We ’ve arrived at the seventh episode of season two , “ The Red Sowing , ” andHouse of the Dragonis clearly gearing up foraragingseason finale . But first , Team Black will need to address its “ too manydragons , not enough rider ” trouble .
We pick up immediately where last week ’s installment ended . Rhaenyra confront Addam of Hull on the beach , in a lovely opening guess show two tiny homo and two hulking , screeching dragons facing each other from a safe aloofness . Addam calms Rhaenyra ’s ira apace by bend the knee and saying he ’s loyal to his queen — he ’s not Team Green after all , she realizes — and that he did n’t slip Seasmoke . Seasmoke chased after him . What ’s more , “ If the god call me to nifty things , who am I to decline them ? ”
While it take a minute for it all to slide down in — that Addam is both a ) a lowborn nobody ( he carefully lie to her , not allow in that he ’s the shit son of Lord Corlys ) , and b ) capable of reclaim a dragon — Rhaenyra before long realizes the upshot . A dragon does n’t worry if you ’re noble or not ; it just care if you have the right blood type , and maybe a short extra magic mojo that only it can sense when decide who can ride it . Addam has given her new Leslie Townes Hope , and she actually smiles !
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In King ’s landing place , a melancholy Alicent is having her arm — slice up in last workweek ’s scream — incline by the Grand Maester . “ All my life I have strive to serve both my house and the land , and somehow none of it matters , ” she says ruefully . There ’s a two-fold import in what the Grand Maester read next as he examine her injury : “ You will have a cicatrice , but it will be easily hidden . ”
She find Ser Rickard , her Kingsguard bodyguard now that Ser Criston Cole is off fighting , and tells him she wants to tease out into the Kingswood . No entourage , just a small camping tripper . alfresco , Lord Larys and Lord Jasper are watch Aemond send two other Kingsguard members — both of whom were involved in the riot — to the Wall , a fate possibly worse than death , but also perchance a step up from Aegon ’s path of just string up everyone . They also discourse a bit of information Lord Jasper has come across , about Seasmoke being seen with a passenger .
The sourcing — a long chemical chain of rumour — is unelaborated , and while it ’s clear Jasper really wants to let Aemond know about it , he does n’t require to tell him and be wrong . Larys seems to feel the same . Neither military personnel wants to turn over on false information to their hot - temper swayer ; as Larys puts it , “ Perhaps this is one of those whispers easily left to the malarky . ”
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At Dragonstone , a pouty Jace watches as two dragons , both with rider , swoop in for a landing . In the Black Council meeting , everyone ’s take over that the new rider is not a foe , but is dismayed to study he ’s acommoner . How can this be ? “ We will await the queen ’s accountingbeforepassing judgment , ” Lord Corlys admonish .
She ’s still getting her own head together , it turn out , with Mysaria ’s ever - worthful help . When Rhaenyra bulge out paging through her story scrolls to look for more potential Targaryen - adjacent heirs , Mysaria chuckles and evoke she “ appear under the sheet and in the woodpiles . ” The Targaryens have atonof bastards running around , she says .
When Rhaenyra resist that Westeros ’ highborn houses have an ancient sense of laurels , as if that ’s what makes them better than everybody else , Mysaria points out that the highborn Aemond and Aegon are unusually scurvy on accolade , in reality . “ The guild of thing has transfer , Your seemliness . Why not embrace it ? ” Mysaria asks . Rhaenyra , who has some personal experience with bastard minor , realise she agree : “ Let us raise an army of bastards . ”
© Ollie Upton/HBO
There ’s a brief , awkward interaction between Addam and Lord Corlys ; so as to train as a dragonrider , Addam needs to be liberate from his duties as a shipwright . Corlys concede it , bet like he ’s move to say something else , but ends things with “ Well done . ” So far , at least , Addam ’s not going to be getting the recognition from Corlys that he so desperately craves .
At Harrenhal , the new elevated Lord Oscar Tully , who ismaybe15 or 16 , meets with Daemon . It ’s tense ; despite his old age , the region ’s new Lord Paramount is far less intimidated by Daemon than he was at their first meeting . Also , a lot has happened since Daemon came to Harrenhal ; as Oscar puts it , “ you ’ve made rather a mess here , let savagery in the faggot ’s name . ” But as much as he loathes Daemon , he ’s well aware that House Tully swore an expletive to King Viserys , so there ’ll be no switching sides .
They take their conversation outside , where the riverlords ( who detest Daemon as much as Lord Oscar does ) have all gathered . While they ’re loth to take order from a kid , and they ’re even more reluctant to do anything Daemon wants them to do , they mind when Oscar reminds them , once again , of the swearing his grandfather swore to King Viserys when Rhaenyra was named heir .
© Theo Whiteman/HBO
But there ’s just one thing : in the Riverlands , they fall out the old ways , and the old ways are all about justice . In this context , that intend punishing Lord Willem Blackwood , who plat unimaginable cruelty against House Bracken to get them on Team Black ’s side . cruelness that was , lest we block , all Daemon ’s idea . “ There is only one answer for the crimes you chatter upon your neighbor , ” Oscar says , and though Willem protests he was just following orders , Oscar say , “ You did it because you want to . ” The only solvent is … for Daemon to show how no-good he is for issuing those Holy Order , and lop off Ser Willem ’s head ! ( Ser Simon ’s “ Oh , dear ” is perfect here . )
In the backwash , Daemon walk into his room at Harrenhal , and is greeted by another ghost . This time , it ’s Viserys , withered and ominous , hold his crownwork like it ’s a beat animal . “ I never want it . I was right not to . All that pain it caused . It crushes whoever have on it . You always want it , Daemon . Do you need it , still ? ”
verbalise of reference who are near death , we next see King Aegon , who actually seems slightly improved since the last episode . He ’s not only conscious but is hobbling around his room — shout in pain the entire time — with the help of the Grand Maester . Lord Larys barges in to ensure on things , and we find out he ’s the rationality Aegon ’s on such an utmost forcible therapy regimen . “ You must operate harder , ” he tells Aegon . More ominously , “ It will be long before he may rest again , ” he enjoin the Maester .
© Ollie Upton/HBO
Meanwhile , Lord Corlys see Alyn and evidence him the queen demand fishing vessels and an of import message to be charge to King ’s Landing — another mysterious mission , though we have an inkling of what it might mean this meter around . Corlys also tell Alyn that Addam is now a dragonrider — and use measured language to suggest that maybe , perhaps Alyn might also have the transmitted qualifications ? But Addam is n’t hold it : “ I am of table salt and ocean . I yearn for nothing else . ”
In a brief interlude in the Vale , Rhaena — who we ’ve been remind , yet again , is a failed dragonrider — is drag behind the rise bound for Pentos . As the William Henry Gates close behind her , she scuttle off , excitedly remark the scorch marks on the athletic field next to the road . She is 100 pct cash in one’s chips to track down that wild dragon , is n’t she ?
In the wood , Alicent returns to her camping ground and Ser Rickard wonder when they might be heading back to the city . Not any fourth dimension shortly , and mayhap never , is her reply .
At Dragonstone , a sneering Jace asks his female parent if it was Mysaria ’s approximation to let lowborn people become dragonriders . But there ’s more at manoeuvre here than bare snobbery ( though let ’s be honest , that ’s definitely part of it ; he apply the Scripture “ mongrel ” ) . When Rhaenyra excuse “ with these riders , we can end a needless war , ” and that she ’ll be capable to take her lawful place on the Iron Throne , he worries about his own title as her heir . He get it on he ’s a bastard ( his moody hair is a dead game show , of row ) . “ I may argue my legitimacy to succeed you because I have a flying lizard , and now you say you ’ll bare that from me too , ” he say . Being a little selfish , Jace !
We see that it is indeed Mysaria who ’s running the mysterious mission to King ’s Landing , handing Alyn a message to take over with those boats . Its contents , of class , are to spread the word that Team Black is looking for anyone with Targaryen stemma to come to Dragonstone and see if they ’ve got what it have to be a dragonrider . There ’s a touching setting between Hugh and his wife , who does n’t need him to go , though it ’s decipherable they have few other choice ; we hear their girl , who was meet from a long sickness , has died . But there ’s also a fishy scene in which Ulf ’s imbibing buddies call his four flush when he hesitates about the chance . If he ’s such a private Targaryen , as he ’s always bragged about being — well , he’sgottago give dragonriding a endeavor !
We then see about 15 or 20 the great unwashed — many of them prominently white - light-haired — getting on modest sauceboat to travel to Dragonstone . It ’s a somber consequence , but one full of inflammation . Also a somber minute , but without any of the underlie fervor , is the next scene ; we see Alicent walking through the woods , stripping off her night-robe , and taking a swimming in her mooring . As she float on her back , star up at the cloud , the music is passive , but it ’s hard to take the mood here . Is Alicent symbolically ( and literally ) washing herself clear as she face her incertain future ?
We ’re entrust to ponder asHouse of the Dragonswitches back to Dragonstone , and see the recruits are heading direct to the dragonpit . All assembled picket as the dragonkeepers — who speak to Rhaenyra in High Valyrian — turn away to participate in the “ sacrilege ” of allowing non - dragonlords to seek to become dragonriders . After they stomp out , Rhaenyra give a tremendous speech communication to her nervous guest . “ Each of you has left behind a life to answer this call . A life to which you might never come back . If you survive , you will be transform … some of you may welcome the prospect of modification , even death , given the alternative : want , starving , war . This is our use . To terminate those hardships for you . For your kindred . For all the realm . With these two flying lizard added to our phone number , the enemy will have no pick but to give way . And peace will be restore . Suffering will be ended . And without battue , gods uncoerced . ”
Then she gives a little primer on Vermithor — he ’s almost as big as Vhagar , belike more savage , and has the cheery sobriquet “ the Bronze Fury . ” Everyone ’s nervous as they shuffle into the massive internal chamber . Rhaenyra calls for Vermithor , and he slowly snarls and take a hit his way out of the shadows , just as terrific as advertised . Rhaenyra barks control and touches his scaly head , and we see the reverence she experience for these massively hefty brute . you’re able to also feel her sort of asking Vermithor to please help oneself her out .
But this is a flying lizard we ’re spill the beans about — and when one very blonde serviceman muster the courage to come near Vermithor , Rhaenyra says he ’s on his own : “ It must be the firedrake who speaks . ” After a few very tense moments , we ’re treated to a near - diversion of Ser Steffon Darklyn ’s gruesome demise , except much worse because it chop-chop turn into a the great unwashed barbeque of screaming Targaryen bastards , several of whom also get devoured alive in the procedure . A shot of Rhaenyra let out an verbal expression torn between regret and despair .
But as we ’ve been reminded , Team Black only has two riderless dragons — and it just so bump the two character we ’ve arrive to know end up being the chosen ones . Hugh somehow escapes being torched by Vermithor , who approves of this tall man who dares to holler “ Come on ! ” in a Draco ’s font ; Rhaenyra take care this , and her case almost allow a smile . Meanwhile , Ulf — who manage to crumple into the pit in all the mayhem — shares a surprise soldering moment with Silverwing .
Any other workweek , the episode might ’ve ended there . But the finale is on the horizon , so we abridge back to King ’s Landing , where the sight of a dragon who is not supposed to have a rider being bait across the sky causes instant terror . ( Lord Larys looks very sick as he realizes that informationwasgood after all . ) Aemond rushes to get Vhagar into the air . But when he chases the intruders ( it ’s a comically ungraceful Ulf and Silverwing ) back to Dragonstone , he pulls up short when he learn Dragonstone has atrioof intimidating dragons hold off to greet him .
The last shot is another priceless Rhaenyra expression , and there ’s no mystery at all about what she ’s thinking : “ fall and get it , bastard ! ”
Next calendar week is the coda — burning up your Sunday night on HBO and Max .
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Game of ThronesGeorge RR MartinHBOHouse of the Dragon
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