‘HOTD’ S2E5 Proves Team Black is as Lost as Team Green

In this episode, Rhaeneyra was struggling to keep her council appeased after Rhaenys’ passing. After being questioned with misogynistic assumptions, Rhaenyra sent Ser Alfred Broome to Harrenhal to bring Daemond back to Dragonstone. Once again, Daemon is wasting time, hallucinating, and having Freudian dreams, this time with his mom. In the meantime, Rhaenyra is restless as she doesn’t know how to win the war when Team Green has Vhagar on their side.

Mysaria advises Rhaenyra with, perhaps, the only coherent ideas so far. No one in the realm knows enough about war because they have never been in one. However, Mysaria knows civilians’ daily life is a survival battle and Rhaenyra could use that to her advantage. Mysaria is aware of the challenges people in the kingdom face and sheds light on a modern theme – Power to the people. Whilst Rhaenyra seems reluctant, Mysaria knows the undeniable truth: there is only so much people will tolerate. We’ve already seen people feeling impotent towards Aegon’s decision to kill every rat catcher and one traitor. Citizens are getting impatient towards the lack of food, and Cole’s decision to parade Meleys’ head is seen as an ill omen. Aemond is now holding everyone captive in Kingslanding and people do not fear enough their kings to remain submissive, and Mysaria knows this through her web of spies. Although Rhaenyra is more comprehensive than her counterparts, she is still a queen who doesn’t want to be associated with “common people”. At first, she disregards Mysaria’s words, but she could benefit from that and make her army stronger and supported by its population. 

Shortly after, she is studying history books to get military insight and Jaecerys arrives back to Dragonstone after convincing the Freys (not to forget their descendants betrayed the Starks at the Red Wedding) to bend the knee for Rhaenyra. Jaecerys suggests a strategy that scandalizes her at first, but it could be a powerful decision. He suggests looking into Targaryen blood amongst the realm for those relatives to claim Vermithor and fight on Rhaenyra’s side. Hesitant, Rhaenyra says bastards can’t be Dragonlords, which (cough cough) they already are, her sons. 

Jaecerys’ proposition is interesting because we know, as well as Mysaria, about Aegon’s and other Targaryen bastards that creep the halls of Kingslanding every night in search of food. We first saw them in season one when Ser Erryk saw them at the children’s fights. We also know of Ulf the White who says he is of Dragonseed descent and has white hair and Valyrian features. Another platinum-blonde present in this season is Hugh Hammer. Is he a Targaryen? We first saw him when he asked King Aegon II for more compensation to the blacksmiths. In episode five, we see him trying to escape the City Watch while they kept everyone in lockdown after Aemond’s command. Lastly, Dayana is the girl who was raped by Aegon in season one and whom we never saw drink the moon tea. After Mysarias’ advice, Rhaenyra sent her lady-in-waiting (Elinda) to find her. Who will be the next dragon rider?

There is one last question that remains unanswered: Seasmoke. Seasmoke was ridden by Laenor Velaryon who fled with his lover. Where is Seasmoke now? He is now riderless and remains in Driftmark. Seasmoke amongst Caraxes was used to fight The Battle of the Stepstones, which Laenor and Daemon faced together too. In the books, Laenor is dead, so where are the writers taking us with this shift in the story? Is Seasmoke loyal to Laenor and waiting for him as he knows he is not dead? Will Laenor die and Seasmoke move on to be claimed again? Will someone unexpectedly claim Seasmoke just as Aemond did?

There are still several questions we anxiously want to solve, and this season is almost coming to an end. While there is no denying this season has been slower paced compared to the last one and Game of Thrones, viewers still have many answers to await as the battle has officially begun.