this somehow implies that shift has any similarity to schwift while everyone with eyes, ears and overall general basic sense can attest to the opposite
He's the hero the greens want, but not the one they need. It'd be best to have Kingsguard who don't rail the King's mom, but Alicent wants him to rail her. It'd be best to have Kingsguard who aren't stoked for war, but Aegon and Aemond both want someone stoked for war.
I'm convinced that Alt Shift X is obligated to say that "human heart in conflict with itself"-stuff at least once in every video or otherwise GERRRM will haunt him
He's just projecting his own character development onto others that he himself is facing between his identities of shift and shwift. Will he choose the path of honorable deep analysis? Or will he choose the memes?
Pretty sure it's just a fun phonetic spelling of how people often shorten GRRM. Like, how Swift and Glidus and Schwift often pronounce it in their live stream type vids.
I can only think of one good character who lived in the GoT universe, and that was Hot Pie. Bro made the right call leaving Arya and becoming a humble baker.
Yep! It is why I belong to those who OK being creative on the book canon. We love the characters we see, not only the ones written in those lengthy books.
Personally Alt Shift X is my favorite channel for hotd breakdowns/talks. He's got a great voice and seems to have the best takes on the subject. It's well worth the wait. Plus we get the after party show on Sundays. Appreciate your work
I respect that he takes his time making the video to be sure he catches everything. Most of the other channels who do breakdowns of this show rush out their vids as fast as possible.
Aegon smashing his father's model was extremely symbolic: A disregard for the efforts of those who came before him. His father painstakingly committed hours to build it, and it's a strong parallel to the same energy he put into keeping his family and realm together. And a willingness to destroy and act without thinking.
Viserys didn't try to keep the realm together. He ignores the brewing succession crisis when there were many good solutions, marry aegon to rhaenyra, name aegon heir, don't remarry. But what does the king do? Plays with Legos while tensions brew in his court and the few times he bothers to address the issue he just screams at them to love each other.
All great points! It’s very deep. Especially when you think about how much time he put into it .. what if he did the same for Aegon..put time in with him….even if it wasn’t meant for him to be king. Aegon tried to do this with his son as young as he was. So sad.
@@ariejohnson1944 exactly. Viserys is a "good king" because the few crazy Targaryen Kings did such absurd stuffs , that been a mediocre king that coated into the success of a genius king as Jahaerys I is enough to be considered so.
I think this scene (and honestly most others with Daemon) really resonates people who’ve experienced DV. She’s trying so hard to communicate clearly and he responds by intimidating her….
This episode felt like a Shakespearean tragedy. The acting and language was melodramatic, like Otto chewing out Aegon, there was scheming and spying, like Cole sending Arryk to kill Rhaenyra. Tragedy with the twins fighting, and an overall feeling of loss and despair by the end. It was brilliant
@@lolilol5346 there were kingsguards made hand of the king in the past, and also it’s not a plot hole, just an irrational decision made by a boy king who just wants war
@@_KHG it dosnt , cole is the reason his son is dead , it was his job to make sure he is safe . Would you promote the guy who didnt do his job and got your son killed ? I dont think so
When reading the histories of the Targaryen and other legends and scribing from a completely fictional world, I wonder if I’d be better served reading ACTUAL history: but no dragons yet in the War of the Roses.
@@OlYables I have no doubt that many of GRRM's readers have been, however slowly but surely, nudged toward reading Actual History, as a result of their ASOIAF exposure! :)
I have never seen anyone ever kick a dog. That kick was clean. (I watch MMA). I was snapped back to reality that there are some people out there. Always heard about it but I have never seen it.
“It's the story of the fight between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon for control of the Seven Kingdoms. Both of them thought they belonged on the Iron Throne. When people started declaring for one of them or the other, their fight divided the kingdom in two. Brothers fought brothers.” -Princess Shireen (rip)
I've said it somewhere else, but the scene between Rhaenyra and Daemon is so well acted and so well written, it trule was like watching my own parents fight because of how real it felt. A+ to everyone involved in that scene.
Criston Cole is a true monster. With each passing episode I despise him more and more. But this episode might have been him at his very worst. An utter coward with NO honor whatsoever.
I can't express how thankful I am knowing I still have a soul after the dead prince's head didn't detached from the body and fell on the mud when the carriage got stuck.
I love how HBO’s like ‘Erryk won’ and then a good chunk of internet is like ‘well check on your editors because frame by frame it looks look Arryk did’ Meanwhile I was looking like Rhaenyra while watching the fight
6:20 It like Otto says later in the episode Aegon is rash and lashing out, where as if he stopped and thought for a second he could have used Blood to ID cheese and then he could have just strung the two killers up and no-one would have hated him.
I think he still has the reputation in universe, it’s just that well……. Why would the closest people to him call him that? We never heard Jaime called kingslayer (in a demeaning manner) by anyone close to him. Besides who is dumb enough to call PRINCE AEMOND A KINSLAYER TO HIS FACE??? might be the last words you ever uttered 😂
I can't tell you how nice it is to have you back, it has been a long 2 years my friend. I was starting to get ancy "why is this guy not putting out any HotD videos?" but it feels so good to be back deep into HotD, can't wait for tonight.
Rhys Ilfans' performance was just breathtaking, I dont think we're going to see him again for a while but boy did he leave a lasting impact. "His...dignity" just crushed me, he really loved and respected Viserys like a brother, just one that he had to help and guide. There's just something so universal about a grandfather giving an idiot grandson a proper telling off that cant help but put a smile on my face. This is peak Thrones
This episode was top-tier acting, from the whole cast. Rhaenyra and Damon's argument, Otto in disbelief at how wrong he was for choosing Aegon, the twins heartbreaking fate; also, Phia is stunning as Halaena. A nice parallel scene in this episode was Daemon telling Rhaenyra she was not "chosen" for what she believes while Otto tells Aegon the same thing. Obviously, Rhaenyra was not chosen on a whim (she knows about a song of ice and fire)- but the way each episode presents us just how similar of a situation Rhaenyra and Aegon are in, is brilliant. Doomed siblings, perhaps.
Otto, finally just UNLOADING on Aegon, BOTH barrels, without any fear of reprisal, even with Cole standing right there (sure, he got fired for it--but still, man!) An episode just action-packed with Awesome. :O
honestly the last point about the parallels between Rhaenyra and Aegon has become more true as the season has gone on. they both do stupid, impulsive things with terrible consequences. Rhaenyra's doomed meeting with Alicent and her desperately attempting to find 'peace' and refusing to fully commit the Dragons helping to get Rhaenys Killed and Aegon drunkenly going to Rooks Rest and getting himself crippled in the process. They're both ignored and subverted by their councils, both have strained relationships with their spouses and they both begin to embody the targaryen ideal of 'fire and blood' alot more. Aegon being fully willing to murder 99 innocents to kill 1 criminal and Rhaenyra sacrificing the dragonseeds to Vermithor knowing that while the vast majority would die, one would likely make it out
If I remember correctly in one of the Q&A-videoes you said: "We'll try to get this episode out quicker" "It won't be a 45 min video" Well, both are technically correct :)
We know George told you and Glidus that winds of winter is ready, you don't need to break the confidentiality contract to let us know, just blink twice and we will know. ; |
You should have mentioned that for many years before the death of Viserys Rhaenyra was named the realm's delight so Otto had played the recent death of the heir perfectly politically by naming her the cruel during the funeral ceremony
Tom is slowly taking the spotlight this season and I love it. He vividly captures the internalized rage, trauma and conflict within Aegon's character so well that he always hooks my attention in every scene he's in. I especially love how Aegon is using his position as king to compensate for his inner conflicts. Treating Jaeherys with love and familiarizing him with politics to make him experience things he never had. Trying to be fair and generous to the commonfolk to not only receive praise which he only seldom experienced, but to also convince himself that he's on a path of redemption despite the abhorrent shit he did. Exerting power over Otto and Alicent since he always felt submissive and powerless towards them and etc. It's the coping mechanism he desperately needed but didn't want nor deserve.
I love the 🎬 scenes of small folks reacting to the impending war and their character development. It gives the audience a chance to empathise with the side characters and to build feelings for them ❤
The revelation of Helaena's prophecy at 31:37 about the goose was a jaw drop moment. Your detective work and rich analysis of each episode is exemplary. Great job as always.
I loved the clearly special treatment you've given to Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk, they deserved. Their tragic death was heartbreaking. It's at least good to know they've been immortalized in songs and tales.
I like Alt Shift explanation to episodes as he not only explains the current episode but important references with the past and future which helps in getting the Full Context.
I love your work Shift. I don’t know who this Alt Swift X guy is but your content is way better. The brothers dance made me cry at the end. That scene was so powerful. I knew no matter who won, they both loose. I believe it was the other twin that killed his brother and knew he made a horrible mistake which is why he said “My queen, forgive me” and falls on his sword. The leg wound was telling! No matter who won even if it was the right twin. He would have had to “done himself in” to keep his dead brothers honor in tact. I was watching that scene really close. I think we all had it backwards… for now.
Just like what @pdxoneway said, one thing I love about alt shift x is that after every point or every explanation is made, he poses a question to the viewer to come up with their own answer instead of imposing one on us. This makes the show and the videos even more interesting to watch.
One of the best episodes in the whole Ice and Fire world. Superb story telling and acting. The direction and cinematography in these series are frequently mind blowing. Equally fantastic are the weekly summaries by Altshift X. Thanks and cheers.
15:28 I really appreciate those few but perfectly placed moments of comedy in your videos. This, the parkour part on The Real Jon Snow and " and then something terrible happened" from the Blackfyre video are my favourites.
I interpreted Mysaria’s neck scar as being from Daemon abusing her. He’s choked Rhaenyra at least once before so it was an added realisation for her that he treats other women the same
Just before Rhaenyra asks about the scar, Mysaria says she would've been better off staying a whore. I figured it was from a slave collar she was forced to wear and Rhaenyra was basically just saying "really bro?" in her own way
I don't think her scar has been there long. If it were from Daemon, he would have done it in an unseen interaction after she arrived in Dragonstone to question her or convince her of talking.
If Daemon was "pushing 40" way back when Rhaenyra was still a teenager in season 1, then that would mean he's in his 60s now, lol. That seems unlikely to me.
In the novel, Daemon is born in 81 AC and Rhaenerya was born 97 AC. The brothel incident happens in 111 AC when Rhaenyra is 14 and Daemon is 30. Then they get married in 120 AC when Rhaenyra is 23 and Daemon is 39.
I have been showing my mom your explainers every week before we watch the new episode. She is a casual, show-only fan. And I… Well I’m commenting here lol. Anyway, my mom LOVES the explainers and they really help her understand what is going on in a deeper way. And I have to pause the show less to explain WTF just happened. You’re bringing families together Alt Shift X!
Otto cooked so much in this episode this was easily the best episode of Hot D and I wonder if they will have Helaena give birth again to Maleor I don’t know if they should do that.
The Targaryen’s recycling names is so real. Every generation in my family has a John, Carlson, and Keith. It gets confusing at reunions. It would be fun to have my family call me “Keith the younger” instead of “little Keith”
34:10 It's only just occured to me that this scene is also a mirror of that season 1 scene with Alicent and Aegon where Aegon asks if his dad loved him and Alicent calls him an idiot. Alicent meant it affectionately but you can see Aegon getting disheartened by that response.
Kinda disappointed that you didn't comment on Otto licking his lips once he noticed Alicent honest grief (perfect for the crowds), right before he go confort her (to calm her emotions) and she backs away
I have a different take on the Mysaria interaction with Rhaenyra. I believe she’s talking about the inequality between the small folk and the Highborn/noble class of Westeros not the feminist view of not being accepted by men.
There are some subtle foreshadowing in the episode. Amon holding up a coin over his eye hints his eventual demise. Rhaenyra giving a toy dragon to young Viserys does foreshadow later on Viserys does not get a dragon.
I think people being confused about who won the Erryk/Arryk fight makes sense because the other people in the room should feel this way as well. And my first thought when Erryk killed himself after was that he had to bc no one would fully trust that he was Erryk so they would have to imprison him or kill him anyway
I feel like Erryk killed himself since he realizes that Rhaenyra will never be able to trust him again, since she will always wonder if it's truly Erryk that survived, or if it was Arryk
You know that would've been too dark for the audience probably but when I was watching that scene I wholeheartedly expected that, just after he wins the fight, Rhaenyra will immediately order the other kingsguard present to kill him because of being unable to understand who that really is, Erryk or Arryk
Based on all the stills with Alicent and Helena running, it seemed like there would be a riot at Jaehaerys' funeral. I assumed that if Arryk's dirty cloak wasn't from protecting them during the riot, it would have been because he helped dislodge the cart from the muddy puddle. Either ways, his cloak was dirty precisely because he was doing his duty which is the craziest part of Criston's projection.
9:02 Isn't the heraldry of House Broome a Silver Helmet of which a spring of Broom (A yellow Flower) comes out on a chequered field of green and black (Also interresting on maybe Alfred's loyalty dunno?) Because I recall that House Broom and Broome are the same house. Cuz in the German version his Name is Ser Alfred Ginster (literarly meaning Broom) and even in the German books there is only one House Broome / Ginster. And looking closely in Ser Alfred you can see a tiny little Helmet crested on his robes.
While obviously Rhaenyra loves Jace more than Baela, there's also the tactical factor. The dragons are recognisable. Baela is a lower priority target for the Greens than Jace. So if the Greens spot a dragon, they're a lot more likely to chase down Vermax than they are to chase down Moondancer. Therefore Baela's kind of safer than Jace would be in close proximity to King's Landing. Same with Rhaenys (although that's also in part due to having a huge dragon).
I always like how you explained every episode of GOT and HOTD. After watching an episode, I always watch your explanation before watching the next. 👍👍❤️
The way I physically leap out of my chair when Erryk stabbed himself in the gut. Truly a formidable but gutwrentching parallel to this war between kin.
Rhaenyra has not ordered the murder of Jaeherys, but she is politically responsible for his death. What I found surprising and well-filmed is the emptiness inside the Red Keep. The quarters were completely deserted, which created an ambience, but also poses questions about Larys' involvement.
Funny that Aemond killing Lucerys (kinslaying) doesn't seem to impact the greens capability to make allies. It isn't even mentioned.. but if "Rhaenyra" does it...
@@DominionSorcerer Luke was 14 and his dragon was literally slighly more than horse-sized. Aemond attacked him riding freaking Vhagar, one of the Conqueror's dragons and the biggest one in the current HOTD timeline. In the books, the consequences were clearly shown, Aemond was pronounced the Kinslayer, and even Otto and Alicent were terrified by his actions and its implications.
@DominionSorcerer Well, I also think a big thing is that the Greens consider Luc to be a "bastard" and therefore not legitimate kin. This is touched upon a little more in the book.
@@primaryone3468 in the book Aemond is far and wide considered to be a kinslayer, even just after he killed Aemond because according to one version of the story he deliberately went to kill Luke where in others it's accident as the show depicted. Regardless of whether or not Luke is a bastard, he's still Aemond's nephew and that makes them kin and they would have beenseen as such by everyone in Westeros even if Luke had been an illegitimate bastard named Waters.
I'm so glad you're back doing these breakdowns, I'm reliving the best days of GOT all over again thanks especially to you, I'm so glad HOTD is going so well!
Rhaenyra didn't give the order, but she is ultimately responsible. As Star Trek likes to say, "The captain is responsible for the actions of her crew." It was enacted by her nominal subordinate in her name. Perhaps Viserys' greatest flaw is he understood this too well. He knew he was responsible and it led to indecisiveness.
Okay but hear me out. What if Rhaenyra offers King Amon Damon's head for what he did to jaehaerys. Because you're right technically she is responsible, so her saying" I had no part of this I'm not the Kin slayer Damon is." Might be a good start to negotiate peace with the greens. I don't think the show will go in that direction but it would be interesting.
@@courtneycherry5582I'm just going to say this now, that's not happening, she is still trying to get some use out of him, and she definitely won't kill him (based on how he dies in the book)
Important to note i think: Daemon is not only a symbol in that he has a dragon, he has an *old* and *powerful* dragon. Ceraxes is no Vhagar, but it *is* a dragon that had previously been ridden by a powerful warrior
Couldnt "a son for a son" also be AEGON? He's Alicent's son, like Aemond. It would make more sense in the context of ending the war before it starts. He maybe thought Blood and Cheese would understand, or just would take whatever 'sons' head they find that was 'close enough'
I have no idea what Daemon was thinking sending two low born idiots to assassinate one of the kingdoms best warriors who wields a nuke. Moreover, there is no way they would have gotten within a stone's throw of the king, babies were the only targets they ever could have achieved.
Haven’t read the book, but what they’re doing with Criston is just insane never saw it coming. I think because he looks a bit like Jon Snow that’s the sort of character I was expecting 😅
55 hours of HOTD and GOT videos with Alt Schwift X and Glidus: nebula.tv/altschwiftx
40% off an annual Nebula subscription: go.nebula.tv/altshiftx
Get Swifty!
!
AltShiftX: Is exhibiting a realm and families divided and harmed beyond forgiveness
Also AltShiftX: denounces his twin brother
Raised by wolves was executed by hbo. Can you please give season 2 the proper send off it deserves.
can't believe you're still promoting this rapscallion Alt Schwift X and the traitor Glidus, shame, shame, shame
Erryk vs Arryk is clearly foreshadowing how Shift vs Schwift will go down in a live stream someday. Glidus is the death of love.
for sure. it won't end well.
anyway I'm taking bets. Place your bets right here! Get is quick!!
@@HisameArtwork 3 coppers on Schwift, may his hand strike true
this somehow implies that shift has any similarity to schwift while everyone with eyes, ears and overall general basic sense can attest to the opposite
What if Schwift is Shift in the same way Radagon is Marika?
@@VictorIV0310 blasphemy
RIP Viserys' warhammer models
This is how the kingdoms got into such deep debt with Braavos.
@@madprophetusBraavos is GW irl
RIP Viserys Lego model of Valyria
@@frangelycomagz I agree - except that Braavos is more likely to keep its promises and deliver quality product.
When asked to comment, Henry Cavill only wept
Criston Cole continuing to fail upwards is actually insane.
He's the hero the greens want, but not the one they need. It'd be best to have Kingsguard who don't rail the King's mom, but Alicent wants him to rail her. It'd be best to have Kingsguard who aren't stoked for war, but Aegon and Aemond both want someone stoked for war.
Kind of like real life…
Yes, that's exactly how I would describe him!
ikr .. how do ppl keep dying on his watch and not only does he not get fired, he gets promoted like?????
Accurate tho lmao😂
I'm convinced that Alt Shift X is obligated to say that "human heart in conflict with itself"-stuff at least once in every video or otherwise GERRRM will haunt him
He's just projecting his own character development onto others that he himself is facing between his identities of shift and shwift. Will he choose the path of honorable deep analysis? Or will he choose the memes?
That burrito had magical powers, he is now under a spell
Alt Shwift X is forcing him to say it at knifepoint
It’s GRRM who tf uses a E and 3 Rs wtf?
Pretty sure it's just a fun phonetic spelling of how people often shorten GRRM. Like, how Swift and Glidus and Schwift often pronounce it in their live stream type vids.
" harwin was nice but he is dead " it's funny that we can say this for so many characters in the show.
I can only think of one good character who lived in the GoT universe, and that was Hot Pie. Bro made the right call leaving Arya and becoming a humble baker.
@@ThwipThwipBoom what i like about him is that he knew he isn't a warrior. so he followed what he was good at and that ended up saving his life.
@@ThwipThwipBoomHodor?
@@dallesamllhals9161 Well, he died
@@ThwipThwipBoomTyrions Squire was a truly good and loyal person in GoT.
The acting for this episode legitimately took me back to peak GoT.
Aegon crying over his dead son really got me. The actor is almost making me sympathetic to the character
100%. It was top tier
tru i especially liked him begging his mother to help him oppose otto’s funeral idea. he is an interesting actor
Bro this ep was just a scuffed cleganebowl with 0 hype and buildup
Yep! It is why I belong to those who OK being creative on the book canon. We love the characters we see, not only the ones written in those lengthy books.
Personally Alt Shift X is my favorite channel for hotd breakdowns/talks. He's got a great voice and seems to have the best takes on the subject. It's well worth the wait. Plus we get the after party show on Sundays. Appreciate your work
I respect that he takes his time making the video to be sure he catches everything. Most of the other channels who do breakdowns of this show rush out their vids as fast as possible.
Agreed
Add to this no future episode/book spoilers!
He's a damn sight better than that villain Alt Schwift X, who is nothing but a cheap hacky knockoff.
@@ThwipThwipBoom And he still gets it done fairly quickly (less than a week after the episode first airs)!
"Traitors and villains! I'll kill them all!"
- Alt Schwift X when he learned Glidus is working with Alt Shift X
Oh my god just kiss already
I cant believe he would do this
@@AugustRxyou think glidus is the top or the bottom?
We need the whole story on ao3, with bastards and all. Including the unexpected GERRM cameo. There's good money in it, I tell you
@@jigglebiggle2799 please don't, this is excessively weird.
Aegon smashing his father's model was extremely symbolic:
A disregard for the efforts of those who came before him. His father painstakingly committed hours to build it, and it's a strong parallel to the same energy he put into keeping his family and realm together.
And a willingness to destroy and act without thinking.
Viserys didn't try to keep the realm together. He ignores the brewing succession crisis when there were many good solutions, marry aegon to rhaenyra, name aegon heir, don't remarry. But what does the king do? Plays with Legos while tensions brew in his court and the few times he bothers to address the issue he just screams at them to love each other.
The friend I was watching alongside online had this exchange,
"You see he's destroying his father's legacy, get it?"
"Symbolism!"
That is a good point.
All great points! It’s very deep. Especially when you think about how much time he put into it .. what if he did the same for Aegon..put time in with him….even if it wasn’t meant for him to be king. Aegon tried to do this with his son as young as he was. So sad.
@@ariejohnson1944 exactly.
Viserys is a "good king" because the few crazy Targaryen Kings did such absurd stuffs , that been a mediocre king that coated into the success of a genius king as Jahaerys I is enough to be considered so.
The scene between Rhaenyra and daemon felt like OG game of thrones, I really hope the rest of the season matches this episode
I think this scene (and honestly most others with Daemon) really resonates people who’ve experienced DV. She’s trying so hard to communicate clearly and he responds by intimidating her….
@@susannaharnhart4910 I don't think Rhaenery was intimidated. She was simply shocked by the level of cruelty displayed by him. She's still the Queen.
@@srccdeDaemon is still her uncle. He's assaulted her before so it's totally reasonable for her to be somewhat scared.
And the scene between Otto and Aegon!!
@@hrc66 never gone from hating a character to loving them that quickly
This episode felt like a Shakespearean tragedy. The acting and language was melodramatic, like Otto chewing out Aegon, there was scheming and spying, like Cole sending Arryk to kill Rhaenyra. Tragedy with the twins fighting, and an overall feeling of loss and despair by the end. It was brilliant
Too many plotholes for me to enjoy . Like Cole being promoted makes absolutely 0 sense .
@@lolilol5346aegon is an idiot
@@lolilol5346thats not a plot hole it’s just suspension of disbelief which because aegon is young and dumb and angry i think it makes sense
@@lolilol5346 there were kingsguards made hand of the king in the past, and also it’s not a plot hole, just an irrational decision made by a boy king who just wants war
@@_KHG it dosnt , cole is the reason his son is dead , it was his job to make sure he is safe . Would you promote the guy who didnt do his job and got your son killed ? I dont think so
I learned so much more about our history through this show than in 12 years in school! Didn’t know all that dragon stuff.
Lmao
Child: "It's okay, mom--I know all about Incest; I saw it on TV."
Father: "There, ya see? It's okay--he saw it on the television!" :P
When reading the histories of the Targaryen and other legends and scribing from a completely fictional world, I wonder if I’d be better served reading ACTUAL history: but no dragons yet in the War of the Roses.
@@OlYables I have no doubt that many of GRRM's readers have been, however slowly but surely, nudged toward reading Actual History, as a result of their ASOIAF exposure! :)
😂😂😂😂
Press F to pay respects to cheese dog and Viserys’ Lego set
Cheese dog is dead ?
@@sit-insforsithis1568 cheese dog is now a masterless stray dog
Justice for Cheese Dog
I have never seen anyone ever kick a dog. That kick was clean. (I watch MMA). I was snapped back to reality that there are some people out there. Always heard about it but I have never seen it.
F
“It's the story of the fight between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon for control of the Seven Kingdoms. Both of them thought they belonged on the Iron Throne. When people started declaring for one of them or the other, their fight divided the kingdom in two. Brothers fought brothers.”
-Princess Shireen (rip)
I've said it somewhere else, but the scene between Rhaenyra and Daemon is so well acted and so well written, it trule was like watching my own parents fight because of how real it felt.
A+ to everyone involved in that scene.
Aegon has 99 problems but a ratcatcher ain't one
Fucking underrated
bar
To the top, ser 😂 👏👏👏
He's gonna have a rat problem now
Criston Cole is a true monster. With each passing episode I despise him more and more. But this episode might have been him at his very worst. An utter coward with NO honor whatsoever.
I agree but wouldn’t say coward
@@RobertRichter-vh4jb Guy's a real rapscallion.
I feel like the Criston Cole hate is so unproportinate
every episode my gf prays for his death:)
How is he a monster but not the queen controlling him? He wanted to kill himself several times but he was stopped by the queen.
I can't express how thankful I am knowing I still have a soul after the dead prince's head didn't detached from the body and fell on the mud when the carriage got stuck.
You didn't see the stitches on his neck in the close-up shot?
@@xChaosFlowerThat’s exactly why we were all glad that it didn’t detach 😩😩
@@xChaosFlower they definitely wanted you to think the stitches would fail. I imagine it did and they cut it out.
I closed my eyes and generally was watching through my fingers in horror because the anxiety was overwhelming 😅
I absolutely thought that was going to happen
I love how HBO’s like ‘Erryk won’ and then a good chunk of internet is like ‘well check on your editors because frame by frame it looks look Arryk did’
Meanwhile I was looking like Rhaenyra while watching the fight
Emma D'arcy absolutely serving while being panicked does that to ya
RIGHT?!?! Good sirs there are SWORDS flying about, I don't CARE! Get me OUTTA here!!!
I thought Arryk won because the first person to fall is the person with the leg wound, which appears to be Erryk
@@nahum3557 both brothers had their legs wounded during the fight, everything else points to Erryk winning
@@vinogr00nko93 Seems an interesting choice to make the choreography/editing confusing when the story points to Erryk winning \(0.0)/
6:20 It like Otto says later in the episode Aegon is rash and lashing out, where as if he stopped and thought for a second he could have used Blood to ID cheese and then he could have just strung the two killers up and no-one would have hated him.
That "brilliant" nearly took me 😂
I laughed SO hard, he was so genuine and thought Christon ate that 😅
I said, "Genius, Aegon." outloud when watching it
I love how you don't just discuss the HOTD lore, but also the emotional and philosophical motivations of the characters.
This is becoming my new Sunday routine.
Right? My rock-solid wifi connection, my ragged hunk of salted, jerked beef, and my 'I Drink, and I Know Things' pint-glass; ahhhhhhhhh :D
RIP Freud you would’ve loved HOTD
this aged like fine wine after one of Daemon's dreams
If Kin slaying is such a big deal, why does Aemond get a free pass?
I think he still has the reputation in universe, it’s just that well……. Why would the closest people to him call him that? We never heard Jaime called kingslayer (in a demeaning manner) by anyone close to him.
Besides who is dumb enough to call PRINCE AEMOND A KINSLAYER TO HIS FACE??? might be the last words you ever uttered 😂
I guess he could try blaming the dragon.
i dont think the commoners are nessecarily as aware of it.
for all they know Luke, if they knew about him at all, just straight up disappeared.
Ye only Alic and Otto offscreen blaming but commoners did nothing, bad writing
Otto was the best character in this show. Really likeable and had a aura like tywin. And his outburst in S2 was genuine and felt like it.
"Was"? He's still going to be around. Sorry, maybe I looked too far into that lol.
Otto is without a doubt the goat & the realm waa lucky to be ruled by him for the 3 decades he held the office of hand
@@thenickfoxx he's in his end game now. Few episodes give or take.
@@ExtraVictory definitely. He steered the realm and he's like varys a bit Working for the realm. Surrounded by fools and foes
No "was." He'll be around until a certain someone shows up in King's Landing.
I can't tell you how nice it is to have you back, it has been a long 2 years my friend. I was starting to get ancy "why is this guy not putting out any HotD videos?" but it feels so good to be back deep into HotD, can't wait for tonight.
Rhys Ilfans' performance was just breathtaking, I dont think we're going to see him again for a while but boy did he leave a lasting impact. "His...dignity" just crushed me, he really loved and respected Viserys like a brother, just one that he had to help and guide. There's just something so universal about a grandfather giving an idiot grandson a proper telling off that cant help but put a smile on my face. This is peak Thrones
Daemon's silent smirk at the Black council meeting is a work of art.
Once again he was Daemon "it wasn't me" Targaryen 😂
This episode was top-tier acting, from the whole cast. Rhaenyra and Damon's argument, Otto in disbelief at how wrong he was for choosing Aegon, the twins heartbreaking fate; also, Phia is stunning as Halaena. A nice parallel scene in this episode was Daemon telling Rhaenyra she was not "chosen" for what she believes while Otto tells Aegon the same thing. Obviously, Rhaenyra was not chosen on a whim (she knows about a song of ice and fire)- but the way each episode presents us just how similar of a situation Rhaenyra and Aegon are in, is brilliant. Doomed siblings, perhaps.
Otto, finally just UNLOADING on Aegon, BOTH barrels, without any fear of reprisal, even with Cole standing right there (sure, he got fired for it--but still, man!) An episode just action-packed with Awesome. :O
honestly the last point about the parallels between Rhaenyra and Aegon has become more true as the season has gone on. they both do stupid, impulsive things with terrible consequences. Rhaenyra's doomed meeting with Alicent and her desperately attempting to find 'peace' and refusing to fully commit the Dragons helping to get Rhaenys Killed and Aegon drunkenly going to Rooks Rest and getting himself crippled in the process. They're both ignored and subverted by their councils, both have strained relationships with their spouses and they both begin to embody the targaryen ideal of 'fire and blood' alot more. Aegon being fully willing to murder 99 innocents to kill 1 criminal and Rhaenyra sacrificing the dragonseeds to Vermithor knowing that while the vast majority would die, one would likely make it out
Baela: where is dad going?
Rhaenyra: to the store for sheep milk
*Can we just all appreciate how great the acting was in this episode? The cinematography was also really good. Absolutely phenomenal* 👏 💯
If I remember correctly in one of the Q&A-videoes you said:
"We'll try to get this episode out quicker"
"It won't be a 45 min video"
Well, both are technically correct :)
I was thinking the same thing..! Small steps 😂
It's always a better day when Alt Swift post a new video
We know George told you and Glidus that winds of winter is ready, you don't need to break the confidentiality contract to let us know, just blink twice and we will know. ; |
100%
Glidus is not available for comment, he is frantically searching for good recipes containing paper and ink for some reason.
Also if anyone's interested, YiTi sounds like 'Yidi' in Mandarin, it means other world or different place.
wow, so interesting! Thanks!!
You should have mentioned that for many years before the death of Viserys Rhaenyra was named the realm's delight so Otto had played the recent death of the heir perfectly politically by naming her the cruel during the funeral ceremony
There isn't a channel on this site that does better breakdowns of any series, anywhere. Thanks for all you do.
Tom is slowly taking the spotlight this season and I love it. He vividly captures the internalized rage, trauma and conflict within Aegon's character so well that he always hooks my attention in every scene he's in.
I especially love how Aegon is using his position as king to compensate for his inner conflicts. Treating Jaeherys with love and familiarizing him with politics to make him experience things he never had. Trying to be fair and generous to the commonfolk to not only receive praise which he only seldom experienced, but to also convince himself that he's on a path of redemption despite the abhorrent shit he did. Exerting power over Otto and Alicent since he always felt submissive and powerless towards them and etc.
It's the coping mechanism he desperately needed but didn't want nor deserve.
I love the 🎬 scenes of small folks reacting to the impending war and their character development. It gives the audience a chance to empathise with the side characters and to build feelings for them ❤
“The irony that a great knight has to get their cloak dirty.” A great line fitting for episodes like these
The revelation of Helaena's prophecy at 31:37 about the goose was a jaw drop moment. Your detective work and rich analysis of each episode is exemplary. Great job as always.
I loved the clearly special treatment you've given to Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk, they deserved. Their tragic death was heartbreaking.
It's at least good to know they've been immortalized in songs and tales.
I like Alt Shift explanation to episodes as he not only explains the current episode but important references with the past and future which helps in getting the Full Context.
They say, whenever a Tagaryan is born GRRM toss a coin if he calls him Aemon or Aegon.
It feels so good to be excited for a ASOIAF mini series again. Cannot wait for Dunk and Egg 🎉
I love your work Shift. I don’t know who this Alt Swift X guy is but your content is way better. The brothers dance made me cry at the end. That scene was so powerful. I knew no matter who won, they both loose. I believe it was the other twin that killed his brother and knew he made a horrible mistake which is why he said “My queen, forgive me” and falls on his sword. The leg wound was telling! No matter who won even if it was the right twin. He would have had to “done himself in” to keep his dead brothers honor in tact. I was watching that scene really close. I think we all had it backwards…
for now.
Just like what @pdxoneway said, one thing I love about alt shift x is that after every point or every explanation is made, he poses a question to the viewer to come up with their own answer instead of imposing one on us. This makes the show and the videos even more interesting to watch.
One of the best episodes in the whole Ice and Fire world. Superb story telling and acting. The direction and cinematography in these series are frequently mind blowing. Equally fantastic are the weekly summaries by Altshift X. Thanks and cheers.
15:28 I really appreciate those few but perfectly placed moments of comedy in your videos.
This, the parkour part on The Real Jon Snow and " and then something terrible happened" from the Blackfyre video are my favourites.
1:42 get out of the way Tyrek Horsepeople, Criston Cole is a Bed Confirmed
He was last seen abed.
So can we all agree Daemon's goal was not to get revenge, but to eventually put Ser Pounce in power 100-ish years in the future?
Videos are very well done, and really helps to understand everything. Great job.
Rhaenyra playing with her kiddos was a happy break. The kiddos in this show have been crazy cute. 🥰 Broke my heart thinking of baby Aegons future
I interpreted Mysaria’s neck scar as being from Daemon abusing her. He’s choked Rhaenyra at least once before so it was an added realisation for her that he treats other women the same
Just before Rhaenyra asks about the scar, Mysaria says she would've been better off staying a whore. I figured it was from a slave collar she was forced to wear and Rhaenyra was basically just saying "really bro?" in her own way
I don't think choking would cause that kinda scar. Pretty sure it's not from daemon.
It looks like someone cut her throat or something
I don't think her scar has been there long. If it were from Daemon, he would have done it in an unseen interaction after she arrived in Dragonstone to question her or convince her of talking.
@@myrkvdr it's there when she was talking to Otto in last season.
I agree with this take, thought the exact same thing.
I related hard to Aegon's grief. As someone who has been through a similar situation, his grief in the second to last scene felt real.
Hmmm
If Daemon was "pushing 40" way back when Rhaenyra was still a teenager in season 1, then that would mean he's in his 60s now, lol. That seems unlikely to me.
Daemon was like 24/25 in season 1 before time jump
@@cmd7930 Yes, that makes a LOT more sense!
In the novel, Daemon is born in 81 AC and Rhaenerya was born 97 AC. The brothel incident happens in 111 AC when Rhaenyra is 14 and Daemon is 30. Then they get married in 120 AC when Rhaenyra is 23 and Daemon is 39.
@@jres1995 Awesome! Thanks for the info!
In book, he’s 49 at the end of the war. He might be 2-3 years younger in show because the events of 126-129AC seem to happen together
I have been showing my mom your explainers every week before we watch the new episode. She is a casual, show-only fan. And I… Well I’m commenting here lol. Anyway, my mom LOVES the explainers and they really help her understand what is going on in a deeper way. And I have to pause the show less to explain WTF just happened. You’re bringing families together Alt Shift X!
I look forward to your videos every week as much as I look forward to the episodes in the series!!🍿
I love how much discussion each episode generates.
Otto cooked so much in this episode this was easily the best episode of Hot D and I wonder if they will have Helaena give birth again to Maleor I don’t know if they should do that.
Its kinda nice to get these videos on a sunday, its like a really thorough recap right before the next episode
The Targaryen’s recycling names is so real. Every generation in my family has a John, Carlson, and Keith. It gets confusing at reunions. It would be fun to have my family call me “Keith the younger” instead of “little Keith”
34:10 It's only just occured to me that this scene is also a mirror of that season 1 scene with Alicent and Aegon where Aegon asks if his dad loved him and Alicent calls him an idiot. Alicent meant it affectionately but you can see Aegon getting disheartened by that response.
The brothers dying is the saddest thing since Shireen was sacrificed
The best GOT/HOTD channel. Well down dude ❤
I didn't even notice Helena weaving the shroud... Somehow she always knew the fate of them all
Kinda disappointed that you didn't comment on Otto licking his lips once he noticed Alicent honest grief (perfect for the crowds), right before he go confort her (to calm her emotions) and she backs away
I have a different take on the Mysaria interaction with Rhaenyra. I believe she’s talking about the inequality between the small folk and the Highborn/noble class of Westeros not the feminist view of not being accepted by men.
There are some subtle foreshadowing in the episode.
Amon holding up a coin over his eye hints his eventual demise.
Rhaenyra giving a toy dragon to young Viserys does foreshadow later on Viserys does not get a dragon.
Can we all just appreciate how Daemon's name is pronounced on this channel ? It's my preferred pronunciation of the name.
Day-mon, fighter of the night-mon...
Been watching since season 6 explained and this has always been my favourite ASOIAF content
I think people being confused about who won the Erryk/Arryk fight makes sense because the other people in the room should feel this way as well. And my first thought when Erryk killed himself after was that he had to bc no one would fully trust that he was Erryk so they would have to imprison him or kill him anyway
None of the other breakdowns I’ve seen pointed out the fact that Helena wrote about the geese > alluding to the twins…. Excellent catch! 👏👏
These explanation videos take me back, way back, to when GoT was good.
Baby wake up, Alt Shift X dropped a video at 3AM
Episode one I got angry when the dog was kicked. Episode two I got angry when that Warhammer model was destroyed!
I feel like Erryk killed himself since he realizes that Rhaenyra will never be able to trust him again, since she will always wonder if it's truly Erryk that survived, or if it was Arryk
You know that would've been too dark for the audience probably but when I was watching that scene I wholeheartedly expected that, just after he wins the fight, Rhaenyra will immediately order the other kingsguard present to kill him because of being unable to understand who that really is, Erryk or Arryk
Based on all the stills with Alicent and Helena running, it seemed like there would be a riot at Jaehaerys' funeral. I assumed that if Arryk's dirty cloak wasn't from protecting them during the riot, it would have been because he helped dislodge the cart from the muddy puddle. Either ways, his cloak was dirty precisely because he was doing his duty which is the craziest part of Criston's projection.
9:02 Isn't the heraldry of House Broome a Silver Helmet of which a spring of Broom (A yellow Flower) comes out on a chequered field of green and black (Also interresting on maybe Alfred's loyalty dunno?)
Because I recall that House Broom and Broome are the same house.
Cuz in the German version his Name is Ser Alfred Ginster (literarly meaning Broom) and even in the German books there is only one House Broome / Ginster.
And looking closely in Ser Alfred you can see a tiny little Helmet crested on his robes.
I have no doubt the directors didn’t plan that dog loyalty part but the way you present it makes it look genius
Thought I was going to bed late at 4:30 AM, looks like it'll be more like 5:10 now
i would listen and watch these sort of videos for hours, thank u alt shift x for the asmr. lovely voice and analysis!!!!
While obviously Rhaenyra loves Jace more than Baela, there's also the tactical factor. The dragons are recognisable. Baela is a lower priority target for the Greens than Jace. So if the Greens spot a dragon, they're a lot more likely to chase down Vermax than they are to chase down Moondancer.
Therefore Baela's kind of safer than Jace would be in close proximity to King's Landing. Same with Rhaenys (although that's also in part due to having a huge dragon).
I always like how you explained every episode of GOT and HOTD. After watching an episode, I always watch your explanation before watching the next. 👍👍❤️
30:16
"Duty is the death of love." - Tyrion, GoT s8e6
"Love is the death of duty." - Maester Aemon, GoT s1e10
1+3=4
3+1=4
The way I physically leap out of my chair when Erryk stabbed himself in the gut. Truly a formidable but gutwrentching parallel to this war between kin.
Rhaenyra has not ordered the murder of Jaeherys, but she is politically responsible for his death.
What I found surprising and well-filmed is the emptiness inside the Red Keep. The quarters were completely deserted, which created an ambience, but also poses questions about Larys' involvement.
The references, secrets, quotations. What a great series of videos, can't find anything like this quality of content on YT. Thanks for posting!
Funny that Aemond killing Lucerys (kinslaying) doesn't seem to impact the greens capability to make allies. It isn't even mentioned.. but if "Rhaenyra" does it...
Remember the Greens control the propaganda. Aemond's 'friend' in the brothel may be the only commoner who knows his involvement with Luc's death.
It's the difference between someone being killed on dragon back and someone else being assassinated in their bed.
@@DominionSorcerer Luke was 14 and his dragon was literally slighly more than horse-sized. Aemond attacked him riding freaking Vhagar, one of the Conqueror's dragons and the biggest one in the current HOTD timeline. In the books, the consequences were clearly shown, Aemond was pronounced the Kinslayer, and even Otto and Alicent were terrified by his actions and its implications.
@DominionSorcerer Well, I also think a big thing is that the Greens consider Luc to be a "bastard" and therefore not legitimate kin. This is touched upon a little more in the book.
@@primaryone3468 in the book Aemond is far and wide considered to be a kinslayer, even just after he killed Aemond because according to one version of the story he deliberately went to kill Luke where in others it's accident as the show depicted.
Regardless of whether or not Luke is a bastard, he's still Aemond's nephew and that makes them kin and they would have beenseen as such by everyone in Westeros even if Luke had been an illegitimate bastard named Waters.
I just love your voice, your choice of words, your humor and your intelligent analysis ❤
And your usage of pictures and graphics. It's like a calming, yet very entertaining feel-good PowerPoint presentation.
When Aegon fired Otto you could see he was thinking _"Gods, not again"_
I'm so glad you're back doing these breakdowns, I'm reliving the best days of GOT all over again thanks especially to you, I'm so glad HOTD is going so well!
Rhaenyra didn't give the order, but she is ultimately responsible. As Star Trek likes to say, "The captain is responsible for the actions of her crew." It was enacted by her nominal subordinate in her name. Perhaps Viserys' greatest flaw is he understood this too well. He knew he was responsible and it led to indecisiveness.
Okay but hear me out. What if Rhaenyra offers King Amon Damon's head for what he did to jaehaerys. Because you're right technically she is responsible, so her saying" I had no part of this I'm not the Kin slayer Damon is." Might be a good start to negotiate peace with the greens. I don't think the show will go in that direction but it would be interesting.
@@courtneycherry5582I'm just going to say this now, that's not happening, she is still trying to get some use out of him, and she definitely won't kill him (based on how he dies in the book)
Important to note i think:
Daemon is not only a symbol in that he has a dragon, he has an *old* and *powerful* dragon. Ceraxes is no Vhagar, but it *is* a dragon that had previously been ridden by a powerful warrior
I can't believe Cheese used his Cheese Knife™ to kill a kid like that.
You're a legend for getting this out before episode 3
Couldnt "a son for a son" also be AEGON?
He's Alicent's son, like Aemond. It would make more sense in the context of ending the war before it starts.
He maybe thought Blood and Cheese would understand, or just would take whatever 'sons' head they find that was 'close enough'
I have no idea what Daemon was thinking sending two low born idiots to assassinate one of the kingdoms best warriors who wields a nuke. Moreover, there is no way they would have gotten within a stone's throw of the king, babies were the only targets they ever could have achieved.
Haven’t read the book, but what they’re doing with Criston is just insane never saw it coming.
I think because he looks a bit like Jon Snow that’s the sort of character I was expecting 😅