This is war.
The Black Queen, the Season 1 finale of House of the Dragon, signals the end of prologue
and the beginning of civil war.
The finale ostensibly serves as a mirror to the events of last week's episode, showing
how Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Daemon (Matt Smith) react to the passing of King Viserys
(Paddy Considine) and the coronation of King Aegon.
But before we reach that heartbreaking conclusion, the finale shows how Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy)
and Daemon ( (Tom Glynn-Carney).
As a result, the Greens only make a few brief cameos.
These appearances include an arrogant Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans, who is usually terrific)
and an expectedly irrational Aemond moment (Ewan Mitchell).
When Rhaenys (Eve Best) informs the Blacks of Viserys' passing and Aemond's coronation,
the Blacks know they are behind the eight-ball and act rapidly to strengthen their dominance.
Ser Arryk and Lord Corlys Velaryon's reappearance as the Sea Snake bring unexpected friends
into the scene (Steve Toussaint).
On Dragonstone, Rhaenyra is then crowned, and as she decides what to do, her allies
vow allegiance to her.
The way House of the Dragon manages to give each character depth and show how their actions
are influenced by their background is one of its strongest points.
Yes, just like she could have done all those years before, Rhaenyra could have burnt everyone
on the bridge this time.
Escalation, however, would have its own set of issues, just as there are negative effects
of inaction.
Those consequences seem to be the tip of the iceberg, a tantalising glimpse of the gruesome
slaughter that is going to take place.
Let's delve into some key lessons from "The Black Queen" in Episode 10 before taking advantage
of the peace that will last until the complete Dance of the Dragons starts.
Should I go to Kinslay or not?
The response to Rhaenys' actions (or lack thereof) at the conclusion of Episode 9 is
probably well known to you . The protagonist appears to address the discussion directly
when she tells Rhaenyra and Daemon that the "conflict is not mine to wage."
It's encouraging to see that Dragon anticipated that viewers could have that question, even
if it won't likely satisfy all viewers—perhaps even myself.
The fact that Rhaenys is known to be able to see the complete chess board is also made
very plain to the audience by this.
In reality, a lot of "The Black Queen" reflects her philosophy.
Someone else will have to initiate the war if one is to occur.
Despite their disagreements on Rhaenys' strategy, Daemon and Rhaenyra would probably concur
that the stillbirth of their third child marks the second fatality in the Dance of the Dragons,
following Lyman Beesbury's head injury from Criston Cole in Episode 9.
Visenya's terrible death is clearly positioned by showrunner and episode writer Ryan Condal
and director Greg Yaitanes as a direct outcome of Aegon's ascent and Viserys' death.
House of the Dragon portrays childbirth as exceptionally traumatic.
In the early phases of this fight, the Greens are swiftly accumulating a sizable dead count
thanks to the murders of Visenya and Lucerys (Elliot Grihault).
The instant Daemon gets his opportunity, it will be nasty given how determined he is to
fight back at this point.
The Queen is still alive.
If you had trouble distinguishing between Ser Arryk and Ser Erryk, it should be lot
simpler now that they have chosen different sides.
After assisting Rhaenys in making her getaway last week, Arryk appears on Dragonstone bearing
an essential present for Rhaenyra: the Viserys Targaryen crown.
In a not totally subtle gesture to the fact that the Greens were seizing the throne for
themselves, the Hightowers chose to crown Aegon the second with the helm and sword of
Aegon the Conqueror.
As those gathering pledge loyalty to Rhaenyra as a result of Arryk's choice to give her
the crown, the kingdom is further divided and Dragonstone is given the opportunity for
their own coronation.
The Sea Snake, who survives his wounded and vows allegiance for the Queen, is a crucial
cog in Rhaenyra's coalition.
The Triarchy is finally over, and the Narrow Sea is now under Velaryon's power, according
to Lord Corlys, who also carries this extremely important piece of information with him.
Rhaenyra can blockade King's Landing with a few movements, starving the Greens of resources
and allowing the Blacks to occupy the Red Keep.
Rhaenyra is fortunate to have that support behind her.
Reflections of the Past
The chronology shifting in House of the Dragon occasionally made it difficult to follow the
changing actors or even skip past vitally important moments in the lives of the characters.
However, it serves Alicent and Rhaenyra's relationship quite well.
With some novel twists, such as Rhaenyra flying in to assist Daemon rather than sauntering
in to convince him, the climactic bridge confrontation therefore not only recalls the crucial encounter
Daemon and Rhaenyra shared all those years ago.
Condal and the crew take things a step further by having Otto deliver a page from the book
that little Rhaenyra and Alicent spent a lot of time reading together.
Despite their conflicts throughout the years, it serves as a physical reminder of their
affection for one another.
It's undoubtedly a ploy, one that Alicent thinks would persuade Rhaenyra to join her,
but it's also a last-ditch attempt at diplomacy before things spiral out of control.
This and other very moving moments like that serve to remind us and the characters we're
watching of what's actually at risk, which is a delicate dance that House of the Dragon
does.
One of the best things about House of the Dragon is how effectively it uses the characters'
common history to make us feel the weight of their decisions.
The beginning is at the end of the (storm)
Those Baratheons, oh boy.
As Game of Thrones viewers are aware, there will be a significant conflict between the
Stags and the Dragons in the future because Robert Baratheon, a future Baratheon descendant,
will eventually rise up in rebellion against the Targaryens and hunt them all down (or
nearly all of them, save for one Daenerys) during Robert's Rebellion.
(Side note: The titles of the numerous civil wars that have raged throughout Westeros'
history are the best.)
However, it may be said that the terrible events at Storm's End, the practically impregnable
seat of the Baratheons, planted the seeds of the enmity between the two families.
Storm's End's entire beauty and peril are seen on television for the first time—Game
of Thrones never fully revealed the full scope of the enormous citadel.
The Baratheons, who lived cliffside in the appropriately called Stormlands, had previously
sworn allegiance to Rhaenyra.
To enlist the Stags in her cause, she sent Lucerys as a simple messenger.
Rhaenyra is only one step behind Aemond and Vhagar, who are already there, as Luce rapidly
understands.
Lord Borros (Roger Evans), who has a temperament that is somehow worse than Robert's, ignores
Luce's advice, and Aemond seeks revenge for his missing eye once more in an effort to
make matters worse.
While Borros sensibly orders that there be no violence in his throne room, Aemond nonetheless
pursues Luce on Vhagar.
The circumstances behind Lucerys' death are more black and white in Fire & Blood than
they are grey.
The Green dragon rider pursues after Lucerys and deliberately murders him after being taunted
by Aemond's new wife, Maris.
To make matters worse, Aemond finds Lucerys' body and takes both eyeballs out before giving
them to Maris as a gift.
Aemond is now known as Aemon the Kinslayer because of his savagery.
As Daemon puts out, the dragons who gave the Targaryens their power go wild, in line with
Dragon's propensity for misunderstandings.
Arrax, against the wishes of their riders, makes an effort to defeat Vhagar before the
large and venerable dragon takes both Arrax and Lucerys as food.
That "Kinslayer" term will have a melancholy tone due to the fact of Luce's passing.
Even though Aemond had ill intents, he never seemed to plan to die.
It may now be considered the Dance of the Dragons' catalyst.
The Greens and the Black are now at war despite their best efforts, and Emma D'Arcy's expression
at the episode's conclusion, which contains no words of speech, tells it all.
Things are about to become real.
When all is said and done, who will be left?