New Queen, New Enemies and Sudden Allies

It is simply that understanding how this world works, and what’s to come back for ladies within the subsequent few generations, it is extra an train in futility. We relatively count on it is extra a narrative of how males will crush and humiliation and violate and destroy ladies when given the prospect.

Thus far, we have seen males deny Rhaenys the Iron Throne a long time in the past, we have seen Queen Aemma denied her very life within the hopes her offspring may be male and survive (he did not) and we have seen Alicent denied the selection of not making an attempt to flirt along with her greatest buddy’s father, the king.

Girls are breeders and instruments for males to make use of so as to try to get what they need — which at all times appears to quantity to energy. This week continued that development with at the least one girl getting used as barter, whereas one other was used as a software to bait and taunt the king by his brother.

The one girl who continues to buck all the expectations is Princess Rhaenyra, once more performed superbly by Milly Alcock (Emma D’Arcy will take over in some future time bounce as an older model of her, however Alcock is leaving huge footwear to fill along with her efficiency.

Whereas it infuriates everybody round her, the inheritor to the Iron Throne acts along with her personal company, expectations be damned. She speaks when she should not, she flies when she should not, and she or he would not apologize. And he or she positively made considered one of this week’s greatest Energy Strikes.

Additionally, whereas it isn’t an influence transfer, we would wish to level out that that is the second week in a row we have seen King Viserys with a fairly grievous and gross wound. We have no thought if the festering wound on his again remains to be there, however his injured finger is rotting and disgusting (with them utilizing maggots to try to assist). We suspect that is foreshadowing one thing, however it may very well be total weak spot or simply defeat and loss.

Crab Feeder Takes Stepstones

There’s a energy rising on the ocean and it is beginning to kiss the sting of the Realm. On this episode, it is revealed that the newest assault from this mysterious power-hungry particular person really took out 4 ships, together with one by Grasp of Ships Corlys, who known as for motion.

Viserys, decided to maintain the peace, stated he is hesitant to begin a battle with the pirates as they’re backed by the Free Cities. However that is not the one factor occurring within the realm Viserys appears content material to only let be.

Daemon Seizes Dragonstone

Whereas not a Energy Transfer that occurred on this episode, it went down within the six month hole since final week’s premiere. It is also a baller transfer that he boldly went and simply staked a declare there, using the king’s Metropolis Watch that Viserys put him accountable for.

It is an enormous slap within the face to the king, and since Daemon is aware of his brother, he is aware of he can get away with this type of nonsense. And if it have been totally as much as Viserys, it actually does seem to be he’d simply concede this loss to his brother so as to hold the peace. He’s decided to try this to a fault and individuals are taking benefit.

Rhaenyra Chooses Ser Criston

We appreciated that Rhaenyra wasn’t going to mess about after the Small Council rudely dismissed her for daring to counsel dragonriders go to Dragonstone to take care of Daemon. Despite the fact that she’s inheritor, she’s nonetheless serving drinks and anticipated to maintain her mouth shut. A lot for involving the long run queen within the political affairs.

Tasked with filling a niche within the Kingsguard, Rhaenyra made it quite simple. Who among the many candidates has seen precise fight. That narrowed it down to at least one acquainted face, the good-looking one beneath the helm that really knocked Daemon off his horse within the event final episode. Even when Otto resisted, she shut him down and stood sturdy in her alternative. Give her a process and she’s going to do it.

Rhaenys and Rhaenyra Spar

Girls aren’t usually allowed a lot autonomy in Westeros, and none exemplifies that greater than the “Queen Who By no means Was,” Rhaenyra’s Aunt Rhaenys. The latter shortly tells Rhaenyra that regardless of her mom solely being gone six months, the king will probably be anticipated to remarry.

She tells her that regardless of Rhaenyra being named inheritor, the lads of the realm would count on the king to mattress a brand new spouse and hopefully make a male inheritor so Rhaenyra won’t ever ascend to the throne. Rhaenyra insists she’s going to creat a brand new “order of issues” to supplant the patriarchal one Rhaenys endured. We’ve got a sense (primarily based on “Thrones”) how that can go, however we’re nonetheless cheering her on.

Corlys and Rhaenys Pitch Laena

We noticed her final week and it is true that the 12-year-old daughter of Corlys and Rhaenys is precisely who they pitch to Viserys for him to marry, to maintain the Vayrian bloodline sturdy. We have been at the least glad to see that Viserys appeared correctly creeped out (she’s youthful than his 15-year-old daughter).

Sadly, regardless of his protests and issues, everybody in his world from the Small Council to his personal daughter appear to imagine that for the nice of the realm and as his responsibility as king, he ought to do that and marry this lady. At the very least her mom stated she will not must sleep with him till she’s 14 years outdated (so gross!).

Daemon Takes a Spouse … and an Egg

Most likely simply egging on his brother, however Daemon is aware of easy methods to get beneath his pores and skin. He stole a dragon egg and introduced that he was marrying his “whore” and that she was with little one. He even invited the king to his marriage ceremony in two days.

Solely it seems all of that was a lie, which didn’t sit nicely with “whore” Mysaria in any respect. Whereas Viserys appeared hesitant to ask, we’ll give a bonus energy transfer to Rhaenyra for interrupting to ask which egg. When it is informed it was the one her late brother was to have had in his cradle, Viserys was out of the blue offended sufficient to truly do one thing.

Rhaenyra Stops a Struggle

She could get chastised for it later, however Rhaenyra arriving on the bridge to Dragonstone astride her dragon stopped what might have been the primary act of battle from Daemon towards his brother. That is as a result of the Hand of the King, Otto, wasn’t doing an excellent job of negotiating the return of the egg.

Leaning on her present relationship along with her uncle, Rhaenyra strode as much as him and informed him that she was standing in the way in which of his throne, so if he desires it that unhealthy, he ought to forward and kill her, the present their. As an alternative, he flipped the egg to her and strode off. It is only a delay of the inevitable, however it was a powerful second for Rhaenyra, who was fearless and did what the Hand couldn’t.

Viserys Pronounces His New Spouse

Maybe we must always have seen this coming. Because the loss of life of Queen Aemma, Otto has been sending his daughter Alicent, who can also be Rhaenyra’s greatest buddy, to speak with the king, be his confidante, be there for him. She has expressed reluctance, however as with most ladies within the realm, she feels she has no alternative however to obey the lads in her life.

She is well mannered and very anxious about he time with the king, choosing relentlessly at her nails, however performs her responsibility to perfection. He confides in her, she is good and listens and provides her counsel. She even repairs a dragon statuette by accident damaged. Maybe all of that’s the reason he shirks the pure line of Laena and proclaims Alicent as his spouse.

Does he assume he is in love along with her? She’s older than Laena, however not by a lot. The choice kicks off a right away ripple impact, with Corlys stomping out of the Small Council in a rage, adopted by Rhaenyra in tears. Does she really feel betrayed by Viserys? Alicent (who didn’t disclose to her she’d been assembly with Viserys)? Or maybe each?

Corlys Challenges Daemon

Viserys ought to have seen this coming. He rejected Corlys’ supply of his daughter, which might have given Corlys a direct line to the throne. Once you make highly effective enemies, typically they hook up. That is what occurred within the shut of this hour as Corlys goes to fulfill with a reluctant Daemon.

He then pitches once more the notion that one thing must be finished about this Crab Feeder. However relatively than attempt to get wimpy Viserys to do one thing, perhaps Daemon and his Metropolis Watch might make a press release by taking up this problem themselves — with Corlys’ assist?

New Intro Sequence

As promised, this second episode of “Home of the Dragon” kicked off with an precise title sequence. In a little bit of a shock the theme music is both precisely or nearly precisely the identical because the one for “Sport of Thrones,” tying the 2 reveals even tighter collectively.

The graphic for this one isn’t a map of Westeros however relatively incorporates a concentrate on blood rising up from symbols on the flooring of what could be the large mannequin of Previous Valyria that Viserys has been tinkering with because the premiere. Lastly, the blood on the acquainted image for Home Targaryen.

“Home of the Dragon” airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.