'House of the Dragon' Episode 9: Sorry to This Rhaenyra!
For those worried that House of the Dragon was starting to drag on, the king is now dead, the children have become adults, and it's finally time to do the damn thing we've been talking about since Episode One. Who will succeed to take the Iron Throne?
In House of the Dragon Episode Nine, every indication leads to Princess Rhaenyra. She's not only Viserys's firstborn child, but she was also officially named the king's heir in front of the entire realm. However, a last-minute wrench in her ascension came just last episode, when Queen Alicent misinterpreted the king's final words. "He told me he wished for Aegon to be king," she tells her father at the beginning of Sunday's penultimate end to Season One. For our viewers at home, we know that's not what he said. The king was mumbling about the prophecy Aegon "the Conqueror" Targaryen once had in a dream—the one that everyone is obsessed about throughout Game of Thrones. Whether Alicent simply took what she wanted to hear, or truly just misunderstood him, it didn't help that Aegon was also the name of their son.
In the middle of the night, the Queen and her father, the Hand of the King, call a special council meeting. In attendance is Ser Criston Cole; Tyland Lannister, the Master of Ships (who has apparently taken over in Corlys's absence); Lyman Beesbury, the Master of Coin; Ser Harrold Westerling, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard; Maester Orwyle, who must have replaced Mellos in his old age; and Jasper Wylde, the new Master of Laws following Lionel Strong's death. Phew!
Old man Beesbury is shocked to hear that some members of the council have been planning to install Aegon as the next king no matter what, as is Queen Alicent. "Hundreds of lords swore fealty to the Princess!" he stands up and exclaims. He calls the group treasonous, refusing to believe that Viserys was the kind of guy who would change his mind. Shockingly, Ser Criston Cole grabs Lord Beesbury, yells at him to sit down, and quickly smashes his head against the table, killing him. The Lord Commander attempts to arrest him for murder but Otto Hightower quickly diffuses the situation. Westerling turns in his cloak and resigns, wanting no part of the treasonous planning going on. The council continues its meeting with Lord Beesbury sprawled out on the table. Otto, without directly saying it, mentions that he's willing to have Rhaenyra and Daemon killed after they predictively refuse to bend the knee to Aegon. "It's a sacrifice we must make to secure Aegon's succession," he suggests. Queen Alicent chides back that the king may have wished for Aegon to succeed, but he didn't wish for the murder of his daughter and brother. "What do you suggest, Your Grace?" they ask the Queen. "Time is of the essence."
Putting myself in Alicent's shoes, this is the part where Rhaenyra becoming Queen seems like the normal, safe thing to do. Otto Hightower did threaten his daughter with the belief that Rhaenyra would slaughter all of Alicent's children to protect her claim to the throne, but the Rhaenyra we know would never do that. Either way, Alicent seems to be going full steam ahead with Operation Make My Son King and Kill My Best Friend. Larys Strong locks up all the maids in the dungeon since they know about the King's passing while the council goes searching for Aegon. For whatever reason, he's missing. Aegon isn't in his room or in his sister-wife's chambers. Somehow, he's miles deep in King's Landing. Ser Criston and Aemond are tasked with finding him, starting their search at a brothel. Like the proper creep he is, Ser Criston believes that "every woman is an image of the mother, to be spoken of with reverence." Remember when this guy used to be cool? One woman rejected him and now he's gone full psycho. Aemond, meanwhile, suggests that he should be king considering he possesses the largest dragon in the world.
Another search duo, comprised of twin knights Erryk and Arryk Cargyll—two of the most disgusting names I've ever heard in Westeros—find themselves at some horrifying underground fight club for children. "Prince Aegon spends many a night in this place," one of the knights says as a kid rips their claws into another kid's face. One of the children even has white hair. A bastard, perhaps? A woman approaches them at the bequest of Mysaria, whom we barely ever see. She informs the knights that she knows the prince's whereabouts, and I totally forgot that she has one of the most confusing accents I've ever heard. In return for the prince, she demands an end to the child fighting pits. This seems like an easy bargain. Yeah Mysaria, we don't want those going on either. Leaving with the prince, the Cargyll twins are attacked by Ser Criston and Aemond. Apparently, Ser Criston just wanted to be the one to claim that he found the prince. As he carts him off, Aegon screams about how he has "no wish to rule and no taste for duty." He wants to sail away, never to be found.
Back at King's Landing, Otto Hightower has assembled a collection of Lords to swear fealty to Aegon. Some bend their knee, but others are more skeptical. Those who keep their oath to Princess Rhaenyra are escorted away, presumably to the dungeons. One Lord is even hanged for trying to escape. Meanwhile, Alicent visits Rhaenys to ask for her support, as one woman to another. The Queen Who Never Was chides her for still "twirling" to the needs of men, citing the sacrifices she's made to her father, her late husband, and her son. "Have you never imagined yourself on the Iron Throne?" she asks. Returning to her father's chambers, she declares that Aegon will be anointed King Aegon II Targaryen and Ser Criston will be declared as the next Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Otto responds that she looks like her mother, which is a pretty thing to say at this time. Alicent then pays a visit to Larys Strong. The weaselly freak has apparently been trading secrets for a glimpse of the Queen's feet, because of course he does. He tells her that he can have Mysaria killed, so I guess we're doing that too. Larys then masturbates to her little piggies. Gross.
Escaping the castle the following morning, Rhaenys puts on some civilian dregs and heads to the chapel to witness Aegon becoming crowned King. Where have Rhaenyra and Daemon been this whole time?! The princess went back to Dragonstone to drop off her kiddies at the end of last week's episode, but she said she would fly back on a dragon in the morning to be with Viserys. Well, it's now morning, and she is nowhere to be seen. Rhaenyra probably doesn't even know that her father is dead yet! As Aegon is crowned, Rhaenys's dragon Meleys smashes through the building and scoops her up. The massive beast also stomps what must be hundreds of innocent onlookers. Rhaenys has an easy opportunity here to burn Aegon and Alicent alive. But, for whatever reason, Meleys just gives them a big, warning roar. No fire. She opted for a threat instead of ending this thing right here, right now, and then she flies off.
Suit yourself, Rhaenys. Everything the new king and Alicent will do from here on out is now your fault. And my gut says that House of the Dragon has been saving us something truly shocking for the finale.
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