House of the Dragon Episode 5 BREAKDOWN - Game of Thrones EASTER EGGS and Ending Explained!

[@ScreenCrush]

Use code SCREENCRUSH50 to get 50% OFF your first Factor box plus 20% off your next month of orders at bit.ly/3L9T0O6

[@saltyskipper708]

To me, they ruined Damon's character. He is not an underhanded spymaster but a warrior. Why is he going through all these lengths? Then to take Hightower and try to assert his own Kingship, when his whole thing was he was above the politics and just wanted to be a badass commander? I don't get it. Never read the books so I don't know if they screw him up there either...

[@JB-ez2jz]

Dragons can also switch sexes when necessary

[@Hotteststewpot]

I believe the servant that gets through the gate knows the girl Aegon violated because the servant has likely been a maid for rhaenyra while she was at the red keep and that’s why she would know Dana, if that’s her name, I doubt Dana was a spy before now. But likely rhaenyra’s servant is only now about to recruit her, after knowing what she’s been through.

[@xiphiasoffishwell4781]

I absolutely love Alicent turning corners and running directly into the consequences of her own actions again...and again...and again.

[@ayezoop884]

Alicent - “So we ain’t bangin no more or what” Cole - “But we friends tho”

[@KaoAsoni]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@IsiahBradley]

Okay, I was kinda asking this!!! LOL!!!!

[@Quandryification]

😂😂😂 pretty much sums it up

[@GenesysRider23]

But we friends tho. You ruthless for that one. 🤣

[@piyusarkar3065]

First he rejected rhaenyra's idea to continue the affair after her marriage and now he rejected the dowager queen. Pretty privilege is definitely working for him

[@SuperUSAgent]

on the next episode of HotD " How to claim a dragon "

[@briengakaplan-b1550]

Alicent was looking at Cole and Larys like the betrayal!! Ready to give them a Training Day Denzel monologue 😂🤣

[@jedirayden]

That was actually pretty brilliant of Larys to use the situation to further drive a wedge between Alicent and Criston.

[@LensGod]

I really need Team Black to get a massive W

[@CYeoung]

they already did, took out an heir, a dragon and a king

[@Aliens1337]

@@CYeoung Not that significant. Aegon was a puppet king and a liability (he fucked up Otto's propaganda by hanging the ratcatchers). Aemond is now running the show, which is better for team Green. They traded Sunfyre for Meleys, which is worse for team Black because Meleys was bigger and faster. The loss of Rheanys also distanced house Valaryon from the Black.

[@CYeoung]

@@Aliens1337 hmm, incapacitating Aegon is not as great as you think. Greens are in disarray rn. Aemond is brutal but not a proven leader. If Aegon wakes up and tells the whole story, Greens are going to have a civil war inside of a civil war. divide and conquer is an undefeated strategy. I’d say the score is about even rn

[@briengakaplan-b1550]

They will get a massive W but it won’t last long my book readers know what’s up lol

[@AqwDragulum]

@@Aliens1337 "distanced" yeah for half an episode. Corlys holding on to the HotQ pin signifies he's accepting the offer.

[@zackheaney1680]

I feel like the actual show is now just a prequel to ScreenCrush breakdowns

[@rasvega33_415]

Me too. I watch this str8 after the newest episode. Although I have read the book. And am reading it again.

[@adelekeabraham8179]

To be straight with you guys, I wait for the notification of breakdown before I watch the show. Then I come back to see the breakdown.

[@Hotteststewpot]

@@rasvega33_415you don’t watch alt shift x? He does a live right after the show, the best best best breakdowns with no hints at any spoilers

[@Hotteststewpot]

@@adelekeabraham8179 you watch alt shift x?

[@sisterseverus]

Even if we ignore anything else that happened, Team Green doing THAT to Meleys is enough to make me firmly Team Black

[@elman672]

I love how Kings landing is low on salt and fresh food, and Cole is using lemons and salt to clean his sword.

[@Guerreropowerr]

Olivia Cook's acting in that scene where she's being ignored was amazing. She didn't say a word but was able to portray Alicent's feeling of irrelevancy so damn good.

[@PreciousEyeballs]

8:26 Criston Cole is like Lady Macbeth maniacally washing her hands off of a phantom spot.

[@pyroslasher]

Thanks for actually analyzing the scenes and giving some actual insights unlike other creators who literally just summarize the bloody episode we all just watched

[@JamesBurnell]

I got the impression that Hugh and his wife were confused about Aemond not because they can’t tell the names apart but because no one had yet bothered to tell the smallfolk that Aegon was badly injured and that Aemond would be serving as prince regent.

[@appathegoat]

Was Ulf in this episode? Or are you talking about Hugh Hammer? Hugh is the one with the sick daughter and unhappy wife.

[@jamesallred460]

He means Hugh

[@JamesBurnell]

Hugh’re right; fixed.

[@appathegoat]

@@JamesBurnell You had me planning my second watch earlier than normal! I thought I had missed a scene getting up. 😆

[@JamesBurnell]

@@appathegoat sorry about that. Ironic that in a comment about people not being able to tell names apart I wasn’t able to tell names apart ;-) Still wondering if/how the show’s Hugh is somehow going to eventually become as much of an ass as the book one.

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

Colys saying he would make baela his heir is heartwarming progressive and so respectful.

[@ajheartsong]

It should be rhaena, baela is already going to be queen

[@leykimayri]

@@ajheartsong LoL

[@tanishadee3883]

Baela said ion want it 🤪🤭. I laughed my a$$ off. 😂

[@movieloverfan18]

Rhaena was going to marry Lucaerys and they were going to rule Driftmark

[@nmx333]

When will the haunting of harrenhal enddd😭😭😭😭

[@Princesspandapop]

Literally feel like the septas in the corner trying to speed it up in the SNL GOT skit with Bre Larson 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@lizze5717]

I agree, they’re dragging it !!

[@deeobrien5417]

@@Princesspandapopthat’s rhe perfect reference! I watched that really recently, on point!! Like mooooove it along!!!!! There are only a couple of episodes left!!!!

[@ThomasLittle007]

@@deeobrien5417 last time we wanted things to move along a little faster, we've got GOT8. Chill

[@sgtbeercanyt]

Daemons lack of curiosity about how Alice Rivers seems to know whats happening to him is frustrating

[@ThompterSHunson]

Helaena knows what RR Martin will write in the next books.

[@vertiac]

25:03 It's not just symbolism. The Freys deliberately gave Jace a shorter chair so they could loom over him during their talk. The Iron Bank used the same trick with Stannis and Ser Davos in Game of Thrones. It shows that the Freys have been negotiating passage over their bridge for so long they've become experts at getting the best price for it.

[@BaMbI386]

My gods!!! WHY are we ignoring the absolute genius audio effects. For example how we can hear the exaggeration of Alicents labored breathing when Larys & Cole shoot her being regent down w sexism. LOL I thought she was abt to lose her sh!t!! THEN immediately during the scene w Hugh hammer & his sickly child, how we can hear the ominous screams & cries of starving infants/children. Truly terrifying & genius

[@QuaePanemEtCircenses]

The granny vhagar correction took me ouuuuuttt, i love these videos! Even when you miss, you’re entertaining 😂

[@ber.tholdi]

the episode was brilliant, some of the public seem to forget the path that leads to results, they just want explosions and dragon bullshit. The episode is a performance show for the cast, which is extremely important for us to understand how each person is feeling in light of all the events.

[@appathegoat]

naw it was pretty boring, but that's okay - we need boring sometimes to set up the next parts of the story.

[@thatguy1488]

the true audience appreciates the art. the last thing you wanna do is take seriously the opinion of people on social media who barely have the attention span to finish their tiktok videos 😂this show and the boys respectively going on are amazing

[@thatguy1488]

@@appathegoatit’s not boring you need to get off of tiktok

[@60bangz]

It was boring. What made game of thrones so good is that even though they had less action packed episodes the show progressed at a good pace. Every episode felt like progress this just feels like a snore fest. We don’t need dragons fighting every episode . Just progress the story . Like damn. Why do characters have to talk about things that don’t matter and don’t lead anywhere for 30 minutes of the episode

[@manaash4316]

​@@60bangzBecause their feelings are what drive their actions?

[@persephone342]

Granny Vhagar is happy to be reliving her war days! 😂❤

[@East_TX_LCR]

The quality of this show vs acolyte with close budget is simply astounding.

[@danielmcneill3521]

And yet I’m enjoying both series.

[@East_TX_LCR]

@@danielmcneill3521 I haven't made up my mind on acolyte as of yet, but I've watched it. Liked some, didn't care for some parts. Guess I'll have to see how it ends.

[@persephone342]

@@danielmcneill3521me too!

[@lude-N-lopsided]

“The little dog is still being followed by its owner” Not quite Ryan, not quite

[@levig8214]

You don’t go thru the Eyrie to get to the fertile valleys below in the vale. It’s at the tip top of one of the mountains upon seven spires rising in the air connected to one another. However, you do have to go thru the Bloody Gate which is a thin passage into the vale beyond.

[@-l-2865]

The parade of Meley’s head was the precursor to the events of the storming of the dragonpit. Again, the stupidity of team green endangered the targaryen dynasty.

[@Pleurigloss]

Thank You @ScreenCrush for hearing our cries. All Hail Grandma Vhaegar.

[@christinabeehive7714]

I love how we all know THAT episode of Futurama when we see the dog.

[@joshuamendoza4745]

That episode can still make me cry lol.

[@christinabeehive7714]

@@joshuamendoza4745 Dude, I don’t even THINK about it, let alone watch it. I’m going to hug my dog now. She’s waiting for me.

[@brianhawkins8397]

I wish Factor would sponsor a super cut of Ryan eating random things for these spots. Raw pasta, sauce cups, handfuls of flour. The man is so dedicated, major props.

[@movieloverfan18]

It is House Darklyn that controls the castle in the region and city of Duskendale. Lord Darklyn's son who is Kingsguard for Rhaenyra wants revenge. Someone pointed out that the banner for Darklyn is inaccurate for HotD. House Darklyn which went extinct after Aerys the Mad King killed them all for the Defiance of Duskendale had 7 white shields protrayed on their banner, to represent the 7 members of the house that had served on the Kingsguard for Targaryens. But HotD takes place 170-140 years ago, and at the time there had only been 4 Darklyn members of the Kingsguard having served. So the banner back then was different . Yes the main castle of the Vale of Arryn is the Eyrie. But to get to this remote and high up castle built on top of a mountain, first you need to go through the Blood Gate. Then you have to go along a Mountain path by donkeys to three other smaller castles called Stone , Snow (can't remember the other one). Then you get to the Eyrie where most people are hauled up in a cage with a winch. So really super hard to attack. The Moon Door in the books is in a wall, not in the floor. I would like to see the small dragons flying around inside the Eyrie. Simon Strong has no money at Harrenhall because when Larys inherented the title he moved all the estate money to Kingslanding and just sends Ser Simon an allowance for expenses. The part about the master of Coins on Aegon's council, not sure if that has happened yet. But Daemon says he will use his own money for Harrenhall, not sure what Rhaenyra and Daemon's checking accounts look like. Rhaena is supposed to marry Lucaerys and rule Driftmark. Baela is engaged to Jace and will be queen after Rhaenyra.

[@RobertoArboleda]

The council scene was excellent. The muffled voices while the camera lingers on Alycent's sour face, perfection.

[@DaGraphittiX]

Is Alys Rivers even real, is she some sort of manifestation of Daemon's mind, like the curse the castle brings of its beholder...

[@aileenpi73]

Cole doesn’t feel bad about lying to the public, where do you get that from. He was disappointed that the people were not reacting to their “win” as he expected.

[@lacym9278]

I cackled so much when Larys trolled Ser Crispin . The tension between the three in the moment was so delightful, I imagine that Larys is jealous of Crispin and glad that he drove a wedge between the two.

[@HeroShotzphoto]

The amount of carbs and sodium in those factor meals is CRAZY.

[@stevieaa1919]

Eating them can make you as healthy as Ryan aka Splinter 😂

[@Draconianpick23]

How did you make this episode so fast?!?!?!?!

[@knotchknocker3581]

They get pre screen footage like a day in advance

[@myklepr82]

HE’S A CONTENT CREATOR FOR SERIES AND MOVIE REVIEWS. HE GETS THE EPISODES IN ADVANCE.

[@jasonlubold3066]

Right

[@jeruelbaird609]

Lmao wondering the same

[@roclee1]

Gotta beat heavy spoilers 😂😂

[@ScreenCrush]

What did you think of the episode?

[@Steve-Jody]

Boring maybe 2 minutes of info

[@Unknown-by6mr]

@@Steve-Jodyit’s slow but far from boring

[@Steve-Jody]

@@Unknown-by6mr he asked what I thought . I thought it was mostly boring and full of fluff .

[@denicarson9082]

I don't think Alys Rivers is real. No one else interacts with her. She's a ghost.

[@denicarson9082]

@HardSarge That's because you have no knowledge of how to develop a story and character. Did you expect a revenge battle? That would be a waste. This is building up to the finale. For goodness sakes, don't you understand that the chess pieces are being moved in place. Pay attention.

[@irmese06]

"mummer's farce" lolololol I don't even watch House of Dragons but I'm glad I clicked

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

I can't believe we're already half way through this season.

[@leykimayri]

More than half. it's 8 episodes

[@dattmax4289]

I think you missed something: When Aegon is lying in his Bed at the end, after Alicent left, an undefinable person moves besides the door towards Aegon.

[@devinmcguinness4713]

Just wanted to say I found your channel at the beginning of this season and I have been loving your videos on HOTD and The Boys. I like your style!

[@MiamiGameHunter]

Aemond is like those bullied kids who finally snap and unleash all their pent up rage on their tormentors.

[@baneledlamini605]

..and the teachers (SC) always sides with the bullies.

[@Iamwatchinghomealone]

Good video. I like your dog

[@miggs8]

Damn, NO ONE wants to be heir to Driftmark lmao

[@psychedelicyeti6053]

No one want to be the heir of Driftmark. No one bends to Stanis. And Gendry's still rowing 😅

[@movieloverfan18]

It was arranged with Rhaenys. Baela would marry Jacaerys and be King and Queen after Rhaenyra. Rhaena married Lucaerys and woukd rule Driftmark after Corlys. But I think he is going to legitimize Alyn of Hull.

[@djjjsaiyan]

Ryan still can’t train the dog to give him a real high five.😂

[@perkinwarbeck5629]

Lol at calling Criston ‘Ser Crispin’ at 5:02.

[@paolocontest3610]

17:43 she isn't a smallfolk. She's a noble lady daughter of one Rhaenyra's counsilors

[@joeyyoho3670]

I used to watch you because you were a lot more realistic than a lot of the other easter egg channels, namely new rockstars. While they would go crazy trying to tie every little thing back to something important, you guys were much better about not reaching super hard to make as many references as possible. But lately it feels like youve prioritized being first with being right. Youve made multiple mistakes with each episode, which is fine, people make mistakes, but its clear theyre happening because youre in a hurry to get your video out first. It just sucks seeing you guys go in this direction

[@hirolla74]

That guy at New Rockstars is just trying too hard. I quit watching him.

[@baneledlamini605]

Yeah.. he is also clearly biased towards the blacks now. I feel he should be objective and neutral, since war is about 2 sides.

[@earlhuffington6162]

​​@@baneledlamini605 that's between you and the writers who chose to present the blacks as more empathetic. It's literally not up to viewer interpretation. That's the way they chose to adapt the source material. It's been presented this way since the first episode of s1. Are you old enough to watch this?

[@lucyvanlipton7433]

🐉 So glad we’re all on the same page with not being cool with son/ mom stuff but letting aunt/ nephew & bro/ sis slide.

[@Jsteve3230]

Perfect setup for the next episode

[@alexmunoz6635]

....but I feel that was two episodes ago.

[@discobroccoli198]

@@alexmunoz6635 No…

[@jessicawinchester158]

Even though all of them on her council are sexist, I love that when the one dude said "gentler sex" it cut to the other two men look at Rhaenyra like 😬🤨😶

[@jedirayden]

Rhaenyra had the perfect response. "We have lived in a time of peace, you've fought no more battles than I have." Paraphrasing because I don't remember her exact words.

[@drizzle452]

Women weren’t commonly leaders and “cancelling” isn’t a thing in this alternate medieval world. It was the perfect response though…I love how her development is that of one that is just as lost as the others. Great acting/writing depicting her vulnerability. She’s so much more realistic than Danny in GOT because she’s an actual normal, smart human being trying to navigate somewhere she’s never been. She absolutely needs Daemon (tho too proud to admit it) and is rightfully a little scared that he may be plotting against her at the same time.

[@BlueYiperoo]

Both will have eye patches sooo. That little dog is so sweet. He’s a doggy I’d love to take home.

[@mosestekper7659]

When Aegon muttered "mummy" I was soo sad for him. A kid who didn't want anything to do with the throne.

[@johnsilver6382]

Finally I see someone mentioning this, I was like damn

[@ssri1675]

Then he should've left to the counsil amd viserys did...

[@thebatman6201]

I think him saying "it's meat" is also foreshadowing the starving people storming the castle to claim said meat

[@djmensa]

"Metaphorically, it represents the literal blood on his hands" like we get it but you know there was a better way to phrase that 😅

[@AysKuz]

Two things: Helena´s gown is the same dark green/teal she wore before. She is standing in a dark room and it appears to be black but it is not. Alicent´s lack of religious jewelry while she speaks to Cole is wrong. She has less, but there still is a tiny necklace with the star she is wearing.

[@ericboykin-hudler5031]

The dog behind the carriage instantaneously took me back to that Futurama episode. He even looks like Fry’s dog. Damn😢😢

[@myklepr82]

Heavy Spoilers, Think Story and Screen Crush all dropping their videos 1 minute apart from each other. 😂❤

[@1brianshaw]

I would love a full explanation video on the Blackwoods vs Brackens feud

[@shannonmarshall7843]

I adore your breakdowns. It enhances the show so much. THANK YOU

[@amf0078]

I swear Jace is the blacks saving grave he got an army from the north and Erie and treated with the Freys to open the crossing to allow his army from the north to intercept the greens army in the riverlands and then to top it off he gave his mother the idea about people with distant dragon lord blood that could possibly ride their largest unclaimed dragons under dragon stone.

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

Aegon gonna need an IV of milk of the poppy on stand by for the rest of his life.

[@siegfriedinvictus8233]

Let me correct you on one thing, the "little pin with a knife"that jace has is not an advisor pin, it's a cloak pin that EVERYONE has.

[@SilkBuckets]

thank you for retraumatizing me bybringing up that futurama episode

[@mrcrossovermark1153]

This show better start explaining daemon’s visions cause right now we have no clue of the purpose of those trippy visions.

[@lordgldenstern836]

Also, appreciate the backgrounds behind each region and their differences.

[@alisterfolson]

Helena/Gamora: "Was it worth the price? What did it cost?" Aemond/Thanos: "EVERYTHING"

[@michelmorio8026]

The Eyrie isn’t portrayed as in the shows at the entry of the Vale, it sits a top a very high mountain where you have to pass another 3 castles till you reach it and is not inhabitable during the winter! The bloody gate is an entire castle too, not simply a gate between a canyon The Twins don‘t control the north-south route, but are the only crossroad amongst the Green Fork of the Trident who cuts the Riverlands into the western and eastern part

[@KatEtoile]

House of the Dragon and ScreenCrush both have that one dog that’s super loyal and should be king

[@emarti3853]

The dogs do look a lot a like. I wonder if the Ratcatchers dog can sing to "I'm walking on sunshine"

[@T00_SHADY]

I have to say. That dog is loyal! I’m gonna name him HAM because he still loves his ol’ master Cheese. 🧀

[@briengakaplan-b1550]

Seeing as you screeners didn’t have access to this episode this has gotta be the fastest damn turnaround in House of Dragon history lol

[@austingooder7678]

They did have a screener. This was on KZbin before the episode ended

[@briengakaplan-b1550]

@@austingooder7678 the screeners only had access to the first four episodes. From here they’re watching it as we watch it but the turnaround was still damn quick- there’s probably a time difference between when you watched it and when this got posted.

[@Redjack10]

@@briengakaplan-b1550 The first 4 episodes were given as screeners before the season, but they still get episodes a couple days in advance. Some outlets were given the entire season.

[@licia_bobishka]

@@briengakaplan-b1550it’s released at the same time everywhere in the world, no matter what time it is where you live. 9pm eastern standard time in the us

[@johnhancock3666]

Episode 5 had mad Revenge of the Sith vibes

[@GabrielPereira-rj6jr]

This is top-notch quality.

[@househeadericmd]

This season now getting very good and it’s becoming a high chess game cubed. New characters past and plenty to die. This is much better than Games of Thrones. Hope they keep it up.

[@iArpanMishra]

Bro's videos act as notification that new episode has arrived!

[@nickymo]

Aegon is lucky he was cosplaying the Conqueror that day. Criston said men’s armor melted from dragon fire, but he was wearing Valyrian steel armor. I think the book described how it was fused to his skin like that, the scene of them removing it was agonizing.

[@Dustballguy]

Love the Succession part but should have edited in cousin Greg real quick. I would have lost it

[@tejashagrawal9585]

Vermithor is coming back 🔥

[@briengakaplan-b1550]

Silverwing and Seasmoke too

[@taniavoltios9167]

I literally finished Succession yesterday LOL, loved the reference.

[@kimberleymorris8052]

The back and front of Hightide is St Michaels Mount in Marizion Cornwall. It’s my favourite place in the world and I’ve been there so many times

[@DamyeanCopeland52]

I jump between heavy spoilers and screen crush…both are amazing

[@jamesallred460]

Man I felt that sauce Ryan! That wasn't acting, that was the real deal!

[@CapnK023]

Thanks Doug.

[@Jones11b]

Slow episode but amazing things to come

[@brianfloyd2279]

Even in the game of thrones universe u can tell the planet has curvature...

[@saxpackabs]

The castle used for High Tide is carried St Michael's Mount. It's in Penzance in Cornwall. I went whale watching their a few weeks ago.

[@tomsawyer1648]

Domino’s dipping sauces? Lol watching the armor removed was brutal!

[@thejuliakitchen]

Of course they’re lousy with dragon riders, y’all conveniently forget that Luke and Jayce are half Strong. So we’ve got Corlys’s boys, that dude who said he was Visyrus’ half brother, not to mention that metal smith is a blonde as well.

[@danieltorres2089]

Yo wtf I love watching breakdowns after the episode but damn yall fast!!

[@gallows_knight]

“Ser Crispin” gets me ever time. But also, how do you not cut in Daemon in the Succession spoof?

[@kevinnorton9311]

A small note: Maegor's reign was not 8 years but specifically 6 years and 66 days. It seems like a purposeful allusion to Christianity using 666 as the number of the beast but it could have a different meaning in the World of a Song Ice and Fire. It is worth noting that no one else's reign in Fire and Blood is given such a specific date so there is some significance to the number. In the Faith of the Seven, the number 7 is considered very holy and used often. The number 6 is considered to be unlucky because honoring the 6 means you forget to honor the Stranger and therefore invite death. It is also worth noting the writing style of Fire and Blood and The World of Ice and Fire are written in the style of a history passed down by Maesters in universe. Consequently, the date set as thr beginning or end of Maegor's Reign might have been adjusted slightly to make this very coincidental date work out. TL;DR: The actual reign of Maegor the Cruel was not 8 years but the real date is actually really interesting.

[@eleazarloyo8473]

1:25 Also, while the greens have the majority of the Reach pledging allegiance to them, many houses there, such as Houses Caswell, Costayne, Rowan, and Tarly, are loyal to the blacks.

[@Wayne-cq5wg]

The rise of King’s Landing’s true ruler…King Bread and Queen Meat!!

[@cassiusrochford]

Her necklace being a nod to Meleys is a reach if I’ve ever seen one! Come on! Where u get that from? 😂😂

[@TimManuelMiranda]

Re: Lord Simon Staunton being of Rook's Rest. Staunton is a style of chess pieces. The style that most people are familiar with.

[@Alpha23TV]

Ryan: “sorry for the sexist comment, last week, by making Vagar a male instead of a female…” Also Ryan: “… if Renyris uses a *traditionally feminine* tool, gossip and rumors…” 😂😂😂… bro tryna get cancelled Also… Doug said “aawoo” 😂 Also also… Daemon needs to give his assassins clearer instructions…

[@bunny44489]

It is a traditionally feminine tool of control when outright power was not accessible to women. Shadow power, pretty cool actually

[@christophhermann6913]

Cole isn't telling alicant that women should not rule, but that the upcoming decision to make are horrible and it's better when somebody else has to do them. He does the the same for himself.

[@ninadee7407]

As much wrong as there was in GoT s8, Drogon burning the throne isn't contradicting the way the dragons are acting in HotD. Or the books. Silverwing refused Alysanne's desire to go past the wall. Vhaegar hesitated to burn Laena. Vhaegar also kills Luke. They have will. They often go along with their riders, but they are not slaves or mindless.

[@lordgldenstern836]

Bro, thank you for naming Rhaenyra’s council. I had no idea who is who!