House of the Dragon 2×04: Death Changes the Fate of Westeros

The fourth episode of the new season of the series House of the Dragon can easily be divided into two parts. On the one hand, the one who spent time and effort studying the strengths and weaknesses of black and green. On the other hand, the one who led to the first great battle of the so-called Dance of the Dragons, leaving behind two obvious casualties of extreme importance. It also showed that behind the dragons – or on their mounts – and between the tables of the respective Councils, the problem was the lack of skill on both sides. In particular, by jeopardizing the dispute over the Iron Throne not only the Targaryen family – this is, of course – but also with numerous houses of Westeros.

What is shown is that the greens are advancing over uneven ground. At this point, Ser Criston Cole’s (Fabien Frankel) army has devoted itself to conquering minor lords and clans. Perhaps they are of little importance in calculating the power they can bring to bear. But what is clear is that the maneuvers of the new Hand of the King are leading to a Pyrrhic and perhaps weak victory, but still a victory. Especially when it is clear that, on the advice of Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), this is a planned campaign to create strategic conditions for an attack. But on the other hand, to weaken the position of Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney). As the battle in the High Valyrian region clearly shows, Both brothers asserted this at a time when the young king’s plans were clearly unreliable.

It is clear at this point that neither the monarch nor his Hand have made the best decisions. Much more so, having demonstrated his power in a cantankerous and chaotic manner by killing Lord Gunthar Darklyn (Stephen Pacey) after the Battle of Shadowdale. An unnecessary death that made it clear that Ser Cole has no talent for diplomacy – which surprised no one – and that, in fact, his rise to prominence is being driven by coups on the continent. Which has worked so far, given the inaction of the blacks. But as this chapter will show, This will lead them to the worst case scenario of the recently started war.

Bad Dreams and the Witch at Harrenhal

On the other side of the realm, things are no worse. Daemon (Matt Smith) continues to try to overcome the humiliation of fighting Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) in a peaceful takeover of the vast castle of Harrenhal. But whether it’s because the enclave has been reduced to ashes or because the king consort has no intention of giving the Black Queen more power, the truth is that nothing that happens in the realm really matters. The chapter’s script takes great care to show that not only is Daemon’s loyalties unclear – which is obvious – but that He is still trying to decide if he really needs a wife to wield power.

It’s a tough choice. In fact, it could cost him a charge of treason and a violent death. So Damon seems to be in the process of making urgent decisions that he doesn’t want to make. While this is happening, he has dreams about a young woman (Milly Alcock) and a ghostly conversation with a ghostly Alice Rios (Gail Rankin). In the midst of delusions and what seems like an announcement of even greater tragedy, Damon ends up drinking a strange potion that further impairs his abilities. This raises concerns – and not for the first time – about his actions in a war he provoked and encouraged, but in which he has yet to take any part. Besides the fact that he caused disaster for the Black Queen with the death of her heir, Aegon II.

Secrets of the sinister family home

As if all of the above were not enough, it is obvious that his achievement of taking the castle without any resistance carries no weight in the real situation. In fact, when the king shouts at Laris (Matthew Needham), the royal heir to the ancestral House of Strong, the twisted character makes it clear that at this point the territory of their ancestors could not be more useless.

From this it becomes clear that Daemon, even with the intention of helping the Queen, does nothing but distance himself from the conflict and force Rhaenyra to make drastic decisions, none of which are truly good. Like her absence from Dragonstone, which has made the gentlemen who support her impatient, her son distrustful, and set the stage for the disaster to come. The death of an important member of your family.

Trouble on all sides in Westeros

Oddly enough, Alicent (Olivia Cooke) is also going through her own problems, some of which stem from her difficult conversation with Rhaenyra. Apparently, the queen fears that she has become pregnant from her secret meetings with Ser Cole, which leads her to ask for abortive herbs and finds herself in a difficult situation. Worse, she has to deal with the bruised ego of Aegon II, who wants to prove himself without finding a way. But things get even worse when it becomes apparent that the young monarch, Not only does he have no idea how to cover all the fronts that Aymond and Christon have opened – which would be serious – but he desperately needs a victory.

The scenario is subtle enough to force both black and green into difficult territory of desperate decisions. On the one hand, in Dragonstone, Cole’s new attack makes it clear that the Queen must somehow respond to the attacks, provocations, and conquests in the Crownlands. On the other hand, Aegon II realizes that his position is fragile.

So much so that he has to beg his brother for a war he doesn’t know how to handle, much less win. In the middle of both situations, everything leads to what could be called the second part of the chapter, which now shows the long-awaited battle of Reso del Grajo. Classics in the book Fire and Blood (2018) and this will force both opponents to measure their strength against each other.

Bad Decisions in House of the Dragon

On Dragonstone, and with Rhaenyra temporarily absent, the Black Queen’s personal council struggles to make desperate decisions, especially after hearing Baela’s (Bethany Antonia) testimony about Cole’s army approaching. This causes a wave of disappointment among those present, and even a direct attack on Rhaenys (Eva Best), whom Ser Alfred (Jamie Kenna) tries to belittle and whose advice he outright ignores. Only with the arrival of Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) does the tone of the meeting return to respect. Or at least less impatient with immediate solutions that neither the Queen who never was nor her husband can offer.

So when Rhaenyra finally returns from King’s Landing, she must face not only general discomfort, but also an insistent plea for some kind of answer. And this at a time when his son Jace (Harry Collette) demands that he fly his dragon and join the battle, even if it means death. Rhaenyra not only refuses, but explains in a short and fatal sentence the consequences of failing her attempt at peace with Alicent. For the Queen only: win or die. Rhaenys finally offers to ride into battle on Meleys’s back in the place of the queen and prince. A risk that you know will have consequences and you will have a hard time surviving.

House of the Dragon: problems in the royal palace

On the other hand, in the Red Keep, a drunk and irresponsible Aegon mounts his dragon Sunfire without telling anyone. That is, in an attempt to reclaim – to have – the honor of a battle in which he can consider himself the winner. Before anyone can stop him, he takes off into the air, making what seems to be a suicidal flight. Everything, judging by the conditions in which he seeks to enter the battle.

But this argument makes it clear that the young king is a mere puppet of movements and strategies he does not understand. As never before, Aegon shows that not only does he not understand the power behind the throne – and when he owes it, as his mother reminds him in this chapter – but that he cannot, for the moment, hold on to it. Something that becomes apparent when Aemond watches him fly on Vhagar’s back without trying to stop him.

Two obvious painful deaths

Once at Rook’s Rest, Rhaenys, riding Meleys, manages to overwhelm Ser Cole’s army. So much so that he ends up stunned and incapacitated on the ground amidst dragonfire. The Queen Who Never Was demonstrates her considerable ability to handle one of the largest beasts to ever cross the Westerosi skies. And at first, at least, it seems as if he will succeed. Even when Aegon finally arrives in the area, Meleys’s attack remains brutal, direct, and effective. Immediately, the Sun Flame begins to bleed, and it seems that victory belongs to the princess.

First time production House of the Dragonshows the true essence of the Targaryen history. The battle of mythical beasts has a clear and detailed atmosphere, which is striking in the visual quality of the shots. In particular, the furious attacks between the dragons, demonstratingwhat the production is ready to show, the bloodiest war between the Targaryens.

Something that becomes more apparent in House of the Dragon when Aemond finally arrives in the area. Not only does Vhagar destroy everything in a spectacular scene of flying and fire, but he also pounces mercilessly on Meleis. Rhaenys, who had been holding tightly to her saddle before the fight began, knows that it is highly likely that her beloved steed will not survive. And yet, he wants to share his fate with her. This is precisely what happens when Aemond, having seen his brother fall, He unleashes a stream of flames on the princess and her dragon, killing them both almost instantly.

In the final scene of the chapter, it is unclear whether the young king has died. This would likely open up a worst-case scenario for Green and a best-case scenario for Black.Is this possible? We can only wait for the next chapter.