Harry Collett as Jacaerys and Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra
If you thought the end of the last episode was sad, brace yourself to see Emma D’Arcy prove she deserves the Emmy in this episode alone, from start to finish. A mother’s love knows no bounds and damn, Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) really going through it. The sadness of losing Luke (Elliot Grihault), her secondborn, was in part the surprise aspect. He had gone to treat; he wasn’t going to fight. And he was blindsided by Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) playing peek-a-boo on a big, angry dragon. And Vhagar didn’t care what the plan was because dragons don’t care about treaties or politics. They care about eating and killing. The loss of the crown prince Jacaerys (Harry Collett) hits differently, not only because he was her firstborn but because he went willingly to fight after attempting to ensure his mother’s safety. And there’s a painful aspect to recognize that it could have well been Rhaenyra dead on a slab, but instead it’s her son. I also can’t imagine the pain of Baela (Bethany Antonia) having to carry her stepbrother-fiancé-cousin home to deliver the news. She not only lost her future, but also arguably one of her best friends. This is a loss that sends shockwaves through Team Black.
Abubakar Salim as Alyn, Bethany Antonia as Baela, Steve Toussaint as Corlys, and Clinton Liberty as Addam
“If this be victory, I hope to never see another.”
After the return to Dragonstone, Baela goes back out to assist in the search for her grandfather, Corlys (Steve Toussaint). I appreciate how determined his family is to not give up on him. Despite not being acknowledged as his sons, both Alyn (Abubakar Salim) and Addam (Clinton Liberty) are out looking as well. Alyn combs the beaches of dead bodies, and Addam rides Sea Smoke above the water searching. Seeing Baela and Alyn talk healed something in me and obviously something in them as well. They both know Corlys but very different versions of him. They do eventually find him, and Corlys agrees to formally acknowledge them as his sons. High Tide might be sacked, but he has his family, and that is no small thing.
“I would say you had lost all sense, but I doubt you had any in the first place.”
Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena
Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) returns to the Vale with her tail between her legs. She’s dumb, but not dumb dumb. She knows she will be seen as a traitor for Sheep Stealer’s misfires during the Battle of the Gullet, and she seeks asylum. Girl, be so for real right now. You were meant to stay there safe, and you chose to go chase this dragon and take it. There’s no return to sender on this one. You wanted a dragon, and now you have one. Terms and conditions apply. That baby is wild and had no business flying into war. I genuinely feel for this creature who was living his best life, alone in the wilderness, and then you go fly him into an active warzone with archers and other dragons. You made this bed, Rhaena. Time to sleep in it.
Caraxes
“We will be the Queen’s fist.”
Rhaenyra’s at Dragonstone mourning, meanwhile Daemon (Matt Smith) is off living his best life partying with the Tullys. Loved the singing, especially about fish feed. Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale) brings a note from Rhaenyra, delivering the disappointing news. But also the pitch to walk in and take King’s Landing with assistance from Alicent (Olivia Cooke). The group will march to meet them for assistance, though that will take time. Meanwhile, Alys the witch (Gayle Rankin) discusses Harrenhal with Daemon, and he’s a tad dismissive. I get that you might not be able to trust her, but your wife just went on a tear recruiting bastards or “dragonseeds” (ew), so I actually think she’d be fairly amenable to Alys having the place, but what do I know. I appreciated a few of the cinematography moments this episode, and one was seeing Caraxes at the lake drinking, before Daemon prepares to return to Rhaenyra. It’s such a pure moment to remember these aren’t just weapons of mass destruction. This is a living, breathing creature who also needs to remain hydrated. So here’s your reminder: go drink some water! Stay hydrated through this heat wave! The beginning cinematography under the water was also breathtaking, but mostly because I was sobbing.
Matthew Needham as Larys and Tom Glenn-Carney as Aegon
Meanwhile, the Greens are having quite a time of things. Alicent is trying to get the guards to stand down in preparation for Rhaenyra’s return, but it’s hit and miss who she can trust. The Gold Cloaks seem potentially amenable, but Lord Jasper (Paul Kennedy) tries to rape her. Listen bro, even if she’s a traitor, trying to rape the Queen Mother isn’t going to end well for you. But I feel for this woman trying to protect her daughter Haelena (Phia Saban), who truly is just the most precious thing. She just wants to own chickens and make sure no beasts are harmed. She’s just so pure of soul, wrapped up in this familial civil war. Can Alicent pull it all off is the big question… Then there’s Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Larys (Matthew Needham) who manage to get brought into the Gullet spillover as it makes landfall. It’s the perfect opportunity for them to escape, but where will they go?
Daemon returns to Dragonstone, and he’s got business to attend to. First, giving Ulf (Tom Bennett) and Hugh (Kieran Bew) a talking to about abandoning their post. I get that they had no communication, but after only two days, leaving is pretty weak sauce. Addam left too, but to go search for one of the main leaders of the Blacks. That’s fairly important work. The witch certainly helped in persuading them to leave, but it’s still not looking good for your respectability within the Blacks to leave any post. His next line of business is questioning Mysaria’s (Sonoya Mizuno) motives. She appears loyal to Rhaenyra as counsel and bedfellow, but what does she really want? These two have their tension, but I also believe there’s a level of respect there at least in regards to caring for Rhaenyra. And therein is his final business: his wife. Unsurprisingly, Rhaenyra would be suffering the loss of Jace, but I really appreciated Daemon’s response. “He died fighting for his queen. As was his desire.” Obviously, Jace didn’t go into battle hoping to die like the Winter Wolves, but he sent himself because he’s a pawn and his mother is the Queen. In chess, the queen does not make opening moves. She’s not in the thick of the movement. She moves when the time is right to strike. “Will you let them die in vain?” The time to move is now, and King’s Landing will be ready.
Matt Smith as Daemon
Watching them nearly walk into the palace was oddly satisfying. Of course, it’s not entirely without fighting. Rhaenyra might have Jace’s sword, but she’s untested in battle, so her uncle-husband clears the path, and boy howdy, he does it well. I could watch Matt Smith sword fight all day. They make their way to the throne room, and for a moment, it does seem as though all will be lost. But the Gold Cloaks arrive, and they remain loyal to their former leader, Daemon. It was such a beautiful moment. Loyalty is everything in this world, and you can buy men off or convince them with persuasion, but when you fight alongside your brethren, it inspires a deeper loyalty. Daemon considered these men his brothers when leading them, and they have no problem showing up for him and their rightful queen. Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) could never! Speaking of Cole, he’s camped and sees Vhagar heading to Harrenhal, so rallies to follow. Much like King’s Landing, Aemond has no problem walking right in. It mirrors Daemon’s arrival, though instead of dinner, Aemond chooses bloodshed. He slaughters the Strongs, though not without getting a good wound himself. He falls at Alys’s feet begging for help, but will she acquiesce?
Back at King’s Landing, Daemon finds a gift from Larys in the cells: Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans). Well, well, well, how the tables have turned for Otto. Imprisoned and now brought before the woman you actively sabotaged from taking her rightful place, this won’t end well for you, ser. And indeed it does not. We get a beautiful shot of Rhaenyra taking her place on the throne only for Alicent to be brought in shortly after. She may have helped the takeover, but I have to wonder how seeing Daddy’s head is going to alter the relationship moving forward. The tears and pain on Rhaenyra’s face were portrayed so beautifully. I truly hope Emma gets an Emmy. It would be well deserved.
