HOTD Finally Gave Us Dragons in Combat: The Art of the Dance

Alicent mentions his council earned their seat by studying, growing, and succeeding. She explains he is taking his responsibility for granted, as well as the efforts taken in place by others to put him on the throne. He either needs to contribute with valuable ideas or shut up and let others do the work. He then unexpectedly joined the battle led by Aemond and Ser Criston. Aegon tried to prove himself and he ended up proving the others. 

The surprising element of the Targaryen brothers in this episode was Aemond’s loyalty to himself and no one else. This time we saw even a deeper, darker side of him. One of a traitor and a fratricide. After Rhaenys attacked Aegon with Meleys, the dance between the dragons biting and clawing one another seemed like Aegon’s end until Aemond appeared. It appeared to be a rescue from his brother, but nothing could have prepared audiences to see Aemond yell ‘Dracarys’ on Aegon and Sunfyre. If that wasn’t shameless enough, as soon as Aemond found his brother lying on the ground, he was going to kill him if Ser Criston Cole hadn’t asked him to put his sword away. 

Aemond didn’t show remorse. He looked more regretful of Lucerys’ death than his brother’s, whom he started fighting for in the first place. Not even Daemon would dare to do that. 

Why did Aemond do that? He always wanted to be king. Even in season 1 when everyone was looking for Aegon after Viserys’ passing, Aemond said if his brother went missing, he intended to be found. Even Aegon knew that, when Ser Arryk and Ser Erryk were looking for him, and then Aemond found him, he said: “I was hoping you disappeared”, and Aegon answered “I do not wish to rule. No taste for duty! I’m not suited… You let me go. I will find a ship and sail away, never to be found.”

Aemond’s ambition was always crystal clear and Aegon should’ve tread carefully. He should have avoided humiliating him in front of everyone at the brothel, but most importantly, he should’ve never fully trusted him. Yet another reason why Aegon is a complete idiot. He also should have waited for his return and expelled him from the council, but the Greens have never shown that much insight anyway. What did the council think was going to happen after intervening in a family feud that owns dragons? This is what Ser Criston Cole realized after gaining back his consciousness and looking at his surroundings. When he woke up all he saw were the ashes and the destruction from the fire. 

Everyone is burned or severely injured. No mortal without a dragon can stand a chance. Why did the council and Otto Hightower think it would be a great idea to usurp the throne of a dragon rider with a dragon rider? Even though the Targaryens had been fighting since childhood, it was a dragon problem. Now everyone is defenseless, and they will burn with everything else. They should’ve let the Targaryens solve their issues like any other family at a good old Christmas. The worst part for Team Green is they no longer exist. Otto is exiled, Aegon has been brutally assaulted by his brother, Alicent has adopted a nihilistic attitude and she doesn’t care anymore, she has accepted everyone is going to die, someone will win, and eventually, there will be a new heir.  If that’s not bad enough, Aegon is still alive, most likely disabled. Here we go again, repeating the family pattern: an ill king who can barely speak for himself with a council and relatives that rule for him. “The usurpers are usurping”.   

RHAENYS 

When Rhaenyra is told Ser Criston Cole and Ser Gwayne Hightower have raised their banners, she says they should send a dragon. Rhaenys then said she would be going and as soon as she arrived at the battle, she burned most of their soldiers. As mentioned before, Aegon appeared unexpectedly and Meleys attacked him. After Aegon and Sunfyre fall into the woods, Rhaenys could’ve escaped and gone back to Dragonstone, but she turned her dragon back to the battlefield and attacked Vhagar. Meleys and Rhaenys gave everything they had until their last breath, giving audiences the toughest watch so far. Why did she return to attack Aemond if he rides the fiercest dragon? Vhagar is the biggest and oldest dragon, she is around 180 years old, and she was first ridden by Visenya when she arrived along with her brother, Aegon The Conqueror.