I didn't like this episode. The show is tragedy after tragedy, everyone living in misery. Basically hell on Westeros. I get it. I, too, enjoy the intrigue and build up! Tons of people will love it. THIS tragedy, though, just felt pointless and obvious and wasn't well done.

If everyone is so convinced the realm will fall into chaos and war and that Rhaenyra might even have to put her siblings to the sword to quell such a thing... why on earth would the King be doing any of what he's doing given what his motivations are. I guess his thinking now is that House V will be strong enough to make others think twice before challenging her? Sure doesn't look like it.

"Will I be remembered as a good king." A laugh out loud moment. I love how this guy doesn't think he's been tested. He's peak clueless and delusional. But so true to character.

My biggest complaints: Episode ended with lord V wanting to marry her still... ?? ?? ?? Episode ended with Cole not being arrested, tortured, put on public display, and executed ?? ?? ?? Everyone just witnessed murder. When the episode ended with him alive and well, I pretty much grew to hate the episode. Makes no sense. You can't have him do that and get away with it. He's nothing and the powers around him would see him dead and punished. You want me to believe the Queen's protection spares him. I don't believe it.

A member of the Kingsguard, at a royal marriage feast, just killed another knight who was sworn to House Velaryon, one of the most powerful houses, AND HE ASSAULTED the heir to their house, and the future husband of the future ruler...

What? So badly handled. You can't write him doing that in that way and still existing in the show beyond it. Come on, writers.

I cannot be alone in this feeling.

The first four episodes were 8.5/9s out of 10 for me. This one, I don't even know. A 5 at most given the way they handled or didn't handle the murderer (he just walks away?), and the disrespect and ASSAULT against a member of the strongest house... he's free to exist in the world still? It's so incongruent with what we've seen of that house and how they respond to situations.