Record-breaking Premiere: "House of the Dragons" Sparks Global Frenzy
By the old gods and the new, if "The Red Dragon and the Gold" didn't have you on the edge of your seat, you may want to double-check your reality, pal. This fourth episode of House of the Dragon delivered a nail-biting flashpoint, full of power plays, regrets, and, of course, dragons galore.
Let's dive into our lurid little soirée at Harrenhal, where Daemon's still doing more daydreaming than army-rallying. In his latest reverie, he encounters Young Rhaenyra, who exquisitely taunts him in Valyrian. Upon waking, he learns about Aegon's advancing forces and the growing host of Cole's troops. Daemon, feeling ready to start drumming up support for his queen, brushes off the nervous young emissary, Ser Oscar Tully, suggesting that the old man Oakheart should hasten his demise for the sake of advancing his heir.
Over on the docks at Driftmark, Rhaenys seeks out Alyn of Hull, who saved Lord Corlys' life. She comments on his comeliness and asks Corlys if he's aware of Alyn's past, hinting that there's more to their relationship than just a chance encounter. Corlys responds brusquely, but Rhaenys isn't here to grill him about his relationships—she's been summoned to Dragonstone, where the Small Council is growing uneasy in Rhaenyra's absence.
Meanwhile, in King's Landing, Alicent nervously turns a dragon figurine over in her hands before accidentally breaking it, a callback to her past repair of a damaged figurine, softening Viserys' heart. The Grand Maester enters, bearing a special concoction intended to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Alicent tries to pass it off as medicine for someone else, but the Maester sees right through her. After he leaves, she downs the potion, her guilt weighing heavily upon her.
Back at Dragonstone, the Small Council is in turmoil, with meager intel on Cole's movements, a missing Daemon, and cranky old men. It falls to Rhaenys to bring some semblance of calm to the chaotic gathering. Lord Corlys enters, asserting his commanding presence, but with Rhaenyra absent, they're all stuck twiddling their thumbs.
In the Crownlands, we get a gritty glimpse of Cole's strategic campaign, as he brutalizes smaller houses into bending the knee to King Aegon II and beheads any lords who support the queenchand. When Cole receives word from King's Landing, he veers from his initial plan to attack Harrenhal and instead sets his sights on Rook's Rest, intending to cut off Dragonstone from the mainland.
Upstairs, Alicent suffers the aftereffects of her brew, and Lord Larys drops by for a chat. He updates her on the Small Council meeting, but also takes note of the empty tea vessel Larys left behind. Concerned, he asks Alicent about her worry for Cole's safety, to which she reply, "Ser Criston is the Hand of the King. We should all pray for his victory and safe return." Larys, sharp as a tack, mentions that Alicent seems to be reading one of Viserys' history books, and wonders if she questioned the king's intentions in light of the voice of history.
At Harrenhal, a jittery Daemon encounters a mysterious healer named Alys Rivers. She tries to get to the bottom of Daemon's resentment about Rhaenyra being in charge, but Daemon accuses her of being a witch. Drinking a concoction she prepares to help him sleep, Daemon awakens in the company of Ser Simon and other men, including Ser Willem Blackwood, who's there to bolster Daemon's forces but is bewildered by Daemon's erratic behavior. At one point, Daemon thinks he sees Laena—his late second wife—but it's just a hallucination.
Aegon's Small Council meets to discuss the war efforts, which are not going swimmingly. When they fail to impress Aegon, he storms out of the room, leaving his advisors to bicker and squabble.
Back upstairs, Aegon finds Alicent rummaging through his books. He complains about being ignored, while Alicent counsel him on the importance of learning from his advisors. At this point, she can't help but chuckle at the pathetic sight of this mixed-up kid who spent his entire life flowing with her plans finally screwing things up royally.
With only 20 minutes left in the episode, Cole's army sets sail for Rook's Rest. Back at Dragonstone, Rhaenyra returns, causing a stir among her family and advisors. Despite their grumbling, she's determined to join the battle, but the Small Council talks her out of it. Instead, Rhaenys volunteers to fly Meleys into the fray.
In King's Landing, Aegon continues to act like an ungrateful punk, while Larys grows increasingly suspicious of Alicent's behavior. Elsewhere, Rhaenys and Meleys take flight, with Cole's army preparing for a fierce battle they can finally see in the daylight. Rhaenys and Meleys engage Aegon and Sunfyre in the sky, raining fire and chaos down on the battlefield. Tensions rise as Vhagar joins the fray, leading to a devastating clash between the dragons.
As the battle rages on, the future of the Targaryen dynasty hangs in the balance. In the end, it's the toast of the town to see who will rise victorious—or if they'll even survive the bloody aftermath. Catch the latest episodes of House of the Dragon on HBO and Max.
- In a surprising twist, Io9's upcoming coverage might delve into the technological applications that could revolutionize future television, drawing parallels from the strategic planning and faster-paced dragon battles in House of the Dragon.
- Though current events in King's Landing are unfavorable, Daemon Blackfyre, much like a dragon confined within the stone walls of Harrenhal, remains hopeful for the future, strategizing and rallying support for his queen.
- As Daemon's forces expand, the clocks may be ticking for those who have yet to pledge their allegiance, much like the ticking of the antique clock on the Harrenhal castle tower.
- In this desperately unfortunate turn of events, queen Rhaenyra finds herself at odds with her ambitious cousin, Aegon II, as dragon fights dragon, and the future of the Targaryen dynasty hangs in the balance, reminiscent of a game of chess playing out in real life.
