Many things took place in this episode and while fans clamor to have more fighting – you also need to have an occasional episode that takes the time to show characters interacting with new characters, forging alliances, tensions rising between minor Houses, and hopefully some resolution to certain people’s fighting and not communicating with each other. It is equally important to see how some characters deal with stress, fatigue, anger, and fear. These emotions run strong during the entire episode. Of particular interest is how women are treated in this episode and how strong the patriarchy ruled in medieval times.
As the episode’s title says, a Regent has been named and it is Aemond. Viewers know what really went down at the Battle of Rook’s Rest. Aemond, scheming and biding his time, seized an opportunity to grievously injure his brother. In the aftermath, many soldiers are dead, a castle taken by force, Sunfyre is severely injured, and the King clings to life. More fighting will ensue, and plans must be made. I don’t know what I found more disgusting – riding through King’s Landing with the severed head of poor Meleys (while the townsfolk stare and feel this is a bad sign of things to come) or the fact that Aemond couldn’t care less about his older brother. As if Criston Cole couldn’t get any more irritating – his role as Hand of the King just got worse. Honestly, this man needs a serious PR lecture because parading through the streets of King’s Landing with a severed dragon head did NOT endear you to the people. Would Otto Hightower have allowed this gross display to take place? No!
The untimely and heartbreaking death of Rhaenys has been revealed to Corlys, Rhaenyra, Baela, and Rhaena. Corlys looks like a broken man. Rhaenyra looks to the skies with tear-stained eyes. She has sustained a massive loss – Rhaenys was the unnamed Hand of the Queen, a sensible woman whose practical advice was welcome. The War of Succession has now taken on new life – nobody knows if Aegon will live, the people of King’s Landing are growing tired, hungry, and resentful – tensions mount and patience is exacerbated.
Daemon continues his home renovations at Harrenhal while continuing to hallucinate at night with some of the most disturbing imagery ever – like, dude – with all this Twilight Zone acid-like induced paranoia that you’re experiencing – do you want to get your act together and get your army ready to rock or do you want to sit around and continue being a glutton for punishment? Hard to say with Daemon, because truth be told, he likes torment. He’s had time away from Rhaenyra, he should get his act together and stop this childish behaviour of wanting to rule and put his talents to effective use by bringing people over to the Black side 
and eviscerating the enemy. Period. Never mind listening to Alys Rivers. However, did anyone notice how Alys just disappeared behind Ser Simon in one scene – like where did she go? Is she a vision that only Daemon can see? Daemon, please go back to Dragonstone where you are needed! An encounter with the Brackens leaves Willem Blackwood chomping at the bit. Daemon threatened the Brackens with death if they didn’t bend the knee to Rhaenyra. The Bracken men couldn’t care less and ride off, showing some steely nerve – which grates on Willem but impresses Daemon, because those are the type of battle-hardened men you want on your side. The crown must not be seen doing very dirty deeds and Daemon is more than happy to let Willem use whatever means necessary to bring the Brackens to heel. Doesn’t matter how dirty, doesn’t matter about the cost. War is war.
Aemond is named Regent, and wouldn’t you just know – he eases into the role as if he were born to it (although, being second in line to the Iron Throne as a second son is a double-edged sword, pardon the pun). Aemond begins strategizing with the Small Council with speed and accuracy, issuing commands and testing out his newfound authority. The men of the Green Small Council all talk around and talk over Queen Dowager Alicent – much to her frustration. She sits there, listening to the men making their plans, paying her no heed and you see her mounting anger, her breathing heavily and her eyes filling with tears
of pent-up anger. To be a woman in medieval times meant that you had no authority – you were never considered to have a mind of your own, no thoughts, no education, nothing. Whether you were royalty or a commoner, as a woman you had two purposes: to go forth and procreate and to please your lord and master. Since the GoT-verse mirrors that real-world Age, we see Alicent stripped of all authority.
Lady Jeyne Arryn is the Lady of the Vale (pictured) who has taken Rhaenyra’s children and Rhaena as wards. It is an ideal location for them because of the height and the sheer geographic barriers, nobody would think to attack the Vale. The only way to attack it would be with dragons – which is the one sore point that Jayne presses with Rhaena. She wanted a dragon for protection in exchange for hosting Rhaenyra’s son. I don’t blame her because, in this brutal and patriarchal society, a woman must fend for herself. Rhaena realizes that she is going to be there for a long time, so she must tread carefully. Jeyne was given small dragons and eggs – not as good as a full-grown dragon but it will have to do. Jeyne bids her welcome and then gives Baela condolences on the loss of her grandmother. Very sympathetic, Jeyne. Is there no room for compassion in Westeros?
Rhaenyra is left frustrated and vulnerable. No word from Daemon. Not knowing who to trust, what advice to take, and what her next step should be, once again we see how being a woman in a position of power is rife with danger. Rhaenyra is the Crown – as her son and subjects keep telling her, she cannot go out and do anything because it puts her life at elevated risk. Powerless to do anything, she speaks with Mysaria, who lets her know that the townsfolk in Kings Landing are not happy and are on the edge of rebellion against the Greens. Factor in food shortages, disease, crime, lack of money, lack of income, and resentment building against your King, and you have a recipe for disaster.
She must act alone and sends Baela to Driftmark to ask Corlys to be the Hand of the Queen. This solidifies her strength with a large fleet of ships and men to fight. Corlys wanted to name his granddaughter as heir to Driftmark and was refused. It should pass to someone of salt and sea (setting up his illegitimate son Alyn?) Jace flies off to The Twins to speak with the Freys – barter for passage on their bridge to enable the Stark forces to come down and join Dragonstone while bringing the Freys over to Team Black. With no ravens from Daemon, plans must be made and Dragstone must fortify itself. Jace shows initiative and diplomacy by bringing the Freys onto their side – he’ll have to get Daemon’s permission, forgiveness, whatever at this point (that little issue about Harrenhal being given to the Freys as a show of support). Rhaenyra sends one of her Council to visit Daemon – and we all know how Daemon can be, shall we say, unstable? We’ll have to wait until the next episode to see the outcome of this meeting.
With the King comatose, his body burnt, and his face horribly scarred, the kingdom is in trouble. Aemond is corrupt, Cole is suspicious about Aemond’s actions; Alicent is worried sick about Aegon and knows that with Aemond as Regent, things are going to get a lot worse. She can pray and stand watch by Aegon’s bedside all she wants; it’s not going to change the fact that the war between the Greens and Blacks is going to be a massacre.
Jace and Rhaenyra speak about bringing the Freys into the fold but also, going to battle. Do they have enough men? Do they have enough dragons? Most importantly – will any unclaimed dragons fight for the Blacks? How risky is it to tame them – and who will be the lucky few to get to ride them – because in Targaryen lore, dragons will only accept their riders if a bond is forged. Thus, the idea of finding Targaryen family members (noble born or bastards) is a solution, but extremely dangerous. In times of war, when you need to have a show of strength, desperate times call for desperate measures. Here’s hoping this course of action has a measure of success.
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON returns on Sunday, July 21 on HBO with the sixth installment. We can’t wait because it looks like Rhaenyra is about to make a bold move!
