Ryan Shoots First: House of the Dragon (S1 Ep5) “We Light the Way”
No one does a wedding like Westeros! As we head into the final episode before the big time jump we continue to build the foundation for what will divulge into the Dance of Dragons. After last Week Rhanyra and Lanor have been betrothed and this week they get a chance to take a nice troll by the beach and make a perfect plan that surly will hold perfect and not fall apart before this episode even ends!
The climactic finale of this episode takes place at the start of a week long feast leading to the wedding of the two. This scene is a masterclass in sewing dread and telling a story in sheer performance. The way people look at each other without saying a word and we as the viewer know exactly what’s going on is amazing. It’s a testament to the amazing performances given by this cast and its a shame a handful of them will not be returning after next week. It’s one person after another stealing the show as Alicent steps out to stake a claim on her own as a hightower, Daemon once again simply not understanding what “exile” means, to secret lovers not being able to hold that secret for more than a day. It’s bold as we have really grown attached to them and to make such a jolting change mid season will be interesting to see unfold.
It’s hard not to make comparisons to this show and Rings of Power that is running at the same time and while yes Rings of Power is breathtakingly beautiful and a spectacle to see it just seems so hollow to me when compared to the humanity and complexity House of the Dragon puts on display while yes still be beautiful from a cinematography aspect. This world just feels more real and lived in and yes dirty. On Rings of Power someone has their throat slit and all we see is some dry blood on their neck that never even runs down.
Still the fuse has been lit, the sides have largely been drawn and next week will see players move into the next phase of this Dance of Dragons.
Observations
- Ok they MAY need some couples therapy
- That a boy Lionel, Hand as you should be
- Significant moment there as Otto called her Daughter… up until now he has called her “Your grace”
- You would think these two could bond over their love of model kingdoms!
- High Tide is a pretty baller great hall.
- I’m gonna miss Milly Alcock
- I don’t want to make this a competition with Rings of Power but man the acting is so far superior in this show.
- The utter annoyance the Targaryns have for the Lanisters is so funny when compared to the absolute respect that name will command in a few hundred years.
- This whole scene has set the record for prolonged gazes in a scene.
- And that is what we call Overplaying your hand.
- Shot of the week Criston by the werewood tree
