It may share a theme song with Game of Thrones, but House of the Dragon is its own big, scaly beast. As it did in season 1, it has once again resisted its parent show’s tendency to put the big action finale in the penultimate episode. At least, we hope there’s more to come after this week. This episode made a lot of things clear – why we’ve been spending so much time with certain smallfolk over these last few weeks, and how both Daemon and Rhaenyra can turn the tide – but it didn’t finish with any spectacular confrontation or battle scenes. That’s not to say, however, that "The Red Sowing" is boring or lacking in tension. There are a couple of slightly baffling bits, but generally it roars along like a dragon that just took a new rider.
Dragon riders are a key issue this episode. What does it mean to be a dragon rider in Westeros? Traditionally it’s been a status tied to the ruling Targaryen house and key to Westeros’ divine right to rule. Literally: the dragons are seen as gods, and have proved key to the Targaryen dynasty as a whole and this generation in particular. If Viserys had not ridden Balerion the Black in his young days (and the dragon’s old age) he might not have been appointed King over Rhaenys. If the dragons had not accepted Rhaenyra’s children by Ser Harwin Strong, they might have been denounced as bastards – something that Rhaenyra’s son Jacaerys (Harry Collett) angrily points out to his mother. And if they’re willing to accept lowborn bastards, the foundations of Targaryen rule are shakier than they knew. Combined with the murmurs that greeted the recent parade of Meleys’ severed head through King’s Landing, this could be bad news for everyone.
But while there might be trouble ahead (as always) this episode saw Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) on the up. We open with the striking sight of her and Syrax on a beach, facing Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty, the best-named actor on the show) and Seasmoke. He quickly makes it clear that the dragon chose him rather than vice versa; that he respects Rhaenyra as his queen; and that he thinks this is all the will of the gods. Notably, he doesn’t mention that Corlys (Steve Toussaint), her Hand, is his father. Instead, he has an intensely awkward conversation where both he and Corlys step around the truth, with the older man nevertheless betraying just a hint of pride. He’s even happier later when Addam’s brother Alyn (Abubakar Salim) claims to be “of salt and sea” and have no interest in dragons.
Inclined to piety herself and warming to Addam’s attitude, Rhaenyra slight – slightly – lowers her guard, escorting him back to Dragonstone. There she skips her council again and goes straight to sometime makeout partner Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) to strategize. Rhaenyra is fired up, and wants Addam taught High Valyrian and proper dragon riding practices; she also starts to hit her books to look for more Targaryens of common birth before Mysaria laughs and points out that such births wouldn’t be chronicled.
So the spy master gathers a crop of Targaryen bastards or “Dragonseeds,” transported sneakily to Dragonstone by Alyn. Rhaenyra gives them a genuinely rousing speech but then leaves them to Vermithor’s less than tender mercies. In the words of Johnny Storm, flame on! The Bronze Fury rages and eats the hopefuls until our old friend Hugh (Kieran Bew) stands up to him heroically. Meanwhile Ulf (Tom Bennett), trying to escape the death caverns under Dragonstone, happens across Silverwing and is knocked off his feet – literally and figuratively. That’s a two-player swing for Rhaenyra. Ulf takes Silverwing for a joyride over King’s Landing, as if to impress his old drinking buddies, and Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) gives chase on the enormous Vhagar. Wisely, the regent nopes out when he realizes just what’s waiting for him on Dragonstone. Rhaenyra stares after him, almost audibly thinking “You better run” as he turns tail. She’s taken a ruthless risk with other people’s lives, and it has paid off. You have to hope she takes better lessons from that than Daenerys did (or will) in her time.
Meanwhile at Harrenhal, Daemon (Matt Smith) is still having visions of his brother Viserys (Paddy Considine), now older and wizened, and questioning the value of the crown. The new, young Lord Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes), Lord Paramount of the Riverlands, is deeply unconvinced by Daemon personally, but he holds to his family oath to Rhaenyra, and he will bring the other Riverlords with him. The way he does so is interesting, however. He makes a show of defying Daemon, throwing Daemon’s tyrannical behaviour back in his face to establish his own credentials among the older Lords. He engineers Daemon’s execution of his loyal follower Ser Willem Blackwood (Jack Parry-Jones) but thereby secures the Riverlords he needs. The camera lingers on Daemon’s face as he does so – rather than showing us the injury for once – and it’s hard to read his emotions. Regret, certainly. Determination perhaps? Oscar’s a force to be reckoned with – but now so is Daemon.
Back with the Greens, Ser Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) makes a rare mistake in ignoring Lord Jasper “Ironrod” Wylde’s (Paul Kennedy) warning that Seasmoke has a new rider, but he’s probably wise to pressure the injured King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) to rush his physio before his younger brother kills him and takes the throne. Alicent (Olivia Cooke) struggles to shake off the mob attack from “Smallfolk:; her wound is not the only thing that will leave a scar. As the Kingsguard who failed to protect her are sent to the Wall, she goes with Ser Rickard (Vincent Regan) into the woods and apparently plans to stay there, camping in a tent and occasionally doing some light swimming. Is this some ploy to draw out her missing father? Or is she sick of the lot of them? One could hardly blame her.
So as the episode ends, Rhaenyra is triumphant. She can now call on six dragons and their riders: her own Syrax, Addam’s Seasmoke, Ulf’s Silverwing, Hugh’s Vermithor, Baela’s young Moondancer and Jacaerys’ Vermax. Oh, and Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) is hiking around the Aerie, looking for dragon signs. But Jacaerys is furious with his mother, and Ulf, Hugh, and Addam have yet to be tested. Daemon has indeed rallied the Riverlords, but his loyalty remains in question. And if Aegon really is recovering, who will rule in King’s Landing? The King, or his regent? In addition to a climactic faceoff, we could get the answers to these questions next time.
