Ten years have passed and Viserys is still alive. The rivalry between Alicent and Rhaenyra is more evident than ever and both are willing to do anything to seize the Throne
The big change we were all waiting for has arrived. From the beginning we knew that time jumps would be frequent in this series and that this would lead to changes in the initial cast of actors. Episode 6 introduces us to the two actresses who from now on will play Rhaenyra and Alicent, already grown up and completely opposed by the Iron Throne, Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke. And, despite the fact that we knew that this moment would come, it is inevitable to regret that we will no longer enjoy the young performers who have defended these characters so far (very well).
Although we met Milly Alcock and Emily Carey before, the casting of the series began with older actresses and based on their characteristics they looked for those who were going to portray them in their youth. And that work was done well, none of them are out of tune with their predecessors. It is not the only change of faces that we will have to get used to from now on in the HBO series. Laenor and Laena Velaryon have new performers for their adulthood, John Macmillan and Nanna Blondell.
The original cast not only transforms, it also grows. The fact that these characters become adults means that they have had offspring and these young people are now part of the universe of the Thrones. Around all of them revolves this new chapter, the sixth of the first season. They are still children, but their lives are already sentenced by the decisions, mistakes and ambitions of their parents. And there is little they can do to escape that fate.
Alicent and Ser Criston in episode 6. /
The chapter begins with a childbirth, Rhaenyra’s, which reminds us of her mother’s. Although this one is much simpler than that one and ends in a better way. As soon as the princess gives birth, a servant informs her that Queen Alicent wants to see the baby. Defiantly, and despite her pain, it is she herself who goes to her room to show him, aware that her request responds to other interests. Years go by and nothing manages to intimidate the princess.
Specifically, ten years have passed since the wedding between Rhaenyra and Laenor. In this time the rivalry between the princess and the queen has remained firm and has completely distanced them. It’s hard to recognize them. There is hardly anything left of the weak and fragile Alicent. She has gained power in the court (she always wears green, by the way, so we understand that her spirit of war has not decreased) and she does not hesitate to look for allies to strengthen her place and leave her opponents off the board. who was her friend. She is aware of the fury that arouses in the queen and she will try to protect herself from her attacks.
Alicent’s attacks
But how could Alicent attack Rhaenyra? Well, with her own children. The delivery that we have attended is that of the third offspring of the princess and, like the previous ones, she is born with dark hair, without a trace of the particular platinum color of the Targaryens and the Velaryions. The queen is quick to point it out, despite the fact that it is a taboo subject in the Red Keep. Perhaps because everyone knows why. The spectators soon find out, as soon as we are aware of the complicity that exists between the heir to the Throne and Harwin Strong, a member of the Royal Guard. Rumors that the princess’s three children, Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey, are actually her faithful knight rather than her husband threaten her future, including her heir status.
Alicent is desperate at the attitude of King Viserys, who refuses to acknowledge his daughter’s dalliances and prefers to live in lies. Meanwhile, she insists on keeping her children together (she has also been the mother of a girl) and on convincing her eldest, Aegon, to act like a future king and not like a spoiled brat. Beside her are Ser Criston Cole, who finds himself in a fight with Harwin Strong; and Larys Strong, who goes further and schemes so that her father and her brother end up dying burned by a fire in her castle. They are allies of the green side, since we already see that they have no scruples to get what they want. Faced with the stalking of these, Rhaenyra decides to take refuge with her people in Dragon Rock.
Rhaenyra, her husband, and their newborn son. /
The other neuralgic point of the chapter is located in Pentos. Daemon Targaryen and his wife, Laena Velaryon, who is pregnant, stay there as guests. They already have two daughters together. And these do have blonde hair. Here there is no doubt about its origin. The problems in this couple lie in what each one expects from life. While he is seduced by living in a free city, far from the power struggles of Westeros, she wishes to return home so that her future child can be raised in the place where she grew up. However, the birth will not go as it should and the baby refuses to come out, which puts both of them in danger. Aware of this, Laena makes a painful decision, to end her life. And she will do it with the help of her dragon, Vhagar, the greatest of those who remain alive. The animal will obey the order of her mistress and will end up burning her.
Possibly this has been the episode in which the dragons have had a greater role so far this season. Not only because of Vhagar, that legendary beast that we had heard about but had not seen and that flying alongside Caraxes, Daemon’s dragon, provides an unforgettable show. But also by Vermax, a still small animal that is being trained so that Rhaenyra’s eldest son will be her rider. We have also learned that Aemond, Alicent’s second son, does not have a dragon (not all the eggs hatch) and that makes him an object of ridicule by his brother.
‘The House of the Dragon’ has definitely found its tone. It goes more directly to the events than her predecessor did, who preferred to go around more. Here the conflicts are tackled immediately and in a simple way (too even). The series is in a hurry to present all the characters and their motivations so that the fight between green and black breaks out as soon as possible. The king has nothing left and everyone must be prepared for what that will mean.
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