BlackLightning

I don't know It is entirely possible for someone to feel more than one emotion at once and be motivated by both. Not only is it possible but it happens all of the time. Yeah, I loved the kids in these last two episodes. I wish we could have gotten more time with all of them. And I so want to see Prince Daeron, my favorite Green.

No more different than the differences between Cersei and her bastards and Rhaenyra and her bastards. The key here is that legally they are Laenor's children. The concept of adoption is, as we can see, way beyond the capacity of the Westerosi...much less adoptive succession. Their inability to understand and respect the concept does not erase or invalidate it. Corlys has seen the world thrice over and so it is not completely surprising that he would believe that his adopted grandchildren are still his grandchildren and that he would pass that type of thinking on to his son. But yes, every single person whose opinion/perspective/voice matters in this situation (Corlys, Rhaenyra, Laenor, Harwin and Viserys) all maintains that they are all the children of Laenor Velaryon and Rhaenyra Targaryen. And I'm almost positive that Laena (who also would be directly impacted and involved in this matter as a rival heir to Corlys) would also confirm this. And Viserys, being the ultimate authority in Westeros, says that the matter is an open-and-shut case. So, this matter is an open-and-shut case. That's the major difference between Rhaenyra and Cersei. And Alicent's problems with this rather sketchy arrangement (and yes, it is sketchy) are, frankly, irrelevant as they are none of her concern. But let's say that they were her concern. Her problem with this whole situation is not a matter of preserving peace and righteousness (unlike Cersei who had set out to do what she did on purpose to spite Robert and all of House Baratheon and seize control of the entire realm). Alicent's problems come from ignorance, envy and an irrational fear. Unlike Alicent, Ned, Stannis and Jon were all approaching the situation as a matter of the king and the entire kingdom is in terrible danger. Which was truth...only Jon got murdered before he could spill the beans for some unrelated reason and Ned and Stannis were too cowardly and incompetent to move more decisively.

Did you read my list of their similarities? It's hilariously absurd for the King and the Small Council to think that Ned Stark would approve of the assassination of a child princess (legally speaking, Dany was still a child at that time as the age of majority in the civilized world is 16) just on account of her being pregnant. Maybe it's because they think Ned Stark is still vengeful after all these years or because he had sex with someone who wasn't his spouse and lied about having a bastard...which would make him just like them. Alicent thinks that Rhaenyra is capable of not only murdering innocent children but kinslaying as well because Rhaenyra snuck out, hung out in a brothel with her uncle, had sex with a Kingsguard knight and lied about it. The logic of it all. I can see the Cersei comparisons. They make sense. But Cersei has no problem whatsoever with harming and killing children. She's actually really good at it; she has decades of experience. Cersei also has no problem with killing her husband:, wishing for him to rot and celebrating his death If there is any one like Cersei, it is Alicent. Well, we aren't there yet and judging by the way that they are making surprise changes to the story, I'll just say Book Alicent.

Let's say that we both have children who got in a fight today. My child said some things that were uncalled after doing something that wasn't necessarily wrong and that your child - angered and/or humiliated by what your child said - threw the first punch. Over the course of this fight, my child fell off a jungle gym and became paralyzed. Later, at the hospital, the cops show up and it is decided that there is nothing that they can do (it's a civil matter...) Would it have been appropriate to snatch a police officer's gun out of their holster and start shooting at your child? Or to pick up a scapel or some surgical tool and charge at you?

That's the problem with anxiety-riddled logic. I get that Rhaenyra has proven herself untrustworthy by being caught in a lie. But to go from "she swore by the old gods, the new gods and her mother's grave about having sex" to "she is going to kill all of my children just so she can maintain power" is a huge leap in logic. Rhaenyra is basically Ned Stark lol. both lie about having sex outside of marriage both lie about having children outside of wedlock both make mortal enemies out of a queen and a Kingsguard both consider it unthinkable to murder children to protect one's own station both are clueless Speaking of envy...what's the color most associated with emotion of envy? And what is the color black most associated with across the board? GRRM did it on purpose.

Which just only proves that we desperately needed an episode to take place between episode 5 and 6 It's just a way for the showrunners and/or the writer to cram as much information and action as humanly possible into one episode The show would've been much better served if the pre-war story took place over two seasons. I agree. And that's where the envy and the deep feelings of injustice comes in. "Why does she get to do that and get away with it, when I have to do this. I am more worthy of queenship than she is. It's not fair!" The thing is that it was never about manipulating her into turning against her father and children. Rhaenyra did deceive her and betray her trust...but Alicent is taking it way too personally. I know she's a teenager, but she can't seem to understand the fact that Rhaenyra lied so that she didn't get into trouble. When you sit back and really think about their feud, it's very childish. Looking back, it was a much better decision to cast both of them as teenage girls with Alicent being the elder and Rhaenyra the younger rather than go with the Cinderella/Drew Barrymore's "Ever After" vibe of Alicent as the dutiful, young, upstart wife versus Rhaenyra as the lonely, bratty but nonetheless pretty damn cool daughter. There's a lot more gravitas to the "childhood friends who become bitter enemies as adults after having had one too many misunderstandings" story than the "the man's wife and daughter hate each other for reasons that are pretty valid and understandable" I feel like Alicent is Sansa and Rhaenyra is the Arya if Ned Stark wasn't their father and if they were basically forced to grow up together and then compete. Really, Alicent is (early) Sansa-meets-Stannis with a little twist of Aeron Greyjoy whereas Rhaenyra is all parts Arya, Renly, Cersei, Viserys III and Jon Snow. Not a great combination to be honest but it has its charm.

What do you mean her lack of capacity? Rhaenyra proves herself more than capable in many different instances. Beginning with her proposal that her father mobilize the dragons to fight off the Crabfeeder and more recently with her olive branches to Alicent and appraisal of the severity of the Stepstones situation. Rhaenyra is definitely more capable to be the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms than her father or even Daemon. Much more so compared to her half-brother Aegon. This is not true. We understand why Alicent is so maddened with jealousy and envy. Because, at the end of the day, it is pretty unfair for Rhaenyra to be able to do basically whatever she wants while everyone else (mainly other women but especially Alicent) have to play by the rules and live life within the confines of their station. Granted, Rhaenyra is not everyone else....but it is extremely frustrating to deal with people who pretty much get away with everything while you are left holding the bag. Extremely frustrating, again. I must iterate. Otto's greed? It is what it is. But I think beneath his obvious greed lies fear. Fear of having to answer and deal with people as fierce as Rhaenyra and Daemon. It scares him. After all, the only king he has ever known of before is Jaehaerys. And he, like other people, had heard the horror stories about Maegor (and probably his mother Visenya). A dragonriding king (or queen) who can think for themselves and who possesses a ferociousness about themselves is a scary thing. Their word is truth and law literally.

After the way that Alicent charged at Lucerys with the Conqueror's prophetic dagger and cut Rhaenyra damn near to the bone? Nah, judging from the way that Rhaenyra was looking at her, I think that there is no chance that they could've been reconciled. From what I hear some crazy stuff is about to pop off in episode 8 and I think that there will be no hope of them working it out and becoming friends after episode 10. But yes, the scene at High Tide confirms everything. Alicent hates Rhaenyra for her irresponsibility, blitheness and entitlement and Rhaenyra sees Alicent for what she is...self-righteous and jealous and a bit exploitative. I still don't like Otto. He's a self-interested, manipulative troublemaker who encourages and provokes people's worst impulses. In fact, I liked him a lot more in the books to be honest. I haven't seen Cobra Kai. But I feel like I know what you mean. Aemond will be to House of the Dragon what Walter White was to Breaking Bad? I think that'd be nice to see a middle child who had been teased and pranked by his peers turn into a monstrous war criminal and traitor (I think that he planned to usurp Aegon II; the historians lied or didn't know) with zero regrets or qualms. I like the TV version of Aemond a lot. But an underdog? Not really. They'd have to change the entire story of the Aemond-Luke confrontation at Storm's End to not make him look bad. Well, I take that back. They can make it so that Cassandra Baratheon (a pretty important character if you are to ask me...) either meddles so much that the two find themselves at each other's throats or she actively deceives, manipulates or convinces Aemond into killing Luke. I wish that they had introduced Alys Rivers in this season. She's supposed to be a bastard of House Strong. It would've been nice if we got to know if that was another one of Harwin's children or one of Lyonel's. The TV version of Larys is completely averse to children...but Alys could be his.

Laenor is not dead. Qarl, Rhaenyra and Daemon faked his death (and Laenor agreed with it) so as to get him out of the way. Yes, because Rhaenyra wants Laenor to be happy and safe...but also because Laenor, frankly, is a bit of a liability. Laenor is a good man and an accomplished warrior, but he is not cut out for the political minefield that his wife has to navigate.

Exactly. But I've been watching a lot of reaction videos and a lot of people in the general audience are pro-green. Now, when I say pro-green, they aren't pro-Aegon. They are either pro-Alicent or pro-Aemond. And a lot of these people have been pro-green from episode 4. For now, of course. That will change when Aemond, Criston and Aegon start running around committing atrocities I agree. Helaena's mantra is basically reiterating the fact that this entire war is Otto's making. He turned the loom and weaved the lie about Rhaenyra killing her half-siblings and planted it into Alicent's head. Granted, Rhaenyra did herself no favors by being untrustworthy but, regardless of how you feel about her decision to pass off her illegitimate children as legitimate, the Iron Throne belongs to her. Otto had been scheming on being the ultimate power behind the throne for a long time. Daemon and Rhaenyra were threats to that because they are cut from a different cloth than Viserys...they would not tolerate his interference and subterfuge. Least of all Rhaenyra because she knows the truth of how crucial it is for the realm to be united and people like Otto only divide and destroy it. I also think it's important to say that the the dragons of flesh weaving dragons of thread line points to the fact that the Targaryens (all of them) are ultimately responsible for the extinction of the dragons. The Targaryens are the reason why the dragons went extinct. But she also mentioned that dragons of thread weave dragons of flesh. A double meaning: fake dragons can create real dragons in time...which feeds right into Corlys' line about legacy, history and how bloodlines are quickly forgotten as it is the names that matter.

It was smart thinking. But with the way that the camera was maneuvered, and the shots were cast and edited, both Aemond and Aegon had clearly heard it from Alicent. Why Aemond snitched on Aegon is beyond me, but Aegon DID NOT tell Aemond. For the record, I understand how Alicent feels. It can be extremely maddening and frustrating to deal with people like that. But snatching a dagger off of someone's person and charging at a child in public...that's beyond the pale.

I don't think the nobility gets lessons in High Valyrian. None of the ASOIAF characters - not the older ones who lived under the Targaryen dynasty nor the younger ones who had maesters or parents who had an appreciation of things such as Valyrian - speak or know it. Now septons and maesters are an different matter. We know this seeing as a septa stationed at Casterly Rock was the only one who knew what the word valonqar meant. And valonqar would be one of the most basic of words. Otto probably knows some High Valyrian, but I doubt he'd be able to carry a conversation...much less an adult conversation replete with metaphors and double entendres. Alicent? I doubt it. She might have book knowledge but again...would she be able to read an ornate text like Rhaenyra could?

Sure, Otto might know. But knowing a language (particularly a dead one like High Valyrian) is different from having a native fluency in it. But given that the only ones who react to Vaemond's words are 1) the Valyrians and 2) the adults, I'd say that that Vaemond is using double entendres to communicate his insults and that these double entendres are going over the heads of everyone except for the grown adults whose first language is Valyrian. Who is going to have conversations to Otto or Alicent in Valyrian? Otto might be able to read or understand bits and pieces of it (like Tyrion was in the books) but he'd only be able to pick up on a few words and phrases.

Helaena's words are also pointing out the fact that this war and all the chaos and grief it causes will be Otto's fault. After all, Hand turns loom It's also a prophecy about the extinction of dragons. The real dragons ("dragons of flesh") end up making fake dragons ("dragons of thread.") Yes, that could be a reference to Rhaenyra but it's also a reference to how the Targaryens went from bringing real dragons into battle to bringing banners with dragons sewn and painted on them into battle. We might actually see what (or who) is going to cause dragons to go extinct along with when, how and why.

I should've damn known. Not a fan of Sapochnik and I'm lowkey glad that he's no longer showrunner. Why would that be a creative choice? If it's an eclipse, okay cool. Why was the contrast and the brightness turned super low on those cameras? It's never that dark during an eclipse...

Who directed this episode? All of the scenes taking place outside after the kids were sent to bed were horribly lit and shot. It was Sapochnik wasn't it.

They don't speak High Valyrian.

You sure? Because I thought you were talking about Darkstar. If GRRM had been sitting on the reason why Aegon decided to conquer the seven kingdoms of Westeros and unite them into one nation at the time he decided to conquer them for years, then he almost certainly knows what the letter Aegon received from the Martells was about It is obvious because Rhaenyra's sons are being consistently compared with the appearance of Daemon's daughters. Purposefully. They also casted the boys specifically to make them resemble the actor who plays Harwin Strong. Which is weird because they make it so that the actor who plays Lucerys does look 1/4 black what with the wildly curly hair and narrow eyes (the latter of which he has in common with adult Laenor). That's the problem. Both Daemon's daughters should look more like Rhaenyra's sons in skin tone, if not in hair texture. A Valyrian marriage is valid. Aegon the Conqueror married his wives with a Valyrian marriage and Maegor took his second (or was it his third) wife in a Valyrian ceremony. Nobody, not even the king, could do anything about it because. I think the incest is much more problematic than the polygamy to be honest. Jaehaerys' decision-making there confuses me.

I agree. The Velaryons' bastardy is way too obvious. Not only does literally every single character talk about it at length, every single character talks about how obvious it is. Which is crazy because if it was really this obvious, it would be a massive problem. Not necessarily to the point of Rhaenyra being disinherited (although that should've been put on the table, however briefly) but there should've been major social consequences for both Rhaenyra and Laenor. Rhaenyra would've been handicapped yes. Laenor in particular what with him being gay (with a thing for boys and younger men as it is implied), feckless and immature and a cuckold. It would've made him an absolute laughingstock; his knighthood and combat experience (although very legitimate) should have been called into question as his manhood should've been. There would be constant insults and fights...which, dare I say, would've naturally led up to his murder or serious injury. If it really was that obvious, then Viserys, Corlys and Rhaenys would've unleashed their anger on him because ultimately he's the one who is refusing to impregnate Rhaenyra for one reason or another. What makes it worst is the casting of the Targaryen girls. They are simply too dark to be Laena's kids and that was deliberately done to make the Velaryon boys look illegitimate. There should be a lot more racial ambiguity with these kids. This could've been avoided and portrayed more artfully if they had made the people of House Strong brown or black. Like @Lord Varys correctly foresaw a year ago.

Addam and Laenor can coexist. In fact, they literally did. Why does everyone think that they cannot coexist? Is it about the dragon? Just create another dragon and give it some random name and make it so that Addam claims Barney for himself. Alyn and Addam were supposed to be Corlys' baseborn sons anyway.

Absolutely. Although I would prefer it for Laenor to be called back to Westeros after Rhaenyra takes the Iron Throne so that he can take his place as the first of her two husbands. If we have Laenor and/or Qarl in Lys involved with the Rogare Bank, then that means that Viserys gets saved much earlier which probably cuts the narrative/dramatic need for a lengthy Regency in half.

Agreed. But please elaborate. I'd be interested in hearing why you think it's both ridiculous and unrealistic. I agree. The show made it way too obvious. Especially in light of the fact that they deliberately made the entire Velaryon family black and that they changed the very distinct hair colors of Rhaenys and Aemma. Yes, it's Mysaria. And I'd recognize that cloak anywhere...it's Daemon. Whenever he puts on that cloak, he is up to no good. Yes, I suppose that's why all the dragonriding adults were silent on the matter. Rhaena's grandmother didn't really say anything on the matter. After all, Daemon claimed her father's dragon after he died so.. Rhaena is not wrong to feel cheated but it is true. A Targaryen or Velaryon asking for permission to claim the dragon of a late family member would be a courtesy not a requirement.

I agree. The fight was better in the books. The only problem with the fight in the books was Joffrey's involvement. That was ridiculous. What the show did do better was how the whole thing started over Rhaena's and Aemond's mutual desire for a dragon (which also serves as a symbol for identity and personal agency) and how they I have to rewatch the fight because I was talking and reacting rather than listening and watching when it was happening. But basically, what I got from it is that the kids confronted Aemond and Aemond was a callous, disrespectful jerk about the whole thing because he doesn't respect any of them. Rhaena, who is not only mourning the tragic death of her mother (suicide is beyond devastating folks, please don't do it) also is mourning the loss of her birthright in a way. She gets in Aemond's face and grabs him, and he pushes her off of him. Baela punches him and he punches back harder. Jace and Luc then leap to their cousin's defense (up until that point, it was just about ownership of Vhagar) to which Aemond breaks Luc's nose and calls them bastards. That is the point where Jace draws the knife. Or was it after Aemond started choking Luc and held him at rockpoint. Or was it after Aemond threatened to burn them all to death...another low blow to both the Targaryen girls and the Velaryon boys. In any case all of those events happen. Jace, Baela and Rhaena proceed to beat Aemond up until Aemond is able to get them off of him. Luc picks up the knife and slashes at Aemond. Luc's slashing of Aemond is a bit unrealistic for a child that age but whatever.

If justice is messy, is it really justice? Or is it vengeance disguised. The whole point of justice is to resolve an issue, give everyone what they deserve and maintain peace. Aegon was clearly lying. The way that Aegon responded to being named as the person who told Aemond and the way that these scenes were shot with Alicent quietly panicking in the background tells us all that we need to know. The kids learned it from Alicent. Alicent should have never told them that. And yes, it does rectify the underlying action. Because her husband and king had already forbidden her from talking about it...on more than one occasion. She disobeyed a direct order. And for her to peddle such information to children is dangerous and irresponsible. Yes, Rhaenyra is not innocent; she too is partially responsible for being such a moron. But regardless of whether it is Laenor who fathers children on Rhaenyra or if Alicent is telling truth, to tell these types of things to the royal children with the express purpose of preparing them to usurp their elder half-sibling (who happens to be the rightful heir) is high treason. This is nonsense. You ruined your own argument. You wanna know how? Because we all know that the little girl sitting in Pentos would not have burned any cities to the ground if she would've been left alone. But no, people and their guilty consciences and wicked imaginations had to get themselves riled up...so they sent an assassin after her only for the assassin to fail. So because she survived an assassination attempt and she knows who sent the assassin after her, now she WILL burn cities to the ground. Ultimately, you cannot force Aegon to betray and challenge Rhaenyra if he refuses to do so. The obvious solution to this whole issue is to make sure that all of Viserys' children and grandchildren become really good friends and develop a deep respect and trust for each other. You get more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Wait so what exactly was the point that @butterweedstrover was trying to make. I'm really confused. Did I read it wrong or was @butterweedstrover not making any sense?