George R.R. Martin had beforehand stated that it will take about 4 full seasons to inform the story of the Dance of the Dragons, so we’re a couple of quarter of the way in which via and already all hell is beginning to break unfastened.

The penultimate installment of the season final week centered nearly totally in Queen Alicent within the aftermath of her father’s demise. Within the following two days, she needed to take care of this loss and the invention that a whole plan was already in movement to anoint Aegon king earlier than Rhaenyra even finds out her father is useless.

That hour ended with Princess Rhaenys escaping her captivity and even securing her dragon. She had an opportunity to finish the battle within the second she busted via the ground of the Dragonpit and confronted each Alicent and Aegon, however she didn’t, opting as a substitute to fly away.

In order that’s mainly the place issues choose up at Dragonstone, the place Rhaenyra and Daemon have been residing their lives basically awaiting the arrival of a message that Viserys had died and it was time for her to return to King’s Touchdown and her place as Queen of the Realm.

As an alternative, she received Rhaenys with information that her father was useless and Aegon had already been topped king.

Rhaenys Refuses to Take Sides

Rhaenys selecting to remain out of the battle for the throne at first may properly be one of many causes the Dance of the Dragons occurs in any respect. Had she merely worn out Alicent and her line of succession with one blast of fireside, this could all be over.

She did go to Rhaenyra to ship the information, however once more she insisted that she wouldn’t be taking sides on this battle. She had been pushing her husband for years to remain out of it, however like most males on this present, his ego and ambition at all times will get the higher of him. Generally, although, it’s time to take a stand.

Daemon Presents Kingsguard a Alternative

Rhaenyra receives this phrase whereas pregnant, and a few mixture of the shock of Rhaenys’ information sends her into early labor. As such, she instructions her boys don’t make any overt actions together with her lead. She is the rightful queen and they’re her heirs, so the succession have to be honored.

However whereas she is trapped with labor pains at this essential junction, Daemon is ignoring her cries and as a substitute centered on securing their allies and positioning them for battle in opposition to the Hightowers. When Jacaerys tells him to cease at Rhaenyra’s orders, he affords to indicate him what true loyalty is.

He then has Jacaerys watch as he affords the officers of the Kingsguard a selection — both swear fealty once more to Rhaenyra and her inheritor, or die a scorching demise by dragonfire. Daemon understands management via energy and worry. We’re getting a touch that Jacaerys might have picked up a few of this bloodlust, which may additionally make him a bit unpredictable at such a essential time.

Rhaenyra Delivers Her Personal Child

Sidelined via her personal succession, corresponding to it’s, Rhaenyra is so annoyed and indignant that she rejects any assist from the midwives current. As an alternative, she delivers her personal stillborn son crouched in a nook via sheer drive of will. She did take a second for a correct funeral service, an occasion that was somber for a number of causes.

If she would not have the required assist for her declare, may her reign be as her little one, useless earlier than it even had an opportunity to start? Is that this service a mourning of what ought to have been and now is probably not? What’s the proper path ahead?

Erykk Brings Rhaenyra Viserys’ Crown

In a second maybe extra symbolic than something, Ser Eryyk Cargyll arrives with King Viserys’ crown. He affords it as much as Rhaenyra and swears fealty to her. Whereas this is only one individual, he represents to Rhaenyra the concept that it isn’t a foregone conclusion that the true will reject her as a result of she is a lady.

There are these folks on the market, and even in King’s Touchdown, who will assist their king’s needs and his chosen inheritor. It is an empowering second, in addition to a deeply emotional one as Daemon crowns her together with her father’s crown whereas everybody in attendance kneels — aside from Rhaenys, nonetheless refusing to take a aspect.

Otto Presents Aegon’s Provide

Drunk with energy, as at all times, Otto himself arrives at Dragonstone to current King Aegon’s most beneficiant supply to Rhaenyra. If she’s going to bend the knee to him and declare him king, Aegon is ready to present her Dragonstone and identify her youngsters heirs there. Lucerys will inherit Driftmark, younger Ageon would be the king’s squire and younger Viserys his cupbearer. On high of that, he’ll pardon any knight or lord who “conspired in opposition to his ascent.”

Daemon instantly shuts down the potential of accepting these phrases, however Rhaenyra holds him again, saying they will have their reply “on the morrow.” Otto’s confidence and conceitedness are on full show right here, as he is extremely susceptible in a spot with dragons and enemies like Daemon. And but, he appears to really feel invincible. He is most likely using the excessive from having efficiently pulled off this coup.

Now, he simply must get Rhaenyra and her household in line (and never of succession) and there will be peace … as long as he wins. Plus, we’re fairly positive he’d most likely plot to kill them later, anyway. In any case, he informed Alicent that Rhaenyra would have to kill her boys to guard her declare to the throne, so he absolutely additionally thinks Aegon will have to kill Rhaenyra’s children to guard his.

Rhaenyra Seeks Path to Peace

As Daemon and their advisors and generals and different males of battle stand round a really cool map with names and different markings illuminated by hearth beneath, Rhaenyra brings a variety of her father’s gentleness to the room. Whereas they’re prepared for blood, and Daemon maybe most of all, Rhaenyra reveals she’s truly contemplating Aegon’s supply.

Her father gave her the duty of sustaining the peace within the realm. As she sees it, that goes past her personal ambitions and ego. Taking Aegon’s throne means battle, which isn’t one thing she ought to stroll into calmly. Daemon is a creature of impulse who believes you struggle hearth with a volcanic eruption. He cannot stand the considered even contemplating another choice as a result of — properly, do not forget that factor we stated about males’s egos and ambitions. Let’s throw delight in there, too, whereas we’re at it. Harmful all of them.

Daemon Chokes Rhaenyra

As if to show what a unfastened cannon and wild little one Daemon nonetheless is, we get a scene the place Rhaenyra tries to open up to him her larger mission, which has to do with the “Tune of Ice and Hearth” Viserys informed her when she was youthful, the menace from the North they needed to be united to face when the time got here.

In response, Daemon choked her to the purpose of her not with the ability to breathe and stated that Viserys was misplaced in his desires and omens, calling his rule feckless. “Goals did not make us kings,” he tells Rhaenyra as she struggles to breathe. “Dragons did.”

The truth that he may do that to a lady he’d simply topped, knelt do and declared is queen proves that Daemon will at all times do what Daemon needs, and what he says and does has no worth or that means at the same time as he is saying or doing it. He’s a real wild card in probably the most harmful manner with the world at such a fragile level on the precipice of battle.

Rhaenys Defends Rhaenyra to Corlys

After having been sick for a very long time, we get our first take a look at Lord Corlys Velaryon, alive and higher than even he anticipated to be. Rhaenys is by his bedside and chastises him for operating away to journey when she wanted him.

He tells her that he lastly sees what she’s been saying and that he’d been misplaced in his — you guessed it — ego and ambition for the Iron Throne. He determined to only retire from all of it and do what Rhaenys has been doing all this time, declare for nobody. However one thing had modified.

It was seeing how Rhaenyra was ruling in her earliest moments. She wasn’t being reckless and speeding in to battle like Daemon (and most males) would really like. As an alternative, she was being considerate, thoughtful and correctly doing every part in her energy to try to keep away from as a lot bloodshed as doable. She additionally reminded him that their granddaughters are betrothed to Rhaenyra’s heirs, who’re clearly in peril from the Hightowers.

Rhaenyra did not win her over via brute drive or threats and even calls for. As an alternative, she proved herself to the lady who would have been queen, and that is all of the distinction. That is a real loyalty born from religion and belief, quite than expectation or worry.

Corlys Swears Fealty to Rhaenyra

Upon listening to his phrases, Corlys enters the battle room and declares his fealty to Rhaenyra, as properly. HIs is a strategically important victory for her declare, as Driftmark guidelines the seas with the best and strongest fleet in all of Westeros.

What’s extra, as they’re making an attempt to determine how they will have any likelihood at taking King’s Touchdown, he reveals that he additionally secured the Stepstones, threw down the Triarchy and now has fully management of the Slim Seas, which can be utilized to squeeze King’s Touchdown by controlling entry into and out of its ports.

Regardless of all that has occurred between them, Corlys and his household respect the road of succession as they perceive it. Viserys’ chosen inheritor is right here, and so right here is the place they need to be. It may additionally be somewhat self-serving, as properly, contemplating their granddaughters are additionally inextricably tied with the Targaryens at this level.

Rhaenys Presents to Patrol Gullet

It was an enormous assertion when Rhaenys supplied to fly her dragon to patrol the Gullet on the Slim Sea to guarantee that they keep management of it, as a result of this probably the most overt gesture of assist to Rhenyra’s declare that is been seen.

It additionally additional provides validity to that declare, as Rhaenys is Viserys’ cousin and had a robust declare herself as soon as upon a time. She is revered within the realm and her phrases and actions carry weight. Only a day or so in the past she blatantly stated this was not her battle and he or she wouldn’t select sides.

Then, after seeing the care with which Rhaenyra is continuing, she selected a aspect. She is aware of the hazards to herself and her household, however she is aware of the hazard is probably nice if this usurper is allowed to take a seat the throne. At this level, do you suppose she has any regrets about not whispering, “Dracarys,” when she had them in her sights? It may have been over earlier than it started.

That she was so adamantly in opposition to getting concerned that she did that and now she’s absolutely dedicated to Rhaenyra’s trigger says rather a lot about Rhaenyra’s energy and management. She picked up probably the most highly effective, and unluckiest, of allies.

Sons Function Messengers

Let’s put that energy of character to the take a look at instantly and see if it exists inside her sons. With Corlys’ fleet, they’re in a greater place, however additionally they wanted to make sure that they nonetheless had assist from Winterfell, Storm’s Finish, and the Eyrie. All had sworn fealty to her years in the past, however would they maintain to their oaths?

Jacaerys had the concept that the message could be higher obtained from the princes of the realm astride their dragons than a be aware tied to a raven. Plus, dragons journey quicker, and they should know the place they stand and who has their backs ahead of later. They’ve already seen what Alicent and Otto can do in simply two days with them none the wiser.

Daemon Seeks New Dragons

After the choke, Daemon disappeared. He’d earlier talked about how they may have so many extra dragons than the Hightower “Greens,” as a result of there are untamed dragons on the market, and even staying at Dragonmount. We then see him approaching an enormous dragon down in a dragonpit, singing Excessive Valyrian to the very best, which doesn’t appear pleased in any respect to see him there.

Now, Daemon already has a dragon, so is his plan to safe this second dragon after which attempt to get it to imprint/bond another person amongst them? He is clearly decided to go to battle on his personal, so possibly he hopes to guide a fleet of rider-less dragons. Regardless what he is as much as, it is extremely harmful as a result of he is off the script from how Rhaenyra is selecting to proceed — or not less than, in the event that they’re on the identical web page, we’re actually not seeing that collaboration and affirmation.

Storm’s Finish Rejects Rhaenyra

With Jacaerys heading to Winterfell and the Eyrie, younger Lucerys is distributed to the a lot nearer Storm’s Finish, the place Rhaenyra believes it is going to be a a lot simpler job. That is throughout an period when envoys have been handled with respect and allowed to come back and go unhurt, so Lucerys was assured sufficient to proceed on his mission even after he noticed the huge Vhagar lurking outdoors close to the place he left his personal dragon, Arrax.

What meaning, although, is that Aemond beat him to Storm’s Finish with the king’s supply. Rhaenyra’s supply was to remind Boros Baratheon of his father’s oath. However she did not supply him something. Like there have been bribes in Otto’s supply to Rhaenyra, Aemond got here with a suggestion of betrothal for considered one of Boros’ daughters ought to he sear fealty to Aegon. And so, he rejected Rhaenyra’s “supply,” such because it was, placing an enormous blow to her marketing campaign to safe her throne.

Aemond Assaults Lucerys

Whilst Lucerys turns to go away, Aemond rages at him. Nonetheless bitter over dropping a watch, Aemond calls him “Lord Robust” and says that as punishment for making an attempt to steal Aegon’s throne, Lucerys ought to take out considered one of his personal eyes. Clearly, this has nothing to do with Aegon. It is revenge for Lucerys taking out Aemond’s eye all these years in the past once they have been combating and issues received ugly.

Despite the fact that he’s older and greater than Lucerys, Aemond’s bitterness and rage at his harm haven’t softened, to the purpose he nearly ignored Boros’ calls for that there be no bloodshed; Lucerys is an envoy and is free to come back and go in that capability.

Vhagar Kills Arrax

Effectively, Aemond was in a position to comply with that order, however as soon as Lucerys left, he was airborne and in impartial territory. Nearly immediatley, he received the whiff that somebody was following him and, as he knew it will be, it rapidly turned clear it was Aegon, astride Vhagar. Now, Vhagar is about ten occasions larger than Arrax, so there isn’t a competitors between these two dragons.

They have been at first pushed by their riders, however finally, the aerial feud received to be an excessive amount of, and Arrax attacked Vhagar with hearth to try to get him to go away him alone. All of the whereas, Lucerys was yelling at Arrax to cease and making an attempt to regain management. After the fireplace blast, Aemond misplaced management of Vhagar, shouting the identical instructions. And so it was that Aaemond had no management of his beast because it flew throughout the sky and tore Arrax aside with one little bit of its monumental mouth.

Whereas it wasn’t explicatly clear, it appears most likely that Lucerys didn’t survive this assault. Not solely have been they excessive within the sky however Arrax was torn to items, so how may Lucerys have survive such a factor. The look in Aemond’s face made it clear that this was a lot farther than he’d ever wished to take it with Lucerys. He wished to taunt him, torment him, possibly even take his eye — however he wasn’t intending for him to die. Plus, he isn’t silly. He is aware of that killing Rhaenyra’s son can’t go unanswered after they’ve already usurped her throne.

The episode ends on a wordless scene the place Daemon comes into the battle room and tells Rhaenyra her son is gone. By physique language alone, and together with her again to the digital camera, Emma D’Arcy shows her breaking momentarily earlier than her resolve kicks in. Her face when she turns round is all of the feels and the right solution to finish the season — as a result of that is the second when every part modified inside her. All hell is about to interrupt unfastened.