The only thing that can destroy House Targaryen is the Targaryens themselves. That’s what the prologue to House of the Dragon promises, and in the first episode of the new Game of Thrones series we’re already given all sorts of clues as to exactly what that might look like. Although the series has a strong opening that has heads smashing until the squires throw up, it’s not that kind of violence that’s what sets it apart darkest shadow on the house of dragons throws.
A tournament becomes a tragedy
House of the Dragon begins 186 years before Game of Thrones. Dany’s destruction of King’s Landing, but also the civil war against her insane father are distant future. In this year 112 AE (after Aegon’s conquest), the peace-loving Viserys I (Paddy Considine) sits on the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms. All the fifth Targaryen king lacks for a successful reign is a male heir. His pregnant wife Aemma Arryn (Sian Brooke) should fulfill this wish.
On the occasion of the approaching birth, Viserys organizes a big tournament in the capital, as if the maximum number of phallic lances force a son. Brother Daemon (Matt Smith) sports a shiny suit of armor, but is still beaten by Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) in his rusty gear. No matter how many men are knocked off their horses and skulls bashed in, what happens in the queen’s chambers outside of the tournament is far more painful.
House of the Dragon sacrifices a woman to tell something about a man
Aemma suffers a breech delivery. She writhes, screams. Your worried husband is given an option. The child could be saved by opening the abdominal wall, but that will surely kill the mother. What would be best for them remains unsaid. Viserys sacrifices Aemma. She must die so that the child may live. Her fear cuts through her bones as she is held begging for her life and cut open.
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Viserys I
It is one brutal scene even by Game of Thrones standards, in which a helpless woman is first snatched away from her self-determination and then her life. Aemma is reduced to a birthing machine by men. Their screams are the agonizing reminder that someone is struggling to die.
This Centerpiece of the first episode of House of the Dragon is meant to represent the extent of the violence men in this world inflict on women. Also loving, warm, sympathetic men like Viserys. The fact that Aemma has hardly had more than two scenes before and dies in favor of the nuanced characterization of her husband also gives the horror a double standard. Nevertheless, the scene doesn’t fail to have an effect, which is due to Sian Brooke’s touching performance. In her brief appearances, she outlines the weariness of a king’s wife who is in danger of being overwhelmed by the burden of her biological mission.
The ending of the episode isn’t as optimistic as one might think
It’s a stark contrast to begin with carefree young women at the heart of the story. Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) dreams of flying and eating cake, her friend and lady-in-waiting Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey) is much less adventurous. They have absolutely no idea what’s in store for them in House of the Dragon, but Episode 1 sets the scene.
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Rhaenyra before the throne
After the death of her mother and the newborn, Rhaenyra is proclaimed heir to the throne. The hand of the king, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), on the other hand, sends his daughter Alicent to the king’s chambers for consolation. It doesn’t take eight seasons of GOT experience to find one here looming conflict to scent.
The routinely staged episode, which fast-forwards all the important people without feeling like it, culminates in one optimistic picture: Westeros, so the promise, can still change! The episode opens with Rhaenys (Eve Best) being passed over in the line of succession in favor of her cousin Viserys. In the end, his daughter Rhaenyra stands before the Iron Throne while Baratheons and Starks swear allegiance. Everyone covets this sword-forged behemoth, although very few can fit on it without oozing sores.
If this episode and the Death of Aemma Arryn teach one thing then that we can only imagine how far the people of King’s Landing court will go to maintain their power. Even if it costs the lives of family members. And if Game of Thrones has taught us anything, it’s that if someone from House Arryn dies at the beginning of a story, it’s never a good omen.
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