House Of Dragon Ep 10 Leak

The following story contains spoilers for Flavour 1, Episode 10 of
House of the Dragon,
titled “The Black Queen.”

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War is here. Later on
House of the Dragon‘due south Season i finale, “The Black Queen,” the show is thoroughly done with prologue and prepare to dive headfirst into civil state of war. Before we reach that heartwrenching decision, withal, the finale ostensibly functions as a mirror to the events of last week’south episode, showing how Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Daemon (Matt Smith) respond to the passing of King Viserys (Paddy Considine) and the coronation of King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney). As such, nosotros see but a handful of appearances from the Greens, including a swaggerful Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans, splendid as e’er) and a predictably unhinged moment from Aemond (Ewan Mitchell).

Upon receiving the news of both Viserys’ expiry and Aegon’south crowning from Rhaenys (Eve Best), the Blacks realize they’re behind the eight-ball and quickly piece of work to shore up their power. Unexpected allies enter the picture show in the form of Ser Arryk and the render of the Ocean Snake himself, Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint). Rhaenyra so receives her own coronation on Dragonstone, with her allies swearing loyalty as she figures out what to do.

One of
Firm of the Dragon’s biggest strengths is how information technology manages to provide dash to each character—and how the past influences their decisions. Sure, Rhaenyra could have burned everyone on the bridge this time, only like she could have all those years ago. But escalation would come with its own gear up of problems, just as there are consequences for inaction. Those ramifications experience similar the tip of the spear, a brief hint into the encarmine carnage that’s nearly to unfold. Let’s dive into some major takeaways from Episode 10, “The Black Queen,” and relish these last moments of at-home as the Dance of the Dragons begins in full.

To Kinslay or Non to Kinslay?

If yous spent any time on Twitter over the last week, you’re likely well aware of the reaction to Rhaenys’ actions (or lack thereof) at the end of Episode 9. The character seems to address that conversation caput-on, as she explicitly states to Rhaenyra and Daemon that the “state of war is non mine to begin.” While that won’t likely exist enough reasoning for some viewers—myself included, perhaps—it’s refreshing to meet that
Dragon
knew ahead of time that people might be request that question. It also continues to make it clear to viewers that Rhaenys is well-established every bit someone capable of seeing the entire chess lath. Much of “The Black Queen” embodies her approach, in fact. If there’south going to be a war, someone else will need to start information technology first.

While Daemon and Rhaenyra disagree about Rhaenys’ approach, the ii will likely concord that the stillborn death of their third child is the 2d casualty in the Trip the light fantastic of the Dragons, after Lyman Beesbury got his caput smashed into a marble orb by Criston Cole in Episode 9.
Firm of the Dragon’due south view of childbirth is particularly brutal, and the tragic death of Rhaenyra’s girl and sixth child, Visenya, is certainly positioned by showrunner and episode writer Ryan Condal and director Greg Yaitanes as a direct result of Aegon’s ascension and Viserys’ death. Betwixt the deaths of Visenya and Lucerys (Elliot Grihault), the Greens are quickly amassing quite the body count in the early on stages of this war. Given how hell-bent Daemon is nigh hit back in these early stages, the moment he gets his chance, information technology will exist fell.

Long Live the Queen

If you couldn’t keep Ser Arryk and his brother Ser Erryk straight, well, that should exist much easier now that the two have picked separate sides. After helping Rhaenys escape last week, Arryk shows up on Dragonstone with a critical gift for Rhaenyra: the Targaryen crown worn by Viserys. The Hightowers decided to crown Aegon the 2d with the helm and sword of Aegon the Conqueror, a not entirely subtle nod to the fact the Greens were conquering the throne for themselves.

Arryk’s decision to return the crown to Rhaenyra allows Dragonstone a chance for a coronation of their own and further divides the realm equally those gathered pledge allegiance to her. A critical partner in Rhaenyra’s brotherhood is the Sea Snake, who survives his injury and declares support for the Queen. Lord Corlys brings a peculiarly critical fleck of information with him; the Triarchy is
finally
washed, and the Narrow Sea is nether Velaryon command. A few maneuvers will allow Rhaenyra to launch a blockade of King’s Landing, chocking out resources to the Greens and allowing the Blacks to lay siege to the Cherry-red Continue. That’southward quite an nugget for Rhaenyra to take at her back.

Echoes of the Past

At times,
Business firm of the Dragon’s timeline jumping fabricated information technology difficult to go on up with shifting actors or even skipping through critically essential parts of characters’ lives. Still, it works well in service of the human relationship between Alicent and Rhaenyra. As such, the climatic bridge confrontation not only echoes the fateful encounter Daemon and Rhaenyra shared all those years agone—albeit with some new wrinkles, like Rhaenyra flight in to support Daemon instead of sauntering in to persuade him.

Equally if the echoes of
Dragon
by weren’t enough, Condal and coiffure go a step further past having Otto present a page from the volume immature Alicent and Rhaenyra spent so much fourth dimension reading together. It’southward a tangible reminder of their love for one another, despite their differences over the years. It’s certainly a play, one that Alicent hopes will sway Rhaenyra to her side but as well a final olive co-operative before a descent into chaos.

The both-sides-ing that
Business firm of the Dragon
does is a delicate dance in and of itself, bolstered by wonderfully touching moments similar this that remind us and the characters we’re watching of what’s really at stake. To have that level of shared history between these characters as a mechanism to help united states of america experience that weight is especially effective—and ane of
House of the Dragon’s greatest assets.

The (Storm’s) Stop is the Get-go

Oh, boy, those Baratheons. As
Game of Thrones
viewers know, the future holds
quite
a conflict between the Stags and the Dragons, every bit future Baratheon descent Robert Baratheon will eventually insubordinate against the Targaryens and hunt downward every final one of them (or almost all of them, save for ane Daenerys) throughout Robert’s Rebellion. (Side annotation: The myriad civil wars throughout Westeros’ history have
the
coolest names). Only it might exist said that the seeds of the bad blood between the two houses starting time, in earnest, with the tragic events at Storm’s End, the nearly impenetrable seat of the Baratheons.

In a televised first—Game of Thrones
never really showed the full extent of the massive stronghold—nosotros see the total splendor and danger of Tempest’s Cease. Located cliffside in the aptly-named Stormlands, the Baratheons had previously pledged their loyalty to Rhaenyra. As such, she sends along Lucerys every bit a pure messenger to draw the Stags to her cause. But, equally Luce quickly realizes, Rhaenyra is one pace behind; Aemond and Vhagar are already in that location.

Lord Borros (Roger Evans), who has a somehow worse temperament than Robert, rejects Luce’southward message and Aemond looks to add together insult to injury by, once once again, seeking vengeance over his missing eye. While Borros wisely demands no bloodshed in his throne room, that doesn’t terminate Aemond from chasing later on Luce on Vhagar.

In
Fire & Claret, the circumstances surrounding Lucerys’ expiry are less gray and more black and white. Afterwards Aemond’s new wife, Maris, taunts him, the Greenish dragon rider chases after Lucerys and intentionally kills him. To add insult to injury, Aemond locates Lucerys’ corpse and removes
both
optics earlier presenting them every bit a gift to Maris. Equally a issue of his brutality, Aemond is known henceforth as Aemon the Kinslayer.

In keeping with
Dragon’s penchant for misunderstandings, the dragons that made the Targaryens power, equally Daemon points out, go rogue. Against their riders’ wishes, Arrax tries to take Vhagar down earlier Vhagar—the massive and oldest dragon—eats Arrax (and Lucerys by victim of circumstance) for dinner. The reality of Luce’s death will cause that “Kinslayer” title to accept on a tragic nature. While Aemond’due south intentions were far from good, death was seemingly never on the calendar. Now, it’s possibly
the
inciting incident in the Trip the light fantastic toe of the Dragons. Despite their all-time intentions, the Greens and the Black are at present at war—and Emma D’Arcy’s look at the end of the episode, without a single word of dialogue, says it all. Shit is about to go downward. Who will be left when it’south all said and washed?