- You have too many rats running around the Red Keep? Get cats.
- Too many Gold Cloaks not getting paid? Promise them wealth and luxurious textiles on your next conquest.
- A traitorous brother that you want to get rid of? Place a bounty on his head.
- A cunning foe sabotaging you in your own territory? Place traps and burn bridges.
- Being forced to do menial labor and be unappreciative about it? Have someone give you a stone-cold lecture.
- Too many people watching you? Try to play both sides.
Alyn of Hull –
Taking the throne is one thing; ruling is another. Rhaenyra continues to have nothing but problems. She’s become lackluster and paranoid. Her main concern is Vhagar, and while it is a concern, she has more pressing matters to address, as Daemon often reminds her. Empty coffers, petitions to settle, promises to keep (Sabitha Frey wants her castle now!); military plans to be made, and murderers to capture. The Small Council is interesting now: Lord Torrhen Manderly as Master of Coin; Lady Tabitha Frey as a member (she is giving off Lady Olenna Tyrell vibes); Mysaria, the Mistress of Whispers; Alyn of Hull and Grand Maester Orwyle.
The Winter Wolves are making their way towards The Green forces. Our oh-so-cheerful man of the hour, Ser Criston Cole, is leading his weary troops to doom. This guy is on a suicide mission – and if I were him, I would watch my back. You are in unfamiliar territory, your horses are being maimed, the weather is awful, food is scarce, and morale is exceptionally low. You must feel sorry for Gwayne, who is now, at this point, just so demoralized. How many times did Gwayne plead for common sense and ask to go to Tumbleton, to join forces with Ormund? Cristen is on a suicide mission at this point, and it’s scary to see. Back in Tumbleton, we see what a fine line Daeron has had to walk all these years. Ormund is nothing short of a racist dictator. Alicent would go mad if she knew what a monster Ormund was all those years. Ormund prizes brute strength and military precision. He talks about Meria Martell and how she outsmarted the Lannister horde. He says it in such a way that even though he admires Princess Meria, he doesn’t like the fact that a woman was so astute and powerful.
At Harrenhal, we see Alys having to deal with many men who keep showing up, in the hopes that they can find and kill Aemond. The prize? Harrenhal itself – but who would want a castle in ruins, forged by the blood of so many laborers and haunted? Aemond isn’t having the greatest time being holed up there, but at least he’s safe from being hunted down. The question is, where has Vhagar flown off to? And will Helaena’s prophecy about Aemond come true? Without the might and fear of Vhagar, Aemond is vulnerable, and he doesn’t like being in that position.
Aemond Targaryen and Alys Rivers
Alicent and Helaena are still holed up at the Red Keep – their lodgings are decent if you think about it. Alicent is yearning to escape – but before this can take place, she must take care of a few details: first, the surprise pregnancy of her daughter and how to figure out escaping without getting caught. Her answers: give Helaena moon tea to bring on a miscarriage and leave granddaughter Jaeharya behind (a young child would not be able to remain silent, and any struggles or cries would alert soldiers). In a bold move, Helaena not only refuses the moon tea, but she pointedly calls out Alicent for lying to her. Unfortunately, Alicent isn’t as clever as she thinks, because getting her little package from the Grand Maester attracted the attention of one of the ladies’ maids…. which meant that Mysaria ended up finding out about this. Alicent pretends the concoction is for her and drinks it. Another failed attempt at trying to escape lands Alicent and Helaena right back to square one. Mysaria is not to be trusted; neither is Alicent. They are all about self-preservation at this point. The Gold Cloaks aren’t doing so well, either. Someone is killing them. Someone who is close enough and bold enough to eliminate them, one by one, and when you look at their fatal wounds, this person knows how to wield a blade. But who is it?! Obviously, it’s someone from Ormund Hightower’s faction, but who?
Larys Strong and Aegon II Targaryen
Comedy central belongs to Larys and Aegon. This dynamic duo has been through some things – and Aegon is tired, angry and wants to destroy his brother. Larys sets him straight and tells him he is sick and tired of listening to the most privileged dirtbag in Westeros cry, moan, and complain about having nothing and being forced to do some menial work. As Larys points out, Aegon has every advantage handed to him, and he squandered it on alcohol, loose women, and never took his responsibility of being the future King seriously. I mean, when we think about Larys Strong, he is a hypocrite through and through. We know he is evil and ambitious (early version of Littlefinger). BUT someone had to put the snotbag in his place. Almost like a reverse psychology – and we see Aegon nail that attitude with gusto. When Tyland Lannister makes a surprise (but welcome) appearance, you can see Larys and Aegon are happy about it. However, when Tyland and Larys are having a private conversation about making plans, we see that other scumbag sneaking up on Aegon, overhearing this very private conversation. Aegon puts that dragon scale to effective use and shanks him. Aegon is invigorated!
Daemon before the Gold Cloaks
When Rhaenyra and Daemon are in the Sept praying, he calls her out on it. He is trying his best to support her and wants to deal with immediate threats to the throne, while she is becoming more fixated on the graffiti, the disappearance of Vhagar, and the murders of the City Watch. I must give credit to Daemon: the man dressed up as a Gold Cloak to find out additional intel in order to see who was behind the murders. It traces back to Daeron, whom Ormund has now self-styled as the new ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Alicent and Helaena discover a secret door in their bedchamber. In another fantastic display of common sense, Alicent leads Helaena through the black corridor – only to find out it has been barricaded. They are in the secret passageway, with no way to get out. A cat in the dark startles Helaena, who drops the lantern, and Alicent desperately tries to pick it up, but it is all for naught. They are now trapped in the dark with no recourse for help. Or are they? In a disturbing scene that is eerily reminiscent of the Last Supper, Daemon stumbles upon the Gold Cloaks squad – all murdered at a table, with an ominous phrase scrawled in blood on the wall: A feast for traitors. Hits a little too close to home. With Rhaenyra allowing the Gold Cloaks to enforce the law without consequence, the small folk are going to start to resent her for it. And when the small folk start to resent their monarch, we all know what happens next.
