House of the Dragon Episode 10: So It's War... Next Season 1g4q68

"Will catch fire". That's what the synopsis of the tenth episode of The Dragon House, on HBO Max, promised that it would happen in the final stretch of the first season of the series. In practice, only the map of Westeros that burned to embers. 1o2t2

The episode brought a series of moments as important as awaited by fans. Only one was missing: the war for the Iron Throne, whose shadow has been hovering over the kingdom since the first episode. In the end, the first season only served to set the stage for it – which I hope will happen in the second season.

Check out everything that happened in episode ten below – “the black queen" -, O season finale from The House of the Dragon:

Meanwhile, on Dragonstone… 412a57

In episode nine – “The Green Council” – we saw Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), the queen of Westeros, and King's Landing's side of that piece of history (Viserys' death and subsequent game of thrones). The tenth and final episode of the season is all dedicated to the side of Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), exiled in Dragonstone, in relation to what happened in the previous episode - both the death of the king and the coronation of Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), son of Viserys and Alicent.

The episode begins with the gaze of Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault) – his last name changed when he became engaged to one of the daughters of Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) – hovering over the drawing of Westeros on the Painted Table. The boy finds solace in his mother, Rhaenyra, over his worries. Then Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) arrives to report the shenanigans that had taken place in King's Landing.

Quick break for a parenthesis here. When the ninth episode ended, Twitter exploded with questions (and memes) about why Rhaenys didn't burn the entire court down in King's Landing before fleeing Aegon's coronation riding his dragon Meleys. The answer came in the tenth episode, when Daemon echoed the tweets' questions: because she didn't want to. In this case, she didn't want to start the war between the Targaryens and the Hightower - which, definitely, will happen. Okay, back to the story.

Mourning, childbirth, game of thrones 241o6g

The (super) quick mourning for the then-King Viserys also appeared in this season finale. Despite her long-standing relationship — and screen time — with her daughter, her receiving and processing the news of her death took seconds. Then came the priority: the game of thrones.

Upon discovering that he had lost his father and, for now, the Iron Throne, Rhaenyra went into labor prematurely. Already Daemon threw himself into meetings to organize the defense of Dragonstone and the attack on King's Landing. Even hearing Rhaenyra's cries of pain and calls, Daemon remains in the war plans.

Here comes a brave scene, on the part of the production, but disturbing for those who watch: Rhaenyra gives birth to a stillborn fetus, which would be her first child with Daemon. The birth, like the one in which Emma D'Arcy first appeared on the series as Rhaenyra, is visceral and has flashes of her dragon feeling her pains. And the fetus is shown in long close-ups, but always from the back.

The episode must go on 593w3a

The loss, in childbirth, of a couple's first child is a weighty moment that deserved more time to work on. But for the production of House of the Dragon, more important things were happening and the series had to go on.

The mourning for the fetus, of course, was quick. Rhaenyra and Daemon faced the first moments of loss each on a tip of Dragonstone. And, in the ceremony of cremation of the fetus, the priority: the game of thrones.

During the ceremony, one of the Kingsguard's twin knights, Erryk Cargyll (Luke Tittensor), appears carrying the crown Viserys wore. He hands it over to Daemon, who then places it on Rhaenyra. Everyone kneels and now the princess is called queen over there. A beautiful and well-executed moment – ​​but out of place. If there's one thing this story doesn't have room for, it's grief (which is ironic, considering the episode's name).

Westeros burns (in embers, on a table) 4536q

After that comes the only time something really caught fire in this episode: when they put embers under the Painted Table. As the fire spreads, it reveals the design of Westeros in the stone. An interesting metaphor for what should happen next season.

of a kind of council gather around this table to discuss whether or not to start a war against King's Landing. It's the first time Rhaenyra has to step into her role as queen - and she seems uncomfortable with it. It is at this meeting that the name of the Stark family is mentioned for the first time.

Then comes an entourage from King's Landing, led by Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), the Hand of the King. They meet Daemon and Rhaenyra in the very place where, so many years ago, the Hand and the king's daughter stood side by side and against Daemon, on a journey to retrieve a dragon egg he had stolen.

After hearing Aegon's proposal and receiving an emotional totem from Alicent, Rhaenyra takes a step back from her war movements and assumes a calming posture, similar to that of her late father. Daemon, on the other hand, continues with the incendiary stance, which is the complete opposite of his late brother. That is, while one shows change and maturity, the other remains practically the same as it was at the beginning of the season.

The Adventures offscreen of the Lord of the Tides 1313w

Cut to Lord Corlys Velaryon, who finally reappears. One of the main commandments of audiovisual production says: show, don't tell.show, not tell"). With Lord of the Tides, The House of the Dragon did just the opposite.

Everything he's faced – war against the Triarchy, conquest of the Narrow Sea, near-fatal wounds, recovery, etc. offscreen, that is, “off-screen”. And the audience only knows this because these events are told, very superficially, by some character or by Corlys himself. Both he and the other of his family had interesting experiences that deserved more screen time and production attention.

Lord Corlys' main motivation was to somehow get to the Iron Throne. But after losing two children – Laenor (John MacMillan), who was married to Rhaenyra; and Laena, married to Daemon – and going through a near-death experience, he decides to let it go and enjoy retirement. But his wife, Princess Rhaenys, convinces him to declare his for Rhaenyra, even though he believes she was an accomplice in his son's alleged murder and she is now married to his late daughter's ex-husband.

Considering everything that has happened and been shown in the series, this Velaryon turnaround doesn't hold up. But it happens and is decisive for the events that happen later.

While Daemon is busy singing to his dragon in a cave, an important council meeting takes place on Dragonstone. In it, Lord Corlys appears, declares his for Rhaenyra and convinces her to start sewing alliances and then go to war against King's Landing.

She then sends her children, Lucerys and Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett), mounted on their respective dragons, to bolster the of two families. The names are familiar to fans, and they had sworn allegiance to Rhaenyra when Viserys named her heir to the throne: Baratheon e Stark.

What could go wrong? In George RR Martin's universe, everything - and in a very cruel way.

So it's war 6h736p

When Luke arrives at Lord Borros Baratheon's castle, riding his dragon Arrax, the first person he sees is Vhagar, that huge dragon that Aemond Tagaryen managed to ride. That should have been a signal for him to turn around and return to Dragonstone, but he wanted to go on with his mission as a messenger.

Of course Lord Baratheon didn't declare his for Rhaenyra and of course Aemond went after Luke, who tried to flee from there. The situation devolved into a How To Train Your Dragon style, but dark, dragon chase.

In this, we discover two things: 1) neither Luke nor Aemond has complete dominion over their dragons; and 2) Vhagar is spiteful. That's because, in an attempt to protect Luke, Arrax breathes fire into Vhagar's face, which doesn't even tickle him. But the older (and much larger) dragon goes after it…and rips apart both Arrax and, apparently, Luke, in one bite.

The news reaches Rhaenyra, through the Daemon. Again, grief has seconds to go. And there, the priority: the game of thrones. Rhaenyra's look, which closes the episode and the season, means one thing. Now, yes, it's war.

"After that, the storm broke out, and the dragons danced." #HOTDFinal  #ACasaDoDragon pic.twitter.com/Gg32kGtBPZ

— HBO Brazil (@HBO_Brasil) October 24, 2022

Balance of the season finale of The House of the Dragon 3g84u

For those who watched the series without having read the book fire and blood and looking forward to the start of the war for the Iron Throne, this season finale had the energy of a pre-finale. For those who knew that the season would only serve to prepare the ground, the tenth episode delivered what it needed to deliver.

The last bit of this season's story has had cathartic moments (Rhaenyra's long-awaited coronation, for example), others run down (grieving the loss of loved ones), and some that didn't make as much sense as they could have (Lord Corlys Velaryon's turn) .

Analyzing the series in general, it can be said that it was not perfect, but it had impeccable production and memorable performances that honored the good story they set out to tell. Furthermore, it may have served to arouse interest in the book Fire and Blood in part of the audience. In the one who writes to you, he has awakened.

Now, let the second season of A Casa do Dragão come on, in HBO Max.

See also:

Which family would you be in The House of the Dragon?