Hotd Thoughts - Blog Posts
I feel like this season of House of The Dragon is going to be utterly ruthless in it's approach.
As always, the intricacies never fail to take my breath away...
Last season, the opening showed blood on rock... rock that does not stain. But this time, we see blood tainting canvas, likely to leave deep gashes that won't be washed over, won't signify beginning anew.
This is further seen in how the last shot we saw of Rhaenyra was with her back facing the fire and darkness in her eyes. Yet, here we see in in the same room with a map of the seven kingdoms... alit with fire, demanding Aemond's life and walking out without a word.
Fire in all it's duality is clearly seen when alicent lights a candle for Viserys parallel to Luke's pyre being burned and finally as she wished to quell her guilt, lighting a candle for Luke, only for it to cut to Rhaenyra being obscured by flames, signifying that this stain isn't going to be washed off, it's not a rope that's frayed, but one that's cut.
And finally, Helena saying beware of the rats but not knowing who it is... Alys, who betrays information or her, who betrays herself.
In all its glory, there are four fronts that are going to impact the game moving forward:
Alicent's desire for victory, and whether she sees it in sleeping with Crison Cole, or allowing her soul absolvement from guilt by making peace between her and the blacks (Rhaenyra).
Otto's thrist for violence and who he deems (un)worthy enough to sacrifice.
Rhaenyra's vengeance, and which wing will forever be grounded next.
And Daemon's venerence towards Rhaenyra and who he's willing to betray for it.
Me, when Daemon the malewhore has THE AUDACITY to call Alicent a whore
Me when Daemon does his arrogant crap and then blames Alicent for all the problemes doesn't listen to his wife and being a major hypocrite
OKAY HARWIN STRONG WOULD NEVER RAISE HIS HANDS ON RHAENYRA AND CHOKE HER
Fuck you, Daemon, honestly, FUCK YOU
Why the Greens are better than the Blacks
And before you send me to Seven Hells, I meant them as characters.
What HotD promised us? The creators promised us twisted morally-grey characters who you can't attribute to good or bad? The original book was, yes, quite Blackish but still- Both Rhaenyra and Aegon were difficult to accept. To root for someone you need to ignore or justify so much that it made Dance of Dragons so interesting.
But in the show it's so obvious that Blacks are sooooooo great and in their right that it is kinda boring to follow.I mean, name some of the strong (hehe) individual traits of the Blacks. And than try ti name some of their bad traits?
Meanwhile the Greens have such strong character. the Shakespearian level of shit. Yes, Aegon is an awful person, bit somehow you see layers of him. Helaena with her prophecies that everyone ignores - CASSANDRA'S LEVEL OF TRAGEDY!!! Aemond is just, you know, has so many dimensions that he's beyond basic physics at that point. Criston is basically the archetype of a noble knight twisted. Larys is creepy and mysterious (hes a shit). Otto goes in some Macbeth stuff. And Alicent... She's iconic, Medea, Medusa, such tragic and poetic figure. Alicent was invented for classic literature.
All of these people are so complicated and tragic that you can definitely see them in a Shakespeare tragedy meanwhile the Blacks are just like comic book characters - they have traits but they are not so deep.
I really think that's what they remembered 😭💔
Rhaenyra and Laenor introducing X to the court:
L: In the name of all that is holy, will you look at Cryston Cole's training clothes?
R: He is one of the dumbest guys you will ever meet. Laenor sat next to him at tournament last year.
L: he asked me how to spell "honor"
X: And that little one?
R: That's Larys Strong. He's totally rich because his dad accidentally died in Harrenhall. Larys Strong knows everybody's business.
L: He knows everything about everyone. That's why his hair is so big. It's full of secrets.
R: And evil takes a human form in Alicent Hightower. Don't be fooled, because she may seem like your typical selfish, back-stabbing, slut-faced ho-bag. But in reality, she is so much more than that.
*i couldn't help but to do this*
Who would be interested in starting our own “Targaryen” family? We can learn the High Valyrian from Duolingo and communicate that way.
I am convinced that if rhaenyra was sent back in time before the dance the dragons, she would give up the throne and run away with her family. yes, she could fight, regain control of the keep, and all that. but knowing that almost all of her family is killed in that war? almost all of her children? that her last remaining children are left traumatized and defenseless without a mother? no, she wouldn't even risk it again. she would give up the crown to whoever wants it and run. protecting her children and their lives. wanting to live a long life with them all. the throne wouldn't be worth losing them all over again.
i'm excited for the war crimes
one of the things I love about HOTD is how everyone (except heleana) sucks. they are all such shitty people and I love that about them. except aegon ii, he's gross, I don't like him. (canon wise) anyway, I am very excited to see rhaenyra just start going bat shit crazy. alicent had every right to lose it during the driftmark seen so now that rhaenyra not only lost her thrown but TWO of her children at the hands of the greens, shit is about to go downnnn. I hope we see that level of just uncontrollable rage from her. she deserves to just lose it completely when it comes to bloodshed.
also in the books there is a scene where rhaenyra talks to alicent, while alicent is in the dungeons, where alicent convince rhaenyra to not kill her sons and that they can find peace. rhaenyra responds by saying that the greens lost that chance when they killed her sons and stole her throne. in the show, this scene is going to be amazing. AMAZING! especially with the new backstory alicent and rhaenyra have in it.
those are my thoughts, enjoy!
I love alicent because of this! she knew what she wanted was not okay, that she was letting her anger and her child's pain control her. she knew that lucerys was just a child and didn't deserve to lose an eye, just like aemond did not deserve to lose an eye. I hate viserys, he should've brought justice to aemond in some way and not made alicent feel crazy for being angry about her child being hurt
alicent regretted her actions after she charged at luke, she apologized to viserys after he ignored her pleas to show some concern after aemond lost an eye, and she rejected larys’ offer to take an eye from luke….honestly she’s a saint because that couldn’t be me.
