Liked that one a lot. That post-eye scene with everyone, whew! Tense af. It's really nice having all of the characters in one room unlike GoT where they're scattered all over the world. Literally every character's storyline was playing out in one location, it was great

I spoiled myself on Laenor's fate in the books this week and couldn't believe we were already there in this ep. But then that reveal. That was a nice surprise, even though they barely gave us anytime at all to actually process his death lol. But still, after his nice convo with Rhaenyra I would've been pissed if she really did order his death. Would've made her so unrootable since I like Laenor. I WAS surprised by how cutthroat she was being so I'm pretty glad it was all a ruse. Though I fear Daemon may not love the Laenor/Qarl loose thread and might tie that up quietly on his own

Poor Viserys trying to hold the whole family together

So glad Criston was like.....uhhh yeah I'm just here to protect you, I'm not about to stab out a kid's eye

man I just feel so bad for Corlys/Rhaenys. Genuinely a good couple and now as far as they know their entire bloodline has been wiped out

was very glad that it was revealed as a ruse as well. I would've definitely had some complaints on SUCH a sudden heelturn (I mean they still killed a guy but still). But in hindsight the fire/water speech did kinda spell it out, I was p confused why that dialogue was included the first time

I liked how Aemond immediately became a dick after he got the dragon lol. Pretty believable! I'm liking the scenes with the kids more than I thought I would

Really my only complaint (besides some things still being rushed) is I feel like all the charm that Rhaenyra had has evaporated after the actor change. Alcock's performance had lots of SPUNK whereas D'Arcy has made her much more stoic. Some of that could be explained away as her becoming a mother (and just older in general) but idk. I guess it's just something to get adjusted to but I doubt I'll ever PREFER this version of the character. That said I did like the scene with her egging Alicent on, some solid acting/writing there

Curtis @ 2/10/2022 22:10

So glad Criston was like.....uhhh yeah I'm just here to protect you, I'm not about to stab out a kid's eye

Criston's still a dick but I was pleasantly surprised by that lol. I thought he just might go for the FULL spurned lover revenge and do it to spite Rhaenyra

Kids scenes were the highlight of the episode. This is the first time I’ve probably ever said that about a tv show or movie. Well done kids!

The whole funeral, and the conversations after were great in the stories they were telling. Really compelling. The stuff with the kids was well done, too, and the confrontation of the adults after was a joy to watch. Bringing everyone together for these family events where things boil over, I felt it was done best here in this one. Really solid episode. I'm enjoying the drama of it all.

Me during the dragon scene: Eat him! Eat him! Eat him!

When they started to fly: Fall off! Fall off! Fall off!

Why would Daemon allow one of Allicent's kids to bond with his wife's dragon? Wouldn't he have had his daughter attempt to bond with it? They spent so long with his inspirational flight, am I supposed to be rooting for this character? Oops. Oh, no, he's still an asshole, and he loses an eye for being an asshole :lol: :heart: If they're gonna make everyone assholes, at least we'll eventually have some deaths to look forward to, right?

Rhaenyra comes off as ridiculous given what her motives and goals are. I don't understand how she could not keep trying to have her husband's child given the importance she put on duty in earlier episodes. Like if her kids were his by blood, then she becomes someone who a grave injustice is being done to, and becomes top tier rootable for the audience, and old farts in Westeros might even view her reign as whatever, seeing as she'll pass it down to her son eventually. The show clearly doesn't want any of them to be rootable, though. Bah! Whatever. Keep the balancing act and have me wish failure on them all... ?! ?!

Issues aside, there were so many amazing scenes this episode.

yeah the Rhaenyra/Laenor thing confuses me too. Like neither of you has to LIKE it, but you're literally putting your kids and your own lives at risk for not going through with it as a duty

I know that's also the case in the book, but it's still hard to believe they wouldn't have made it more of a priority and KEPT TRYING. In the book it was already obvious that her kids were bastards since they inexplicably had brown hair, but now in the show it's both the hair AND the skin color that's a giveaway. I did like how they had Aegon point out how laughably obvious it is