One other work week is upon us, which additionally means it’s time for extra Home of the Dragon. Final week noticed the present shake up a lot of the forged because it leaped ahead in time a couple of dozen or so years. We noticed Alicent take her first steps in the direction of ruthlessness, whereas Rhaenyra surprisingly opted for extra peaceable measures by relocating her household to Dragonstone. She additionally instructed marrying her son with Alicent’s daughter with the intention to guarantee a peaceable transition as soon as the lastly King dies.
Each ladies have gotten more and more determined of their bid to guard their kids; although, Alicent’s descent in the direction of evil seems extra self-centered — she desires to validate her personal sacrifices and get again at Rhaenyra for mendacity to her all these years in the past. For Alicent, that is private.
Naturally, her feelings are fastidiously manipulated by the slithery arms of Larys Robust, whose bid for energy simply price him his father and brother — the true father of Rhaenyra’s sons. This gained’t go over nicely.
So, mainly, simply one other day in King’s Touchdown.
Let’s get to Episode 7, titled “Driftmark,” and maintain on for expensive life as we watch our beloved characters nosedive into tragedy.
What Occurs in Home of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 7
We open on the funeral of Laena, who burned herself (and her youngster) alive through dragon hearth after childbirth problems known as for determined motion. Daemon stands by, apathetic throughout the ceremony. He even laughs at a few of the phrases spoken throughout the ceremony, notably these stating the Velaryon blood runs thick via the household and must not ever skinny.
Jacaerys and Lucerys show real unhappiness whereas Aegon rolls his eyes. Although, we later study that “Jace” is definitely bummed that they aren’t at Harrenhal mourning the loss of life of Lord Robust, his precise father. “It wouldn’t be acceptable,” Rhaenyra says.
We get plenty of Godfather-like glances from the likes of Varys and Alicent. Everybody appears to be conspiring in their very own means. I’m nonetheless undecided what Daemon desires. He all the time seems like he’s considering arduous, however his ideas usually quantity to … nothing. Not less than, to this point. Possibly he’s not considering. Possibly he simply doesn’t give a shit about any of this. Or perhaps he offers a shit however is just too emotionally connected to everybody concerned to do something about it.
Helaena, Alicent’s daughter, performs with a spider whereas her brothers Aegon and Aemond stare in confusion. “We now have nothing in frequent,” Aegon says. He’s as apathetic as Daemon.
Larys eyeballs the hell out of Alicent, an motion that doesn’t go unnoticed by Criston Cole.
In the meantime, Laenor stands within the water under the celebration trying positively devastated. Corlys spots his son and orders Qarl Correy, Laenor’s “secret” lover, to retrieve him.
Varys watches all of this and appears positively drained. It takes loads of vitality for him to rise to talk with Daemon. He suggests Daemon return dwelling — Rhaenyra watches from afar — to King’s Touchdown, however he’s like “Nah” and storms off, previous … Otto Hightower, who, I assume, was reinstated because the King’s Hand?
Night time blankets the proceedings. Otto orders a drunken Aegon to get to mattress; Laena stumbles via the group after being pulled from the ocean by Quarl; someplace overhead, a dragon growls, a sound that attracts the curiosity of Aemond. Varys heads to mattress, one other shitty day for the King.
Later, Corlys and Rhaenys, aka the Queen that By no means Was, talk about their daughter’s loss of life. She thinks it’s a punishment from the gods for his or her egocentric ambition and chastises Lorys for his unyielding need to ascend the throne, irrespective of the price. Coated in phrase vomit, Lorys sits beside his grieving spouse. “What is that this temporary mortal life if to not pursuit legacy,” he asks. Certainly.
Rhaenys lays all of it on the road and states she desires Driftmark to move via Laena’s line. She is aware of that Rhaenyra’s kids aren’t Laenor’s, and he or she is aware of that he is aware of. At this level, the one means to make sure the Velaryon bloodline continues is to lean on Daemon/Laena’s kids.
“Historical past doesn’t keep in mind blood,” he snaps. “It remembers names.”
Nice scene.
Elsewhere, Rhaenyra walks with Daemon alongside the seashore. She explains how she tried to conceive a baby with Laenor, however nothing got here of it. “It wasn’t a lot enjoyable,” she says as Daemon smirks. The subject turns to Alicent, who Daemon notes could be very a lot able to doing actually dangerous issues if pushed to the restrict.
The couple that by no means was shift gears to debate their very own love life. “I used to be a baby, I used to be in love,” she snaps. “It was incorrect and also you knew it!”
“You knew what you had been doing,” he retorts.
She takes a step towards him. “I’m not a baby anymore. I would like you.”
Increase.
We get some romantic, er, Uncle/Niece necking whereas the soundtrack tries valiantly to play this off as romantic. They do the nasty and … I’m undecided what to assume. Are we presupposed to be completely happy that they discovered one another ultimately?
Elsewhere, Aemond follows the sound of the dragon and spots the large beast snoozing below the moonlight. (There’s no music on this bit, simply the sound of the dragon’s breath. It’s actually cool!) Aemond makes an attempt to the touch the monster, which, I believe, is Laena’s former dragon Vhagar. She wakes. Eyes Aemond and casually seems away.
Once more Aemond tries to the touch the beast, which opens its mouth and prepares to dish out a large quantity of scorching whoop ass, however the younger man shouts nonsense in Excessive Valyrian: “Dohaeras! Dohaeras, Vhagar! Lykiri!” These instructions subdue Vhagar, and Aemond climbs on her again. We get a terrific shot from his standpoint after which the younger man shouts, “Soves!” and the large dragon launches into the air.
We get an unimaginable dragon flying sequence that actually takes your breath away — the rating, the music, the FX, the performing, the route, all of it’s unimaginable. Hiccup, eat your coronary heart out.
Aemond lands and strolls again to the fortress like a boss. He’s confronted by Laena’s daughters and Rhaenyra’s sons. Rhaena scolds him for taking her dragon, which, Aemond notes, she ought to have claimed after her mom’s loss of life. He tells her to search out herself a pleasant pig, which earns him a slap. Surprised, the younger man slaps again … then Jacaerys slaps Aemond … and Aemond slaps Lucerys … everybody slaps everybody till all the children are atop of Aemond slapping the holy shit out of the child. Issues escalate additional when Aemond calls Rhaenyra’s youngsters bastards and … nicely, youngsters being youngsters, certainly one of them attracts a knife and slices half of Aemond’s face off.
We lower to Varys trying like a person who would fortunately welcome loss of life at any second simply to flee from this countless nightmare of violence, pettiness, and self-destruction. “How may you enable such a factor to occur,” he says cooly to Ser Harold and Ser Criston.
“The place the hell had been you,” Alicent snaps at Aegon, slugging the gangly child within the face in entrance of the whole fortress.
Close by, Aemond will get a depraved set of stitches throughout his face, which ought to come in useful ought to he select to turn into a correct villain. His eye is misplaced, however the flesh will heal, which is nice information, I assume? Aemond takes all of this remarkably nicely.
Rhaenyra reveals up together with Corlys and Rhaenys. “Who did this,” Rhaenyra asks after seeing the injuries on her kids.
Youngsters shout. Varys shouts. Everybody shouts. “Shut the f*** up,” the King instructions.
“He known as us bastards,” Jacaerys whispers to his mom, who stands with a glance that claims she is aware of that is going to be an extended evening.
“False accusations had been levied in opposition to my sons and so they defended themselves,” Rhaenyra says. “Accusations in regards to the legitimacy of their birthright.”
Everybody rolls their eyes.
“That is excessive treason. Prince Aemond should be questioned to find out the place he realized such slanders,” Rhaenyra continues, doubling down on her lie.
“Over an insult,” Alicent says, her eyes crammed with tears.
Otto watches the scene from afar however slowly strikes ahead as if bracing for the worst. Daemon observes from a doorway, arms folded; a smirk throughout his face.
“The place did you hear this lie,” Varys asks Aemond.
Alicent tries to smother the fireplace. “Uh, he’s only a child saying dumb child shit … uh, the place’s the boy’s true father, Laenor?”
That appears to attract everybody’s consideration away from the second.
“Yeah, the place the hell is Laenor?”
“Entertaining his younger squires, I might enterprise,” Alicent says, drawing a smirk from Criston. (Truthfully, this episode has been hearth. I like the little character beats tucked throughout the bigger scene. You study so much from the slightest gaze.)
“Your King calls for a solution,” Viserys says. “Who spoke these lies to you?”
Aemond eyes his mom, however then pivots. “Uh, Aegon!” (I’m reminded of that scene in A Christmas Story the place Ralphie falsely accuses his buddy of robust language and is compelled to hearken to the poor child incur a horrible beating over the cellphone.)
The King confronts Aegon. “Who instructed you this lie,” he screams.
“Everybody is aware of,” Aegon says quietly. “Simply take a look at them.”
Yeah, the jig is up. However Varys desires nothing to do with any of it. “You King calls for everybody to be completely happy,” he shouts the best way I do at each Thanksgiving household battle. He heads off to mattress, however Alicent’s like, “Nah, that’s not ok. I would like an eye fixed for an eye fixed — actually.”
Viserys is like, “What the hell?”
“Superb, if the King won’t search justice, then the Queen will,” Alicent says coldly, the pent of rage boiling to the floor. “Ser Criston, carry me the attention of Lucerys.”
Take into account, the whole fortress is watching this very intense household dispute. Oh, the tales they’ll inform …
The King once more orders everybody to relax, go to mattress and eat some fruit or one thing, and in addition proclaims a brand new decree: anybody who falsely accuses my daughter’s bastard sons of their true heritage can have their tongues eliminated.
“Thanks father,” Rhaenyra says earlier than turning to go again to mattress.
Alicent can’t take this shit anymore and goes full-on Rambo. She grabs the King’s blade and hurls herself in the direction of Rhaenyra. Daemon blocks Ser Criston from performing his duties, whereas Ser Harrold eases everybody again and permits the 2 ladies to have their second.
“You’ve gone too far,” Rhaenyra says dryly.
“I’ve performed every part that was requested of me,” Alicent snaps. (Lower to Otto slinking off into the shadows.)
“Exhausting isn’t it,” Rhaenyra says, “hiding below the cloak of your personal righteousness, however now they see you for who you actually are!”
Alicent lunges after which pulls again. Blood pours down Rhaenyra’s arm. (I anticipate the King is considering he ought to have gone with Door No. 2.) Everyone seems to be shocked. Daemon smirks. Aemond steps ahead. “Don’t mourn me mom,” the boy says. “It was a good alternate. I could have misplaced an eye fixed, however I gained a dragon.”
“Everybody go to mattress, for the love of God,” Viserys instructions because the households eyeball one another, neatly divided by miles of hatred.
The following day, Otto visits Alicent and surprisingly commends her for her actions. “You’re powerful shit,” he says. “I believe you may win this sport.” He assures his daughter that the King will forgive her actions — what else can he do? — earlier than stating: “Follow me and collectively we’re gonna kick some ass.” He then notes that Aemond’s rebellious resolution to snag himself a dragon could have turned the tide of their favor. “I imply, Vhagar is ours now.”
Scary.
We get extra stitching motion as a maester sews up Alicent’s arm the subsequent morning. Laenor stumbles in. “Ah, hiya everybody …”
The couple discusses their relationship — highs and lows. Lengthy story brief, he recommits himself to her. “I shall be your husband from this level on.” She seems stunned, just a little shocked and … type of weary, if I’m studying Rhaenyra proper. I imply, she lastly obtained her Uncle within the sack and now … it’s difficult.
Talking of which, the pair stand at Dragonstone and watch Alicent’s ship sail away. “Hearth is a jail,” Daemon notes of their Targaryen lineage, “the ocean is all the time proper.”
“I would like you, Uncle,” Rhaenyra says. “I can not face the greens alone. Let’s kick ass collectively.”
“We can not marry until Laenor had been useless,” Daemon says.
“I do know,” she replies coldly.
On the ship, Larys gives to grab an eye fixed for Alicent. “Not now,” she says. “However someday will come the place I would like your loyalty and discretion.”
Everybody is selecting a aspect, forming allegiances and setting the desk for the battle to come back.
Daemon seeks out Qarl and gives him gold to execute Laenor. We see the “loyal” servant confront Laenor and interact in a sword battle. By the point Corlys arrives, a physique burns within the fire. Is that Laenor? Or anyone else? Thrones doesn’t usually kill a personality offscreen, however I’ve been incorrect with all of my assumptions about this present up to now.
We finish with some lip and hand slicing as Rhaenyra and Daemon lastly marry in entrance of their youngsters. Uh, that is nice … I believe?
Later, a mysterious bald man who is completely Laenor runs into a ship and sails away with Qarl. I knew it! And that’s how we finish this week’s episode.
Last Ideas on Home of the Dragon Episode 7
Okay, so simply three episodes to go, of us. I don’t find out about you however this present is friggin’ unimaginable. There are such a lot of fascinating nuances inside every storyline that it’s simple to lose oneself within the drama. Whereas not precisely a good comparability, Home of the Dragon has dealt with the sluggish and regular buildup to its huge finale way more competently than The Rings of Energy.
I get it. One’s a largely family-friendly present rooted in fantasy, whereas the opposite is a really R-rated political thriller with fantasy components. Every present has its deserves, however Home of the Dragon has a lot extra lurking beneath the floor. Its characters reside someplace between good and evil — you root for and despise all of them the identical, which is a difficult factor to tug off.
Tellingly, I’m undecided who I’m pulling for at this level. Alicent deserves what she fought so arduous to attain, however is clearly happening a really darkish path. Rhaenyra is an effective individual, however her lies have led to loads of issues. But, I don’t fault her for her lies. I get it. This world sucks and each Rhaenyra and Alicent are fumbling via the darkness making an attempt to latch onto the very first thing that offers them hope. Besides, Alicent has turned to Larys Robust whereas Rhaenyra has sided with Daemon. Can both be trusted?
This isn’t going to finish nicely for anybody, is it? There’s an excessive amount of emotion, an excessive amount of at stake, an excessive amount of anger for anybody to step up and douse the flames. Actually, this household simply wants to take a seat down and have it out as each household does as soon as yearly or so. Nevertheless it’s most likely too late for that at this level.
Irrespective of. That simply means we get to observe this royal household rip themselves to shreds with swords, bows, spears, and friggin’ dragons. I’m afraid to observe, however I can’t look away.
