chambers post-labor. Ser Criston coldly greets the couple in the doorway prior to they existing the child to Queen Alicent, who’s shocked to find Rhaenyra standing. She’s not shocked, nonetheless, that the child bears no resemblance to his father she’s knowledgeable that the infant is not Laenor’s and doesn’t hesitate to let him know. “Sooner or later on you’ll get one that appears to be like like you,” she tells him. Ouch. On the other hand, King Viserys, withering with age, is happy to welcome an additional grandchild. When he asks for the baby’s name, Laenor interjects, “Joffrey!” before consulting with the child’s mother. When the couple exits, Rhaenyra leaves a path of blood powering her.

Joffrey is Rhaenyra’s 3rd little one and son, pursuing Jacaerys (or “Jace”) and Lucerys. To the planet, their father is her husband Laenor Velaryon, but biologically and secretly, it is Ser Harwin Solid, aka Breakbones, commander of the Town Enjoy. It’s clear viewing him in a room with the boys they have all inherited Ser Harwin’s darkish brown hair instead of their parents’ silver Targaryen-Velaryon locks, and none of Laenor’s attributes. Alicent and Viserys’ 3 kids, Aegon, Halaena, and Aemond are all platinum-headed. The change in appearances is no make any difference to the little ones on their own, who seem to be to expend a large amount of time jointly as they develop up in the castle. During dragon education, three of them group up to prank Aemond, together with his older brother Aegon, by offering him a “dragon” of his individual: a pig with phony wings tied onto it. When Alicent finds out about this, she’s speedy to blame the stunt on Rhaenyra’s boys, even though her youngest states Aegon was associated. Her daughter Halaena stays out of the quarrel, playing with a large centipede and exuding complete Luna Lovegood energy.

Alicent delivers this make any difference to Viserys, not only complaining about Rhaenyra’s little ones, but also insinuating that they ended up born out of wedlock. Viserys won’t listen to it, and tells Alicent to never ever talk of these allegations once again. The queen vents about her frustrations to Ser Criston Cole. How could Viserys not see what she’s viewing? Why does he have to maintain guarding Rhaenyra? Criston lets out a several issues of his individual about the princess, calling her a “spoiled cunt,” which stops Alicent in her tracks. He rapidly apologizes. Obviously he is still not in excess of that break up.

Alicent finds her pubescent eldest son Aegon stark naked, jerking off in his bed room window to the see of King’s Landing. (Is this your king?) But his mother’s unannounced presence sends him running below the handles. Obviously this youthful gentleman is unaware of the difficulties that lie ahead of him, so Alicent teaches him a few lessons. Very first, he has to stand with his brother relatively than mock him. (Even if he thinks he’s “a twat.”) In these moments, he will have to protect his family—like how Alicent has stood with Residence Hightower. Aegon may possibly engage in with Rhaenyra’s young children now, but when Rhaenyra ascends the throne, the exciting will be over for him, Alicent states. And below will come the second lesson: Aegon’s existence, as King Viserys’ very first born son, problems Rhaenyra’s declare to the throne. He should really and will be king, and there are men and women through the land that desire it so.

In the meantime, Daemon is in Pentos with his pregnant wife, Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell), their two daughters, and their dragons. The family is getting hosted in by Prince Reggio, who’d like for them to prolong their keep. He offers Daemon and his family a long term residence in Pentos in trade for accessibility to their dragons. The Triarchy has regained energy and fashioned an alliance with Qoren Martell of Dorne, so Pentos will require protection from likely sieges. Daemon is intrigued by the supply, but Laena is not. She needs to elevate their young children in her property, Driftmark, not right here.

Back at King’s Landing, Ser Criston Cole trains Rhaenyra and Alicent’s boys in overcome whilst Ser Harwin appears on. Harwin points out that Criston is offering the Targaryen little ones particular consideration, so Criston, out of spite, allows the boys spar every single other, eldest son versus eldest son. He’s staying a tough mentor, encouraging Aegon to struggle Jacaerys mercilessly. When Jacaerys falls, Harwin berates Criston for teaching the boys cruelty. Criston can take notice of that: Why would the commander of the Town Observe care so substantially about the princess’s children’s instruction? “Most adult males would only have that form of devotion towards a cousin, or a brother…or a son,” he says, offering an ice-cold jab. The insult sends Harwin into a rage. He beats Criston till he’s bruised and bloody on the floor, which does absolutely nothing to assist hide his secret. If something, Harwin’s violent reaction only strengthens the rumors and makes him and his family susceptible to allegations. Harwin’s father Lyonel scolds him just after the incident, and Rhaenyra overhears the dialogue. When Laenor tells her he wishes to battle in the Stepstones, she orders him to stay at dwelling. With rumors about their children’s parentage swirling, he needs to be present to support his family members.

Laena misses her brother. It is most likely been 10 decades since they very last noticed every other. Now, she tends to her very own spouse and children with Daemon, like her eight-year-outdated daughter who’s concerned that her dragon egg has not hatched yet. Even worse, her father is ignoring her as well. (Is any one stunned Daemon is not a fantastic parent?) Laena at the very least presents her some significantly-wanted comfort and tells her to be individual.

At a small council conference, Rhaenyra and Alicent butt heads when discussing policy, but Rhaenyra wishes to set an conclusion to it. In a surprising move, she apologizes for any strife concerning her and the queen. She even helps make a generous proposition: Her son Jacaerys should be betrothed to Alicent’s daughter Helaena, and she’ll even offer you Cyrax’s up coming dragon egg to Aemond. Alicent does not bite. As an alternative, she factors out that Rhaenyra’s breast milk is leaking by way of her costume. Immediately after the meeting, Viserys tells his wife that he truly likes Rhaenyra’s proposal, but nonetheless, she refuses. “You may perhaps do as you wish, partner, when I am chilly in my grave,” she hisses at him. (Damn!)

Lord Lyonel Sturdy techniques the couple with some particular information: He desires to resign as Hand of the King as shameful rumors encompass his son Harwin. Even while Harwin has been expelled from the Metropolis Observe, he can not provide with integrity, Lyonel suggests. Alicent tries to pull far more specifics out of him, but he cannot bear to repeat the gossip aloud. Viserys won’t permit Lord Robust to step down, but permits him to acquire go away to escort Harwin again to Harrenhal.

Alicent satisfies Lord Larys, Lyonel’s youthful son and Harwin’s brother, for what appears to be like a non-public meal in his home. It appears the two have developed close because they initially fulfilled, and she’s capable to confide in him. She needs an individual in King’s Landing would just take her side. If her father was however about, he would be partial to her. Larys, even so, has a program, which involves hires prisoners for a magic formula mission.

Back in Pentos, Laena is in labor, and it is torturous. She’s pushing and screaming on her knees, but the child will not appear. (Once more, I brace myself for another harrowing beginning.) The doctor tells Daemon that they could execute a c-section, but it’s unknown if the newborn will live and mother will unquestionably not survive. (Just like Queen Aemma.) While Daemon mulls it over—it’s unclear what he in the end decides—Laena stumbles exterior to her dragon, Vhagar, begging her to set her out of her misery. “Dracarys!” Laena orders her again and yet again, but the dragon won’t obey. In the conclude, most likely as soon as she realizes Laena’s pain and desperation, Vhagar burns her alive. Daemon has just stepped exterior to glance for his spouse when he sees her obtaining engulfed in flames. It was reported that each and every of the births in Property of the Dragon has a diverse theme. And if Queen’s Aemma’s was intended to set up that the birthing mattress is a woman’s battlefield, then each individual labor equates to a distinctive result of war: demise and defeat (Aemma), victory (Rhaenyra), and surrender (Laena).

Back at King’s Landing, Harwin is saying his goodbyes to his and Rhaenyra’s small children, promising to return. Jacaerys follows him out the doorway, sensing anything is up. He asks Rhaenyra if Harwin is his father. “Am I a bastard?” Rhaenyra responds, “You are a Targaryen. That’s what issues.” Right after everything that’s happened, the princess thinks it is time to get out of King’s Landing and shift to Dragonstone, away from the madness. She tells Laenor the strategy and claims he can bring his lover, far too.

As Harwin and Lyonel arrive to Harrenhal, the prisoners employed by Larys show up in the distance, ready to start out difficulties. That night time, they established fire to the castle, killing Harwin and Lyonel. (Of course, Larys arranged to have his brother and father killed, in case you had been questioning if he’s a excellent man.) Again in the Purple Hold, a rat scurries into Viserys’ place to feed on scraps. The king may perhaps even now be respiratory, but the vermin visual is a apparent image of his decay. His times are numbered.

When Alicent hears of the hearth at Harrenhal, she’s shaken. She did not would like for this, she tells Larys, but he’s by now ways forward of her. He tells her to write to her father with the Hand of the King useless, Otto could return to court to resume his aged post, granting Alicent’s would like of owning him closeby as an ally. Larys is sure the queen will reward him when the time is ideal, which implies it is very likely he could blackmail her into performing his bidding. We might’ve just achieved Larys an episode back, but he’s just one to retain an eye on.

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