With a new cast, shock torchings and GoT-level villains, this is brutal, brilliant television that sets the stage for the wars to come.
It is a wonderfully auspicious ending to the most enjoyable episode of Alicent’s shock at this development is telling – she’s a schemer, sure, but she hasn’t gone full Cersei quite yet, and the fact that her closest collaborator has just knocked off his entire family is still a bracing bit of news. That is never going to happen, because not only is Aegon a bully, but his mother is behind him all the way. He has even got a family in tow: the redoubtable Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell) and their two daughters – one, Baela, a dragonrider; the other, Rhaena, hoping to be. This is the episode’s second and far grimmer nativity, as Laena realises that neither she nor her unborn infant are going to survive the birthing process and decides instead to die swiftly, by dragonfire. Alicent has become a mistress of whispers, spreading word around the court that Laenor is not the father of Rhaenyra’s children. And here is the boy in question: young Prince Jacaerys Velaryon (Leo Hart) with his little brother Lucerys (Harvey Sadler), escorted by a strapping swordsman with a distinct resemblance to both. It’s another superb scene of character-building, with the King’s presence on the battlements echoing that of Ned Stark in the very first episode of Thrones. After teasing his dragonless younger brother Prince Aemond (Leo Ashton) by fitting wings to a pig, Aegon next appears proudly masturbating from his bedroom window over the rooftops of King’s Landing. Rhaenyra is not about to let him out of her sight, so it’s off through the Red Keep, step by painful step, with the child in her arms and Laenor fussing by her side. Milly Alcock was a terrific young Rhaenyra but D’Arcy is a force of nature, determined and relentless. The producers didn’t exactly advertise the fact that a major time-jump was coming (10 years, as it turns out), or that key young cast members were about to be swapped out for older actors.
Rhaenyra Targaryen was getting married to Ser Laenor Velaryon, last we saw her. In this episode, the first thing we see is Rhaenyra giving birth. It's a boy!
"In all of King's Landing is there no one to take my side?" Lord Strong says a shadow is being cast over his house, and that it's damaging both his reputation and that of his house. "My father cannot give unbiased council to the king." Alicent is cooler on the offer, thanking Rhaenyra and promising to consider it. When the Stepstones and the Triarchy's new arrangement with Dorne comes up, Rhaenyra suggests defending the area Daemon won a decade ago with men and equipment. "This is the stuff, Lyonel," the grandfatherly king says in an avuncular tone. It's evident the Small Council has become a political battleground, as its two loudest voices are that of Queen Alicent and Princess Rhaenyra. Queen Alicent's silver-haired children are pummeling a strawman when Ser Criston, who as Kingsguard knight is in charge of training the royal boys, suggests they try to fence with him. "Do not speak of this again," he adds, with a kiss on the cheek. Rhaenyra and Laenor have apparently struck a bargain: As long as he pretends to be father of her children, Laenor is free to love as he pleases. She reprimands Aegon for taunting his little brother with the pig gag, and says they need to be a unified front in public. The queen is also a new woman.
When Alicent asks for the baby's name, Laenor quickly states his name is Joffrey, something Rhaenyra clearly did not agree to beforehand. After the queen takes ...
This is confirmed when Larys tells his Queen that he did this for her so Otto Hightower could be reinstated as Hand of the King. Laena recognizes this and chooses the death of a dragon rider by having her dragon, Vhegar, ignite his rider. In his chambers, King Viserys is greeted by Lyonel Strong who wishes to step down as Hand to the King because of Harwin’s outburst and the dark shadow over his house. This penance Larys alludes to ends up being the removals of their tongues. After drunkenly singing throughout the castle, Laenor and Ser Qarl enter to the annoyance of the princess. Laena then goes to talk with her husband on the roof of their Pentosi residence. Returning to King’s Landing and the Red Keep, the sons of Alicent and Rhaenyra are practicing their sword work while being instructed by Ser Criston. Now, unlike the king, Lyonel explains he is done turning a blind eye to Harwin and Rhaenyra’s relationship. The kingsguard knight expresses his displeasure with this situation and his hatred of Rhaenyra while Alicent believes her path of honor will prevail. This flows into his offer for Daemon, which is a lordship in Pentos, in return for aid against Lys, Dorne, and the reemerging Triarchy. Down in the dragon pit, Jace is trying to command his dragon but struggling a bit. Immediately after giving birth, a servant enters the room and informs the heir to the Iron Throne that Queen Alicent would like to see the baby now.