Ryan Shoots First: House of the Dragon (S1 Ep9) “The Green Council”
It’s penultimate episode in Westeros time! The king is dead, long live the king. Game of Thrones became known for the penultimate episodes being the best and this is a great episode, high on tension as the plan unfolds but it does lack that gut punch we’ve seen in the past. There is a big moment at the end but nothing like “Hardhome” or the explosion of the Sept of Baelor, but with that said the finale next week looks to have a lot of dragon action.
The tension across this week is a race to find Aegon who has snuck away in the streets of the city unaware he will be crowned king in moments. Of course, the conflict across this whole season has been King Vis’s wish for Rhanyra to take the throne following his death. So the Greens need to move fast to make their plays before word reaches Dragonstone. It is interesting to see the finish line right there in sight and even Alicent and Otto struggle to agree on a path to take forward. Otto ready to go scorched earth on anyone who may be a threat, and Alicent who still acts like murder is beneath her but yet it just keeps happening. Which somehow is worse, like she knows SOMEONE is going to kill her enemies so she can act like she wants to take the high road. Similar to her reaction to the death of the Strongs. Another interesting angle is the brothers Aegon and Aemond, Aegon has no desire to be king, and yet like Daemon his Black’s opposite, Aemond wants it, he’s trained and studied for it, and is annoyed his dumb brother stands in his way. History tells us that weird dynamic sure as hell won’t just go away with zero ramifications.
I couldn’t help but think as this episode was going on that we as nerd fans are eating good right now. Rings of Power just wrapped up strong, Andor has been amazing and we are on our way to a great finale of House of the Dragon next week. What a time to be alive!
Observations
- A lot made this week whether Alicent really believed Vis. I don’t think so, this was always going to be her play, she heard what she wanted to.
- Heck of a time to grow a backbone
- Man Criston needs what’s coming to him, maybe next week.
- Balls on Ser Harrold
- This poor girl Helana
- Gosh when music builds while power plays are being made is such a Thrones thing.
- Aemond doing his best Daemon cosplay with that hood.
- These Westerosi Boomers keeping their oaths… well done
- Dang on the list of effed-up stuff I’ve seen in this realm child fight pit is up there.
- Greens are racking up too many wins cmon now
- I thought they were all on the same side
- Otto acting like Vis didn’t adore his daughter more than anything
- Alicents face was like “Ugh this guy” with Laris
- What the heck all this for a dude with a foot fetish..
- Haha everyone seems really excited about the future
- Hey he gets to be just like his hero Daemon!
- I was just thinking “man as penultimate Thrones episodes go this has been light” as the Red Queen erupted from below.
- Damn in armor and everything, slay Queen.
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