Summary
Another fantastic episode from House of the Dragon. With the dramatic relationships between all of the characters being the heart of the episode, the bloody celebrations towards the end are a shock to watch.
The recap of House of the Dragon season 1, episode 5, “We Light The Way”, does contain major spoilers.
In House of the Dragon season 1, episode 4, after we saw Rhaenyra get it on with her uncle Daemon, her father told her to marry Ser Laenor. She’s obviously not happy about it, but is there anything she can do? Will there be more sexual relations within the family? And are we going to see another orgy scene? Read the below recap to find out.
House of the Dragon season 1, episode 5 recap
Daemon meets with her wife, and when she criticizes him, he uses his powers to make her fall off her horse. And in the moments that follow, it’s likely that he bashes her head in with a rock off-screen. Alicent argues with her father and defends Rhaenyra. Ser Otto predicts that war will follow if Rhaenyra decides to fight for the throne, which he predicts that Rhaenyra will bring great harm to Alicent and her children. Viserys, Rhaenyra, and their soldiers go to meet Lady Laena.
Viserys appears to be becoming sick. And during his meeting with Corlys, Corlys suggests that in the event that Rhaenyra and Laenor marry, the children do not take the Targaryen name. Of course, Viserys is against the idea and will not allow it. Afterward, Corlys speaks with his wife and questions if he went too far with Viserys. It seems that Corlys is very bitter that his wife, Rhaenys, is “The Queen That Never Was”. There’s going to be relationship drama ahead as Rhaenyra’s potential future husband, Laenor, is gay.
As they sail across the seas, Criston asks Rhaenyra to abandon the crown, and flee with him, so they marry. But Rhaenyra “is the crown,” and her duty is to marry a noble man. However, that doesn’t mean her relationship with Criston has to end. But he takes that as an offer to be Rhaenyra’s whore, and he storms off. Back at the kingdom, Alicent questions Criston about Rhaenyra. She asks about Rhaenyra’s relationship with Daemon. Instead, Criston reveals that he has been having a relationship with Rhaenyra. Rather than be tortured, he asks to be sentenced to death.
The ending
Viserys grows weaker, and he appears to be close to death. He wonders if he will be remembered as a good king. There is a dinner declared in the name of Rhaenyra and Laenor’s future wedding. Daemon attends the dinner, and as Viserys makes a speech, Alicent makes a dramatic entrance. During the dinner, the cousin of Daemon’s deceased wife accuses him of her murder. But Daemon stands his ground and tells the relative how in the case of his wife’s death, everything that was hers now becomes his. Viserys listens on in horror.
As everyone dances during the dinner, Laenow realizes that Rhaenyra is sleeping with Criston. And as Laenor’s lover, Ser Joffrey, puts it, “you know her secret, and she knows you”. Daemon tells Rhaenyra that marriage will bore her senselessly. And from afar, Viserys watches their intense exchange. The celebrations are cut short by the sounds of screams, and crowds of people swarm through. As a fight breaks out, Criston kills Ser Joffrey, and Viserys starts to bleed heavily. Laenor sobs at the sight of Ser Joffrey’s body.
Later, as Rhaenyra and Laenor get married, Criston goes to stab himself in the stomach. At the last moment, Alicent stops Criston from killing himself. As the episode ends, Viserys collapses.
Read the recap for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 6.
You can stream House of the Dragon season 1, episode 5, “We Light The Way” exclusively on HBO and HBO Max.
