Summary
House of the Dragon settles down after a wild episode, as “Regent” works through the consequences of the Battle At Rook’s Rest.
You can’t have an episode like “The Red Dragon and the Gold” without some consequences, and that goes for the characters and the audience both. Episode 5 of House of the Dragon Season 2, “Regent”, operates in the smoky aftermath of the Battle at Rook’s Rest, which left a dragon and several important political figures dead, a couple of others irreparably maimed, and leaves Team Green and Team Black with multiple new problems to navigate.
This means a slower, less showy episode, one that revels in the consequences of the expensive-looking aerial dragon battles we all enjoy so much. But it’s no less impressive or important on a storytelling level since it highlights some of the key themes of the franchise – most chiefly that men are idiots but still consolidate all the power – and teases some more of what’s to come.
A Dragon’s Head Is An Ill Omen
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 5 | Image via HBO
Let’s just briefly take account of where we’re at.
King Aegon is alive, but barely. He’s boiled and comatose but still clinging to life, though his political utility – not that it was at a premium anyway – is in serious doubt. Rhaenys, however, is not alive, and Corlys spends the entire episode on Driftmark, wallowing in his grief and once again debating whether he should absolve himself of all dynastic responsibility whatsoever.
In King’s Landing, Ser Criston makes an egregious tactical error. To celebrate the “success” at Rook’s Rest and reiterate Aegon’s valiant efforts during the battle, he wheels the smoldering head of Meleys the Red Queen through the streets. You can see the logic, but it overlooks a couple of essential details that the Hand of the King should have considered.
Chief among these is that the head of a dragon is considered an ill omen among the smallfolk. The surety of Targaryen rule is rooted in the indomitability of the dragons. Seeing one’s head detached from its great leathery body, paraded through the streets like a big lump of meat, isn’t good for the image.
Alicent Suspects Aemond But Is Overruled
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 5 | Image via HBO
If it wasn’t obvious from Aemond’s lifelong psychopathy, the Valyrian steel dagger on his belt confirms it – he was at least in part responsible for what happened to Aegon and plans to benefit from his fate. Alicent realizes this the second she spots the retinue from the Red Keep, but she’s powerless to intervene thanks to the sexism of the King’s Council and the realm in general.
Naturally, the second Grand Maester Orwyle gives Aegon a less-than-glowing prognosis, Aemond suggests that someone should rule in his stead. Establishing a regency is politically prudent – it bolsters the appearance of strength and stability in the crown, even in a crisis – but incredibly risky depending on who is given the responsibility.
Alicent, understandably, thinks it should be her. She’s actually the best choice, given she served as regent while King Viserys was bedbound and basically ran the place. She’s experienced, isn’t prone to acting like a rash psychopath, and knows how things work. So, of course, she’s completely shut down by everyone except Orwyle.
Since Aemond is “Aegon’s immediate successor”, he’s endorsed by everyone including Larys and Criston, despite the fact his temperament is famously dangerous. The reality is a male ruler creates the impression of strength among the populace. Alicent is a better, smarter stateswoman, but she’s also possessed of two X chromosomes, so she’s out of luck.
Aemond’s first act as regent is to essentially declare martial law, trapping teams of terrified fleeing smallfolk – including Hugh Hammer and his sickly daughter – in King’s Landing. Alicent at least gets her own back on Criston, asking him later, “Has your loyalty faded, or does it flourish only at night and flee the sunrise like a moth?”
Yikes!
Rhaenyra Isn’t Getting Any Respect
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 5 | Image via HBO
Rhaenyra is experiencing a similar problem on Dragonstone. Her small council, led by the gobby sexist Ser Alfred, clearly has no faith in her ability to play politics or to fight battles, so she’s constantly talked out of retaliating against King’s Landing or taking to the battlefield herself (despite being one of the few remaining dragon riders.)
Rhaenyra has few allies, but one of them is Mysaria, who is proving to be most valuable. She understands the dynamics of King’s Landing, especially the smallfolk, and she recognizes that the aggrieved and terrified populace represents an opportunity for Rhaenyra.
Rhaenyra also has the loyalty of Baela, who she sends to Driftmark to offer Corlys the role of Hand of the King. He initially takes offense at the suggestion, but he’s grieving, so we can let him off. Baela wants him to stop sulking, essentially, but she also reiterates that Rhaenys believed in Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne and fought (and died!) to preserve it.
She also rejects being made heir of Driftmark. That’s a role for someone of salt and sea. She’s more the blood and fire type, which is fair enough.
In a final play, Rhaenyra also sends Ser Alfred to Harrenhal. She suspects (correctly, as we’ll see in a minute) that Daemon is trying to raise an army in his own name, not hers, and even though Alfred isn’t a fan of Rhaenyra, he’ll die before seeing a Hightower in charge.
Daemon Has His Own Plans
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 5 | Image via HBO
We might as well check in on Daemon, who continues to rattle around Harrenhal like a ghoul, haunted by his misdeeds and ill-advised ambitions. He’s trying to build an army of loyal fighting men, which means not allowing Caraxes to burn them alive when they don’t bend the knee. But there are other ways of convincing men to submit that can’t come officially from the crown, so he sends Willem Blackwood to handle that while he deals with matters at Harrenhal.
These matters turn out to be sex dreams about his mother – what is wrong with this family? – and trying to drum up some cash to fund a war effort, since Ser Simon Strong finally decides to mention that Larys cleared the place out when he left. The fact Daemon won’t turn to Rhaenyra for the dough is a pretty major clue that he’s working to his own ends, and he confirms this to Alys Rivers later. “They look to a man for strength” is his justification.
He’s right about this, to an extent, but it’s also clearly not the reason that he covets the throne so much. Daemon’s entire arc has been about wanting the throne, even when his brother – also a male, you’ll recall – was sitting it. He’s power-hungry and always has been, largely because of his feelings of inadequacy.
This is what makes Daemon dangerous. The fact he’s willing to undercut Rhaenyra proves it. But it’s also what makes him unfit to rule since his unleashing of the Blackwoods against the Brackens upsets the Riverlords to such an extent that they refuse to bend the knee to Rhaenyra. Instead of gaining allies, Daemon is losing them, and he’s too busy having dreams of his dead family to notice.
Jacaerys Has An Idea
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 5 | Image via HBO
Rhaenyra’s salvation may come from her son, Jacaerys. Now, to be fair, he does go behind her back in House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 5, meeting with the Freys without her knowledge. But he means well, and she knows that, so she’s willing to let him off for taking matters into his own hands.
It’s also Jacaerys who puts forward some solutions about Team Black not having enough dragons or riders to compete with Vhagar. As he reminds his mother, there are two – Vermithor and Silverwing – big enough to fight Vhagar, they just lack riders.
This seems like a pretty significant problem, but there may be a solution. Many of the Targaryen descendants married into other houses and mixed the bloodline. But they’re still out there, possibly in great numbers, and their heritage could allow them to seat a dragon and potentially turn the tide of the war.
Rhaenyra recognizes that it’s a mad idea. But it might be mad enough to work.
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