“House of the Dragon” 2×03: War Leaves Its First Deadly Mark

Once again, Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) stands before an open grave. This time it’s the twins Erric and Aaric (Elliott and Luke Tittensor), killed in a crazy attack sent by the Green. The new episode of the third season of the series House of the Dragonbegins by making it clear that conflict between the two Targaryen factions is inevitable. Not only that, but what will be revealed in the episode demonstrates that this battle of interests is based on misunderstanding.

The most recent is the erratic order from the King’s Hand, Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), to send a warrior alone to assassinate the queen. More proof that war is not just a series of bad decisions (the worst are yet to come) but a lie that no side can support. Or so Rhaenys (Eve Best) thinks as she stands at the foot of the graves of two more victims of the clumsiness of power. Word has already reached Dragonstone that Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) has lost his grip on the Iron Throne, and it’s a blow that The Queen Who Never WasThis worries him. Moreover, it is assumed that the future conflict will be in the hands of younger bloods and that they are ready to do anything for the sake of revenge and punishment.

Rhaenyra finds this comment inconvenient because, as she reminds Rhaenys, the war was not due to the king’s inexperience, but to usurpation of power. But in fact, as Best’s character points out in House of the Dragonit soon becomes unclear which action was the first to trigger the horrors to come. The script is a timely and brilliant reminder that this is a war in which ambition, greed and power behind the throne decide everything. But much more than atrocities this will be done in the name of a disparate fact, which no one will remember from now on.

The coming battle that will devastate Westeros

All of George Martin’s works have one thing in common: the desacralization of power. So, the third episode of the new season House of the Dragonis dedicated to this very thing. In essence, the book Fuego y sangre (2018) is distinguished by the fact that it is a rough chronicle of the events that caused the brutal violence. The adaptation recalls the theme through a beautiful vision of the future. At this point, the future Dance of the Dragons leaves behind innocent victims among the poor, soldiers, and those dependent on the crown. Any of her. But soon the horror will turn into a wave that will spread everywhere.

The first signs are everywhere House of the Dragon. House Bracken, who have decided to support the Greens, and Blackwood, Rhaenyra’s supporter, have their first meeting. It’s more than a skirmish; it’s a vengeance to be carried out in the shadow of a new loyalty to the crown. The series uses its subtle sense of the nearness of chaos to convey some of its most poignant parts. Among them, that war will soon be the occasion for long-delayed clashes in Westeros. The idea spreads across the continent that the shaky order that seemed to have led to the coronation of Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) is crumbling just as quickly. So it’s time to go wild and take advantage of everything you can.

Things are getting dark in King’s Landing

Things get more and more confusing in the Red Keep in this chapter. House of the Dragon. First of all, now that Aegon and Ser Cole are in complete control. With Otto behind the scenes, decisions are made in disarray and without any strategic sense. The King’s Council is a debate that only serves to support the decisions of an inexperienced monarch. Which includes, ignore Queen Mother Alicent (Olivia Cooke) whenever they can – and in obvious ways.

In the midst of this situation, Criston Cole makes another of his decisions to prove himself. This time, a group of soldiers is sent to the Riverlands to cancel all support for the Black Queen. But in reality, the main goal is to take Harrenhal, the key to winning the war. Once again, Cole overstates his abilities and understates his mistakes. A symbol of what will happen next. The only apparent point of balance in Aegon’s cabal? The wounding of his uncle, Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox). However, he ultimately abandons Ser Cole’s plan.

A king without true power

Confident of their triumph, Christon and Gwaine set out on what they believe will be their most successful journey of the season. House of the Dragon. The only one left in King’s Landing is, oddly enough, Aegon. This is one of those times when it will be most obvious that, despite having all the power – or representing the power – he doesn’t actually have all of it. Something that will become all too clear when Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), in another venomous appearance, urges him to stay on the Throne and let his people shine for him. It seems like some well-intentioned advice, until it becomes obvious that the Machiavellian Laris has something else in mind.

That: to ensure that Aegon, far more manipulative than Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), remains king and receives his instructions. To support his intentions, Larys plots against the royal family and eventually gains their trust. Which also leads to him being promoted to Master of Whispers. An important position that will allow him to expand his network of influence even further than one might expect. All of the above may be the perfect setting for Aegon and Aemond’s first big meeting at the Flea Bed brothel. That’s where the monarch lived. House of the Dragon I’ll show you what point Laris poisoned him against his family. Worse, it will cause quarrels in the future.

Loyalty for Loyalty in the House of Dragons

On Dragonstone, Rhaenyra thanks Misaria (Sonoya Mizuno) for saving her life. In turn, the latter demands a seat on the Court as an implicit sign of respect, and also to clarify his considerable usefulness in terms of information that may emerge. It is clear that the series draws parallels between Laris’s fraudulent appointment and the former White Worm’s much more honorable appointment. What is most interesting, however, is that while the former works alone For her convenience, the latter is more aware of her responsibility to the Black Queen.

On the other end of the disputed loyalties, Daemon (Matt Smith) arrives at the ruins of Harrenhal to claim it for Rhaenyria. Not only does he meet no resistance, but the surviving Strong quickly offer their allegiance to him. This despite the fact that the true owner of the territory – by inheritance – is Larys. But as the king’s husband quickly discovers, the entire territory is in ruins and has lost its immediate influence. If, of course, the symbolism they carry.

All of this is happening while the Black Council seems to believe that the cause of reclaiming the throne is losing steam. Not only because of the pseudo-civil war between the Brackens and the Blackwoods, but also because Daemon has abandoned his position at the castle. The plot is clever enough to show how the feeling around Rhaenyra is growing that her control over Westeros is weakening. Much more so when word gets out that a delegation from the Red Keep is heading to Harrenhal, Click for a showdown between dragons.

The moment to accept the decisive misunderstanding

But the Queen resists. They are responsible for a battle that could destroy the continent entirely. Perhaps that is why Rhaenyra finds notes that speak of Alicent’s intention to meet or at least establish a bridge between the two sides. In the midst of the confusion he is living in, he agrees to do so. A plan that Mysaria, now very close to the Black Queen, manages to organize in the best possible way. In the Great September, in which the two had an important conversation in the first season.

It is in the midst of this providential meeting that Alicent explains to Rhaenyra her last conversation with Viserys I (Paddy Considine). And the latter discovers that it was all a misunderstanding. But as was already clear from the chapter, no matter what happens next, IWar is about to unleash all its cruelty. Even when its apparent origins have been established beyond any doubt.