HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, 9/11/22, "The King of the Narrow Sea"

I am so glad they gave Matt Smith a normal haircut this episode.

Incest is best

Ser Criston's body is a disappointment, just as Daemon's was in the first episode.

But if they had gym bodies in medieval times I suppose it would be unrealistic.

Why does Daemon have no eyebrows? Not even white ones...

Ser Criston is a hot piece of ass.

Damn, the king gave his daughter some abortion juice.

Miscarriage smoothie

Plan B in medieval flavor

The abortion juice is called "moon tea," and was around during Game of Thrones.

Doctor Who looks much better tonight.

This episode was so much better than last week’s.

[quote] abortion juice

Abortifacient!

This was genuinely an exciting episode, and it was really benefited by not being in separate parts as the last episode was. Everything centered upon whether Daemon really wanted to be reunited with his brother (he didn't--he just wanted to make his life miserable again by fucking Rhaenyra, but he couldn't get hard to do it) and, more importantly ,how Rhaenyra would choose a husband.

I really like the complex relationships that have developed among Viserys, Daemon, Otto, and most important, Alicent and Rhaenyra. The latter two really love each other as old dear friends, but Alicent is so divided from everyone else by her position as Queen, and Rhaenyra by her position as heiress to the throne, that they are being slowly forced to turn against each other.

It was impressive to me this episode could be so gripping when there was almost no bloodshed (except at the beginning between the young claimant for Rhaenyra's hand and his mocker) and when there were no dragons.

IMO this was definitely the best episode so far.

Rhaenyra straight lying to Alicent's face, look at them adding some nice gray to her character. Also getting Cole to sleep with her was also morally gray, he seemed pretty resistant at first and ultimately he works for her.

Matt Smith is having so much fun as Daemon.

[quote] Rhaenyra straight lying to Alicent's face, look at them adding some nice gray to her character.

As the actress who plays Rhaenyra pointed out in the "Inside the Episode" feature afterwards. technically Rhaenyra wasn't lying: she didn't have sex with Daemon (which is what Alicent asked her--not whether she had sex with anyone else) because Daemon couldn't even get it up.

But, all the same, she was not being fully truthful with Alicent.

She said "Daemon never touched me" r15. That's a big lie, they didn't fuck but they made out and were feeling each other up.

Not upset about it, it's good, plants nice seeds for drama between these characters.

It was nice this episode to get out of the palace and see the people in the city.

And some full-frontal male nudity... two very nice cocks on display during that brothel/sex-den scene.

I hope there are screen caps at some point. One was obviously a gay man (preparing to go down on another man).

Gotta admit, the show is growing on me

Having read Fire and Blood I can assure people the past handful of episodes have been necessary to set the stage. Once the story takes flight (after a main character’s death) it’s going to be wild.

What a talky episode that was. So much drier than GoT, and I'm an ASOIAF reader so I don't mind some table setting. I might tune out if the next one is equally slow.

And to the poster who spoiled the gay character in the previous thread: kindly stop spoiling going forward, it's such a bummer when you do that.

Interesting that you didn't like this one r21. Yes it was talky, no fights or dragon battles but I thought this episode was gripping as hell and not dry at all.

All the character work was so much fun and well handled IMO.

R21, what spoilers do you speak of if you’re an avid ASOIAF reader?

This episode was great and I loved the chemistry between Daemon and Rhaenyra. I’m really enjoying this show a lot.

What r20 said!

Pennyroyal Tea

As a book reader I feel compelled to reassure people…

The past 4 episodes have had the difficult task of introducing all the key players in the Dance of the Dragons, while adding context as to why the civil war started.

Anyone who’s shocked by the events so far should get ready for what’s to come. Regardless of characters you like or hate at this point, your feelings will change when the whole story is told.

r26 is right. The civil war will be like the Red Wedding spread out over multiple seasons. By the end, you won’t have as many characters who survived Game of Thrones.

As a book reader myself, I feel compelled to ask other book readers to please stop hinting at things and let people enjoy the story as it unfolds onscreen.

You are really doing no one who has not read the book any favors by coyly hinting at things to come.

This one was like a porno.

r28, Oh Lady Mary!

I agree r28, it gets annoying to read.

R28, every single episode so far, casual viewers have found the most ridiculous bullshit to complain about. First it was showing a woman having a C-section…then it was a proposed proposal between an older man and a 12-year-old girl…then it was animal cruelty…now it’s incest.

I think it needs to be made perfectly clear that anyone who’s disturbed (to the point of being horrified) by the show at this point, needs to give up and find something else to watch.

I’ve not seen it yet, but rumors say they’re presenting a lot of cock?

True?

Go, Rhaenyra! Get ya some Dornish dick, gurl.

R34, I was weirdly more into the scene with Daemon and Rhaenyra than the one with Ser Criston.

The actor who plays Ser Crisco seems gay and the actress who plays Reinera seems lez. No one seems very sexy so far.

The actor playing Ser Criston is handsome, yet completely void of sex appeal.

Has to be the ugliest cast ever for a miniseries

[quote] Has to be the ugliest cast ever for a miniseries

It's not a miniseries.

R36:How does she seems lez? I think she's cute. Actress that plays Alicent is dating a woman.

Agree with R37, he's good looking but not sexy to me at all. There's no one (so far) in this show that I find hot - which granted isn't a necessity for me to enjoy watching something, but it does help.

I can't wait until Olivia Cooke comes into it, I think I read that she takes over as Alicent after 6 episodes (which seems a bit odd to me, isn't there only 10 in total?) I think she's amazing. I assume the king is going to be dead soon since he seems to be rotting from the inside out for some reason.

I didn't see the dicks! That scene was way too dim.

Yeah but they're still ugly.

Fabien Frankel Is hot

It isn't a miscarriage if you induce it. Miscarriages are psychologically devastating to the mother. BIG difference. Women have killed themselves over the emotional pain of losing a fetus, but you think these terms are interchangeable.

It's worth noting. If it weren't significant, then I would spare myself from writing or posting here.

I'm loving HotD, BTW. I never watched GoT, but this show is good.

[quote]I didn't see the dicks! That scene was way too dim.

Nice slab of meat on the guy reclining that she smiled at before she started making out with her Uncle... he smiled back.

Then very shortly after that naked man walks up, dick swinging, goes to his knees, pulls down the pants of another dude, and starts to go to town, but not before giving her a look like "... you wanna watch this?"

Actually - the medical terms are spontaneous abortion and induced/surgical abortion…

Who is the gay character?

SPOILER: So many hot men on this show, y’all are insane. R47, the man who the princess marries is gay, so she ends up having bastard children with another man (not who you think).

Two episodes straight with no Eve Best, what the actual fuck?

Rhaenyra will marry her son, Ser Laenor Velaryon, probably in the next episode. She will be featured a lot after that, r49.

The next episode is the last episode with the actors that play young Rhaenyra and Alicent. It is the finale of sorts to this stage of the show.

Good

I’m having a hard time getting over the lack of eyebrows on Daemon (couldn’t they just have dyed Matt Smith’s eyebrows blond??), but this was the first episode where I found him remotely attractive.

I didn’t find Daemon to be attractive until I googled what he looks like in real life. Hot as fuck.

Does he shave off his eyebrows?

No, Rose: he plucks rather than shaves.

LOL@r56

He's fug with or without eyebrows.

This is cute

I didn't realize the Targaryen brother/uncle is the guy who played Prince Philip in The Crown. He was much better looking as Philip.

Danerys's brother was awful and I was glad to see him 'crowned,' but he was also very sexy.

Game of Thrones made me think the Targaryens are meant to have an otherworldly beauty, but they're all kind of homely in the new show. Is that an intentional departure from Game of Thrones, or closer to the descriptions in the books?

I think they’re supposed to be extremely good-looking, but I can’t really fault the show for preferencing acting talent - not many people can look extremely attractive in a platinum wig.

R61, the Targaryens are meant to be generally good looking, but only a select few are specifically mentioned as being absolutely stunning. Jahaerys, the old king in the beginning of E1 of HotD was said to be handsome, as was Viserys and Daemon’s father, Baelon, the Spring Prince. Not much of made of any of the current cast of character’s looks…

That sad, the most ridiculous bit of casting in Game of Thrones was the actor chosen for Rhaegar. In the books, even mega cunt Cersei remarked upon how handsome Rhaegar was, but the actor on the show was practically a troll.

Black men are always going to look ridiculous in the white wigs. The actor that plays Ser Laenor Velaryon is absolutely gorgeous without the bad wig…a tall drink of water. I hope we get lots of scenes of him engaging in the homosex.

For me episode three and four dragged. You are clearly supposed to care about these characters but they haven’t given the viewer enough reason to. Hopefully, it picks up after the time jump.

R64 Black dude is the only that looks good with white hair.

R66, the wig doesn’t even sit on his hair properly. It’s like the costume people didn’t know how to apply it on his thick hair or something.

R67 Haven't noticed. He looks cool with white dreads. Unlike those two white actors and their white hair.

****SPOILER**** Scroll past if you haven’t caught up on HotD episodes 1-4

* * *

The first handful of episodes are laying important groundwork, R65. I wouldn’t even say episodes 3 and 4 were intended to make you care about the characters…they were just intended to establish relationships, advance important plot points, and introduce key players.

Important points from episode 3: Birth of Aegon; introduction of Harwin “Break Bones” Strong; introduction of Laenor and Vaemond Velaryon; increasingly close relationship between Rhaenyra and Criston

Important points from episode 4: Daemon being named King of the Stepstones and relinquishing his crown to Viserys; Otto being dismissed; Rhaenyra running into Break Bones; Daemon taking Rhaenyra to the pleasure house; Rhaenyra growing even closer to Criston Cole; and Rhaenyra’s engagement plans being finalized

If the show was more faithfully adapting the book, the events up to this point could’ve easily filled 10 episodes. However, a lot of short cuts are being taken and it’s become obvious the intent is to end Season 1 with a climatic event (which one, I have no idea).

R69 if they don’t intend for us to care about the characters… what is the point of watching? I haven’t read the books it’s based on so I have to watch what is presented without background and, honestly, it’s pretty bloody boring so far.

The show runners have gone out of the way to cast the fuggliest leads then write them as boring ciphers. Pass.

That’s a fair point, R70. Unfortunately, the only character we’ve been given enough information to care about is Rhaenyra.

It will be difficult for the show to remain “boring” in the remaining 5 episodes.

Another great episode. Next week jumps ahead a few more years.

This episode was fire. Bullshit that we had to lose two hot young characters in one episode. I wish they would’ve been more clear about why the fight broke out. Was it because Rhaynera was dancing with the uncle, and Criston was jealous? It seems silly for him to be that mad at the messenger, for simply pointing out that they were both fucking the same married couple.

r74, I’m not clear on how the fight started as well.

I think it was more of an attack than a fight.

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