House of the Dragon Episode 6

2022 - 9 - 26

House Of The Dragon - Episode 6 Review - IGN (IGN)

The adult stars of House Of The Dragon have arrived at last – and their rivalry is growing ever more intense.

Almost certainly, but Rhaenyra’s desire to get away from the endless attacks on herself and her children is understandable. And Alicent is left terrified of her own ally, having seen what the quiet, mild Larys is capable of. We finish with Daemon once again widowed – it’s becoming a habit – and Rhaenyra leaving King’s Landing for her ancestral fortress on Dragonstone, abandoning the court and its machinations to her rival. Daemon makes no choice, and it’s not clear whether he holds back out of respect for his wife – he does appear to have some – or from horror at the decision itself, a weakness in the face of unimaginable crisis. If her own death is certain and she accepts that, wouldn’t she let them try to save the child? Lord Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes) has offered to resign as Hand of the king following Harwin’s brawl, but Viserys won’t hear it – so Lyonel has begged leave to at least escort his son home to their (famously unlucky) stronghold of Harrenhal. In the novel, the baby is born deformed, and Laena simply dies in childbirth. Alicent obviously knows about it, but no one will make the accusation publicly for fear of treason – and Viserys (Paddy Considine) is willfully blind to the whole thing. Aegon and Rhaenyra’s eldest, Jacaerys aka Jace (Leo Hart), team up to play a trick on Aegon’s dragonless younger brother, Aemond (Leo Ashton), in the shadowy depths of the Dragonpit, which prompts Alicent’s fury at her eldest because she needs her sons to stick together against their nephews. With the women confined to bickering by court protocol and a shared deference to Viserys, their rivalry plays out by proxy. The umbilical cord is barely cut before there’s a demand from the queen to see the baby: Rhaenyra, stubborn to the bone, insists on carrying the baby herself as a sort of passive resistance. But perhaps the most illuminating exchange is the scene where Alicent interrupts her son Aegon (Ty Tennant) during his, er, private time (a boy prince wanking over an entire city is quite the metaphor) to explain to him the existential threat that his nephews pose.

House of the Dragon Recap: A Bad Egg (Vulture)

Like it was for the Starks in early Game of Thrones episodes, the stakes for child's play are high for these little Targaryens. A recap of “The Princess and ...

It’s the last remaining dragon from the time of Aegon I’s conquest of Westeros, and — funnily enough — the dragon Laena once questioned Viserys about when she was a child, walking with him in the gardens while he contemplated marrying her. They creep and live in the dirt, but is there more to it? This is the kind of writing we need to see more of. (Those tongues are snipped out to keep the arsonists from talking.) If only we had ever seen the two interact together, to understand their relationship better, to get a sense of how one brother can grow up honorable and strong and the other huddle in the shadows and whisper in the ears of the noble. The last we see of him is driving his shoulder into a wooden door in the castle, trying to break his father free from a massive fire. Viserys can’t let go of the notion that his family will someday experience their own after-school special conversion and turn towards each other with love and acceptance, a blindness that is wreaking havoc. Of course, the elephant in this episode’s room was the clear fact that Harwin Strong is the real father of Jace, Luke, and newborn Joffrey. They have lived as guests of the Pentoshi prince Reggio Haratis for many years, raising their daughters Baela (Shani Smethurst) and Rhaena (a doleful Eva Ossei-Gerning) there. Even if Viserys claims this succession is solidified and Rhaenyra and her children will take the throne, their suspicious paternity has opened up a new avenue for Alicent to put Aegon on the throne. (The whole affair weirdly called to mind Kate Middleton, made to march out of the hospital and stand for a photo call hours after giving birth to the future king of England, though Middleton had the advantage of a glam team and modern medicine.) Game of Thrones also established early on that the stakes for child’s play were high; in the second episode, Mycah the butcher’s boy is slaughtered off the King’s Road after Arya hits Joffrey and events spiral out of control. “The Princess and the Queen” is bookended with birth scenes.

'House of the Dragon' Episode 6 Recap: 10 Years Later... (CNET)

We jump over a decade into the future and, surprise, relations between princess and queen are not good.

"In all of King's Landing is there no one to take my side?" Lord Strong says a shadow is being cast over his house, and that it's damaging both his reputation and that of his house. "My father cannot give unbiased council to the King." It's evident that the Small Council has become a political battleground, as the two loudest voices are that of Queen Alicent and Princess Rhaenyra. When the Stepstones and the Triarchy's new arrangement with Dorne comes up, Rhaenyra suggests defending the area Daemon won a decade ago with men and equipment. Queen Alicent's silver-haired children are pummeling a strawman when Ser Criston, who as Kingsguard knight is in charge of training the royal boys, suggests they try to fence with him. "Do not speak of this again," he adds, with a kiss on the cheek. Rhaenyra and Laenor have apparently struck a bargain: As long as he pretends to be father of her children, Laenor is free to love as he pleases. She reprimands Aegon for taunting his little brother with the pig gag, and says they need to be a unified front in public. Both the princess and the queen have a squad of children running about them now, too. The queen is also a new woman, Olivia Cooke instead of Emily Carey. That means a bunch of new faces: Emma D'Arcy is Rhaenyra Targaryen now, and Queen Alicent is now played by Olivia Cooke.

House of the Dragon Episode 6: WTF????? (Esquire.com)

Plus, I am happy to report that there are finally many scenes involving dragons!

House of the Dragon episode 6 recap: Rhaenyra and Alicent feud (Radio Times)

Full recap for House of the Dragon episode 6 The Princess and the Queen and changes to the Fire and Blood book.

House of the Dragon war explained](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-dragon-dance-dragons-war-explained/) [Where was House of the Dragon filmed?](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-dragon-filming-locations-sets/) [Who is the opening voiceover in House of the Dragon episode 1?](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-of-the-dragon-voiceover/) [What book is House of the Dragon based on? Fire and Blood book changes](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-dragon-fire-blood-book-changes/) [Your guide to the dragons of House of the Dragon](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/dragon-guide-house-of-the-dragon/) [What is Old Valyria, the Doom and High Valyrian in House of the Dragon?](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/old-valyria-doom-valyrian-house-dragon-explained/) [Game of Thrones books in order: A Song of Ice and Fire and more](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/game-of-thrones-books-order/) In the Red Keep, Larys relays the news of his father and brother's deaths at Harrenhal to Queen Alicent and he blames the curse of the castle for their deaths. Game of Thrones timeline explained](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/game-of-thrones-timeline-house-of-dragon/) [What time is House of the Dragon released in the UK?](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-dragon-time-release-uk/) [What is the Dance of the Dragons? Others included Prince Daemon - out of a desire for Rhaenyra, Lord Corlys - as punishment for Ser Harwin cuckolding Ser Laenor, or even King Viserys himself to silence the rumours about his grandchildren. At the Red Keep, Ser Harwin bids farewell to Rhaenyra and her children. The rivalries between Alicent’s and Rhaenyra’s sons are also accurate to the book. In Pentos, Laena speaks with her daughter Lady Rhaena Targaryen (Eva Ossei-Gerning) who wants to stay in the city if her sister Lady Baela Targaryen (Shani Smethurst) stays there for marriage and laments at not having her own dragon like her sister. An angry Rhaenyra reveals the rumours about their children and blasts Laenor for thinking of leaving their children to this slander. Laena is angered by Daemon considering the offer to remain in Pentos and wants to return to Westeros, raise their children on Driftmark and die a Dragonrider’s death. An aching Rhaenyra climbs the stairs of the Red Keep and Ser Laenor wishes to turn back but Rhaenyra insists. Queen Alicent Hightower (now played by Olivia Cooke) requests that the child be brought to her immediately but a pained Rhaenyra dresses to take the child to her stepmother herself.

House of the Dragon's Time Jump Gives Us a Great New Villain (Slate Magazine)

Sam Adams: Jack! Welcome to the Worst Person in Westeros. You are a longtime George R.R. Martin fan and diehard Thronesie, as I believe they prefer to be called ...

Larys is both the son of the king’s hand and the brother of Rhaenyra’s lover, but he’s more loyal to Alicent than to either of them—or, put another way, he sees more advantage in being her fixer than he does in being House Strong’s less-favored son. (The actors in this episode seem like they’re in a contest to see who can come the closest to saying the word “bastard” without actually doing so; at one point, Alicent refers to Rhaenyra’s sons as “bbbbb-plain-featured.”) Lyonel dare not risk it, and the king won’t accept his resignation, so poor Lyonel is stuck, although he gets leave to escort Hawin, who’s now been kicked out of the city watch, back to the family seat at Harrenhal. Plus I’m inclined to cut Alicent just a little slack because I do think she’s doing what she’s doing out of a real concern for the well-being of her children, who, bratty as they are, probably should be looking over their shoulders once their half-sister (ew) Rhaenyra ascends to the Iron Throne. As awful as Alicent is, by episode’s end she does seem genuinely horrified when she realizes the atrocities Larys has committed on her supposed behalf, and Larys seems all too eager to let her know that he now considers her in his debt, with no small amount of menace. And let’s not forget Criston Cole, who seems intent on working through the feelings he caught for Rhaenyra a decade ago by subjecting her children to physical abuse at the hands of their cousin. Rhaenyra isn’t about to let her newborn out of her sight, so she pulls herself upright and winces her way up the stairs, leaving a trail of blood behind her. [faced with in the first episode](https://slate.com/culture/2022/08/house-dragon-premiere-game-thrones-hbo-max-recap.html): namely, should we [ perform a c-section](https://slate.com/culture/2022/08/house-of-the-dragon-c-section-birth-scene.html) that will definitely kill your wife but might save your child? It’s a week of firsts, in fact, since with the show’s sixth episode, “The Princess and the Queen,” the narrative jumps forward by about a decade and introduces new actors to the roles of Rhaenrya, Alicent, Leonor, and Laena (although in one case, not for very long). Unfortunately this isn’t a world where good news always bring good results: She’s still unable to deliver, and faced with the likelihood of slow and agonizing death, she chooses death by dracarys, ordering her own dragon to burn her alive. Adams: “The Princess and the Queen” has a lot of business to attend to, not just introducing the new cast but setting the table for the back half of the season, and perhaps because of that, it actually features people acting somewhat reasonably for once. I have to say, I knew that the great actor-swap was coming this week but it was still a pretty weird adjustment, particularly since I don’t think the characters are really supposed to be all that much older. Martin fan and diehard Thronesie, as I believe they prefer to be called, and yet this is the first time you’re weighing in House of the Dragon.

House of the Dragon Episode 6 Review: The Princess and The Queen (Den of Geek US)

New actors, new dragons, and new drama keep House of the Dragon fresh after a 10-year time jump.

House of the Dragon now has a head of narrative steam and seemingly nothing but good, fresh ideas to come. All of this is a lot to happen in one episode of television – let alone just one part of one episode of television. The phrase “The things I do for love” cuts a lot deeper than a long, flowery villain’s monologue about how “love is a downfall.” In his devious mind it solves a lot of problems: [preserves House Strong’s honor](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/house-of-the-dragon-what-rise-of-house-strong-means/), elevates himself to Lord of Harrenhal, and ingratiates himself with the Queen. Alicent has children – three of them – and each and every one of their lives is under the constant scepter of death (at least in her mind). The scene in which Laena faces self-immolation via dragonfire rather than die in childbirth is a heartbreaking inverse to Queen Aemma’s death in the first episode of the series. Though it may not at first seem like it because the ride is so smooth, quite a lot happens in “The Princess and The Queen.” But the core of the episode remains the conflict between the titular princess and queen as they jockey for influence at court. Not to pat myself on the back or anything *pats back anyway* but that observation is looking pretty good when it comes to “The Princess and The Queen.” This is among the best-written installments of the show yet and the dialogue positively sings throughout. In the span of roughly 10 minutes, House of the Dragon has effortlessly caught its viewers up on a decade of missing time, established the bona fides of several new actors, and set up the central conflict for the rest of the episode and beyond. [House of the Dragon](https://www.denofgeek.com/house-of-the-dragon/). It also helps that the opener culminates in the delivery of one of George R.R.

'House Of The Dragon' Episode 6 Review: 'The Princess And The ... (Forbes)

When we open on House Of The Dragon this Sunday, ten years have passed. Rhaenyra—now played by the excellent Emma D'Arcy—is in labor, about to give birth to ...

The death of her lover and the father of her children finally spurs Rhaenyra to action. Rhaenyra’s departure to Dragonstone will change a lot of the dynamics at play, leaving Alicent alone with the king and very much the most powerful woman in the land despite her lack of dragons. Aemond is the only one of the children (of Alicent and Rhaenyra’s broods) that doesn’t have a dragon. They have a fine offer of an estate, endless cash and a life of largesse from the Pentos powers that be, who only want in return the dragons as protection from the renewed threat of the Triarchy. It’s a harrowing moment, and one of the darkest in an already very dark show. She’s itching to return home to Driftmark and Westeros, tired of long years spent living in the country away from everything. They agree and he has their tongues chopped out of their mouths, making them mutes to hide the deeds they’re about to commit (surely none of these men can write). Alicent turns to her other shady ally, Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) the crippled and scheming brother of Harwin, for advice. She won’t have her daughter marry a bastard and thinks that Rhaenyra is only proposing the idea because she’s all but been caught red-handed. He confronts Criston (Fabien Frankel) and asks why he doesn’t give the younger boys the same amount of attention. He asks, instead, to take Harwin back to Harrenhal and out of the public eye. Rhaenyra declines to have it sent, determined to make the long trek herself and not give Alicent—now played in much more ruthless fashion by Olivia Cooke—the satisfaction.

House of the Dragon Episode 6

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