I love how Fabien acted that scene with Cole describing the battle. "Their armour melted" is said with such a perfect blend of horror, dissociation, guilt and forced casualness. Cole is describing something no one in his lifetime has ever seen before, something unimaginably terrible, and he ordered every one of those men on to the field specifically to bait out a dragon to kill them. This is the end of warfare as he knows it, and he's the one who ushered it in.
Just a few additional details about Daemon’s mom, Alyssa: - she and her husband Baelon were probably the happiest couple we’ve seen in this franchise. - she was known for being quite a tomboy, and loved to ride her dragon Meleys. She took baby Daemon and Viserys on dragon rides, and yes the artwork of these is adorable. - her appearance is slightly different in the books. Her hair is a more dirty blonde, and she had heterochromia: one purple eye (a classic Targaryen trait dropped from the shows) and one green. - She died giving birth to a short-lived third son. Viserys was 7 years old, Daemon was 3. She was only 24. - new information from this episode: after her death, Daemon tried to claim her dragon, but Meleys rejected him. She was later claimed by Rhaenys.
@@SpiralSine6 she's not asking anything about her mom that wasn't reveal or told in the series yet... if she wants to know or get spoiled, she can just look it up or watch an entire lore about it... let her be unsullied as much as possible, we'll get a much better reaction
@@liljackypaper She doesn't SEE what will happen but something hinting towards it. Like she most likely saw rats swarming her children or something like that, but she didn't see ratchachers killing her son
The lemon is more a necessity than a luxury. I believe Cole's sword is regular carbon steel, as opposed to Valerian. The blood will cause it to rust, as would just regular water.
@@rexibhazoboa7097 LOL! Yes, fresh fruit is a necessity for all living people. HOWEVER, what I am arguing is that the shot wasn't a sign of wasteful opulence. If so, then EVERY SHOT of an upper-class character even just eating food, even during peace time, would also go into that category. Because I'm sure that even during the "good times" of the previous king, SOMEONE WAS STARVING IN FLEA BOTTOM!!!! 😆
When Cole walked up last episode Aemond was just about to sheathe his sword so he could bend down to pick the dagger up. He couldn't have cared less about Aegon in that moment.
I'm glad someone else noticed WHERE he was looking. The magic dagger would be a much more symbolic way to "put Aegon out of his misery", since it is basically the Targaryen version of a scepter.
It'll be interesting when she gets to him as the Doctor in her Doctor Who watchthrough. I just can't help but see 11 when seeing Daemon, but for her it'll be the other way around.
@@Galiant2010it will be wild. A very unique experience. Eleven does have quite dark moments even when he remains a generally good man, but my God, his rage was sometimes more eery than anything with Daemon. Although I blame the writing, aside from perhaps the pilot, the dialogue has been lacking and this waste of a plot on Harrenhal is dragging and they are underusing Matt and his skills. Remembering Eleven in his very first episode against the Atraxis, or the Stonehenge speech or even the one in Rings of Akathen, if only they had given Daemon his book plot and some great dialogue. Dude had the riverlands at his disposal with ease and he was the one who took over the Bracken castle and that was way before Rhaenys died. They are dragging the timeline which is a problem bc they need some of those kids to grow 😅
Harrenhall is a deeply troubled and haunted place. At the time of Aegon's Conquest it was the greatest castle in Westeros. House Harren refused to accept Aegon the Conqueror as their king, thinking that their castle was strong enough to withstand any siege. Aegon used his dragon, Balerion the Black Dread, to Burn the entire castle, and House Harren perished inside as the fire consumed the whole castle and burned so hot the stone of the towers melted like candle wax.
The storyline involving Daemon and Alys Rivers, particularly the supernatural elements at Harrenhal, is both intriguing and well-executed. As a reader of the books, I find the portrayal of Alys Rivers by the actress to be exceptional. Her ability to hold her own alongside Matt Smith is impressive, and her performance effectively conveys the character's mysterious motivations and ambitions. This nuanced portrayal adds depth to the character, enhancing the overall narrative of the show.
Jace stepped up this episode. I hadn't been impressed with him up until now. His dynamic with his mother is great and makes both characters more interesting and likable.
According to the books, the dragons can't die from old age. They'll continue to grow and grow as long as they've got sufficient room and food. What does kill them naturally over time is when they get TOO big, because their wings can't lift them and their limbs break under their weight. I think this is the reason Vhagar keeps sneak attacking all of her dragon opponents. She's currently the oldest mount. She simply doesn't have the stamina to carry all that dragon weight for too long, so she has to wait for her enemies to come to her. And also, it makes for great scares in the show, lol.
You might want to check that. The cause of death, at least within the shows’ canon, of the Black Dread is old age. IIRC he died about 10 years before this series began (94AC) and was ~210 years old
@@stukay2803 Right, but he's the literal only dragon we know of claimed to have died from old age, but there are other health factors that might contradict the fact that it was age alone. The complications of his size (combined with the weakness and injury from the fire worm infestation he had suffered) could have something to do with that.
@@ryan27229 All I'm saying is that while I agree it is far more likely in Westerosi history that 'other factors' are far more likely to be a dragon's cause of death than old age, but it's erroneous of you to say that dragons cannot die of old age. We simply don't know.
@@stukay2803 Well, I'll meet you halfway and say, since there's only one recorded dragon in all of Westerosi history to ever be confirmed to die of old age, that it's "unlikely" that a dragon will die of old age, but rather old age will exacerbate other health problems and contribute to it's death.
Yes, they also paraded Meleys' head in the book. And people also started to escape from King's Landing after that, but in the book it was Alicent who ordered the gates to be closed. Daemon's mother, Alyssa Targaryen, fifth child of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, died from childbirth of her third son, who was called Aegon (the Targaryen need to have more creativity when naming children...), and Daemon was 2 years old when she passed. That Aegon died before completing his first birthday. And fun fact: before Rhaenys, it was Alyssa the Dragonrider of Meleys. Alyssa was actually her first rider, little over 50 years before the events of HotD.
1. Yes, in the book Meleys head is carted around the city as well, and it causes a similar reaction among the people. 2. Yes, Baela and Jace are betrothed (and Rhaena was betrothed to Luke before he died). 3. Daemon did not really know or remember much of his mother, she died when he was about 2 years old, in childbirth (child died as well). I don't believe it was mentioned directly in the show. 4. Agreed, Baela and Corlys scene was fantastic - might be my favorite in the episode, followed closely by Jace and Rhaenyra at the end. 5. Good call on Corlys' bastards :). Not quite Targaryens, but perhaps Velaryon blood would be enough? There are two potential others that we've seen as well... One who bragged about being Daemon's and Viserys' bastard brother (was he lying to get drinks, or was it true?) and a certain smith with a sick daughter, worried wife and strangely white hair...
Deamon is a good politician and strategist and experienced, expert in battles and wars . He knows too how to convince the lords of Westros. They did him dirty in this last episodes.
It has a great strategic location at the easternmost edge of the rivers making up the Riverlands, and a lake large enough in theory to build a fleet in. The castle was built by Iron Islanders who had conquered their way upstream and needed a new base to defend their realm from the other Westerosi kingdoms. It is said that it was cursed when that Iron King’s entire house was burned alive within, and its highest stone tower melted by dragonfire. However the lake it abuts may be the real significance in its supernatural aspects. For at the center of that lake known as the God’s Eye lies the Isle of Faces, a sacred place where the First Men and the Children of the Forest signed a pact to end their war, possibly to stand against the White Walkers, and the island is covered with hundreds of Weirwood trees. It is forbidden to visit the island but some may have done so (including Howland Reed, who is barely mentioned in the show but will probably be vitally important in the books) and the isle is said to be inhabited by the Order of Green Men - who or what that is has not been and may never be properly explained, but fans have pieced together a lot of it.
I'm so glad that I read the book and it had me prepared for what's to come. Even with knowledge of the events I'm still sitting here shocked and silent like Helaena.
Idk if that part of the writing was made on purpose, but the use of the word "mad" at the last line "it's a mad thought" I find especially interesting and a great hint about the future of the Targaryen lineage
It's like Daemon is regressing. He won't even scheme to get more gold or ask for aid from Rhaenyra, like he was with Viserys during the war for the Stepstones. I don't think he really wants to be king, but he'd risk his life to prove a point.
He's basically throwing a tantrum- angry that Rhaenyra wasn't appreciating his efforts for her cause so he's snitting in Harrenhal going "well, if she thought I wasn't doing enough for her before, she's going to see what it's really like to not have my support. That'll show her!"
Rhaenryas son Viserys II, according to the Targaryen family tree, is the 5th great gand sire to the mad king. And the one who continues the main branch of the Targayren tree.
It is interesting to learn that both of Baelas grandmothers rode Meleys and that she was Daemons first dragon ride since it was his mother’s dragon. Daemons mom died when he was three after giving birth to his younger brother that also died. I’m shocked and disappointed with Daemons lack of grief with losing Princess Rhaenys and Meleys
Rhaena already got her dragon (unfortunately off-screen) and was therefore sent to the Vale as part of the deal. (Her's and Joffrey's dragon in exchange for 15K vale troops)
I totally forgot that lemon juice and salt "exfoliate" rust from a blade. That was a clever cut from the Grand Maester working on Aegon the Somnolent to Shitstain cleaning his sword!
The Greens parading Meleys’s head reminds me of the Freys parading Robb Stark’s body with his dire wolf’s head sewn onto his body at the Red Wedding. Probably not a good idea to parade a dragon’s head given the fact dragons represent the power of House Targaryen and the Greens are part of House Targaryen. Alicent now knows how Rhaenyra feels about being usurped because they’re women. Alicent told Rhaenys women can rule through the men and Rhaenys said Alicent is fooling herself and that men won’t listen to her. It has come to pass. It’s clear if the Blacks want to win the Dance of Dragons, they need to kill Aemond and Vhagar.
@@nikitasingh0412 that’s also a bad idea. The Blacks and the Greens are dividing and destroying House Targaryen. Like Rhaenyra said about what King Jaehaerys knew, the only thing that could tear down the House of the Dragon was itself.
Giving dragons to houses outside the Targaryen royal line is exactly what hundreds of years of Targaryen's wanted to avoid at all costs lol. Smaller houses are much more likely to rebel if they have their own nukes to point back.
the guy talking about battle to rhaenyra was right and so was she. there has been 80 yrs of peace but the knights and men are taught fighting and war tactics even if they have not fought.
Two points I saw, the Father (not sure what his name is) with the sick child said about the Dragon's head: "It's only meat." I THINK they might eat it. Second is I Believe the woman Daemon had sex with in his "dream" was the Witch and the drink she gave him was a heluation.
Yes it was a scene in the books. If I'm not mistaken in the books people cheered. Criston tried his best otto when otto paraded jaherys through the streets to gain sympathy except they got fear when dragging the dragon head.
The Mad king was Aerys II. This Aegon is already the king so he is Aegon II. There were 5 ruling Aegons before GoT and a century and a half to go from now, so you are many generations away.
I like when they say "Targaryen is closer to god than to men, but that's because of our dragon". which really come to show in this episode when they parade Meleys head around the city. Ser Criston Thought it would be a Victory Parade, because they just Take down one of the most Valueable weapon of the enemies. But the citizen of King's Landing sees something else, they see A Dead God.
"I don't know how Vhagar could have hid behind a tiny little castle." He didn't. He hid behind the gigantic cliff just behind the castle. A cliff featured heavily moments earlier.
Rhaena takes the place of Nettle's in the show and eventually claims the wild dragon Sheepsteeler, and Adam of Hull claims Seasmoke. Hugh Hammer is the father of the little girl and the royal blacksmith but feels betrayed by the crown and not to spoil things watch him closely.
10:04 I heard a great explanation on the podcast. So the tapestry is more stuff that’s known to the common people. Say like the rat catchers or aegon and rhaenyra’s crowning . The rooks rest battle you couldn’t necessarily say that’s common knowledge. Some say aegon kill melees some say aemond and aegon showed up together. So let’s say for instance in episode 6 if they show the dragons head on a parade then we will know this is the case.
In the books the head of meleys was mounted above one of the city gates, not parades through the city but i like the change personally Yes, that was daemons mother in his dream
Daemon was making unhinged traitorous choices before Harrenhal. It's just who he is (and like all the "bad boys" in the Thrones-verse, he may or may not have valid reasons for being who he is) 😂
I still feel like Aemond was sheathing his sword because he saw the magic dagger. If you follow his eyeline, it looks like he was looking exactly where he then immediately picked up the magic dagger. He was going to use the magic dagger instead, but unfortunately Shitstain arrived.
It is almost Ulf the White and Hugh Hammer time!!! (Silverwing and Vermithor) A side note, Hugh the Hammer is being played by Kieran Bew in HotD..one of my favorites! Can't wait!!
And, it seems like they set up Seasmoke is "assessing" his new rider..... The next episode after he is flying over someone for several minutes, we see him flying over Dragonstone, apparently wailing in some kind of pain. Perhaps emotional pain?
yes, Meleys death is in the books and while Rhaenys death was heroic and bad ass, lets not forget the hundreds of innocent "small folk, she killed when she broke out of the dragon pit last season. Rhaenys was a good character, but it is hard to overlook that.
Your assessment of Aemond "I'm going to do what I want to do." I disagree. He will give into those impulses, but not as much as a king we've seen in the other show. Aemond, to me is more "I will do what needs to be done, as I see it." About Vhagar "hiding behind a 'tiny little castle' " As I recall it, he didn't hide behind the castle, didn't he come up from where a cliff near the castle drops off? I'm not going to go check my memory against the footage. But if I'm recalling that scene correctly, you could have had 10 Vhagars hiding behind that drop off. If I'm remembering right, the error was being that low to the ground with such a drop off that you would pass over. [and if I'm misremembering just point out I'm not remembering that scene correctly, and let's move on. My brain isn't as young as it used to be.] 12:35-12:45 "Oh, they have to cut the armor off." No one taught armorers to put non-stick teflon coating on the inside of the armor. Have you ever tried to clean a pan that was accidentally left on the heat too long with a piece of meat in the pan? Yeah, that's Aegon's armor and Aegon. But at least the meat was intended to be cooked, and was dead before it hit the pan. 32:49-32:53 I couldn't help it, when I watched this scene, part of me screamed out for Alicent to say "You remind me so very much of your father, in this place, in this way." or something to that effect. (Half his face missing, bedridden, etc.) 34:00-34:10 Lucerys presented "There's Rhaena" Rhaenyra pointed out "Who nearly lost her life in the last attempt" So it is dangerous to attempt to claim a dragon, They're looking for potential riders for 2 dragons large enough to challenge Vhagar. Rhaenyra doesn't want to risk someone she holds dear. Rhaena is Daemon's daughter, cousin at least to her own children. Step daughter, and niece to her. (This actually clarified for me, as I've not read any book of this series, that it's not as simple as "make the dragon accept you" but really "if the dragon doesn't accept you, it may well destroy you." Because I was wondering why a new rider had not been brought to every dragon available) [I'm sure someone out there has all the lore and logic to explain it, but I will study those things after the saga ends, I do not wish to be spoiled on it either.]
Something people aren't always aware of is that the Lords and Ladies were turned off not just by Rhaenyra's sex, but by Rhaenyra brazenly fathering bastards as well, who would succeed her upon her death. That is a stench too foul for many of the Lords and Ladies supporting the Greens. This angle isn't often thought of due to people looking at this from a modern lens and hyper fixating on what we would describe as sexism. Keep in mind: sexism is a very modern thing and bastardy today is so normalised we don't even use the term bastard, we treat them as any other person, but in these times, bastardy was viewed with disgust. There are many reasons not to support the blacks, but one becomes blinded when looking at things with 21st century glasses instead of 12th century glasses.
People get some kind of mental fog around bad actions by pretty people. Look at the way people like Daemon who killed his innocent wife or Aegon who was accused of rape by their maid.
she escaped a sure death, what should she have done? she did not kill anyone on purpose, truth be told, she didn't care much, but she did not set everything on fire either, besides with royalty, small folk don't count.😹
If you count up the number of people who were actually near the dragon's path, it's at maximum around 150 people (the area has the width of about 10 people and goes about 15 rows back at absolute most if we count her tail). After Meleys rises up we see people very close in running away from under her wings, so even those immediately adjacent to the dragon were mostly unharmed - it looks more like perhaps 30 people were actually impacted when she burst through. Not necessarily dead, just in the line of fire. We are shown five people actually being hit after that point with all but one of those indicated to still be alive post-thwacking. The guy who took a boulder to the face is almost definitely dead, but the tailwhipped guys all flew off screaming. Broken bones probably, but still very much alive. As she leaves we see only a few suggestions of bodies strewn about, and even that might be just rubble. Larys kills more people than that on a Sunday. Afterwards Otto only describes the dragon escaping the pit as 'a bad omen' in the people's eyes rather than something he can use to earn the people's favour. This man paraded his grandson's corpse through the streets to gain pity - you think he'd ignore a mass killing of peasants as a source of political advantage? Look at his rage at Aegon after the ratcatchers were killed. A group of the lowest of men hanged in response to a brutal crime by one of them, and Otto is horrified and furious. The deaths of maybe 30 ratcatchers (I don't think we get a definite number on them) is something he believes will cause terrible damage to Aegon and negate all the sympathy points from Jahaerys's murder. If Rhaenys had killed a few dozen people at the coronation, let alone hundreds or even thousands as some like to claim, Otto would have been on that like flies on Cheese. She would have been Rhaenys the Slaughterer, Rhaenys the Defiler, or any number of creative epithets Otto could have come up with, and all of it used as evidence that her Queen Rhaenyra was a monster. If there was any way he could have turned it to their advantage, he absolutely would have. But instead he's distressed that the event is only perceived as an ill omen for Aegon's rule. Rhaenys earned her main kill count in the battle of Rook's Rest when she took out hundreds of enemy soldiers. Prior to that her indicated kill count from the coronation was at most 35 and most likely far lower, because Otto would never let an opportunity like that slide.
Besides the spooky ghost castle, I think part of what is fucking up Daemon is his complete lack of cultural understanding of the riverlands. They don’t give two shits about his station or his dragon, so doing war crimes or melting nobles is not going to get him what he wants
I think Alys Rivers is working with Larys Strong to weaken Daemon and divide team Black. I don't think the scene with the Riverlords was real. I think it was a dream planted by her when they spoke because it was exactly what she had said. It was meant to plant guilt and make him doubt himself. Her manipulation is meant to push him to the depth of that darkness he keeps sheathed within, as Rhaenyra put it, and divide team Black... that's my theory, anyway.
In daemons defense he told them to do what the crown cannot. They should never have been carrying his banners. By carrying his banner he is showing the crown committing atrocities.
People are starting to feel like Alys is a "Becca & Joe" situation. But, she bandaged his hand. I guess if the bandage suddenly disappears, we will know.
I may be slow but it just hit me! The man bragging in the bar he had Targaryen blood! And he was loyal to Rhaenera, then Aegon walked in... I also, for some reason (have not read, as the book was "written by Maesters" so felt super dry to me--a history, not a series of experiences) but I feel like Mesaria might be able to ride the sad dragon...
I think they are trying to show daemon and rhaenyra need each other. He needs her to keep him in check and she needs him for his more outrageous plans.
On bastards and Rhaenys x Catelyn, we should take note that religion plays a big part in how they're treated ("bastards are born of sin"), it's not simply a personal decision. Then there's also the big difference between knowing one exists and having to care for them.
I think aemond was going yo dinish off aegon at the end of the last episode, not put the dragon out of irlts misery. For the sole reason of, if it was the latter why would he have stopped when he knew he wasnt alone anymore? Shirley he would have put Sunfyre out if his misery whether Cole watched it it not, but the same cant be said about killing his brother
Daemons mom died when he was like 3 or 4 she died shortly after trying to give birth to her third child. So he definitely wouldn't have recognized her in his dream.
"It's just meat." Now, look at WHO made this observation. One of the STARVING Smallfolk. One of the first things we see is a person digging in a breadbasket looking for the LEAST moldy chunk of bread. They did that horrible "parade" and basically rubbed into the Smallfolk that they left literally TONS of food to rot.....
did not read the books ... so this is me full speculating but I have feeling eventually Corlys will acknowledge Alyn as his son and he will become the heir and lord of the tides ... since Baela just said big no thanks it has to be a good sailor
Yeah meleys part was In the books lol. The books are basically a different canon right now, and both sides are much more evil, and you don't see Or hear the character motivations
These nobles are very smart and rotten. If there is no food in King's Landing is because Rheanyra is the one keeping the food away with her blockage. The common people really have a short memory term if they start to think that Rheanyra cares about them (they have no other option unfortunaly)
I didn't realize it cut out at the end WHOOPSIES
It’s my fault 😢😢😢
I love how Fabien acted that scene with Cole describing the battle. "Their armour melted" is said with such a perfect blend of horror, dissociation, guilt and forced casualness. Cole is describing something no one in his lifetime has ever seen before, something unimaginably terrible, and he ordered every one of those men on to the field specifically to bait out a dragon to kill them. This is the end of warfare as he knows it, and he's the one who ushered it in.
Just a few additional details about Daemon’s mom, Alyssa:
- she and her husband Baelon were probably the happiest couple we’ve seen in this franchise.
- she was known for being quite a tomboy, and loved to ride her dragon Meleys. She took baby Daemon and Viserys on dragon rides, and yes the artwork of these is adorable.
- her appearance is slightly different in the books. Her hair is a more dirty blonde, and she had heterochromia: one purple eye (a classic Targaryen trait dropped from the shows) and one green.
- She died giving birth to a short-lived third son. Viserys was 7 years old, Daemon was 3. She was only 24.
- new information from this episode: after her death, Daemon tried to claim her dragon, but Meleys rejected him. She was later claimed by Rhaenys.
book enjoyer can't resist spoiling... you know, you are not special just because you read the book or read summary of it
@@josephocenadaplease point to the spoiler that reveals something that will happen in HotD.
@@josephocenada Toxic much?
@@SpiralSine6 she's not asking anything about her mom that wasn't reveal or told in the series yet... if she wants to know or get spoiled, she can just look it up or watch an entire lore about it... let her be unsullied as much as possible, we'll get a much better reaction
@@josephocenadanone of this is spoiler worthy buddy. It’s just information about a character this show has immensely fucked up
Helena: "Do you guys realize I saw all this coming already which is why I never look surprised."
Then why does she never do anything? She was afraid of the rats but let them kill her son? I don't get it
@@liljackypaper She doesn't SEE what will happen but something hinting towards it. Like she most likely saw rats swarming her children or something like that, but she didn't see ratchachers killing her son
@@liljackypaper what did you expect her to do against two men? She warned Aegon but he didnt listen. Nobody listens to her.
@@markcruz359 you call that a warning? 🤣
I always imagine Helena in the corner of the room with a copy of Fire & Blood. Almost like the VHS part from Spaceballs. 😄
Cole having a fresh lemon to clean his sword while the commoners have to eat rotten oranges was such a cool detail.
Which I did not think about.
But, of course, all the good food would be in the Red Keep, for the elite to eat. And to use to clean rust off blades.
The lemon is more a necessity than a luxury. I believe Cole's sword is regular carbon steel, as opposed to Valerian. The blood will cause it to rust, as would just regular water.
@@helifanodobezanozi7689 I agree but it's also a necessity for the common people, scurvy is no bueno
@@joaocreature Its times of war and you expect the head of military to let his sword go blunt? You are not making sense.
@@rexibhazoboa7097 LOL! Yes, fresh fruit is a necessity for all living people. HOWEVER, what I am arguing is that the shot wasn't a sign of wasteful opulence. If so, then EVERY SHOT of an upper-class character even just eating food, even during peace time, would also go into that category. Because I'm sure that even during the "good times" of the previous king, SOMEONE WAS STARVING IN FLEA BOTTOM!!!! 😆
That cut with caraxes behind the guy then it cuts to daemon looking so disappointed is hilarious 😂😂
I was like “yaaaaas- UH”
"We choose fire" and turning your back on a "blooded" war dragon has to be the apex bad-ass move!!!!!
That’s the reason Daemon didn’t kill them…he admired the badassery
@@leprovokateur7745 Caraxes got ready to roast the guy, but Daemon was still chuckling to himself going "God damn. Sorry Blackwood, I like the guy."
"Then why do you look mad?"
Because she is PISSED you risked your life. But, she is proud of your ingenuity.
When Cole walked up last episode Aemond was just about to sheathe his sword so he could bend down to pick the dagger up. He couldn't have cared less about Aegon in that moment.
I'm glad someone else noticed WHERE he was looking. The magic dagger would be a much more symbolic way to "put Aegon out of his misery", since it is basically the Targaryen version of a scepter.
@@scotthewitt258 The dagger is magical? Thought it was just Valyrian steel
@@rexibhazoboa7097 It has Aegon's Dream written onto it. It's less "magic" and more covered in prophecy that does come true eventually.
@@JackToeRip valyrian steel is magical technically
@@GlennShook true
The cut to the lemon and salt was diabolical work from the editors 😂
My name is Jace, and I'm watching this as I work. You keep saying, "Good job, Jace."
And I know it's not for me, but it still makes me 😊
That shot with Caraxes in the background was amazing
Congrats on 700 videos Angela!!
I love Matt Smith, he is such a great actor.
It'll be interesting when she gets to him as the Doctor in her Doctor Who watchthrough. I just can't help but see 11 when seeing Daemon, but for her it'll be the other way around.
@@Galiant2010it will be wild. A very unique experience. Eleven does have quite dark moments even when he remains a generally good man, but my God, his rage was sometimes more eery than anything with Daemon. Although I blame the writing, aside from perhaps the pilot, the dialogue has been lacking and this waste of a plot on Harrenhal is dragging and they are underusing Matt and his skills. Remembering Eleven in his very first episode against the Atraxis, or the Stonehenge speech or even the one in Rings of Akathen, if only they had given Daemon his book plot and some great dialogue. Dude had the riverlands at his disposal with ease and he was the one who took over the Bracken castle and that was way before Rhaenys died. They are dragging the timeline which is a problem bc they need some of those kids to grow 😅
Yes it was in the books and it was heartbreaking😢
I also thought they would put lemon on him as well😂😂 I was like "NO"
Harrenhall is a deeply troubled and haunted place. At the time of Aegon's Conquest it was the greatest castle in Westeros. House Harren refused to accept Aegon the Conqueror as their king, thinking that their castle was strong enough to withstand any siege. Aegon used his dragon, Balerion the Black Dread, to Burn the entire castle, and House Harren perished inside as the fire consumed the whole castle and burned so hot the stone of the towers melted like candle wax.
"Is he going to be disfigured?"
lol
The storyline involving Daemon and Alys Rivers, particularly the supernatural elements at Harrenhal, is both intriguing and well-executed. As a reader of the books, I find the portrayal of Alys Rivers by the actress to be exceptional. Her ability to hold her own alongside Matt Smith is impressive, and her performance effectively conveys the character's mysterious motivations and ambitions. This nuanced portrayal adds depth to the character, enhancing the overall narrative of the show.
Baela is becoming one of my new fav characters. Princess Rhaenys would be so proud of her.
Jace stepped up this episode. I hadn't been impressed with him up until now. His dynamic with his mother is great and makes both characters more interesting and likable.
According to the books, the dragons can't die from old age. They'll continue to grow and grow as long as they've got sufficient room and food. What does kill them naturally over time is when they get TOO big, because their wings can't lift them and their limbs break under their weight. I think this is the reason Vhagar keeps sneak attacking all of her dragon opponents. She's currently the oldest mount. She simply doesn't have the stamina to carry all that dragon weight for too long, so she has to wait for her enemies to come to her.
And also, it makes for great scares in the show, lol.
very useful info, it would help people (who called out the sneak attack) to know this info.
You might want to check that. The cause of death, at least within the shows’ canon, of the Black Dread is old age. IIRC he died about 10 years before this series began (94AC) and was ~210 years old
@@stukay2803 Right, but he's the literal only dragon we know of claimed to have died from old age, but there are other health factors that might contradict the fact that it was age alone. The complications of his size (combined with the weakness and injury from the fire worm infestation he had suffered) could have something to do with that.
@@ryan27229 All I'm saying is that while I agree it is far more likely in Westerosi history that 'other factors' are far more likely to be a dragon's cause of death than old age, but it's erroneous of you to say that dragons cannot die of old age. We simply don't know.
@@stukay2803 Well, I'll meet you halfway and say, since there's only one recorded dragon in all of Westerosi history to ever be confirmed to die of old age, that it's "unlikely" that a dragon will die of old age, but rather old age will exacerbate other health problems and contribute to it's death.
16:07 Caraxes gest ready to roast the guy, but Daemon was still chuckling to himself going "God damn. Sorry Blackwood, I like the guy."
Yes, they also paraded Meleys' head in the book. And people also started to escape from King's Landing after that, but in the book it was Alicent who ordered the gates to be closed.
Daemon's mother, Alyssa Targaryen, fifth child of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, died from childbirth of her third son, who was called Aegon (the Targaryen need to have more creativity when naming children...), and Daemon was 2 years old when she passed. That Aegon died before completing his first birthday.
And fun fact: before Rhaenys, it was Alyssa the Dragonrider of Meleys. Alyssa was actually her first rider, little over 50 years before the events of HotD.
1. Yes, in the book Meleys head is carted around the city as well, and it causes a similar reaction among the people.
2. Yes, Baela and Jace are betrothed (and Rhaena was betrothed to Luke before he died).
3. Daemon did not really know or remember much of his mother, she died when he was about 2 years old, in childbirth (child died as well). I don't believe it was mentioned directly in the show.
4. Agreed, Baela and Corlys scene was fantastic - might be my favorite in the episode, followed closely by Jace and Rhaenyra at the end.
5. Good call on Corlys' bastards :). Not quite Targaryens, but perhaps Velaryon blood would be enough? There are two potential others that we've seen as well... One who bragged about being Daemon's and Viserys' bastard brother (was he lying to get drinks, or was it true?) and a certain smith with a sick daughter, worried wife and strangely white hair...
Isn't Rhaena older than Baella? At least the actress does
@@markcruz359 Rhaena and Baela are twins - at least in the book, but I don’t think they changed that.
Deamon is a good politician and strategist and experienced, expert in battles and wars . He knows too how to convince the lords of Westros.
They did him dirty in this last episodes.
Cole has PTSD =Post Traumatic Seeing Dragons 😂😂😂
Harrenhall has to be the white elephant of the Seven Kingdoms. Nothing good comes out of owning that place and yet everyone wants it.
It has a great strategic location at the easternmost edge of the rivers making up the Riverlands, and a lake large enough in theory to build a fleet in. The castle was built by Iron Islanders who had conquered their way upstream and needed a new base to defend their realm from the other Westerosi kingdoms. It is said that it was cursed when that Iron King’s entire house was burned alive within, and its highest stone tower melted by dragonfire. However the lake it abuts may be the real significance in its supernatural aspects. For at the center of that lake known as the God’s Eye lies the Isle of Faces, a sacred place where the First Men and the Children of the Forest signed a pact to end their war, possibly to stand against the White Walkers, and the island is covered with hundreds of Weirwood trees. It is forbidden to visit the island but some may have done so (including Howland Reed, who is barely mentioned in the show but will probably be vitally important in the books) and the isle is said to be inhabited by the Order of Green Men - who or what that is has not been and may never be properly explained, but fans have pieced together a lot of it.
If only Corlys knew someone who is BOTH Blood & Fire, and Salt & Sea.
4:18 The Mad King was not named Aegon. His name was *_King Aerys II._*
I'm so glad that I read the book and it had me prepared for what's to come. Even with knowledge of the events I'm still sitting here shocked and silent like Helaena.
Idk if that part of the writing was made on purpose, but the use of the word "mad" at the last line "it's a mad thought" I find especially interesting and a great hint about the future of the Targaryen lineage
It's like Daemon is regressing. He won't even scheme to get more gold or ask for aid from Rhaenyra, like he was with Viserys during the war for the Stepstones. I don't think he really wants to be king, but he'd risk his life to prove a point.
He's basically throwing a tantrum- angry that Rhaenyra wasn't appreciating his efforts for her cause so he's snitting in Harrenhal going "well, if she thought I wasn't doing enough for her before, she's going to see what it's really like to not have my support. That'll show her!"
"always leave them wanting more". ;-)
The woman who faced Daemon was Lady Mallister.
Rhaenryas son Viserys II, according to the Targaryen family tree, is the 5th great gand sire to the mad king. And the one who continues the main branch of the Targayren tree.
It is interesting to learn that both of Baelas grandmothers rode Meleys and that she was Daemons first dragon ride since it was his mother’s dragon. Daemons mom died when he was three after giving birth to his younger brother that also died. I’m shocked and disappointed with Daemons lack of grief with losing Princess Rhaenys and Meleys
Damon is not really his self right now.
@@funnylilgalreacts indeed, he is going a bit mad…🙃
Rhaena already got her dragon (unfortunately off-screen) and was therefore sent to the Vale as part of the deal. (Her's and Joffrey's dragon in exchange for 15K vale troops)
I totally forgot that lemon juice and salt "exfoliate" rust from a blade.
That was a clever cut from the Grand Maester working on Aegon the Somnolent to Shitstain cleaning his sword!
The Greens parading Meleys’s head reminds me of the Freys parading Robb Stark’s body with his dire wolf’s head sewn onto his body at the Red Wedding.
Probably not a good idea to parade a dragon’s head given the fact dragons represent the power of House Targaryen and the Greens are part of House Targaryen.
Alicent now knows how Rhaenyra feels about being usurped because they’re women. Alicent told Rhaenys women can rule through the men and Rhaenys said Alicent is fooling herself and that men won’t listen to her. It has come to pass.
It’s clear if the Blacks want to win the Dance of Dragons, they need to kill Aemond and Vhagar.
in the books, Rhaenyra wanted to parade Vhagar and Tessarion's head and put it on a spike.
@@nikitasingh0412 that’s also a bad idea. The Blacks and the Greens are dividing and destroying House Targaryen. Like Rhaenyra said about what King Jaehaerys knew, the only thing that could tear down the House of the Dragon was itself.
Giving dragons to houses outside the Targaryen royal line is exactly what hundreds of years of Targaryen's wanted to avoid at all costs lol. Smaller houses are much more likely to rebel if they have their own nukes to point back.
It looks like you are drinking the witches concoction! 👀
the mad king wasnt named Aegon he was king Aerys II
the guy talking about battle to rhaenyra was right and so was she. there has been 80 yrs of peace but the knights and men are taught fighting and war tactics even if they have not fought.
To be honest, the medical practices in game of thrones and hotd are actually better than they were in the real life middle ages I think.
Their sciences don't seem to have suffered as ours did with the dark ages. They're almost more of an early renaissance era.
That's a very sudden ending to the video... lol
I didn't even know until a few hours after it was up 😩
Two points I saw, the Father (not sure what his name is) with the sick child said about the Dragon's head: "It's only meat." I THINK they might eat it. Second is I Believe the woman Daemon had sex with in his "dream" was the Witch and the drink she gave him was a heluation.
Hugh Hammer. He is a weaponsmith.
One with pretty whitish hair.....
Alicent's brother was at Rook's Rest.. why is she not talking to him about what happened?
Because Crispy was sad
Now we find out how the dragon skulls end up in Kings Landing.
It wasn't that hard to theorize. Targaryens had dragons, dragons died = skulls
@@markcruz359 the twist is they were war trophies
@@Dularr Balerion wasnt. Meraxes wasnt.
Do you watch breakdown videos of each episode after recording, like heavy spoilers or screencrush? I'm interested in that
I think I stick to new Rockstars because I know they don’t do spoilers from books. I think screen crush was the one that told me about Alyn.
@@funnylilgalreactsaltshift x does not spoil future episodes.
Yes it was a scene in the books. If I'm not mistaken in the books people cheered. Criston tried his best otto when otto paraded jaherys through the streets to gain sympathy except they got fear when dragging the dragon head.
I know I'm not the only one who heard Caitlin Clark at the beginning.
The Mad king was Aerys II. This Aegon is already the king so he is Aegon II. There were 5 ruling Aegons before GoT and a century and a half to go from now, so you are many generations away.
I like when they say "Targaryen is closer to god than to men, but that's because of our dragon". which really come to show in this episode when they parade Meleys head around the city. Ser Criston Thought it would be a Victory Parade, because they just Take down one of the most Valueable weapon of the enemies. But the citizen of King's Landing sees something else, they see A Dead God.
"I don't know how Vhagar could have hid behind a tiny little castle." He didn't. He hid behind the gigantic cliff just behind the castle. A cliff featured heavily moments earlier.
Rhaena takes the place of Nettle's in the show and eventually claims the wild dragon Sheepsteeler, and Adam of Hull claims Seasmoke. Hugh Hammer is the father of the little girl and the royal blacksmith but feels betrayed by the crown and not to spoil things watch him closely.
10:04 I heard a great explanation on the podcast. So the tapestry is more stuff that’s known to the common people.
Say like the rat catchers or aegon and rhaenyra’s crowning .
The rooks rest battle you couldn’t necessarily say that’s common knowledge. Some say aegon kill melees some say aemond and aegon showed up together.
So let’s say for instance in episode 6 if they show the dragons head on a parade then we will know this is the case.
In the books the head of meleys was mounted above one of the city gates, not parades through the city but i like the change personally
Yes, that was daemons mother in his dream
I think Cristin is a little in shock at how much leaders of land armies are just dragon-fodder when wars become wars between dragons.
She knows his son the sailor must be the heir to Driftmark.
Daemon was making unhinged traitorous choices before Harrenhal. It's just who he is (and like all the "bad boys" in the Thrones-verse, he may or may not have valid reasons for being who he is) 😂
I commented on another reaction, he is literally the worst possible choice to send to a cursed and haunted castle.
@@scotthewitt258 HA! Solid point
Funnylilgalreacts Awesome Video Today!!🔥🐐🐐💎
Corlys' bastards wouldn't be dragonriders. That all comes from Rhaenys.
I'm hoping that Melysaria {however that name is spelled} having inside people is how Ulf and Hugh {and his family!} get out of Flea Bottom.....
I still feel like Aemond was sheathing his sword because he saw the magic dagger.
If you follow his eyeline, it looks like he was looking exactly where he then immediately picked up the magic dagger.
He was going to use the magic dagger instead, but unfortunately Shitstain arrived.
Yes it was in the book, aegon and aemond were supposed to fight together and the book is ambiguous as to if aemond stabbed aegon in the back or not
It is almost Ulf the White and Hugh Hammer time!!! (Silverwing and Vermithor) A side note, Hugh the Hammer is being played by Kieran Bew in HotD..one of my favorites! Can't wait!!
And, it seems like they set up Seasmoke is "assessing" his new rider.....
The next episode after he is flying over someone for several minutes, we see him flying over Dragonstone, apparently wailing in some kind of pain. Perhaps emotional pain?
Hi, what happened to your continuing Farscape reactions? Not going to do anymore of them? Keep smiling.
See the community post
yes, Meleys death is in the books and while Rhaenys death was heroic and bad ass, lets not forget the hundreds of innocent "small folk, she killed when she broke out of the dragon pit last season. Rhaenys was a good character, but it is hard to overlook that.
Your assessment of Aemond "I'm going to do what I want to do." I disagree. He will give into those impulses, but not as much as a king we've seen in the other show.
Aemond, to me is more "I will do what needs to be done, as I see it."
About Vhagar "hiding behind a 'tiny little castle' "
As I recall it, he didn't hide behind the castle, didn't he come up from where a cliff near the castle drops off? I'm not going to go check my memory against the footage. But if I'm recalling that scene correctly, you could have had 10 Vhagars hiding behind that drop off. If I'm remembering right, the error was being that low to the ground with such a drop off that you would pass over. [and if I'm misremembering just point out I'm not remembering that scene correctly, and let's move on. My brain isn't as young as it used to be.]
12:35-12:45 "Oh, they have to cut the armor off."
No one taught armorers to put non-stick teflon coating on the inside of the armor. Have you ever tried to clean a pan that was accidentally left on the heat too long with a piece of meat in the pan? Yeah, that's Aegon's armor and Aegon. But at least the meat was intended to be cooked, and was dead before it hit the pan.
32:49-32:53
I couldn't help it, when I watched this scene, part of me screamed out for Alicent to say "You remind me so very much of your father, in this place, in this way." or something to that effect. (Half his face missing, bedridden, etc.)
34:00-34:10 Lucerys presented "There's Rhaena"
Rhaenyra pointed out "Who nearly lost her life in the last attempt"
So it is dangerous to attempt to claim a dragon, They're looking for potential riders for 2 dragons large enough to challenge Vhagar. Rhaenyra doesn't want to risk someone she holds dear. Rhaena is Daemon's daughter, cousin at least to her own children. Step daughter, and niece to her. (This actually clarified for me, as I've not read any book of this series, that it's not as simple as "make the dragon accept you" but really "if the dragon doesn't accept you, it may well destroy you." Because I was wondering why a new rider had not been brought to every dragon available) [I'm sure someone out there has all the lore and logic to explain it, but I will study those things after the saga ends, I do not wish to be spoiled on it either.]
Something people aren't always aware of is that the Lords and Ladies were turned off not just by Rhaenyra's sex, but by Rhaenyra brazenly fathering bastards as well, who would succeed her upon her death. That is a stench too foul for many of the Lords and Ladies supporting the Greens. This angle isn't often thought of due to people looking at this from a modern lens and hyper fixating on what we would describe as sexism. Keep in mind: sexism is a very modern thing and bastardy today is so normalised we don't even use the term bastard, we treat them as any other person, but in these times, bastardy was viewed with disgust. There are many reasons not to support the blacks, but one becomes blinded when looking at things with 21st century glasses instead of 12th century glasses.
How is Rhaenys "a good person" when she holds the highest kill count in the show? Did you forget of the Dragonpit scene in 1x9?
People get some kind of mental fog around bad actions by pretty people. Look at the way people like Daemon who killed his innocent wife or Aegon who was accused of rape by their maid.
@@Ejay669 "Accused of rape" is somehow worse than executing dozens of innocent men. Okay.
You mean when she did NOT attack?!?!? That dragonpit scene?!?!?
she escaped a sure death, what should she have done? she did not kill anyone on purpose, truth be told, she didn't care much, but she did not set everything on fire either, besides with royalty, small folk don't count.😹
If you count up the number of people who were actually near the dragon's path, it's at maximum around 150 people (the area has the width of about 10 people and goes about 15 rows back at absolute most if we count her tail). After Meleys rises up we see people very close in running away from under her wings, so even those immediately adjacent to the dragon were mostly unharmed - it looks more like perhaps 30 people were actually impacted when she burst through. Not necessarily dead, just in the line of fire. We are shown five people actually being hit after that point with all but one of those indicated to still be alive post-thwacking. The guy who took a boulder to the face is almost definitely dead, but the tailwhipped guys all flew off screaming. Broken bones probably, but still very much alive. As she leaves we see only a few suggestions of bodies strewn about, and even that might be just rubble. Larys kills more people than that on a Sunday.
Afterwards Otto only describes the dragon escaping the pit as 'a bad omen' in the people's eyes rather than something he can use to earn the people's favour. This man paraded his grandson's corpse through the streets to gain pity - you think he'd ignore a mass killing of peasants as a source of political advantage? Look at his rage at Aegon after the ratcatchers were killed. A group of the lowest of men hanged in response to a brutal crime by one of them, and Otto is horrified and furious. The deaths of maybe 30 ratcatchers (I don't think we get a definite number on them) is something he believes will cause terrible damage to Aegon and negate all the sympathy points from Jahaerys's murder.
If Rhaenys had killed a few dozen people at the coronation, let alone hundreds or even thousands as some like to claim, Otto would have been on that like flies on Cheese. She would have been Rhaenys the Slaughterer, Rhaenys the Defiler, or any number of creative epithets Otto could have come up with, and all of it used as evidence that her Queen Rhaenyra was a monster. If there was any way he could have turned it to their advantage, he absolutely would have. But instead he's distressed that the event is only perceived as an ill omen for Aegon's rule.
Rhaenys earned her main kill count in the battle of Rook's Rest when she took out hundreds of enemy soldiers. Prior to that her indicated kill count from the coronation was at most 35 and most likely far lower, because Otto would never let an opportunity like that slide.
This was essentially filler episode and it was still better than most TV shows at their peak.
In the book they display not only Meleys head, but also Rhaenys.
WHAT
yes it was in the book
Besides the spooky ghost castle, I think part of what is fucking up Daemon is his complete lack of cultural understanding of the riverlands. They don’t give two shits about his station or his dragon, so doing war crimes or melting nobles is not going to get him what he wants
He’s getting humbled a lot
I think Alys Rivers is working with Larys Strong to weaken Daemon and divide team Black. I don't think the scene with the Riverlords was real. I think it was a dream planted by her when they spoke because it was exactly what she had said. It was meant to plant guilt and make him doubt himself. Her manipulation is meant to push him to the depth of that darkness he keeps sheathed within, as Rhaenyra put it, and divide team Black... that's my theory, anyway.
Yes they Paraded Meleys around Kingslanding in F&B
In daemons defense he told them to do what the crown cannot. They should never have been carrying his banners. By carrying his banner he is showing the crown committing atrocities.
notice the way we haven't seen anyone else interact with Alys other than Daemon
27:46 Am I the only one, or Alys Rivers disappeared behind ser Strong? Not just walk away, but disappear.
People are starting to feel like Alys is a "Becca & Joe" situation.
But, she bandaged his hand. I guess if the bandage suddenly disappears, we will know.
11:30 yeah
I may be slow but it just hit me! The man bragging in the bar he had Targaryen blood! And he was loyal to Rhaenera, then Aegon walked in... I also, for some reason (have not read, as the book was "written by Maesters" so felt super dry to me--a history, not a series of experiences) but I feel like Mesaria might be able to ride the sad dragon...
Lord bracken and the riverlanders are gangstas damn
Daemon was just so dumbstruck the Brackens actually got to leave that meeting alive.
Yeah it was in the book and knowing what was coming didn't make it a whole lot easier :(
I think they are trying to show daemon and rhaenyra need each other. He needs her to keep him in check and she needs him for his more outrageous plans.
On bastards and Rhaenys x Catelyn, we should take note that religion plays a big part in how they're treated ("bastards are born of sin"), it's not simply a personal decision. Then there's also the big difference between knowing one exists and having to care for them.
Mummilingus 😄
🤢
I think aemond was going yo dinish off aegon at the end of the last episode, not put the dragon out of irlts misery. For the sole reason of, if it was the latter why would he have stopped when he knew he wasnt alone anymore? Shirley he would have put Sunfyre out if his misery whether Cole watched it it not, but the same cant be said about killing his brother
If women are not allowed to sit the Iron Throne, why is "King Consort" a term in their world?!?!?
They are allowed, if there is no male heir.
Daemons mom died when he was like 3 or 4 she died shortly after trying to give birth to her third child. So he definitely wouldn't have recognized her in his dream.
Daemon tripping balls again. I wonder if that is going to be a trend lol
I want to see the looks on the greens faces when they see vermithor and silverwing.
ME TOO
i want to see your look when you see that vermithor is on team green
@@tolastarvander6378 me too 😂
Vermithor will come to green's side lmao
@@tolastarvander6378 Please no spoilers buddy did not read the books.
"It's just meat."
Now, look at WHO made this observation. One of the STARVING Smallfolk. One of the first things we see is a person digging in a breadbasket looking for the LEAST moldy chunk of bread.
They did that horrible "parade" and basically rubbed into the Smallfolk that they left literally TONS of food to rot.....
It was not a mistake love lol
did not read the books ... so this is me full speculating but I have feeling eventually Corlys will acknowledge Alyn as his son and he will become the heir and lord of the tides ... since Baela just said big no thanks it has to be a good sailor
Yeah meleys part was In the books lol. The books are basically a different canon right now, and both sides are much more evil, and you don't see Or hear the character motivations
These nobles are very smart and rotten. If there is no food in King's Landing is because Rheanyra is the one keeping the food away with her blockage. The common people really have a short memory term if they start to think that Rheanyra cares about them (they have no other option unfortunaly)
6:38 i think you meant Jahaerys. Rhaegar was the brother of a different Viserys.
Definitely all the similar names gets confusing
The fact that Daemon never knew his mother proves that his visions are supernatural and Helena has seen everything including Daenerys and Jon Snow
How do we know Halaena has seen Daenerys and Jon?