Season 2-Episode 06

Smallfolk

It is my fault, I think, that you have forgotten to fear me

Rhaenyra Targaryen

Major Plot Points: Daemon asks for help after seeing his brother. Rhaenyra orders barbecue. Aegon enjoys his time in bed, while Aemond sends his mom to her room. Alicent runs around King’s Landing looking for validation in her parenting skills

Observations from a Book Reader

1. It is mentioned several times throughout GRRM’s books that lions were once actually native to the Westerlands. However, at the time of Game of Thrones it was apparent most were extinct. Not sure why the Lannister army here travels with lions, I can’t imagine they are very helpful in battle.
2. Otto Hightower, before being dismissed, was the one to reach out to the Triarchy for an alliance, not Aemond. Aemond also never attempted to put Otto back into his old position as Hand. Otto was still in King’s Landing throughout all these events, but once dismissed by Aegon he never returned to such a high rank.
3. Ser Steffon Darklyn was one of many dragonseeds to die trying to claim a dragon for the Blacks. He was one of the few knights fully loyal to Rhaenyra, and was actually the person who managed to smuggle Jaehaerys’ crown out of the Red Keep when fleeing the Greens. His loss was regarded as a major blow to Rhaenyra.
4. The book was inconclusive on the parentage of Addam and Alyn, and most believed they were the bastard children of Laenor, Corlys’ son. This always seemed unlikely due to Laenor’s preference for men, and the show is now explicit about Corlys being their father. Something else to note, Corlys as a Velaryon has Targaryen blood from various generations of marriages between the 2 families. This would mean Addam and Alyn also have the blood of the dragon.
5. The large dragon in the Vale was known as Sheepstealer. This original name came (obviously) from the dragon’s diet after migrating from the caves around Dragonstone to the food rich lands of the vale during the Dance of the Dragons. The show is heavily implying that Rhaena will attempt to bond with this dragon, but in the book it was a “commonborn” girl named Nettles. Nettles seems to be written off the show like many other characters. More on her later.
6. The books make it clear that a dragon will never bond with someone while their rider still lives. We know Laenor is still alive in the show, so Seasmoke bonding with Laenor’s half brother Addam indicates that if enough time or distance passes, the bond between dragon and rider is severed. Or that the show-runners forgot about this tiny piece of lore.
7. Mysaria and Rhaenyra never became romantically attached. Mysaria continued working in the shadows on behalf of Rhaenyra as her mistress of whisperers. Knowing Rhaenyra in the show is now openly hooking up with Mysaria does give some credence to the season 1 theories that Rhaenyra and Alicent had romantic feelings for one another.

Other Points to Notice

1. In the beginning of the season, Alicent protested Aemond’s seat on the council. Now with Aemond in power, he is the one who dismisses his mother from her own seat. So far the subtitle of this season could be “Alicent suffers from the consequences of her own actions”.
2. Both visions that Daemon has of his brother Viserys relate to the same incident. The death of Viserys’ wife Aemma and son Baelon. This adds fuel to the theory that all of these visions are related to the guilt Daemon feels for his past actions. We know that he deep down loved his brother, so the fact that he was too busy making jokes about the “heir for a day” in taverns instead of being there for Viserys weighs on him. Is the whole purpose of this arc supposed to be Alys Rivers using magic to help Daemon gain a conscience?
3. The sphere Aemond puts into Aegon’s hand was the one that represented Aegon’s seat at the council table. Each member seems to have their own unique one, since we saw Aemond move his to a different spot upon being named regent. Giving Aegon his old one back was Aemond’s not so subtle way of telling Aegon he would never be able to sit at the head of the table again. Aegon seemed to understand this when he claimed to not remember how he was burnt.
4. House Beesbury is mentioned as going to war against the Hightowers in The Reach. In season 1, Lyman Beesbury was the man on the small council who was openly in favor of crowning Rhaenyra queen once Viserys died, and was immediately killed by Cole. His family is now coming after the Hightowers as revenge.
5. The smallfolk riot against Alicent and Helaena was reminiscent of the riot in season 2 of Game of Thrones against Joffrey and Cersei. During that riot Sansa Stark was only saved because of the interference of the Hound, just as Alicent and Helaena are only saved because of the heavily armored Kingsguard.

Stray Observations:

1. We finally get a new opening credits scene. This one shows Sunfyre and Meleys lying dead on the ground, with Aemond raising his sword in the middle of the corpses. Is Sunfyre actually dead??
2. The reaction from the council to Alicent refusing to marry a Greyjoy was incredible. “Man, it sure would be nice if you did marry him though!”.
3. Steffon Darklyn could not have been more excited to get burnt by Seasmoke.
4. The dragon caretaker who slit his own throat while on fire deserved better. What a legend.
5. It’s hard to tell if Ulf was just a stooge in Mysaria’s plot to get the smallfolk to turn on the Greens, or if he was also acting alongside the woman talking about the feasts the royals were having.
6. Rhaenyra slapping Lord Celtigar felt like a desperate way to regain control. She really has not done much to help her cause so far.
7. Jace really is not enjoying the way his mother is running the show
8. Gwayne did a great job in letting Alicent know the only son of hers she did not directly raise, ended up being the best of all of her children.
9. Hugh Hammer immediately decided to beat a random peasant for all his food.
10. Addam didn’t claim Seasmoke. Seasmoke claimed him.

RIP: Ser Steffon Darklyn and the random guy who burned next to him.