Raksha 2014

If they want to make Tyland more sympathetic, they'll omit his recommendation to Aegon II that the captive Aegon the Younger be killed. I actually like Tyland as a character much more than any of the GOT Lannisters: he prioritizes what he perceives as the good of the realm over all other considerations rather than attempting to advance himself and House Lannister. And, when young Aegon becomes King Aegon III, Tyland admits satisfaction that his advice was not followed, and (at least in the book) Tyland and Aegon have a rather interesting relationship of mutual respect, though it sadly does not last long.

.Deleted because my question was previously answered....

I think Marilda was killed offscreen and Hugh given a wife and child so that Hugh's family might be wastefully/tragically/violently killed to spark Hugh's future betrayal of Rhaenyra. Can't think of any other reason. It's a shame, though; I would have liked to see Marilda, she's quite an interesting character.

I think the writers are really having trouble making Rhaenyra anything other than a saint. Alicent, who was well-characterized in Season 1, is now incomprehensible. This should be a tale of two mothers fighting tooth and nail for the survival of their children as well as the power they believe they deserve, and suddenly Alicent is caving in after a few days camping out in the Kingswood? And agreeing to throw open the gates of KIng's Landing so that her BFF can drag her crippled, burned son out of bed to be publicly beheaded? Well, I still love the series and will follow it to the end. I just hope it continues to be recognizable as GRRM's story.

If the views of characters or cultures within the ASoIaF series (books, I assume, rather than TV) are not necessarily GRRM's, whose would they be? I didn't know he had a co-writer except for the World of Ice and Fire.

Warts and all, I still find Episode 8 to be better than all of the first season of Rings of Power, mainly because the characters convince me that they are who they're supposed to be (except for Alicent, due to this episode, I don't blame Olivia Cooke, who has been outstanding, but the writing this time was awful for the character; also the character assassination of Corlys Velaryon, who is too proud to have allowed his bastard children to grow up starving even if noble lords weren't supposed to, by custom, provide necessities for their bastards). I loved the final bits with the Hightower and Lannister troops marching (and Tessarion flying above!) and also the Winter Wolves coming south to fight and die for the dragon queen! At least we got a sight of Sheepstealer, too. I genuinely enjoyed the Tyland/Lohar shenanigans. 'Bout time a Lannister was taken so far out of his comfort zone. And I've always felt that Tyland was one of the more interesting characters in the book HOTD. And I'm in no hurry to see the Battle of the Gullet, since Jace and tiny!Stormcloud will probably be casualties. Though if Rhaena comes flying in on Sheepstealer, that could be a game-changer, so who knows.... What a shame that 2026 is so far away.

Which was weird, since in Season 1 Alicent was closest to Aemond of all her children, they could trust and depend on each other. Now that's totally gone. I still find it difficult to believe that Alicent takes a few days off, goes on a camping trip with yet another worshipful knight, and decides to sell out her sons to her former best friend and actually agree to the execution of the son she forced into the kingship.

Three plot points introduced in this episode that conflict with the future as written in Fire & Blood: 1. Sunfyre is dead, according to Aegon, who has every reason to know. Supposedly, as Aegon's rider, he would feel the loss of their bond upon the golden dragon's death. With Sunfyre's dead, there will be no Great Moment for Baela when Aegon is supposed to invade Dragonstone on Sunfyre's back and Baela attacks on Moondancer and damages them both, killing Moondancer and injuring herself in the process and earning Aegon's rage and a death sentence that will spark much angst and drama. 2. If Sunfyre is dead, which dragon will Aegon use to kill Rhaenyra? There will be no dragons left by that time... 3. Aegon also reveals he can no longer father children. That means, unless Helaena is pregnant, Aegon has no heir since the Greens do not recognize female heirs ahead of male heirs; and his only living child is little Jaehaera. Aegon's heir would be Aemond and after him Daeron. And after both his brothers are killed and all he has left is Jaehaera, Aegon might have no choice but to name Rhaenyra's son Aegon his heir; unless the writers end the show with Rhaenyra's death. If they don't, all bets are off as to who kills Aegon, since there might be considerable outrage among the remaining Greens at the thought of Rhaenyra's child sitting the Iron Throne.

But Helaena isn't the only other person with a dragon. They have a capable, arms-trained younger brother whose dragon can fly and is traveling with the Hightower forces. And isn't it unreasonable for Aemond to risk depriving little Princess Jaehaera of her mother after he did his best to robb the child of her father?

This was the only moment in the season where I felt the writers had gone completely off the rails instead of just somewhat. I cannot see Alicent consenting to sacrifice any of her children, even to guarantee the safety of the others. Also, as long as Aemond lives, Vhagar is a threat to Rhaenyra; there is no way she would allow Aemond to live unless they kill Vhagar, which, as we all know, is only accomplished by the deaths of Caraxes and Daemon.

I could see Alyn and Baela & Rhaena plotting to present Daenaera at the ball, but telling Aegon that they have found a very good choice for him that they believe he will like rather than pushing a meeting before the ball, which could come to light later and provoke some anger among other lords whose daughters were not picked. I can understand, under such circumstances, why Aegon smiled at little Daenaera and made his preference for her obvious by complimenting her. He was not responding to her sexually. Aegon is an emotionally depressed 12-year-old boy whose first marriage was to a weeping little girl who was recently horribly killed. I doubt that he was in any hurry to jump into bed with any girl, even an older beauty. Aegon might well want a break from being married, from having to be (socially/religiously) the protector of a delicate girl-bride who, as it has been emphasized, is being shoved at him for the purpose of Producing Targaryen Heirs. Only he's not allowed to take a few years off the marriage mart, there aren't enough legitimate male Targaryens (they don't know that his brother is alive) alive and so the pressure is on him. Aegon will have to pick a bride. But if his closest kin present a different alternative, Aegon might think that the pressure will ease. He seems to trust his sisters and has no reason not to trust Alyn Oakenfist, the heir of the mighty Sea Snake who helped to save him and Baela. The girl they brought for him is a child, a happy, smiling six-year-old child. She is not throwing herself at him, she is just confident and pretty and seems happy to be there. Most of all, perhaps, her age means that Aegon will not have to consummate the marriage for another 10 years, which will give him time to grow up. And the pressure of Marriage can ease. Little Daenaera is most likely trustworthy and can be a companion, possibly a friend, after marriage, without fear of upsetting her or having to make babies for a long time. Time to breathe and grow into the kingship is what Aegon probably desperately needs.

What, an orphaned, possibly developmentally disabled 10-year-old child deserved to die horribly because the adults in her family had either made mistakes or had done terrible things? I find House Hightower annoying in Fire & Blood as well, but I don't think any of Helaena's young children deserved to be slaughtered due to "karma", anymore than Rhaegar Targaryen's wife and children deserved their horrific fates. (GRRM seems to have a thing for killing off women and child characters in gory detail...)

I am going to be really annoyed if they skip the regency, also have Rhaenyra's Aegon be a tiny child instead of a 10-year-old when Rhaenyra meets her fate, especially if Aegon the Younger doesn't witness it, thereby robbing that terrible moment of so much drama. Corlys has been pitifully under-used and he is one of the movers and shakers during Aegon II's last months; saving Rhaenyra's boy as well as his own grand-daughter. I really want the series to end with the tearful reunion of King Aegon III and his presumed-dead brother Viserys, Rhaenyra's last living children, assuring the future of her line. But I bet they'll stop at the wedding of Aegon III and poor little Jaehaery, even though we know that union is going nowhere.

I haven't seen any specific mention of a Targaryen ancestor of Corlys Velaryon. Where is the reference for Corlys' supposed Targaryen great-great-great-grandma?

Shouldn't the Battle of the Gullet be next week, since little Aegon and Viserys have been sent off to take ship on the Gay Abandon and (presumably) the Triarchy has been called in to act for the Greens?

I wonder if Rhaena will claim Sheepstealer and accompany the kids and save little Aegon. Otherwise, little Aegon will be presumed dead with little Viserys, because tiny Stormcloud is not big enough to carry him anywhere, and Aegon is what, all of four years old, not really old enough to get on dragonback on his own while the ship carrying him is under attack? I don't know why they've de-aged Aegon and Viserys; but if the writers want to have Aegon at Rhaenyra's side during her last scene, someone other than tiny Stormcloud is going to have to rescue him....Unless they are planning to have Jace and Vermax, wounded, manage to scoop up Aegon and bring him back alive to Dragonstone and die there? And if Rhaena and Sheepstealer are away with Daemon and not with Jace, Rhaenyra could indeed blame her for Jace's death and the losses of Viserys and tiny Stormcloud... I just realized that in Fire & Blood, Rhaenyra's three older sons died in the air, in the water, and in the earth(on the ground) - very elemental.

It's possible that the Green Council members are too nervous to debate now that Aemond - Kinslaying Rider-of-the-biggest-dragon-available-and-possibly-psychotic-Aemond is in charge and the actual weak and foolish king is barely alive and not likely to be taking back the reins of power anytime soon. I'd be nervous about discussing strategies too, especially since said Kinslaying Rider of Vhagar seems very sure of his own strategies. Oh well, at least Ser Crispy, who kills people who annoy him, is gone for the moment. Otto will soon return and will presumably be delighted to have an adult king to work with again; unless Aemond is too much his own man to be ruled in any way by Grandpa. Interesting Times ahead...Though neither Dragonstone nor King's Landing or the Riverlands will be safe places to live for awhile.

It's one of the highlights of an otherwise uneven season for me. I like TV-Alys so much more than Book-Alys (who was boring, stereotypical witch/seductress/mistress). I loved her first conversation with Daemon; she is so refreshing while totally playing him. I wish we'd see a conversation between Alys and Ser Simon Strong; though I'm not sure that Alys exists in the same space and time as everyone else, she only seems to interact with Daemon.

If TV-Aemond wanted to usurp his brother, then why didn't he help him onto the next ship to Essos when Aegon was begging to leave; or help him disappear in a more sinister and permanent way?

I have seen no evidence in the TV series that Daemon cares anything about Rhaenyra's (nominally) Velaryon boys as anything other than extensions of Rhaenyra or abstract dynastic symbols. He doesn't care much about his own children either; there was one scene in Pentos where he actually interacted with one of his daughters. He never comforted or interacted with Rhaena or Baela afterwards - has he said a single word to them onscreen after their mother died? I suppose Daemon is aware that he has two young sons with Rhaenyra; but we don't see him with them or mention them either. He will probably mention the famous "A son for a son" line in connection with obtaining vengeance for the death of Lucerys; but that seems less a measure of Daemon's personal caring for his stepson and more a measure of his commitment to the boy's mother and a mark of his anger at the insult to Rhaenyra that the Hightowers have inflicted by murdering her child. Aemond might know that he would do a better job as ruler of Westeros than his brother (heck, I think Helaena would make a better ruler than Aegon the self-indulgent rapist); but as I recall from the book; he would never usurp the throne from Aegon. I am not sure that Aemond is capable of loving anyone other than himself; possibly he loves his mother (at least TV-Aegon) or at least values her.

Hmm. I don't think Luke behaved like a little kid during his brief time at Storm's End. Luke was extremely inexperienced as an envoy or diplomat. He was 14 years old and had never, as far as we know, met Lord Borros or his predecessor; and had no cards to play for the alliance that Rhaenyra needed, since he could not offer a betrothal. We don't know if Rhaenyra coached Luke on anything other than his status as an envoy or the importance of delivering her letter. However, it's important to note that Luke's behavior was that of a young man, not a little boy in some respects - when faced with Aemond's adversarial and taunting/threatening presence, and Lord Borros' rebuffs, Luke did not panic and he remained courteous towards his host and kept his own dignity. He reminded Lord Borros that he was his mother's messenger as a a means of self-protection; he knew that Aemond wanted to harm him, and that his status as messenger/envoy would protect him while he was in Borros' hall. I think Luke was a natural at being a diplomat. If he was behaving like a little kid who is really trying to please his mother and the adults; Luke would have shown frustration by breaking into tears or screaming/having a tantrum.

I actually thought that Lucerys acted like more than "a little boy" when he went out on the mission that would claim his life: despite his lack of self-confidence in his destiny as the future Lord of the Tides or his own fighting skills, Lucerys conducted himself with considerable dignity and confidence as a queen's envoy to Lord Borros (a hostile host) under the smirking eye of Aemond. Lucerys did not panic when Aemond tried to coerce him to cut out his own eye; but reiterated his own status as an envoy rather than a warrior; though he drew his sword in answer to Aemond's threat, not in panic but in answer, despite Aemond's greater age and height. When Lucerys reached his dragon, he did his best to calm Arrax, despite their having to leave suddenly in the terrible weather. Not every 14-year-old boy would behave so well. And even when Aemond, on Vhagar, set upon Lucerys, attacking and harassing him and shouting threats, Lucerys did not panic; he tried to hide in crevasses (a fairly successful strategy). Lucerys didn't act like a little boy; he acted like the brave and resilient prince he was growing up to be. What he didn't act like was Superman; since he didn't have any special advantage; like the largest dragon in Westeros or a fantastic talent for fighting. And I agree that Paddy Considine should get an Emmy!

Lucerys death had a lot of impact for me; I thought the young actor did a great job with a small part. However many self-doubts the young teenager (I think he was supposed to be 14) had about his future inheritance as Lord of the Tides or his fighting skills; Lucerys bore himself with confidence in the presence of his enemy (Aemond) and a hostile host (Lord Borros Baratheon) in Storm's End; and also courage, drawing his sword in answer to Aemond's threat, despite Aemond's superior skill at arms. Lucerys was a loss to Rhaenyra and the realm; he was doing nothing wrong, and Aemond needlessly caused his death. Lucerys is the first known innocent to die in the Dance and of course, tragically, he won't be the last.

Aemond didn't start the DoD by accident. He started the DoD by hunting and attacking his younger nephew on a dragon several times older and larger than the young dragon that Lucerys rode, shouting threats, riding Vhagar in close above the smaller dragon - that was Aemond's decision, no "accident" about it, a very deliberate and cruel action. Lucerys flew Arrax as capably as he possibly could, given Vhagar's size and the weather conditions, trying to find cover; but the damage was already done, Arrax sensed Lucerys' fear, and retaliated, in defense of himself and his rider, by sending out a spout of fire toward the too-close Vhagar. If Aemond had just meant to scare Lucerys, he'd have shouted a threat or two, and then turned Vhagar from their quarry and let Lucerys go home. He didn't. Aemond meant to scare, hurt or possibly kill Lucerys; driving Vhagar too close to Arrax and Lucerys. It was not a mistake, it was an attack. I think he realized, as Vhagar went in for the kill, too late, the consequences of his rage; but it was still Aemond's long-simmering grudge and anger that caused him to taunt and then terrorize and attack his nephew and finally begin the Dance of Dragons with a Kinslaying act that will seal his own doom.