Episode Grade: (9.1/10) The season finale sees the focus shift on Rhaenyra and her allies’ reactions to Aegon’s rise to power. Peace in Westeros is hanging by a thread, and Rhaenyra is trying her best to maintain that peace despite calls for immediate action from Daemon and other lords. In an effort to shore up…
Episode Grade: (8.7/10) In the immediate aftermath of Viserys’ death, the Hightowers and members of the Small Council act swiftly to crown Aegon king. Through the search for the missing Aegon, divides begin to form among the royal family, most notably between Otto and Alicent. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra and her family are in Dragonstone, completely oblivious…
Episode Grade: (9.5/10) Six years on from the events of the previous episode, news of Corlys’ grave injury at sea leads everyone to flock towards King’s Landing to petition their claims to the Driftmark throne. Just as it seems as if the Hightowers will place Vaemond on the throne and undermine Rhaenyra in the process,…
Episode Grade: (9.5/10) If you were expecting the family drama to subside out of respect or grief for Laena’s death, you were sorely mistaken. The children have inherited their mothers’ feud and have made it physical. The situation escalated so quickly and so violently to the point where Viserys is beyond helpless. Sensing the danger…
Episode Grade: (9.3/10) The second half of the season kicks off with a 10-year time jump with Rhaenyra, Alicent, and Daemon all parents now. Viserys’ health has seemingly stabilized but his frailty has allowed Alicent to assert herself with more dominance. She’s particularly aggrieved by Viserys’ refusal to hold Rhaenyra accountable for mothering what is…
Episode Grade: (9.4/10) Sensing an instability given his declining health and Rhaenyra’s erratic behavior, Viserys moves quickly to secure a political marriage with the Velaryons. However, what’s supposed to be a lengthy and extravagant celebration turns into a quick and dark betrothal as a result of Ser Criston Cole’s violent actions. Meanwhile, Alicent finds the…
Episode Grade: (9.4/10) One year after the events of the previous episode, Daemon triumphantly returns to King’s Landing and immediately causes chaos with monumental ramifications, albeit not in the way you would expect. Rather than challenging Viserys, Daemon bends the knee and targets Rhaenyra instead. Rhaenyra, frustrated by her father’s insistence on marrying her off…
Episode Grade: (8.7/10) A three year time jump sees King Viserys celebrate his son Aegon’s second birthday while Queen Alicent is heavily pregnant with their second child. This, of course, serves as a catalyst for the debate over the line of succession. Meanwhile, Daemon and Corlys’ war against the Crabfeeder in the Stepstones has dragged…
Episode Grade: (8.8/10) Six months on from the events of the first episode, King Viserys’ succession remains a central issue amongst members of the small council even after Rhaenyra was officially announced as the heir to the throne. Eventually, the pressure gets to the King and he reluctantly agrees to remarry, albeit not to the…
Episode Grade: (8.7/10) The season premiere of House of the Dragon (HOTR) does an excellent job of setting up an intriguing landscape in Westeros. And while the primary focus of the show will clearly be on the internal struggles of the Targaryen family, the show writers have already planted the seeds for legitimate external threats…