With last week’s fifth episode, House of the Dragon reached its midseason point. After another 10-year time leap, the sixth episode “The Princess and The Queen” begins with older versions of the protagonists, more plotting, and even more blood. Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcymutual )’s hatred and resentment were on full display in this episode. Though they present a royal front to the world, resentment amongst them still festers, and in the case of Alicent, it was given voice by Lord Larys Strong’s treatment of the prince (Matthew Needham). There was a lot of meat to Episode 6’s plot. Lord Lyonel (Gavin Spokes) and Ser Harwin, Lord Larys’ father and brother, are believed to have been killed as a direct result of the plotting of Lord Larys and, to a lesser extent, Queen Alicent (Ryan Corr).
The hint that Ser Harwin is the father of Rhaenyra’s children is bound to engender additional anger when the princess realises the truth, even though many people are unable to say it. However, the trailer for Episode 7 is named Driftmark, and it has a sombre tone because of Laena Velaryon’s (Nanna Blondell) eventual death in the fires of Vhagar. At a time when the Velaryons and some Targaryens are mourning their dead, the footage shows the return of Lord Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), probably as Hand of the King. Whether it’s because of Alicent’s return or someone else’s manipulations, the latest teaser for Episode 7 indicates that emotions are still high, with a teary-eyed Alicent saying “there is a debt to be paid” and Princess Rhaenyra saying to someone offscreen, “this is the highest of treasons.” It’s common knowledge that in Westeros, the mere utterance of the word “treason” may result in dire consequences (just ask Ned Stark).
Whatever prompted Rhaenyra’s comments, it is a stark reminder that the Seven Kingdoms are inching dangerously closer to war. When Otto Hightower declares, “I guarantee you, in time, you and I will win,” he adds weight to his statement. In Driftmark, the series seems to be bringing together more emotions and political manoeuvring than ever before. A stealthy occurrence occurs beneath all the hoopla in the preview; someone has taken Vhagar. It’s intriguing to think about how the largest and oldest dragon in Westeros may be kidnapped. After Rhaenyra and Alicent get into it, the preview ends with Rhaenyra saying, “Now they see you as you are.”
House of the Dragon chronicles Daenerys Targaryen’s life about two centuries before the events of “Game of Thrones.” The series, which is based on the books of George R.R. Martin, will centre on the civil war between the Targaryen dynasty and its rivals, the House of Black and White. On October 2, HBO and HBO Max will air the season 7 premiere.