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Happy Friday Folks!

Hope you're all having a great day thus far! This was such a fun week and I can't wait to be wrapping up this first season soon!

For those of you that want to hang later for some cozy games, come swing by this livestream at 11am PST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA3oNnCnD-8 

Thanks for your support here on Patreon! Take care and stay golden :) 

LINK FOR THE EPISODE: https://youtu.be/w3CaCOFWD0k 

Original Series: House of the Dragon

*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. All rights belong to their respective owners.

Comments

John

The fact that Rhaenyra and Daemon didnt plan to kill Laenor but just how to make it look like he died solidifies Rhaenyra for me. I seriously think Alicent, and furthermore her father are the reason for all the bullshit and its their fault. She is too damn bitter by her situation and raised her kids to feel entitled.

Darryl Low

Happy Friday Nat. Excited to watch more Dragons today, and looking forward to some Disney fun later on 🤗 What a tweest at the end Nat 😄 This was a cool episode and it was a fun reaction. "By her best friend. The ultimate soap opera drama" ha ha awesome Nat. GOT had The Hound and HOTD has The Hand 😄 Thanks for an awesome video today Nat, and as always, thanks for all your great Dragons work this week. Can't wait to watch the livestream tonight, and to see more dragons, Stranger Things and The Terminator next week. Going to be so much fun to see your reaction to that movie. Have a brilliant weekend Nattie G 💛

Danishprince

What a week this has been! Don't think you've ever gotten through a season this fast :D

Andy

Hope you're enjoying the show! I'm kinda glad you're powering through this. I don't enjoy the GoT universe at all, and can't wait for Stranger Things S4!

Tony Mandler

When are going to watch movies again I haven't watched anything with you in a month because you are watching things I'm not interested in?

Danishprince

You can't really blame her for watching stuff that you yourself doesn't have an interest in lol. 4 movies in a month is what she usually does

Tony Mandler

No what she usually did was a movie on Monday and Friday and shows on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. And I'm not complaining I was asking a question about when she was going to watch more movies.

Steve J

I'm guessing soon since we just voted on what movie to watch (Terminator)

Steve J

curious to see if you find this episode as miserably dark as a lot of people did. For some reason they decided to turn the episode into night despite being mostly filmed in bright sunlight (you can see a lot of the kids squinting in the sun it's so bright, lol). This episode has some of the coolest dragon shots ever on the show and they're just turned to black for seemingly no reason other than "it's artistic"

Rey

Man youre flying through this , just 3 tongo

Erik Stevenson

Aemond was definitely legitimately scared of Vhagar because Targaryen's are not fireproof (Laena was half Targaryen as well).

Ashleep

Daemon picked up on the fact that Corlys' brother was using the funeral opportunity to undermine Rhaenyra, so he laughed to distract/belittle him in turn.

Danishprince

She hasn't done 2 movies per week in many, many months lol Her schedule for the longest time were shows on Monday, Tuesday and Thurday with a poll on Wednesday and a movie on Friday.

Dante

It was actually more of an issue with the post production and the interaction with HDR. Depending on the TV/Monitor settings the episode can look really good it’s just for a majority of people it really conflicted with their settings and didn’t look as intended. Definitely still a big issue and a poor execution of day for night but some people have reported having no issues with the scenes.

Tony Mandler

It's okay It's not worth arguing about I was just asking a question.

Lee Gannon

This episode was filmed in Cornwall, England.

ButtyOh

Yup Aegon and Helaena are betrothed to marry. Aemond isn't but that's only because their only other sibling is a lad called Daeron, who's off learning in Oldtown

ButtyOh

I hurt my face facepalming at the Daenerys comment

devin flynn

If i can throw a suggestion your way, finish House, before picking up on the season 4 of stranger things, because you'll definitely want to power through it.

Chris Lane- Venturi 3D

I feel bad for the post production people, it's clear the opening several minutes were super sunny and they had to make it look overcast and dark, but doesn't quite work for me. Strange thing to comment on I know...other than that, great episode as always

devin flynn

Also Nat if you didn't notice The King called the queen bu his old wives name

ButtyOh

Aemond was 100% in the right. A dragon isn't a horse, when a rider dies it doesnt just automatically go to their kids A dragon goes to whoever has enough courage to claim it and try to ride them. Like Aemond did. Laena's daughter had a month (or so) to try the same thing For example, before Laena rode her Vhagar was wild for years. But before that her rider was Baelon the Brave, Viserys and Daemons father

devin flynn

and that mark on skin, is from his entrance to the war with the crabs when he was shot by a flaming arrow, its a burn scar

Erik Stevenson

I mean Targaryen's aren't immune to regular fire either; Jon Snow burns his hand as a plot point early on in GOT season 1. Dany was fireproof but she's the rare exception and my limited understanding is that it magical/supernatural in some way that is unique to her.

devin flynn

Daemon chokes a guard and breaks his neck in a quick montage and that's who ended up in the fire. That why they said We will know the truth (that they actually set laenor free to live his best life in Essos) while Rhay will get the husband she 'deserves' to have. She isn't stupid she makes great decisions for the realm, but the ones that seem bad are the personal life choices she makes which SHOULDNT be anyone concern but it is since she is Hier

Dante

Unfortunately doesn’t seem like Nat is reading comments on this series. Quite a few people have pointed out things she has been confused about or missed but she still continues to be confused about them in the next episodes. That or she’s just watching it so fast that the episodes are being recorded before she has a chance to read previous comments. Hopefully after the season ends she can pick up on some of the stuff she missed/was confused about.

ISeeTrees ofGreen

laenor isnt dead nat, dont worry. The burnt body was that of the guard that daemon killed. They staged his death and laenor ran away with the guy across the sea to live together

ISeeTrees ofGreen

lmao forgot they revealed it at the end but yeah, i completely missed that that was laenor because i didnt recognize him shaved the first time i watched this

Kate Herzig

I will say this, if there is one decision I don't like that they changed from the book, is that Rhaenys had dark hair that had silver streaks in it so when Rhaenyra's sons have dark hair, it's a little more of a shield against the rumors. I wish they had kept that as she is also related to the Baratheons. The Velaryon's are white in the book, but I love the change. And as someone with family members of mixed race, their skin color doesn't always dictate that. So I'd have any easier time believing that, had they kept Rhaenys' dark hair. That will bother me forever, but it is what it is at this point.

proxlars

Natalie, been loving the quick pace of these reactions. Can't wait for Episode 8, I think it was one of the top 5 episodes of GoT of all time. In my opinion, Daemon does not lust for power and he never really has... in interviews, Matt Smith and Paddy Considine have stated this was their understanding of the character's motivation, too. Viserys matured thanks to the influence of his wife Aemma and the responsibility of the crown once he was made King. Before that, he used to carouse around with Daemon. Daemon misses his brother, and he wants his brother to miss him, and need him. From the first episode, Daemon expressed he was hurt that Viserys always seemed to be sending him away, never keeping him by his side as his #1, which Daemon believes he is best suited for because he is Viserys' brother and he loves his brother. He has always loved Rhaenyra and wanted her - in a general Targaryen, incest-y kind of way. He took her to the brothel hoping that, yes, it would serve as a ploy to get Viserys to accept them if no other lord would have her, and he fully intended to have sex with her, but when she looked up at him with so much trust in her eyes, he couldn't go through with it, she was so young. As he told her in this episode, she was a child and he was sparing her. I also listened to a podcast with Paddy Considine and he had an interesting interpretation of Viserys. He said it really bothers him when people call Viserys weak and that in his view, he isn't weak. Yes, he's a man and he makes mistakes, like giving in to his personal desire to marry Alicent... but that Viserys views Aegon's dream as paramount, and that he has no more important duty than to maintain unity in the realm, to promote peace - to make sure they are ready for the coming storm. He doesn't play the games the other lords play, positioning for power and squabbling over minor matters... what does any of that matter compared to what he views as a legitimate prophecy concerning the doom of everyone and everything? It may be naive and unfortunate that he doesn't engage more with their politicking and gamesmanship... but his reasons are noble, at least - from a certain point of view. Anyways... I think next episode, Episode 8, is the best episode of the season, and one of my Top 5 episodes of all of GoT, personally. I think you'll see both Daemon and Viserys in a different light. Two brothers estranged by circumstance, time and their own mistakes - but who love each other all the same. Can't wait to see your reaction.

G. T. Blackwell

After seven episodes I'm really having issues with this show. There's no character I sympathize with at all. I basically want all these characters to meet a Red Wedding style demise. Is there someone I'm supposed to be rooting for? Moreover, I think we knew about the white walkers by this point in GOT and as of yet I don't know what this show is *about* other than what color hair the person on the throne will have. And I want all these people dead so I'm not very invested in that question.

Ariana Mitchell

i mean totally a dick move to not even give the girl a night to mourn before claiming vhagar but aemond rightfully claimed her. too bad he got the biggest ego from it

Ariana Mitchell

he quite literally instigated all that shit. jace wouldn't have whipped out the knife if aemond wasn't threatening to hit everyone with a rock

FullMetal B

You forgot they revealed it...so you were just spoiling it then? Lol

Jenny Tolls

I think you should just finish the show next week. There's only 3 episodes left so might as well just finish it off.

ButtyOh

Theres like a 3-4 week time jump between the end of episode 6 and the start of episode 7. She had tonnes of time to try and claim Vhagar. The craven just didnt have the backbone to attempt it

Nick Luce

He put the rock down, THEN Jace pulled out the knife. Rewatch it. Both the girls charged at him first, he just defended himself

Pat_Bez

Isn't that the plan? Wheres ST4 and other things?

Ariana Mitchell

he didn't put the rock down, he hit jace with it. jace pulled the knife after aemond was choking luke, broke his nose and told him he was gonna burn him. i rewatched it.

Myles Away

That is exactly what I love about the characters. I hate how so many series or movies bend over backwards to make people likeable. These characters are interesting because they're layered and flawed.

Nick Luce

I really don’t think you did. He literally doesn’t hit anyone with it. He only picks it up after they beat the shit out of him 4 on 1. Then he chokes and threatens Luke with the rock, puts it down, then jace pulls the knife. Try watching again.

Nick Luce

He hits jace with the rock after he pulls the knife, but that’s totally justified

Kate Herzig

No. Rhaena charged, then he pushed her THEN Baela punched him. She wasn't charging. Then it just became a mess, but the girls stopped. I love Aemond as a character, but he's being an asshole here. I mean Luke is TINY and he's holding him by the throat and coming at him with a rock?! Then he went to murder Jace?! In reality, this is on the parents for passing their bullshit on to their kids, but none of the kids are blameless here.

Dante

To be fair I think it's more on you that you don't know what this show is about by now. It's very clear at this point in the story.

Nick Luce

I just think we’re watching different scenes here or something, and it’s not worth arguing over.

Eddie Green

Every time I see someone with this complaint I'm struck by their relative lack of empathy. Is moral ambiguity really all it takes to bring out murderous intent? I'm glad I'm not like that, seems like it's quite likely to be lonely.

Jules

Listen, all I’ll say is the point of Dance with Dragons is that there are no heroes.

Ariana Mitchell

he shouldn't have pushed or punched the girls in the first place. that's what made jace feel like he had to step in. aemond was being a huge ass, so baela charged him, and he pushed her even though he physically outnumbers all of them. you can see that in the way he fought them all off

jamie jones

You not knowing what the show is about by this point says more about you than the show

Marty McGee

I'm with you about honestly not liking any of these characters much. It's a great show, nicely written, shot, and acted. But there are very few redeeming qualities with all of them. I feel much the same way about this show as I did Mad Men. As well done as it was, after a while, I just didn't want to watch those characters anymore. At least GoT did have some good characters to root for. They were flawed sure, but still likable.

Dani

I am happy someone is finally with me on this lol. Rhaenyra makes stupid decisions and is super reckless. Alicent is honorable and smart and she has the right to question Viserys' decision to name Rhaenyra heir. Team green all the way.

Shadowen

Not sure if it got mentioned, but Daemon's laughter during the funeral is to distract from what Vaemond is saying. Vaemond is insinuating Rhaenyra's children are bastards with all the talk of blood running true. He's not laughing at Laena's death itself, but to cause a 'scene' and change the subject.

Mango Maniac

Dany is not fireproof in the books, it was only the magical event of Drogo's funeral/the hatching of her dragons where the fire did not burn her. The show decided to make it a full time thing and made her fireproof 24/7

Mango Maniac

No one was really in the right here, just kids being kids. Although it is pretty obvious that Aemond was not the one that got physical first. Rhaena charged at him first so he obviously pushed her away, and then Baela punched him so he punched her back.

Mango Maniac

I wouldn't really call Alicent honorable as she did go behind her friends back and seduced the king. Also she's definitely not too smart either, it took her like 20 years and the death of Viserys to finally realize she was just a pawn being used by Otto. She does do her duty without causing fuss which is something I can't really say for Rhaenyra, and I agree with you that she is reckless and stupid at times. It's hard for me to choose a side but I think I'm team Black simply because I enjoy the character of Daemon the most.

Richard Maurer

I had zero issues watching this, saw everything. Maybe the people who have a problem need to fix the screens they're watching it on. It wasn't like GoT s8e3 that everyone had a problem seeing.

Chris H

Or he is laughing at the morbid fact that Vaemond would use the funeral speech to push his political agenda.

Richard Maurer

Well at least it isn't Rings of Power, where almost nothing comes from the books.

Kate Herzig

Alicent married a man that is attracted to women. Rhaenyra married a gay man that couldn't give her heirs. She had to have children to strengthen her succession. I don't fault her for that. This could have been avoided twice. Had Lyonel actually offered up Harwin instead of Laenor for Rhaenyra or had Viserys let Daemon marry Rhaenyra. Alicent, whether she meant to or not, is partially responsible for the deaths of Lyonel and Harwin and god knows how many others. She's indoctrinated in the patriarchy. I wouldn't call her honorable. I'd call her a victim of manipulation. Does Rhaenyra mess up? Yes. Of course. She's in a really shitty situation, but at least she's trying to make her own path instead of falling victim to the men around her.

Kate Herzig

I love that moment because you can read it so many different ways and they're all probably right. He's grieving, he's annoyed, he's protecting those boys, he's also just over it. The politics and the fakeness. Matt is so good.

Kate Herzig

I mean, they don't have the rights for that material with Rings of Power and honestly, I'm not the person to complain to. I enjoyed it for what it was. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Nikolai Brubach

Honorable? She gets the Stongs killed. If she had any honor she would turn in Larys. Smart? Does she really think her son (Mr. jerk it in the window) would be a better ruler? Like another person said she tried to have kids with Leanor. It didn't work. She needed heirs so she got them how she could.

Nick Luce

I forgot, boys aren’t allowed to defend themselves, sorry you’re right

Rich House

Is it down to the post production people? It's the same director of GOT season 8 'The long night' episode. I think maybe Miguel Sapochnik just likes things super dark.

John Cedar

"Alicent is honorable" HAHAHAHA no. She stayed silent on Larys' kinslaying because she thought he might be useful to her one day. She doesn't give a single shit about her children and has looked apathetic to them and handed them off to the wet nurses in literally every scene. And next episode, there is something she does that is beyond hypocritical and wrong. So no, she doesn't have honor. She just "hides behind the cloak of her righteousness", exactly like Rhaenyra says in this episode.

Brian Jones

"It's glaringly obvious how sleazy he is." - Oh you sweet summer child.....lol

G. T. Blackwell

I have empathy but none of these characters are real enough to me for it to kick in. Having thought it over, if something on the level of the Red Wedding were to happen in this show, there isn't a character whose death would affect me the way those GoT characters did. Hell, not six months ago a movie about two anthropomorphic shells brought me to tears but for these characters I feel absolutely nothing. It just feels empty. It may be the fact that, because I already watched GoT, the stakes are necessarily lower. I know the Targaryen's hold throne until Robert's Rebellion. Getting from here to there just feels like busy work. I'm giving it until the end of the season but that's based on nothing more than my enjoyment of Nat's reactions.

Richard Maurer

I have no problem with people who enjoyed RoP - I don't understand it, but have no problem. But all I can say is if can't get the rights to a book you shouldn't try to base a series on it.

Yani Dodge

I kinda noticed that too. I think I saw it when Aemond was meeting Vhagar, it looked like it was filmed during the day and then darkened. But yeah, this is a great episode!

Yani Dodge

Only a few more left! I'd love for you to finish this season next week :) Great reaction, I was waiting for you to freak out about Laenor, I was kinda feeling the same the first time I watched it :P

Thomas Richter

I knew they burned some nobody, because of the wording about a quick death and setting him free and because they made sure the body was unidentifiable. But Your reaction was priceless at the end 😂

John

The whole daemon wants power is not true. If he did, he could’ve easily taken the crown when he has corlys/his ships, the gold cloaks who’s loyal to daemon, and had laena with vhagar. That would’ve easily taken kings landing if he wanted power. He loves his family and everything he does is to get his brother attention and he is mad because viserys never saw him good enough to be his hand of the king. Daemon was ok to be in pentos with leana and there daughters and not having to deal with the backstabbing succession and politics, but his neice asked him to help her and that’s what he’s gonna do. He’s not gonna challenge her for the crown because that was never his goal.

Sonny Smith

In the scene following the kid-fight; Rhyneara opens with calling her son’s legitimacy in question is ‘high treason’ the penalty of which is death. She expects Alicent has been telling her children and Rhyneara is making a play to get Alicent executed. Then Rhyneara says that Aemond must be ‘sharply questioned’ to find out where he heard that. ‘Sharply questioned’ means tortured for information, that’s why Alicent immediately looks horrified and says ‘over an insult?’ Only after all of that did Alicent start getting vicious. Rhyneara was the instigator of all of that but few people seem to understand it that way. Alicent asking for an eye in return only after all of Rhyneara’s overtures was way more humane than what Rhyneara was asking for. Very few people survive being ‘sharply questioned’ and when they do they are maimed for life and often wish for death.

Sonny Smith

Well thankfully Sapochik got shown the door, so hopefully we won’t have to deal with all of his various BS anymore; including making episodes way to dark and then blaming the fans of the show for it.

TwistedMagoo

Allicent's response was still incredibly stupid, since there was of course a 0% chance the king's son was going to be tortured and, as she witnessed, the king asking him questions was as far as it went. Indeed, it's clear that what set her off was less Rhaenyra's provocations...than the king declaring the matter equitably settled. Allicent prefers to manipulate events from the shadows, and when she realized she couldn't, she lost her temper and took action.

Kate Herzig

I guess I can see why they would want to though. People really love these books and if given the chance, I totally get wanting to play in that world. I can understand not liking it, but man oh man I loved any scene Durin and Elrond were in together. I had issues with it, but I try to find the good in most things so I'm easier to please.

Kate Herzig

But the Red Wedding was 3 seasons in. I guess my question is what is it about someone like Rhaenyra that people find no sympathy for? I think adult Rhaenyra is extremely likeable. Her having children outside her marriage shouldn't make her unlikable. How many GoT characters did that and we still liked them? She hasn't done anything yet that would make her unlikeable. She also loves and accepts Laenor for who he is. She then sets him free. And yes. An innocent dude died and that sucks, but that's also just this world. We saw so many innocent people die in GoT and yet we still liked those characters. Viserys is also quite likeable. He hates himself for what happened to Aemma. He should and he does. I think that the fact the feels guilt even almost 20 years later, shows us he's a good man at heart. And while his marrying Laena over Alicent could have prevented all of this, Robb married for love when he should have married for the realm and that's what caused the Red Wedding! He got so many people killed! I also think Corlys and Rhaenys are fantastic characters and pretty easy to root for. I find sympathy for Alicent at times, I have a shit ton of fun watching Daemon be a chaotic mess, and I think the next three epsiodes do a lot to make these characters more likeable. Episode 8 is a tour de force for Paddy and Emma really gets to shine too. Plus some cool moments for the kids.

S1lm4r1l

I mean, if 4 people attack you, start punching and kicking you, wouldn't you grab a rock to defend yourself?

RationallySassy

Glad to see a lot of opinions on the show. I'm glad Nat realized she was being overly harsh towards Rhyneara beforehand. I honestly don't think she made That many bad decisions. She made one or two when she was a teen, which many of us have. But she genuinely loves her children, her children have turned out well (IMO), she is open and kind towards her husband despite their issues and wanted happiness for them both, she has attempted to reconcile with Alicient at least once so far, and has offered some strategic moves to Alicent that she has ignored or refused. And we haven't even finished the season yet. I love Rhyneara's heart and want of equality and freedom while living in these times. I feel bad for Alicent of course and have sympathy for her but she is by no means perfect either.

Joe Blankenship

Are the OG Star Wars reactions not on here anymore?

Shaun Myers

MOOOOORRRREEEE ‘JESSICA JONES’ lol 😂👌🏾💯🔥🔥🔥🔥

Pat_Bez

MOOOOOMOOOOORRR'STRANGER THINGS' lol 🤣 💯 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

Richard Maurer

How about more Jessica Jones after she finishes Stranger Things?....And I'm not doing all those emojis.

infpleo

any skam fans here, asking for a friend

Skizane

I think it's interesting how a bunch of people in this comment section are complaining about how they don't like the show because they can't find any characters they like so they can root for them. I'm also noticing that everybody's arguing about who they support between Alicent and Rhaenyra and why. I think that's the point, guys. Two women set on a collision course with each other, both completely convinced that they must be the one in control of who takes the throne and that they must keep the other off of it. Throw in their mother's instinct to protect their children from each other and you've got all the elements of a vicious war that will never end until one or perhaps both of them is dead. And I'll bet that everybody just gets more and more entrenched on who they support as things go on, and both of these characters will handle things with a certain personality that will divide viewers into camps. It's already started in the comments here, just look around.

JC Evitt

Hi Nat, this will CONTAIN NO SPOILERS as I was hoping to clarify a few things for you that I have noticed may be a little confusing and/or just blatantly not present in the show so please feel free to take a look at these points if you're interested and don't want to be spoiled: Targaryen Incest: Targaryens tend to populate their own lines with one another to quite literally keep the blood of the dragon which in the books is likely far more meaningful than in the shows. The dragons may in fact have 3 heads in itself referring to the Rider, the Dragon and the Ancestor (ancient sacrificed dragonlords that have had their essence or whatever placed in the dragons which is why certain people can tame a dragon and others cannot due to them being tied to that ancestory. Though, this is technically only theory but there is significant evidence. Also, another cool point of interest, Jaehaerys the Conciliator (the Old King, the king before Viscerys who is Rhaenyra's dad actually put in place an edict across all of Westeros that basically Targaryens are above gods and men and with that, it should allow them to marry brother and sister to one another (it was a big contention point when he was coming to the throne when he wanted to marry his sister Alysanne but the Septons saw this as disgusting and vile so there was a big rift with that situation! Targaryen Lineage: I have no idea what else I was going to say because after I wrote that first part, I reached my TOO FAR drunk stage and so all else I shall say is that Targaryens don't always have silver hair (or purple eyes as in the book, fuck I wish Targaryens had purple eyes in the shows) based upon whatever parentage they share. They also do not have invincibility to fire at all (Sorry Aerion...) as it is just a creation for the show. Thsoe last two points I have 0 clue as to if you had questions about their volatility as like I said, Im drunk at an inopportune time. :)

Mango Maniac

This is very true, with the Velaryons on his side, specifically after marrying Laena, Daemon could have taken the throne from his brother anytime he wanted. Daemon's side would have 4 powerful dragons (Daemon and Caraxes, Laena and Vhagar, Rhaenys and Meleys, Laenor and Seasmoke), I'm mentioning Laenor here because if Corlys decided to back Daemon for the throne Laenor would follow his fathers command even if he was married to Rhaenyra. Compared to that Viserys side would only have Rhaenyra and Syrax, literally any one of the 4 dragons I mentioned (apart from maybe Seasmoke) could easily destroy Syrax.

Cripkie

Game of thrones had more cultural diversity is probably what they mean. There were episodes in the north, across the narrow sea. I wasnt all just about the politics of kings landing.

Richard Maurer

@ Craig - That is the point of this show (so far), it's all about the Targaryens, But as the last episode showed we will be most likely be seeing more of the other houses in the next season.

G. T. Blackwell

(Quick disclaimer: Because I've been travelling for work, I have yet to watch the final three episodes of the season.) If this show really is just going to be about who will be sitting on the throne, there needs to be a character that I *want to see* sitting on the throne. Otherwise there's no reason for me to invest (a significant amount of) my time on seeing it through to the end. And if there were a deeply flawed character that I could nevertheless get behind because of their qualities as a leader/ruler, all the better. So far, I haven't seen one. And we've seen roughly twenty years of these characters' lives in the first seven episodes! As of yet, it's been a real struggle to discern any growth or arc to any of them, let alone leadership qualities. I was *this close* to rooting for the kid that overcame their fear and rode that dragon (because, ooh, character growth!) but the show immediately made him just as insufferable as every other character. (And I imagine, based on other comments on this episode, that the response would be something along the lines of him having no choice, it was four on one, etc., but he did have a choice: he could turn around and go back to the *giant dragon* he just bonded with and flip them all a big, figurative, fiery middle finger and what exactly could they do about it? But he didn't. Instead he nearly beat a smaller kid to death with a rock in a fit of sociopathy on par with Ender Wiggin.) A show can bring me all the deeply damaged characters it can muster and as long as it gives me a reason to *care* I'll be right there with it. So far this just feels empty. The show could have started with this episode and I can't think of a single thing from the prior six that I would miss. This could change after I watch the last three episodes of the season. I'm open to that, which is why I'm finishing out the season, but at this point I'm not holding out much hope.

Aj

They did that, it's Rhaenyra. She is the one they were betting on the fans loving. If you don't want her on the throne by the end of this season then you're shit out of luck. In the books, she is a lot less likeable, so you're not really left with anyone to root for because most of them are scum.

Aj

Why is falling victim to the men around you any worse than falling victim to your own whims and desires? In the show, Rhaenyra is just as lame as Alicent is, as a person. Also, why does she vacillate between victim and evil schemer so often? Seems weird to me for the show to do that.

Aj

Tbh, if a woman attacked me for claiming what is rightfully mine, I would deck her, too, no doubt about it.

Guy-on-Couch

I don't have a problem with him claiming Vhagar but he didn't have to act like a dickbag as soon as he got off...His ego grew too big when that dragon took off..

Jayson Orlando

Dragons have one rider and one rider only until that ride dies... There's no sharing lol. And he's not a dragon whisperer that's how you get a dragon to listen to you and follow your command "Dohaeris" which means obey and Valyrian, we didn't get a chance to learn all this nor did we know about saddles when Daenerys had her dragon because she didn't have the luxury of having dragon keepers or a dragon pit or any kind of knowledge and how to ride a dragon or take care of it. So she didn't know unless her dragons were instantly bonded to her when they were born but only riding one which is why she never attempted to ride the other two. They might not have burned her or trying to at least but they wouldn't have let her on.

Nine Anutza

in the books the parentage of rhaenyra's kids wasn't that questioned like in the show because Rhaenys is half baratheon and in the books has black hair with white stripe, so the fact that the kids had black hair wasn't as questioned becuase it could have been because their grandmother has black hair, so many people gave their versions of what they think happened in writing the book that no one is to be believed, and the show in the writers and george himself since he co created the show what happens here is the true version of events and not what people say is what happens...is one of the many conconversations ive had with my friends at work who also loved game of thrones and now are obsessed with house of the dragon like me...ive enjoyed watching your reactions and finally at the fullest being a patreon....

Raven Sub

Alicent wanting Luke's eye in exchange was wrong and crazy but her anger at what happened to her son and Viserys' handling of it is 100% justified. What mother wouldn't be livid that her son has been maimed? And that there will be no consequences? (Of course the one she demands is extreme). Aemond said some hurtful shit but that didn't justify getting assaulted and then jumped by 4 people. If Luke picked up the blade in self defense, Aegon picked up the rock in that too. Except he never used it even when he had plenty of time to. I just think the whole situation is a lot more nuanced than just one is wrong and the other is right.

Vargr

I know this reply is late, Aemond did use the rock on Jace, granted he was swinging at him with a knife, but when Aemond raised that rock in the air as if he was gonna continue beating Jace with it, Little Luke, who is a child, took that as an attack against his brother, and used the knife to slash aemond's eye as an act of defence.