House of the Dragon S2E01 live Q&A discussion

[@Malforian]

I also thought the discomfort Alicent had in the bath was realizing that the new helpers she has are now from Laris so she's never free from people watching her, kind of trapped in a cage she ultimately made

[@Malforian]

@@Gojeto346 Exactly! I thought it was way more that then it being her feeling unclean, its now she cant trust anyone so .. leave me alone ill do it myself kind of thing. Both work as explanations for the scene to be fair though

[@isaacmartinez7557]

That was such a fucking flex by Larys. He’s like “I know y’all have been fuckin. And in order to keep that secret a secret I killed your entire tail of ladies” then hand picked the new ones. He’s like tell me I’m wrong for doing that and she just accepted it. What a savage. He’s better at this than little finget

[@PhattyBolger]

legit thought Larys was gonna walk in and make her put her feet up on the edge of the tub 🤢

[@elderscrolls69420]

It’s extra creepy given how these women who are basically just extensions of Larys are bathing her naked body, that’s such an intimate and vulnerable thing to do to someone and to know that something as private and intimate as being washed by your handmaids can’t even be a safe space would be so paranoia-inducing

[@Leakampff]

Totally had this exact same read of that scene, twas really well acted

[@rissjohnson3308]

One of my favorite little moments from this episode was Aegon picking at his fingernails while sitting on the iron throne. He only started doing it after Otto started interfering with him. Otto makes Aegon anxious the same way Otto made Alicent anxious. It’s very possible that Aegon picked that habit up from his mother. The generational trauma goes hard in this show

[@chae660]

suuuuch a good detail

[@KariEFos]

AWESOME pick-up!!!

[@44r0n-9]

Blood said "a son for a son", the only way he could've know that is if Daemon told them. It's not ambiguous at all in my opinion, and the reason they cut away is to not spoil the ending.

[@leonrobinson2475]

If Daemon told him. They didn't show Daemon tell him. That is the definition of ambiguous. The show runners never want to have any of the main characters on this show intentionally do anything bad. It's such a stupid choice and bad way to tell a story.

[@nikolascsgo]

​​@@leonrobinson2475the definition of ambiguous is being open to multiple interpretations which is false since blood literally said a son for a son in the following scene, they don't need to explain everything in direct dialogue for it to be obvious if you have any natural human sense of picking up social cues

[@minticecream1249]

@@leonrobinson2475they didnt show him telling them to preserve the surprise. if you couldn’t figure out Daemon told them, then you have poor comprehension skills.

[@srwordsussecuaces6374]

Exactly, I don't understand why he insists on it being ambiguous.

[@helixxharpell]

GRRM uses the Annunaki myth in our own world as inspiration to the Targaryean experiments to merge human & beastial DNA. 😉 This is one reason why I firmly believe a series based in Essos(and the Utter East) would be better than going back in time 200 yrs.

[@_juanadecastilla]

Today i took my first “season 2 nap with AltShiftX talking in the background” and i slept like a baby

[@A-Grat-A]

Oooohhh! I am not alone with this lullaby! 😄

[@redrenegade13]

Saaaame. I get many naps on this one bc I fall asleep listening, then come back the next night and listen a little further before sleeping again. Repeat until I actually hear it all AND enjoy many sleeps. Since Glidus the Menace isn't here to blast me with 🎶🎵SECRET TUNNEL🎶🎵 the second I started to doze.

[@eibhilinor7712]

We’re so back

[@Fnidner]

@@redrenegade13which one is that? 😂

[@majastas1802]

THIS IS SO REAL

[@ejax904]

1:00:00 Actually made me cry last night when she says Luc's name and recognizes that he was still the son of her best friend no matter how far they've strayed.

[@Groulphy]

And she says Velaryon instead of Strong. So she stills respect the lie.

[@gezenews]

Not the son of her best friend. From a Hightower perspective, or the perspective of anyone who takes norms and propriety overly serious, they were the equivalent of grandchildren. Her son had slain his own half-nephew.

[@Sam-t7c7j]

Lol, you cried?

[@brrruhdon__718]

@@Sam-t7c7jsoyboy am i right. hey @ejax904 you’re a ❄️

[@CaleebTalib]

@@Sam-t7c7jthe scene was pretty emotional, it didn’t make me cry but I definitely don’t blame anyone for doing so. She didn’t want people to die for her son to be king but here we are and there is no going back.

[@Hubabuba258]

I really love the depiction of Aegon's relationship with Jahearys. It really looks like an emotionally neglected son making up for his childhood by just wanting the little guy to have as much fun "thanks to dad" as possible.

[@made-line7627]

Agreed. It was heartwarming, while simultaneously keeping me on edge during all their scenes together...

[@hairglowingkyle4572]

and he's dead :(

[@Monotremewisdom]

Quick reminder to everyone that that dad did the thing to a servant and faced no consequences, so however charming the actor is (and very good at his job) the character remains at his core a monster

[@Hubabuba258]

@@Monotremewisdom Oh he is absolutely a monster, I don't think anyone has any doubts about that. It doesn't exclude him from also being an emotionally neglected child who tries to compensate for this. In a lot of ways I see Aegon (subconsciously or not) repeating Viserys' actions. He saw Rhaenyra being at the small council and being the heir-presumptive so what he does to emulate being king? He brings his own heir to the council, even though he lacks any reasons to be there. Aegon is both spoiled and neglected, wants to be a just, good king and lacks any capacity to understand how his actions affect people around him. Contrary to Jeoffrey or Ramsay Aegon doesn't seem to hurt people because he enjoys their pain and the power he has over them. He is too detached to even consider those things, Aegon's world starts and ends with himself and even his seemingly caring nature towards his son is more a reflection of his own personal desires to make up for things he missed himself.

[@BacklogReviewer]

It’s the same relationship he has to the petitioners, he wants praise and adulation from everyone (including his son and subjects) and now that he’s king he has the means to get it, by giving everyone everything they want

[@TheSmithPlays]

Nothing better than hearing Alt Shift X throw the most subtle daggers at GoT season 7 - “and why wouldn’t the dragons be scared of the white walkers, they have ice javelins”😭😭😭

[@myNiceguy271]

KZbin is a funny place. You’re just watching a HOTD review and you find theretiredplays in the comments.

[@thecayman2258]

Insane odds to find you here while playing shadows of evil listening to this

[@smithplayspokemon]

@@thecayman2258impeccable odds :)

[@TeratoidToast]

THESMITHPLAYS

[@FarewellOrwell]

Alt shift x sounds shit faced

[@rankalot]

I gotta be honest, the biggest thing other than the show coming back that I’ve been looking forward to is your episode breakdowns. It’s good to be back!

[@vincentmasterbassist6784]

When I was watching the episode I immediately thought about how we were going to get live streams again.

[@dannypapes8380]

I also felt that it was as too easy for them to infiltrate, but then I thought about some of the context. 1. Larys has just replaced the whole staff with loyalists, so suspicion is low. 2. Aegon is drinking on the throne so much of the kingsguard is with him. 3. Obviously, Criston is with Alicent.

[@Killerkwoi13]

Agreed, all new staff wouldn't recognise who the royal rat catchers were supposed to be either so the fact they were imposters didn't occur to the servant who did bump into blood, she just got startled but seemed to go along with it

[@will420high4]

In the books Criston wasn't with her and she was gagged and tied watching the deaths

[@dannypapes8380]

@@will420high4…and?

[@Blur041]

​@@will420high4 so ?

[@will420high4]

@@Blur041 so what???? did I stutter?

[@Jam-go8ob]

I can hear the smile on your face in the beginning of the video, we are so fucking back

[@JuniperArtemis16]

As far as Helaena not screaming, the human fear response is fight, flight, or freeze (which has only recently been added by psychologists and experts) and I think Helaena falls into the freeze category and just wants to hide and stay quiet and calmly take her other child and leave as soon as she can to minimize the damage around her.

[@duggs4456]

Also technically fawn is an option now. Over-agreement, trying to be overly helpful, primary concern with making someone else happy. But yeah freeze is a way more common one that people think

[@guwopzy]

Crazy how it’s been recently added but it seems like freeze* is one of the most common responses to certain traumatic scenarios, maybe an acedote but wtv.

[@cacogenicist]

I think she made an absolutely stone-cold rational calculation. Hand over the boy quickly and quietly or lose both children, and probably her own life.

[@mischr13]

plus, it's already been established she doesn't like loud noises/has auditory processing issues and she is always quiet herself. many autistic people can go non-verbal when extremely upset. people are actually saying she's "ruined" bc she didn't react like a "normal" person would and I just- it's so frustrating lol. ppl were claiming to love her last season bc she is autistic-coded. Then she actually acts autistic, and not in a way that is popular like knowing lots of facts about a particular topic but in a way that is considered unacceptable like not responding to stress in the correct way, and now she's "ruined". So many people only pretend to like autistic people only as long as we mask away all the parts that allistic people don't like/feel slightly uncomfortable around

[@NaughtyWeiss]

Yeah. Helaena is known to have mental issues. So she’s not all there. So there’s not a concrete way to know how she will process extremely traumatic events. There are plenty of kids from abusive household that just shut down when their parents fight.

[@TheHonoredMadman]

The cheese actor was great, i like that he was eating cheese off a knife lol.

[@proudsaiyanprince2651]

It was so tame and ruined Helena

[@crowsdontcry8258]

@@proudsaiyanprince2651hardly

[@TheHonoredMadman]

I only said the actor was great. He did a great job. Hes not the writer of the scene, it aint his fault it was a bit nonsensical

[@jada9401]

@@TheHonoredMadmanagreed loved blood's voice I think phia did a phenomenal job with portraying her character's emotions but the scene itself was a let down and didn't make sense

[@Killerkwoi13]

@@jada9401 what part of the scene didn't make sense? genuinely just asking i havent read the book but i've seen a few book readers say it was much much more brutal in the book (which i understand they clearly chose to tone down rightly or wrongly) but what about the scene didn't add up? my only thought was i would have expected more guards in the royal apartments but my assumption is that Crispin Cole was meant to be on guard but too busy getting freaky with Alicent

[@Rupert_Astralnauta]

You can tell that Glidus it's not around by how many times Shift allows himself to say Secret Tunnel.

[@mtzdude31]

What’s the backstory for this? Just an Avatar the last airbender reference?

[@signeaarejrgensen61]

Ha😂 I thought about this. I can't say it and not sing it😊

[@thebigmanufacturer]

@@mtzdude31THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS

[@kirsten_305]

From episode 1 at the tourney Alicent definitely had a crush on Criston. Alicent was always jealous of Raenyra because she ‘broke the rules’ and she couldn’t. But I always suspected that was a roundabout way of her saying she was jealous of Criston and Raenyra’s brief love affair. And so this season confirms it with them getting together in my mind. So while there are many reasons why Alicent is the way she is, like being forced to marry Vicerys for instance, I think the original seed behind her hatred of Raenyra was Criston. It’s simpliest but this is how it goes in real life, and tracks as the motivation for a teenage girl.

[@kevincarter2020]

Ser Criston nailing the Princess and the Queen. Naughty

[@davedennison7386]

​@@kevincarter2020 "nailing"....Nice..

[@infinityentity]

Alicent and Rhaenyra's issues stem from them being highborn women within a constrictive patriarchal society, their duty (and sacrifice) as daughters, wives, mothers and the different ways they choose to navigate the hierarchy around them. Alicent was definitely jealous of Rhaenyra but it had nothing to do with Criston Cole specifically. He could've been anybody. Alicent and Criston are only brought together by their shared obsession and bitterness towards Rhaenyra, who they both loved and felt betrayed by.

[@kirsten_305]

@@infinityentity I wouldn’t say it has nothing to do with Criston. Agree to disagree.

[@kirsten_305]

@@infinityentity Also, there’s no denying their highborn issues like you say, but when it comes to her jealousy/contempt, it was more than that. I’m sorry I never bought that it was only the patriarchy.

[@Dubious_Neon]

Ratting dogs were used IRL for sniffing out rats and also hunting them. They were typically Terriers.

[@Starkiller2725]

I understand why so many people want a new theme, however, i am glad they are sticking to this one. Not only can i not imagine another one that can match it, but it's also become for GoT what the Star Wars theme is for Star Wars. It will be empty without it, mark my words. It also makes me super happy after waiting for a long time to hear the HBO sound followed by this.

[@Leakampff]

The stand out of this episode for me was 2 things. 1. Production value, WOW did the sets, costumes, choices of landmarks and scenery etc really open up these locations massively, it felt so lived in. Also shoutout to Rhaenyra's maroon leather jacket, it was stunnnning. And 2. The acting, this episode was a slow build for sure but every single performance felt reallly complex and sincere. Aegon made me laugh out loud multiple times, and WOW did Emma D'arcy command such energy in every second they were on screen as Rhaenyra, which was surprisingly scarce! Love love loved the episode.

[@Viper8962]

*every second she was on scene. No such thing as a they/them

[@Leakampff]

​@Viper8962 you're a sad unempathetic person.

[@popeyethe29th]

The lannister drip was amazing

[@Ingrid-mo7zt]

U felt so pressed by one word that u skipped out on the point of the comment gj really ​@@Viper8962

[@corvoattano44]

​@@Viper8962people in real life and fiction are referred to as they (singular) all the time, it's fairly common. Really not a big deal unless you're outraged by people wanting to live their own lives as who they want to be.

[@stevesmith4600]

A son for a son sounds better than a backup heir for a backup heir.

[@ayakid921]

Criston was busy clapping cheeks while the kids were either attacking or being attacked. Some kingsguard lmao

[@Ironcorgi2]

Went from kingmaker to orgasmmaker

[@Edward-W]

He's such a hypocrite I love to hate him

[@aknol74]

By far the best content for game of thrones on KZbin. I'll be clicking on all the videos. I love that keep these as spoiler free as possible (I've not read the books). Thanks doing these.

[@Leakampff]

Alt shifts ability to be incredibly detailed with lore and knowledge and yet not spoil anything for us non-book readers is genuinely so impressive and why it's my favourite GoT / HoTD / ASOIAF content

[@ankejl3830]

God this episode was excellent. I think the blood and cheese change worked really well actually. And I think the continuing theme of how we imagine history to be the result of human intent, but it really is the result of mistakes, misunderstandings and conflicting interests is excellent. Like, Cheese wanted that money, he was in debt, so of course he was going to lie about knowing his way around the upper floors and of course they never would've gone after Aemond if Daemon had suggested killing any male Targaryen would get them paid, if killing a defenseless child rather than the best fighter in Westeros would get them equal pay.

[@Ironcorgi2]

I kind of wanted them to go extreme like the books it makes the blacks appear slightly better in the show by removing some culpability how it was done in the show

[@nicholkola9975]

I definitely think the maids in Alicent bathing room were new maids from Larys and she felt paranoid/ uncomfortable with them, even though they should be more ‘loyal’. Like now she can’t trust her own household, her new staff or the old staff (who she probably knew for years).

[@sebastiaanv]

Thats how I read it too

[@enotik7sky237]

I thought that was obvious. Sometimes Alt and many other reviewers overthink simple things

[@melissak8419]

Alicent is residing in her own prison. And she outlives a lot of these other characters in the books.

[@asorlokirunarsson9864]

Alt Shift X being super excited and not the calm and level-headed analysis gives me butterflies because it's so obvious he´s loving the show like everyone else

[@ShubertReads]

Saw lots of folks asking why the rat catcher had a dog. The dog is a type of "ratting" breed (a border terrier or something similar). They breed & use them for hunting rats: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratter_(dog)

[@CSNA_Gaming]

A Rat Terrier?

[@ShubertReads]

@@CSNA_Gaming A rat terrier is a smaller ratter with a short, usually white & black/brown or tricolour coat, similar to a jack russell. The type of dog they used in the show was a stockier, wire-haired, tan coloured ratter. It looked to me more like a border terrier or something similar.

[@srb2591]

Yeah you can watch on YT people clearing out rats with dogs

[@gezenews]

@@srb2591 And find a lot of different kinds.

[@gezenews]

Looks like it could be a mix of russel terrier and border terrier.

[@douglassb6615]

The Blood n Cheese scene was already written for you in an extremely impactful way, why stray away from it? I'm not expecting to see a kids head get chopped off ofc, but blood n cheese tricking her, then forcing her and jaehara to watch/react is a major part of what made that scene in the book extremely impactful. It just feels like a disappointingly extreme minimization of what is one of the major events of this season and story, the only good thing about that scene was keeping the kid's head chopping off screen.

[@AlbinoKiwi47]

i get how they're going with the whole 'the books are biased/dont tell the real truth' aspect which i mean great cool whatever, but you cant do that with EVERYTHING to make everyone always morally grey whoopsy its an accident no one is ACTUALLY nasty evil. like, why cant we have characters that do shitty fucked up shit on purpose anymore its so frustrating

[@vonnyoutside]

Why don’t people realize that fire and blood is written from a third party who didn’t see any of these events occur. It’s easy to sensationalize events when you don’t know what really happened.

[@tengu8560]

Basically you like the cartoonish exaggerated not realistic version of it told by a jester and a maester. However this series is the real world

[@douglassb6615]

@@AlbinoKiwi47 yea it feels like a built in excuse for any potentially underwhelming depictions in HOTD

[@jb-ch7ug]

Also, I imagine a pure adaptation of the book would be incredibly traumatizing for the child actors involved. In the show, the children were asleep, and the actual death is offscreen, so the children may have a vague sense of what happens. Also, it may have been easier to film, rather than trying to get children to act like they’re fearing for their lives (without actually making them think they are going to die)

[@Alpuffca]

I also thought about Helena saying earlier about her son “what if he doesn’t want to be king”. Maybe by pointing at him to be murdered, she thought of freeing him of a future he didn’t want (or maybe she even had a vision that saw something bad for him). At least that’s what I thought of

[@namo525]

Yeah, and also the fact that she was singing "Just one, look at that boy now" right before Aemond appears. That can't be a coincidence.

[@hameed]

Maybe she saw that he would have been a terrible and sadistic king

[@Starkiller2725]

Being back here is like coming back home at this point. Amazing discussions as always!

[@TheDream6842]

Aegon was the highlight of the episode.

[@MrProjectmayhem]

100% his character development has been excellent.

[@miketrujillo3677]

The dragoncock

[@TheGuyCalledX]

So good. I underestimated his actor. He was brilliant in this episode.

[@sfbenji]

He carried the episode

[@rebelliousben]

I thought he was funny when he was drunk bull shitting with his friends

[@Jonoridge]

There's no ambiguity in Blood and Cheese's orders, they were to target Aemond Targaryen and if they couldn't find him then it needed to be a "son for a son" like what they said AND the name of the episode.

[@mjinba07]

Yeah, I think Daemon wanted to get the war started - he'd been eager for that right from the start. So either way, Aemond's head per Rhaenyra's order, or Jaehaerys’ head, it exacts revenge and pushes the war ahead.

[@itzjake5283]

Yea I kinda felt like the ‘ambiguity’ of cutting Damon’s answer to the question “what do we do if we can’t find Aemond” was set up entirely to maintain suspense during the B&C sequence, but it seemed to me that the point was that that ambiguity would be immediately resolved when they kill little J, + the comment ‘a son for a son’ … the implication was abundantly clear that that was the answer that Damon must have given to the aforementioned question. Kinda frustrating to me that the care the writers took here is being used as a bludgeon to attack the show on the basis that they never let the MCs do anything bad… regardless of the fact that we’re coming off of a season one finale that saw Damon literally assault Rhaenyra… But idk. Feel like they’ve made the vices of some of these characters abundantly clear.

[@mallaryroberts3346]

I wanted to say how much I appreciate your knowledge, thoughts and all your time that you put into these videos. I look forward to them and get super excited when you out out new content! Part of my excitement about this new season coming out was that I knew we’d get your videos simultaneously with these episodes. So thank you so so much! 🖤🐉❤️‍🔥

[@michaelsalmon9832]

Did not mind the child murder. Know nothing about the books, only that they are supposed to be secondary sources written by scholars after the fact. It seemed realistic, the pair seemed terrified and desperate. they weren’t overly cruel, just ruthless for gold. Honestly was surprised to see people take umbrage at that scene this morning because I thought it was well done and not more overdone Ramsey-esque silliness, idk about everybody else but I was genuinely done with that kind of scene after seeing scenes like that done to death in the main series

[@TheHonoredMadman]

D n D wouldve probably done the 1 to 1 recreation but mainly due to them being edgelords and wanting to be shocking

[@thomaswillard6267]

​@@TheHonoredMadmanThen when they finish the series with Rhaenyra and Aegon dueling Larys and Cregan over the God's Eye we will hear about how they only wanted to do the series because of Blood and Cheese and everything else was a by-product.

[@michaelsalmon9832]

@@JD-wu5pf from what I’ve heard it’s just too edgy and try-hard-cruel. I’m personally done with that sht. It’s also a historian writing from a distance based on unreliable sources so it’s conceivable that somebody just made sht up compared to what “actually happened”, which is portrayed in the show

[@Isuream6331]

“Do not mind the child murder” Out of context that sounds so terrible

[@michaelsalmon9832]

@@Isuream6331 lmao

[@shinymk6562]

Oh my goodness we are back in Westeros, that's for sure. I also love the new intro. Helena is the one who practices embroidery, so this showing the history of House Targeryan and the Dance itself is really cool. Helena is basically telling everyone what is happened and has happened.

[@hogndog2339]

Yeah, S1 was really just Kings Landing for most of it, with just a little bit of High Tide and the Stepstones thrown in. It’ll be nice to see the rest of Westeros again

[@themeangene]

Aegon's characterization was the best part of the episode IMO. He wants to be loved by the smallfolk. It also makes him more sympathetic. This will also come back to bite the Greens' later on. The book Blood and Cheese take was objectively more interesting because you could then play off of the distrust between Haleana and her surviving son. There's now no interpersonal conflict. She chose to save her daughter and the daughter lived. The show stripped away the choice being the true punishment.

[@TheFireStarter1215]

I really like how after Syrax shoed away the "peasants" she went to comfort her rider with her presence & mourn herself.

[@Zocto31]

The Dragon seems to be connected to her. Feels her sadness. Syrax was roaring at the end of that scene.

[@haridaspalleeri6765]

Didnt Syrax lay the egg that hatched into Vermax? If so, she's also mourning her son.

[@Sam-t7c7j]

*shooed* by the way

[@AB-ee5tb]

@@Sam-t7c7jit’s actually S H O W E D

[@Sam-t7c7j]

@@AB-ee5tb nah

[@Starkiller2725]

I'd like to introduce the Targaryen rule of thumb: if the Starks are with you, you win. If they are not, you lose.

[@hillbillypowpow]

Getting excited to see Rhaenyre claim the throne and have long, peaceful reign, then

[@cheekloins4126]

lol

[@zhabruh4682]

That won’t age well

[@Ironcorgi2]

Winter takes awhile to come but it gets there eventually

[@Starkiller2725]

@@zhabruh4682, i don't know if you reply to my comment or to the reply to my comment, but in the end, I'm right. 🤣

[@steveandortudge]

I was just whelmed with ep01, not over or under, but just. Still never fail to get more enjoyment from the experience with an ASX discussion. Thanks as always

[@ssshar2176]

Rhaenera is a good mom because she had loving parents that cared about her well-being. Allicent was used by Otto as a means to an end.

[@117MasterSpartan]

I wouldn’t call not talking to your daughter after her mom’s death for months “loving” 💀. He tried but it certainly wasn’t “loving”. More so trying.

[@vpmkhang]

@@117MasterSpartan it's certainly better than Otto using Alicent as a broodmare.

[@Belisaur]

Rhaenera isnt a good mom, her ambition intriniscally puts her children in danger,every bit as much as alicent

[@corvoattano44]

​@@Belisaurmost of the major characters are trapped within their duties and status, and their ambitions are understandable despite how horrible the consequences can be for their children. It's very well written

[@amyr3293]

Also Alicent was so young when she had kids, it’s hard to be a good mum when your own mum died and you’re only 15 or so.

[@zcherry]

“Itll probably come earlier in the week this season”😂

[@bellowl]

I don't think Alicent was backing up Aegon at the Small Council. What she said did stand out but my impression was that Alicent and Otto were both rolling their eyes and thinking about how to still Aegon's tendencies to humiliate people so when it looks like Tyland is going to have to get on his knees for Jaehaerys to ride him Alicent says we have serious matters to talk about despite "Lord Tyland's interruptions". Basically, a diplomatic way to stop Aegon's nonsense and prevent the humiliation of a high lord. You were saying that Alicent was just backing up Aegon and encouraging his bad behaviour but I didn't get that impression at all. Can't wait for episode 2!

[@bellowl]

@Jessjess23 Brooks Thanks for your reply about the Scorpions. Your comment seems to have disappeared so I just edited that part out to make myself look a little less idiotic.

[@krissuyx]

I had the exact same interpretation of the Tyland scene. She was just trying to appease him.

[@muhammadasjad3071]

Yeah, also it's completely out of her character to want humiliate someone like that

[@olorin4317]

Alicent is every religious kid who grew up and finally figured out they had to get their grind on.

[@Nairb1007]

Alyn is the same actor that voiced Bayek of Siwa from Assassins Creed Origins. Great to see him in GOT.

[@foley15136]

Seems like forever! Finally some more Got and your breakdowns and analysis. Yours was the first videos that I looked for after each episode of the old GoT. Glad you’re back and doing more!

[@thelameg6]

i cant decide whats better, that HOT D is back, or that Alt is back breaking down every episode. who am i kidding, its alts streams. 💀 we are so back

[@gettingbeat]

1:42:20 I think the bath scene with Allicent was on top of her feeling unclean, her thinking about what Larrys said about putting his ppl as servants and feeling uncomfortable in that

[@natjak06]

I dont know what I was looking forward to most, the episodes or these Q&A lives 😊❤️

[@bettinanielsen6336]

Every time you mention Arya, the dagger and The Night King, I weep quietly into my coffeecup while I grind my teeth. When someone mentions season 8, I have horrible flashbacks to all the moments of abject disappointment.

[@honestinsincerity2270]

Goddamn that was indeed the biggest flop ever. Storytelling-wise that is.

[@EddardFlowers]

Hopefully they learned from their mistakes moving forward

[@ajaysworld93]

Season 8 was HORRIBLE. The acting the writing. Holy fuck

[@cmd7930]

@@ajaysworld93acting wasnt so bad. Just the writing. The actors had to work with horrible writing

[@WrangleMcDangle]

into your starbucks coffee cup

[@MarshallCake]

Hearing Shifty sounding so excited gives me free serotonin. I don't know if I was more excited about season 2 or Shift's commentary on it

[@ssotkow]

Man, i miss the voice of Alt Shift X. Great to hear the legend himself share his GOT/HotD knowledge. Good times.

[@ooooolong1563]

took my first hotd s2 alt shift x livestream nap, words cant describe the bliss

[@annaventuree]

Considering where Tyland’s character ends up, I think it’s sweet that he’s starting out as being off-put by children

[@honestinsincerity2270]

I can't remember, didn't he get tortured and horribly disfigured but still maintain his mind, even serving the crown after the war? I don't remember anything about his kids or lack thereof.

[@FlyingwithFire]

@@honestinsincerity2270 hey becomes a good mentor figure to aegon 3 who even holds him while he dies

[@Darkstar_Dayne]

He literally becomes a guardian to a kid

[@keedxx]

We are so back! Cheers for your work - it's very appreciated.

[@summeriscoming814]

That nobody was guarding Haelena's room in this critical time is because, as we see from Aegon, everyone's relaxed because of Vhaegar. Which fool would attack the Keep while Vhaegar guards the fort? They overestimated themselves. 40:34 Maybe Rhaenera lets people believe she killed Laenor so noone would go after him find him out, yk, in case somebody wanted leverage against the Velaryons or her. 55:46 MAYBE, this is how the prophesy gets lost along the line. Rhaenera hasnt told Jace, and doesnt get a chance later to tell her other sons, now that the war has started and things get busy and in full swing, important people keep dying.

[@BennyOkay]

i’m so glad you moved to the eastern time zone so you could do this!

[@DanaVMBVSDDM]

I wish someone loved me as much as Shift loves talking about Valyrians getting down and dirty with dragons ❤ Thank you for the stream, excited to tune in every week!

[@blueberry212121]

So much knowledge in just the beginning. I love these streams❤

[@AkronRain69]

Emma D’Arcy was amazing in this episode and they only spoke one line of dialogue: “I want Aemond Targaryen!” 👏

[@SuperStella1111]

Alicent is also surrounded by new servants. It all “feels” wrong. She doesn’t want unfamiliar people touching her. The scene has levels, in my opinion.

[@brendanfoster5320]

Yeah, and I imagine having them planted there by Larys doesn’t help. Given a certain exchange that we saw between Larys and Alicent in S1, I’m sure it feels deeply intrusive for her, which would be no more present than when bathing.

[@SuperStella1111]

@@brendanfoster5320 very well said! It also cut directly from him placing them to her naked, in a bath. “I replaced your servants” = “MY SPIES are watching you now.”

[@nikolascsgo]

I love how there are looming potential consequences for everything mentioned throughout the episode or even the entire show in dialogue and some of those consequences get realized fully it's such a breath of fresh air from later seasons of got

[@amezzeray2]

Love the new intro. Very bayeux tapestry. It'll be interesting to see if more gets added as the season goes on

[@Kallynthehuntress]

I really wanted the "beast beneath the boards" thing to come up again this episode. They made it refer to Rhaenys coming up through the floor at the coronation but I think Blood and Cheese is a better fit for the prophecy. And to a lesser extent, Vhagar coming from below Luc and Arryx could also apply.

[@maleala2048]

Whenever I see a raven in HotD, like at the beginning of this episode, I’m just like: oh hey Bran

[@ak14459]

you are giving us the nuance from both sides that we deserve and i can’t thank you enough for that 🥳! yes there is a side, but at the same time, if you don’t enjoy both sides and see the humanity that’s clearly depicted on screen, you are really missing out on such good storytelling!

[@victoriagill1588]

To all wanting more from blood and cheese.... If you were forced at knife point to single out one of your children, to save the rest or because your neurodivergence does not allow you to do otherwise, followed by listening to 'your' (the crippling guilt) actions being caried out in the form of his muffled scream/head decapitation of your beloved innocent child. Then you run to your own mother for safety and she is fu"%ING the person who was supposed to guard you. ....and you are telling me this is not the realistic explanation for crippling trauma and a catatonic break? All those wanting more are showing their desensitisation...or their lack of experiencing powerlessness and empathy. Heleana was already showing traumatic disassociating by saying "the boy" to Allicent! Our TV does not need more glorified violence toward innocent women and children for your entertainment

[@grekygrek]

Shut up. It's a show BASED ON A BOOK. It has jack sht fk all to do with glorifying violence, Karen.

[@cmd7930]

This is George RR Martin’s world. If you cant handle the gore and brutality, try Harry Potter

[@victoriagill1588]

@@cmd7930 Why, thank you. I shall continue to read a diverse range of books, as I already do. I will also use my brain to use that literature to understand the significant impact of trauma on the human psyche and why authors continue to explore it, even in childrens literature. Perhaps you should too

[@krissuyx]

@@cmd7930 How is this even a response to anything she just said? By taking just a glance at her comment, we already know she's a fan of the show and probably the books. She clearly doesn't have an issue with the violence in George's stories if she's still engaging with them. Beyond that, I agree with her. That was a realistic depiction of a completely mentally disturbed woman, who keeps getting more mentally disturbed by all the disturbing things happening to her and around her. Screaming and crying is the reaction of normal people. Helaena is clearly not your normal everyday person.

[@SuperStella1111]

@@cmd7930 the film is the true record, GRRM says.

[@Nemo67577]

Thanks, Shift!❤

[@design834]

For those who didn't have English subtitles (SDH), the names of the characters are sometimes used, especially when they speak for the first time, or when you don't see a/their face.

[@Lewsepher1]

2:55:00 makes me think that the Azhor Ahai prophecy is actually instructions on how to make Valyrian steel in preparation for the Long Night...ie blood magic combined with maybe dragon fire.

[@arjunv10]

Thanks!

[@Epiphonelespaul56]

I really love your takes and how you explain this show. Thank you!

[@thewaltzofthelizards8986]

The cats of kings landing sounds like the kind of low brow videos Alt shwiftx would make😂❤

[@guve25]

The best game of throne KZbinrs there is. 3 hours of quality content.

[@edsp666]

It's sad that this whole team black vs team green thing has made it so that many people can't enjoy all the characters in the show and it makes their questions here come across as really childish. -someone being mad that they were cutting to "team green" during Luke's funeral, so ASX has to explain the beauty and nuance of the scene like a teacher of media literacy. -someone saying Alicent sleeping with Criston makes her irredeemable, so ASX has to explain she's a character with nuance and that makes her interesting, layered and human. People forget that this show isn't just about picking a super bad team and a super good team. It still needs to be a good *TV show* with nice cinematography, symbolic moments and characters that aren't just 2D. Im team "rhaenyra was robbed, but I think everyone in the show is interesting", like I thought it was great this episode that they showed Aegon happy being a father, and that he wanted to please the smallfolk out of wanting more love from them, it added a lot to his character that I really enjoyed. Say that on twitter and you get called a r*pe apologist immediately. It's getting on my nerves.

[@Sebshep]

I actually loved that the ratcatcher has the dog with him, because historically we had breeds of dogs like terriers that were used to catch rats. Really cool detail to include in the show.

[@themannaking]

My personal guess why Cheese has a dog is because it's his rat-dog. Even now people train terriers to find and kill rats. They are Very efficient at it. So if Cheese was doing his job with the dog, he could get scores of rats during the day, leave the traps once an area is cleared out, then come back the next day to clear the traps and send the dog back out. So him having the dog that night was probably part of his normal show and dance of being able to get to the area they needed.

[@Dustupajee]

and perhaps, that's how he knew so much about Maegor's tunnels

[@carmacksanderson3937]

One of the criticisms I had heard was that Cregan Stark is giving more credence to the threat from beyond the Wall than Ned ever seemed to. It's possible this may have been triggered *by* Vermithor and Silverwing refusing to cross. The Stark lord of the time (Rickard?) may have had an "oh shit" moment when he saw that and it motivated him and Cregan to put more effort into defending the Wall

[@goShinigami]

To comment on the absence of guards in the keep: To add on top of the Criston thesis, I feel like the previously elaborated topic by Larys Strong implies that the Greens feel very safe and untouchable on their home turf now, everything under control! With Vhagar in the city plus Larry disposing off all the potential traitors. Additionally, if my memory serves correctly: There were a shitton of guards in the throne room with Aegon and his pals. It's possible to believe that 90% or more of the security ressources (especially under the assumption of the previously elaborated point) would be alocated to the king himself. We don't get the feeling that Aegon cares much for Haleana or his children, with him having no clue where they are and what they are up to, kind of mistake them for each other, not setting boundaries in the small council etc. In short, there are at least potential explanations, hints and enough gray area to explain away why B&C had such an easy time. Would it have hurt to see them at least avoiding some few guards? No ofc not, we are stretching our suspension of disbelief already, so it would've been nice to at least get a little more concrete evidence in return, shown on screen.

[@DelusionalSquare]

Alt Shift X could talk about the most heinous topics, and I will still come here as a place of comfort

[@shegocrazy]

Outstanding analysis as usual ASX. Well done!

[@Jeschica]

I think its so cool (no pun intended) that GRRM made it so that the White Walkers’ biggest strength was time. Something cold temperatures do great at slowing; like how viruses are being uncovered after millions of years preserved in ice.

[@TheAdammantium]

To comment on the discussion @ 2:42:45 - I think the scene where Helaena told Aegon that Jaheris "may not want to be King" is a detail to why she told B&C the truth. She'd rather have her child die now, then to "suffer" a life of a King when he is to ascend the throne or after he does - either based on her visions or based on just how Kings are/will be from experience. (i.e. Aegon's ascension)

[@yensid4294]

Yeah the Blood n Cheese scenes were a little weird. No guards stationed in the halls or outside the royal family's doors? I figured since they were rat catchers they would use secret spaces behind the walls & secret panels that lead directly into Helena's chambers where they could simpky intimidate her to be silent or physically restrain her & keep her from calling out. She also got a really good look at both of them which seems a little careless. Not the best choice of assassins. For everyone asking about The Dog, terriers were specifically bred to hunt vermin & badgers. There is a dog called a Rat Terrier & it is way more efficient at killing rats than any house cat.

[@SuperStella1111]

One of the King’s Guard has deserted to Rhaeneyra. Another is in bed with Helaena’s mother. The rat catchers get in because they are expected to be there - menials doing menial tasks. It’s a blind spot. Even with guards they might have got away with it.

[@melaniewilliams1351]

Larys literally told Alicent that he executed many of the guards/servants. Cole, the kings guard, was too busy fking Alicent, & not guarding the children/family was also likely responsible for the thinning of the guards.

[@jeanne6961]

My guess is that Criston (as Lord Commander and therefore most likely the decision maker) had stationed only himself in the living quarters, both for proximity to Alicent, and because he probably thought guarding two women and two little children would be easy and not worth using more men on. I just wonder if he'll feel any guilt/cop any blame for it

[@thenedsmmachannel8970]

​@jeanne6961 ontop of Aegon getting drunk with his friends. I'm sure alot of guards were focused on that

[@Adamantium93]

After Halaena flees from B&C, the camera and blocking show her looking desperately for help and the corridors being suspiciously empty...I have a feeling that there's a sinsiter reason behind the lack of guards.

[@TheHonoredMadman]

Daemon will a hundred percent proudly take credit for the son for a son thing because he likes the ruthless bad boy image hes cultivated for himself

[@Tillu_Noob]

Creators have mercy on that dog

[@AugustRx]

Hehe no

[@ShubertReads]

Can't believe they spent money to kick a CGI dog

[@DildoDaggins69]

Amazing what a comma, or lack thereof, can do to a comment.

[@katherineunson5477]

Hurting that dog was unnecessary! I was outraged

[@miketrujillo3677]

​@@DildoDaggins69go outside

[@verycuteanimal301]

I think both Book Purists and Show-Only's are having bad faith opinions on B&C tonight. Some book purists need to relax, it wasn't the worst thing ever. I do think changing the dialogue diminished its horror and really wish they hadn't. But many book purists sound like they genuinely hate this show 😭 Meanwhile, some Show-Only watchers are acting like all book readers wanted to see a gorey child decapitation on screen and aren't just critiquing a tv show they enjoy and are passionate about. After GOT S7-8 PTSD, it makes sense people are wary about all these changes that don't seem to make the story any better.

[@ShubertReads]

Yeah, it seems like most folks were expecting the scene to be more emotional gut-wrenching & difficult for Helena, not hoping it would be more graphic. Maybe a couple people wanted it to be more visually brutal/gory and people are using that to strawman everyone else's legit critiques.

[@verycuteanimal301]

​@@ShubertReadsexactly. I haven't seen a single person disappointed in B&C be like, "God they should have decapitated the kids on screen and had the blood spraying on Helaena. And they should've traumatized the child actors too." Like Christ.

[@drphilsranch6782]

Agreed. In all honesty the scene wasn’t bad, it got the point across. I just think it could’ve been done much better, but it’s not the end of the world.

[@ehdun1175]

I totally agree. I can understand both sides, but at the moment the Book Purists and Show-Only are sort of falling into the black/green extreme factionalism thing. I don't have strong feelings about the change. I also think they can still work with it haunting Halaena throughout the story in a different way. The way the show set it up still kinda forced Halaena to choose by having her point at the boy which giving her the option to lie if she had chosen to; it was just done in more nuanced and layered way by forcing her to take into consideration what sort of life both of them would lead growing up (especially with her earlier comment of "what if he doesn't want to be king" when talking about Jaehaerys). I know having Maelor there was sort of a living reminder that she chose him, but I can't see how Halaena can move forward without the inner conflict of knowing she essentially chose Jaehaerys.

[@brendanfoster5320]

@@verycuteanimal301I have seen one, who told me I was a privileged first-worlder out of touch with the real world, and how they did explicitly want to see it, but that is hardly representative.

[@jroygbiv]

Australia is in the perfect timezone for watching the latest episodes. You're not too tired to do a three hour livestream straight after it's aired because it's the middle of the afternoon.

[@pp-on6cs]

What I thought he was English

[@lucymariposa]

England is a nightmare it comes out at 2 am and the livestream takes you to like 6 am

[@jello_cudgel9213]

Yeah but don’t you have to keep your eyes open for hoop snakes and drop bears the whole time?

[@victoriagill1588]

Except, it is Monday during a work day. Good thing Australians have the time honoured tradition of 'chucking a sickie'

[@walkingdeadbarbiedoll]

Not for me. If it was the afternoon the kids would be awake and traumatized if mommy was watching it. Its at the perfect time for me to unwind! ❤

[@donianamvar5274]

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS !!! 1- watching the new season 2- waiting for Alt Shift X video analysis I missed your voice !

[@ninafugmann573]

i think it's totally fine to change things from the book since it's kinda unreliable anyway

[@mummeii]

Exactly this…

[@hogndog2339]

Books and TV are two entirely different mediums: things HAVE to be changed in the translation in order for the story to function. This is especially true when the book being adapted has such a unique framing style like Fire & Blood does.

[@corvoattano44]

Dracula by Bram Stoker has a very complicated narration in the book, it switches narrator a lot and some parts are just excerpts from newspapers and in world writing. It's why the film adaptation (the Gary Oldman one) is so different and hard to replicate the exact events of the book. In some ways you have to take your own artistic liberties.

[@cheekloins4126]

That’s why I love it. It’s an in-universe history book. Filled with biases and assumptions and retellings. I imagine writing for this show is an absolute blast.

[@Wishkanya]

When viserys died and alicent and otto were competing to get their hands on Aegon. Alicent sends Criston to find Aegon. Alicent uses suspicious phrasing to convince Criston.. I am para phrasing here.. Alicent says "please find aegon, for the love you feel for the queen" And aemond was in the room with them.

[@EasternStandardTim]

Alicent sided with aegon over tyland at the small council, so that the situation ended without tyland being humiliated and aegon got to feel like he won

[@mickeylombardo1529]

Ema D'Arcy is so good. Great casting.

[@uhuhuhuhuhuh91]

This is the only channel that I will support financially. I waited for you more than for my first love.

[@kylevernon]

Not a book reader but from what people have described the show was better. Blood and Cheese went in there with a job to do so they can get paid, they aren’t there to play weird mind games and to be cartoonish villains. Sure the book is more dramatic and traumatic but that doesn’t mean it’s better, if that was the case then go watch soap operas. The show was far more believable and it seems like book readers only care for plot beats than the actual competent writing, sound design, lighting, and acting. Seems like the book readers wanted their “Georgisms” where he makes it more dramatic in the books to the point of unbelievably. Like Tyrion or Eurons appearance.

[@JoshuaKevinPerry]

book was better

[@brendanfoster5320]

@@JoshuaKevinPerryMore brutal, sure, but better? It would have been nice for Daemon to have explicitly have ordered Jaehaerys’ death if they couldn’t find Aemond, but Blood saying “he said a son for a son” makes me think the show will go that route, and if so it’s fine. The fact a child wasn’t beheaded on screen doesn’t take away from the intensity of the scene. She’s still forced, at knife point, to give up her child to be slaughtered. I don’t think anyone who hasn’t read F&B to think it was underwhelming. Quite the opposite, really.

[@nelvinmathew1489]

If you want realism go watch a documentary

[@krissuyx]

@@nelvinmathew1489 Isn't George's work praised for its realism?

[@sebastiaanv]

@@nelvinmathew1489cry baby😂

[@trasda2475]

i think i'm just as happy if not more by the return of alt shift x as i am for HOTD

[@vasilispapadopoulos4397]

50:53 well Drogon kind of forgot that there was some short of magic on the wall ...

[@leykimayri]

All three dragons not just Drogon

[@Rhade15]

Helena’s choice in the show is hallow. Child murderers wouldn’t flinch at checking their victims sex

[@lucymariposa]

I absolutely love Aegons characterisation in this episode - he’s so fun to watch

[@winteryblackfyres]

ppl complaining about cregan are crazy to me I wish we got more of him (delusionally holding out for a flashback later in the season)

[@alecross5255]

Accent wasn't the best, felt like he was concentrating so hard on sounding like Sean Bean.

[@winteryblackfyres]

@@alecross5255 I did think it was very clear he was strongly inspired by sean bean's distinctive brogue but to me it didn't quite cross the line into whacky I get this take though

[@alecross5255]

@@winteryblackfyres I think coming from the North of England myself, I'm always extra picky

[@dhrogontorres214]

I personally don't understood why people think Haelena should have screamed, that would probably only got her killed along with her daughter, plus, the boy was probably already dead by the time she left the room, I don't see how screaming would have helped.

[@design834]

Also, I think A son for a son means that both crowned ones lose a son. Rhaenyra loses Luke, Aegon loses Jaehaerys.

[@stephenchambers5659]

yeh that's what it is in fire and blood, cause Alicent and Rhaenyra didn't have a friendship when they were young. The whole conflict was framed as brother Vs sister, but the show is framing it as Rhaenyra vs Alicent

[@Guinnessdrnkr1234]

42:00 is this possible explanation for why Benjin joined the night's watch?

[@zahrahp535]

3:16:50 A son for a son is pretty clear. Son of the king of greens for the son of the queen of blacks. Alicent is not considered a key player from men's point of view.

[@johansmallberries9874]

Daemond invoked the ancient Valyrian law of ‘Even Stevens’