House of the Dragon Gets Political and Real, Real Horny

When House of the Dragon premiered, I stated that it was a present that was not sure whether or not it wished to stay in or out of Game of Thrones’ shadow. Four weeks later, I really feel Dragon is already striding away, assured in the place it desires to go—and the place it desires to go is a special sort of sport of thrones.

In Game of Thrones, the titular sport was primarily performed with violence. Wars had been waged. Kings had been poisoned. Lords had been beheaded. Few of the marriages had been made for political energy; you may argue that Sansa’s marriages to Joffrey and Ramsey Bolton had been, however truthfully, they each appeared extra about punishing the Starks by way of Sansa than gaining any benefit. Danaerys’ marriages to Khal Drogo and Hizdahr zo Loraq had been to make political alliances, however a type of Dany selected herself.

House of the Dragon is decided to point out how the sport of thrones is performed with marriages, and the way the ladies are merely pawns of the highly effective males in cost. Their lack of company is highlighted virtually in every single place in “King of the Narrow Sea,” which I discover an apt title—the episode is concentrated totally on Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) and Alicent (Emily Carey), nevertheless it’s nonetheless named after a person.

The episode begins with Rhaenyra at Dragonstone, listening to one other lengthy line of suitors making their plea to wed her. There’s a pompous previous man, a scrawny 13-year-old, and an actual asshole who makes enjoyable of the teenager, solely to get murdered when the child pulls out his sword to defend his honor. Rhaenyra is fed up and returns to King’s Landing. On the best way, her ship is rocked by Daemon (Matt Smith) atop his dragon Ceraxes, an pointless assault to let her know he’s come again.

In reality, Daemon’s come again with a crown of driftwood on his head and the Crabfeeder’s hammer in his hand (and brief hair!), basically spoils of battle after completely bodying these pirates in final week’s episode. It’s an enormous affront to his brother and king, Viserys (Paddy Considine), nevertheless it’s additionally simply Daemon making a scene—he quickly takes off the crown and kneels, pledging his loyalty. Viserys, at all times eager to consider Daemon has modified for the higher, welcomes him with open arms, and throws a celebration to have fun Daemon’s defeat of the pirates.

At the celebration, Rhaenyra complains about how unfair it’s that she has to decide on a suitor, and even worse than that, “squeeze out heirs.” Unfortunately, she says this to Alicent, who has really needed to squeeze out heirs for Viserys, and, as she reminds her buddy, most noble ladies don’t get to decide on between two suitors, not to mention two dozen. Feeling responsible sufficient to depart the dialog, however not fairly responsible sufficient to recontextualize her personal state of affairs, Rhaenyra heads to see her uncle Daemon, and complains about her eventual pressured marriage and need to not have kids. “My mother was made to produce heirs until it killed her,” she tells him, and he or she’s not unsuitable.

Daemon hears this with the sly, smug expression he appears to at all times have on his face, exuding a vibe that’s maybe a bit of unsettling, a lot akin to the scene Matt Smith and Milly Alcock shared in House of the Dragon’s premiere. The vibe begins rising when Rhaenyra finds a clue hidden in her room that it has a secret door, which leads exterior of the fortress. The princess wastes no time in leaving the maintain, the place a hooded Daemon is ready for her with a disguise and hat to cover her Targaryen hair.

Daemon takes her on a tour of the actual King’s Landing, a motley carnival that delights Rhaenyra till her uncle brings her to a stage present that isn’t a play a lot as it’s an extremely on-the-nose standing replace of the place the succession stands between the named inheritor Rhaenyra, her child brother Aegon, and even Daemon. What’s clear is that the huge crowd of lowborn boo the concept of Rhaenyra ruling the Seven Kingdoms. They don’t have any details about her apart from she’s feminine able of potential energy, and that’s sufficient for them to hate her.

I assumed this may give Rhaenyra pause, making her understand “This is what I’m up against,” however as an alternative she runs off, steals some meals, runs off once more in delight, and is finally tracked down by Daemon. Their subsequent cease is a brothel and… the place that is going, sadly. Sex is heavy within the air. The rooms are brimming with folks having intercourse. Women with males. Women with ladies. Men with males. Even the intercourse staff appear to be having the time of their lives. It’s successfully an orgy, and Daemon tells Rhaeryna that regardless of her need to remain unwed and never have kids, there’s one thing she’d be lacking: “Fucking is a pleasure,” he tells her breathily. And then they kiss. Passionately. Savagely.

It’s tough. Not simply because incest is taboo, however as a result of Rhaenyra is meant to be about 18 years previous and Daemon is presumably someplace round Matt Smith’s age of 39 (moreover, Alcock appears to be like youthful than 17 within the present, though the actor is 22). What makes it even rougher is that it’s scorching. There is an intense sexual chemistry between Alcock and Smith within the scene that makes their make-out session exhausting to look away from even because it’s exhausting to observe. Plus there’s the truth that we all know from Game of Thrones that the Targaryen household has no taboo towards incest, and that incest was not unusual in medieval Europe and much past, effectively into the nineteenth century, notably between uncles and nieces.

I don’t really feel assured sufficient to actually navigate the sexual and energy politics right here, no less than having simply seen it, and figuring out how a lot company Rhaenyra really has within the scene. Personally, I don’t consider they’ve penetrative intercourse as a result of in the event that they did, I don’t suppose Daemon would cease himself and stroll away in livid frustration, regardless of Rhaenyra’s many makes an attempt to get him to renew. But I additionally don’t suppose Rhaenyra could be so sexually annoyed that she’d lure her knight Ser Christon Cole (Fabien Frankel) into her bed room and seduce him instantly upon returning to the Keep, the place they make love (in stark distinction to her make-out session along with her uncle). It’s absolutely doable I’m being naïve, nevertheless.

What I do really feel assured about saying is how implausible Emily Carey is as Alicent on this episode, as a result of House of the Dragon frequently intersperses Rhaenyra’s journey by way of King’s Landing with Alicent’s life as queen, which is depressing regardless of the very fact she’s dwelling within the lap of luxurious. As Rhaenyra freely explores what the town has to supply, Alicent is trapped taking good care of her child and her always drunk husband, whose many open sores want tending within the tub. When a maidservant involves her room in the midst of the night time to inform the queen the king requests her presence, it’s apparent what’s subsequent. Interspersed between pictures of Rhaenyra and Daemon’s hot-and-heavy snogging are transient pictures of Viserys, again lined in sores, rutting away on a dead-eyed, unmoving Alicent.

It’s an unbelievable juxtaposition. Both scenes are gross in utterly other ways. Viserys is mainly a very good man and Daemon may be very a lot not, however when you take out the incestual taboo—which the Targaryens have achieved—Viserys appears to be like extra like a monster right here. But whereas Rhaenyra desires her uncle Daemon at that second, and Alicent reluctantly choses to go to the king’s bed room, I don’t know if both lady has any company right here. Alicent actually not; she’s imprisoned in a cell of what the world tells her is her obligation as a spouse and a queen, and he or she’s killed herself inside to be able to endure it. She’s the one who chooses to take care of Viserys within the tub and he or she acquiesces to the king’s midnight summons, nevertheless it’s her sense of obligation that forces her to take action, not any actual need to serve her previous, drunk, farting husband. And whether or not Alicent’s joylessly holding her crying son or struggling the king’s wishes, Carey manages the feat of being utterly dead-eyed whereas one way or the other exuding the distress and desperation that hides inside Alicent, and the way completely trapped she feels.

But as a result of she was “serving” the king, Alicent is there the following morning when her father Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) reluctantly brings Viserys the horrible, horrible information that Rhaenyra and Daemon had been seen cavorting in a brothel, and it was confirmed that the princess one way or the other exited the fortress unnoticed and returned by way of the entrance gate. Viserys scoffs on the concept of Rhaenyra doing such a factor, however Otto says his spies are reliable. Then the king accuses his Hand of making an attempt to shame his daughter in order that Aegon, Otto’s grandchild, will sit on the Iron Throne, and angrily sends him away. But it’s clear that someplace, deep inside, he suspects it’s true.

Later, when a totally hungover Daemon staggers again into the fortress, the king’s guards roughly seize him and throw him on the stone ground of the throne room, the place Viserys is ready. He’s lastly fed up together with his brother… virtually. Even when Daemon admits it’s true (and I do know this discredits my idea extra, however I firmly consider that Daemon would say that they had intercourse reasonably than admit he went by way of with it out of pleasure and to harm his brother, very like he needlessly triggered hassle by claiming he was going to have a baby), he has the gall to inform his brother that he ought to wed Rhaenyra to him—“Better me than some whore.” Viserys nonetheless can’t convey himself to kill the brother who sullied his daughter. Instead, he’s exiled completely from King’s Landing and despatched again to the spouse he hates within the Eyrie, the place he’ll stay to absolutely make extra hassle down the road.

Meanwhile, Alicent goes to confront her buddy, who lies to the queen’s face and says Daemon by no means touched her. Later, when Viserys summons her, she lies once more, however Viserys says, appropriately, the reality doesn’t matter, the notion does. When a sullen Rhaenyra factors out that if she had been a person, she might have intercourse with anybody she happy and sire a dozen bastards, Viserys says, “You’re right!” within the tone of “No duh!” It’s a double customary and it’s not truthful and it’s so ingrained into the whole thing of the tradition that even the smallfolk don’t suppose she ought to sit on the Iron Throne. Viserys can title her his inheritor, however he can’t make folks consider a girl is able to ruling Westeros. Only she will do this, but when folks suppose Rhaenyra has been “sullied” earlier than she’s been married, she’ll by no means get the prospect.

So in consequence, he says she will marry Laenor, son of Corlys Velaryon and Viserys’ cousin Rhaenys (making Laenor and Rhaenyra second cousins, for the document) to appease the still-angry Sea Snake, becoming a member of the 2 Valyrian homes collectively, and including the Velaryon fleets to the Targaryans’ dragons and strengthening their rule. Rhaenyra, realizing that she tousled and her destiny is sealed, says she’ll do her obligation, however that Viserys should do his: she says Otto Hightower should be eliminated as Hand of the King as a result of he’s decided to see his grandson on the Iron Throne. His recommendation can’t be trusted.

Let’s discuss Otto Hightower for a second. He knew precisely what he was doing when he despatched his daughter to console the king after the dying of Queen Aemma. But when Viserys determined to remarry, Otto informed him the good alternative was to marry Corlys’ (upsettingly younger) daughter Laena. Otto has to metal himself earlier than he tells Viserys the heartbreaking information about Rhaenyra, realizing how a lot it can harm him. If his solely purpose was to get Aegon named as inheritor, he’d have marched in with out a thought. If he didn’t need to harm Viserys, he might have ignored his spies. But Hightower felt an obligation to his king, regardless of realizing that doing so might have penalties for himself—and finally it does, as a result of late within the episode, Viserys removes him because the Hand of the King, saying he can not belief Otto’s judgment.

There’s one remaining scene in “King of the Narrow Sea,” and it’s quietly devastating. Rhaenyra hears a knock on her door, and in walks Grand Maester Mellos with a small pot of tea, despatched by the king. “It will rid you of any unwanted… consequences,” he tells the princess, after which departs. And it slowly dawns on Rhaenyra that she’s been despatched a medieval model of a morning-after capsule.

It’s terrible, and it’s presupposed to be terrible, however it’s difficult by the information that Rhaenyra, who’s been so vocal about not eager to have youngsters, would virtually have actually sought this out if she’d identified it was accessible and he or she had entry to it. But as a result of it was despatched to her by her father, not out of compassion however to verify nothing would throw a wrench in his plans to marry her to Laenor Velaryon, he’s successfully ordering her to have an abortion. Although the present completed filming effectively earlier than information leaked that the Supreme Court was going to overturn Roe v. Wade, it’s unimaginable not to attract a comparability to real-world politics, and a girl’s lack of the proper to decide on and make choices about her physique. Even if Rhaenyra wished to make sure she was not pregnant, the selection was made for her.

I anticipate this to be a controversial episode, with some folks condemning House of the Dragon for the incestuous and murkily age-inappropriate intercourse scene, some for Viserys’ tacit/overt rape of Alicent, after which the tea. Many will condemn the collection for all three, evaluating it to how terrible Game of Thrones handled its feminine characters. I’m on no account sure I’m right about this, as a result of my notion is male and I can by no means absolutely perceive the topic right here, irrespective of how a lot I study. But it appears to me that Thrones stopped commenting on the inequality and lack of company ladies had within the traditionally impressed setting and commenced reveling in it, utilizing scenes like Sansa’s rape solely to shock audiences. It appears like House of the Dragon is actually saying one thing in regards to the terrible therapy ladies have been (and are) subjected to, because it exhibits the way it permeates each facet of their lives—and the way even after they’re royalty they’ve little to no autonomy.

Here’s usually the place I’d wrap up the recap with a few pithy feedback, however I’m not going to do this. I might a lot choose to know what you all take into consideration the present, tonight’s episode, and something I’m forgetting or lacking or am blind to, assuming you’re all for that. There’s loads to speak about, however I’ve achieved my speaking. Now it’s time for me to hear.

Assorted Musings:

• I really feel I ought to level out that “King of the Narrow Sea” was directed by a girl, Clare Kilner, who’s additionally doing subsequent week’s episode and the collection’ penultimate episode, which made me really feel significantly better in regards to the three intercourse scenes. If it had been a male director, I feel we would have gotten pictures of Viserys reluctantly having intercourse with Alicent out of his sense of obligation to supply extra potential heirs, or feeling guilt to mitigate the deed, however as an alternative, Kilner forces solely on Alicent’s terrible expertise with out softening it within the slightest.
• During their remaining dialog, Viserys exhibits Rhaenyra the primary Aegon’s dagger, which was inscribed with phrases solely seen after the Valyrian metal blade was heated with flames. It says, “From my blood comes the Prince That Was Promised, and his will be the Song of Ice and Fire.” The Prince, after all, is one in every of Jon Snow’s titles, and the tune—moreover being the title of George R.R. Martin’s guide collection—refers back to the occasions chronicled within the Game of Thrones TV collection, when you occurred to overlook. I discover this a a lot much less clumsy approach to join House of the Dragon to its predecessor than Viserys’ dream speech within the premiere, and if that was the primary point out of it I might have misplaced my shit versus being very irritated.
• It ought to be misplaced on nobody that Rhaenyra is pressured right into a political marriage to appease the Sea Snake exactly as a result of Viserys selected affection over his obligation and didn’t marry a Velaryon when ought to have. Regardless of Daemon or her secret tryst with Criston, she is paying the value for her father’s selfishness.
• Again, I could also be deluded about what base Rhaenyra and Daemon obtained to, however I additionally don’t know the way shut Otto’s spies might get to inform the distinction between extraordinarily heavy petting and the NC-17 model, so to talk. But if I’m unsuitable, it doesn’t make that a lot of a distinction when it comes to the story, it simply means I’m a dumb-dumb, and all of us already knew that.
• I already miss Daemon’s lengthy hair. Turns out Targaryens look very odd with out it.
• If you’ll indulge me, can I take a second to inform you how unbelievably fucked my Google search historical past is due to this episode? Here are issues I needed to search for, verbatim, in fast succession: 1) “Age of consent laws by state” 2) “When did royals stop inbreeding” 3) “Uncles who marry nieces” 4) “Morning-after pill.” If somebody takes me away, there’s no court docket on this planet that wouldn’t convict me of one thing. If another person writes subsequent week’s recap, you’ll know why.

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