House of the Dragon Episode 9 Recap & Review | Breakdown | Season 1

[@PetePeppers1]

I liked how all the focus was on the Greens in this episode. Looking forward to a Black focused episode for the finale to see how they respond to Alicent and Otto's moves. Didn't love all of their choices in this episode but do like their confidence. Should make for an exciting final episode for the season. Let me know what you think.

[@dantesos7564]

On "there is a beast under the boards" im happy with the reveal. What a bad.ass.moment for Rhaenys! (& its also better than the theory that it was due to Aegon & the servant girls). At 8:55 on the mans clothing, the pattern on the border(is that brown or gold? Idk) looks like a tulip 🌷.? The baby Targaryen: was he there in the pit as part of the entertainment or why is he back there I wonder?! That scene between Alicent and Rhaenys, 👨‍🍳👌 great acting, you could really feel the tension! Nice callback to a previous ep shot of Alicent sitting but the way it was framed it looked like she was in a birdcage & Rhaenys tells her about carving herself a little window in her prison. I love those minute details. When I realized everyone was converging on the Dragon pit, I immediately thought back to when the kids where fooling around in there yrs ago, teasing Aemond & what it must've been like to be able to run around among all these dragons. Back to Rhaenys & her beast🐲... girl could've ended the dance before it began with just 1 dracarys! I liked her delivery in that scene. I saw it as a: "I COULD if I really wanted to, end all of you, right here. Do not think you hold power over me, Alicent." But what I find more fascinating is the melding of the dragon with its rider, to know its thoughts & react, fire or hold back. Also! When she & Meleys first burst out & ppl went flying, I thought "this is the downside of dragons" then went back to my previous thought of their minds melding & how the ppl in KL dont really care who rules as long as they have stability, so it stands to reason that there could be a lack of regard for these "disloyal" folk & it made me wonder if Dani was having that kind of moment in GoT when she burned it all to 7 hells. This was a good ep for me for sure😁. I hope next Sunday goes out with a bang! Lets go team Black! 🤺

[@beokay1540]

It wasn't bad, and did have some great scenes with Alicent especially. I was disappointed with the episode as a whole and maybe because the others have been so well done. Your breakdowns are excellent as always

[@prrrakshal]

Crazy that Larys Strong really killed his family for some feet

[@ContactsNfilters]

Quentin Tarantino approves.

[@akshan2310]

Thos was underwhelming

[@hammiranda]

Sick bastard

[@CharBar07]

🦶🦶🏻🦶🏼🦶🏽🦶🏾🦶🏿dude loves all kind of feet. Lord Foot Fetish Larys

[@lisaowen6103]

The games afoot👣

[@adoormarkedpirate378]

Seeing Aegon's flip of a switch once he's greeted with power and adoration from the people was so good. Probably my favorite part of this episode.

[@panthertvchannel5921]

It was like Trump winning the election in 2016

[@PetePeppers1]

The actor nailed it.

[@boarfaceswinejaw4516]

@@panthertvchannel5921 Trump never switched though, unless you count "going off the deep end" as a switch.

[@jamesclark9619]

@@boarfaceswinejaw4516 if calling out the people fucking your country is "going off the deep end", I'd like to take a turn on the diving board.

[@boarfaceswinejaw4516]

@@jamesclark9619 "calling out the people fucking your country" oh great, a billionaire populist calling billionaires corrupt. such a revolutionary. No, going off the deep end as in: indulging literally every little far right demagogue, subsect and cult that claims veneration and worship onto him, because all he cares about is his ego. The Dude embraces every motherfucker who speaks positively of him like a long lost child, and then winds up having to spend half his presidency cleaning out his own administration constantly. I mean, for fuck sake, more than half of the "RINO's" that he and his gaggle of knuckledraggers keep doing witchhunts on were people he handpicked for positions of power. Either trump is a supremely bad judge of character, or he just doesnt like it when people talk back to him. god forbid anyone is critical of dear leader. and then there is the shadier shit with trump, like how he tossed assange to the side like a used napkin the moment he won the election, because god forbid you actually act on your anti-establishment, anti-deep state spiel by helping the very people who got you into power in the first place. Trump is just another egotistical maniac who flew in on a wave of hype. his cereal box populism is only appealing because people think swearing and acting infantile is a novelty.

[@MAYK1NG]

I can't believe I was so niave because I thought queen Alicint was just casually taking off her shoes after a long day while she talked with the creep and that she was lost in thought and ignorant to him pleasuring himself while she kicked back with her feet up!

[@hhh1200]

i thought she was casually taking off her shoes after a long day, lol. i'm sure many others did also.

[@annabougato9628]

I thought the same 🤢

[@joasbenjamin6804]

😂

[@h33-q8w]

Same! I never thought the perfect and pure godly Allicent would ever be involved in something so vile! And you know she's been doing that and who knows what else for a very long time!

[@justinehelene4831]

Same lol until the very end 😅

[@troyfoster6004]

The last two episodes have been my favorites. The scene of a weak and frail King Viserys entering the throne room to save his daughter gave me shivers. The plotting and scheming of Episode 9 kept me on the edge of my seat. The scene of the usurper entering the dragon pit, walking among their soldiers with their swords raised was intense. The actor did amazing just looking around unsure at first of what he was doing, then taking command. The way music is used in this show is incredible. I have intentionally stayed away from the book so I could enjoy all the twists and turns. I'll probably pick up "Fire & Blood" before Season 2 but this has been very enjoyable. Pete, you've done great. There's a lot of other channels with large staffs that crank these out fast with a team. Regardless, your recaps are among the best. Look forward to coming back here for Season 2.

[@vestyycpn9265]

To be honest, the ninth episode was in my opinion the worst episode so far...I found the first 10 minutes very good, but after that it went downhill a lot. On the one hand, this whole search for aegon completely took the tension and pacing out of the episode. In addition, I just don't understand why it should be so important who finds Aegon first...I mean he's a human and not a robot, and even if Alicent tells him about their plan and urges him to do it how she planned to do it that doesnt automatically means that Aegon will do it like that. Also, I absolutely don't understand what prevented Otto from sending assassins to Dragonstone, as we learned at the beginning of the episode, he always made his own plans anyway, and the only thing Alicent has now is Aegon, who isn't interested in any of that anyway .So what would Alicent do if Otto killed Rhaenyra and her children? Kill your own son and heir to the Iron Throne? Goading Aegon into killing Otto? From what we've seen, Aegon wouldn't really care if Otto had Rhaenyra and Daemon killed anyway. And the ending with Rhaenys in the Dragonpit was very bad thought out anyway in my opinion because there was absolutely no reason why she shouldn't have killed all the Greens after she's already killed thousands of people to save herself and her dragon from King's Landing. And the conversation before with Alicent can't be an argument either, because first of all, Alicent wouldn't notice anything if Rhaenys killed her children, because she would also be burned to death immediately.and secondly, i just find it very unbelievable that rhaenys suddenly felt sympathy with Alicent after such a conversation in which she was told all along by alicent how bad her decision was to join the blacks. All in all, I'm unfortunately very disappointed that out of all episodes they´ve decided in this episode to stray so far from the books, just for a moment of shock. Mainly because the first eight episodes were so good and I was so hyped to this episode.

[@bridgemedeiros4367]

I've not seen anyone mention another layer to Rhaenys not burning the Greens is (in addition to respecting and feeling empathy for Alicent, not wanting to be a kin slayer, and it not being her battle to fight) that if she were to do it, there would forever be theories and whispers that she did it to take the throne for herself, that perhaps she did it out of defiance to the Targaryen family, etc. That's not even considering that the lords and small folk would accept Rhaenyra as queen wholeheartedly (in the book it's stated there's confusion and the occasional long live the queen), there could still be a revolt or usurper to rise up. I think if Rhaenys had burned them all down it would have been much messier immediately, so she did it as a power move and an act of compassion. Obviously, she has no regard for the smallfolk which I believe is very intentional, it's not like Rhaenys has ever gone around saying how much she loves them or stands up for them. I don't think there's much regard for them, as in later years during the events of GoT so it's not really a matter of "ooh I won't kill the Greens bc I want to spare them", it's political, and very layered, and obviously a scene they included for the spectacle lol

[@jakequercia]

If lord Caswell waited just a day or two, he woulda been completely fine to ride out of the keep back to his house. My man’s screwed himself

[@farmansiddiqui9279]

The council scene in the beginning of the ep and the scene between Rhaenys and Alicent was masterful.

[@adrianamatijas2969]

"Beast beneath the boards" - my first thought was that this relates to when Aegon was hidden by the Whiteworm. He's the beast, and he was hidden beneath the "boards".

[@ChairmanMeow1]

I thought she was just removing her socks because she was tired and had a very busy day...and then... oh no.... oh... god. :o

[@PetePeppers1]

yeah, the way that developed was great. takes a second to sink in

[@XiyuYang]

8:55 That's Lord Merryweather from Longtable. The necklace he was wearing showed his house sigil, a golden horn of plenty spilling out apples, carrots, plums, onions, leeks, turnips, and fruits of many colors

[@johnecoapollo7]

>Doesn't want to escalate the situation >Escalates the situation beyond all possible measure Let's not sugarcoat it, this choice made no sense, that's what happens when you mess with the general flow of events from a story that you didn't make. A likeable character looks stupid, confused, becomes a mass murderer and then weirdly leaves. In general though, I agree with your assessment, this was a good episode with a very poorly handled closing

[@joaopedrorosa6198]

I didnt feel that rhaenys wished to descalate the situation. Since her choice was already made. I believe she was Just hearing the Full tale from alicent's mouth. Still, that last scene i find a bit silly.

[@neondemon5137]

When has she ever been likable? She's always been a toxic, triggered shrew.

[@mateustravaglini6103]

totally agree with you @The Turing Protocl

[@annabougato9628]

She never looked stupid. Wth you talking about. She showed the greens she was powerful af. That she won't be another prisoner waiting for death. And that "mass murder" was the only way for her to escape (like a champ no less). If she didnt agree with Alicent's terms they were going to kill her like everyone else. Are we watching the same show.

[@maliceinwonderland00]

I am a book reader but I'm going to say that we should enjoy the show for what it is. Every single episode book readers have something to complain about and if they have to complain every single episode then just stop watching it. GRRM is heavily involved in the show and he's the Author so GET OVER IT! Negativity is ruining this more than the story going off cannon in the show. I'm a book reader too but some of you will never be satisfied. Sick of seeing everyone bitch and complain and than still continue to watch the show so they can bitch and complain more. Just piss off. We know GOT screwed up in season 8 but stop complaining about everything with this show because of it!

[@Droxal]

My issue with this show throughout has been the lack of character development and their focus instead on shocking moments (that make no sense) and moving the plot forward to match the books pace. The last scene with Rhaneys really highlighted this for me. I still enjoy the show, but it's really lacking the writing and character focus that made the first few seasons of GoT work so well.

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

That was a crazy episode! I felt the high tension throughout the episode. Everyone is divided even the Hightowers.

[@Rfxzlh3]

"Beast beneath the boards" later on Agon was found under the table.....

[@lesliemisaacs]

That’s what I thought, too.

[@Rfxzlh3]

@@lesliemisaacs he will be worst than Joffrey

[@DuggyDarko]

I believe "Beast beneath the boards" refers to prince Aegon. It's what the servants refer to him as.

[@panthertvchannel5921]

No it was the dragon

[@theyawner2170]

@@panthertvchannel5921 I think it's both. Prophecy, man! So many ways to interpret it.

[@TangoNevada]

"It's what the servants refer to him as" Why? does he frequently hide under the floorboards and whisper "Hm" when people pass overhead?

[@-ooooooooooo]

Rhaenys's flagrant disregard for the lives of people trapped in a crowd she'd literally just been trapped in too was sickening - it just felt so tonally wrong that she was then shown as merciful or whatever. For this reason this was my least favorite episode - it's one thing if a character thinks the poor are shallow expendables, but for the show to seemingly agree with that too left a bad taste in the mouth

[@prrrakshal]

If only Rhaenys had simply uttered one word

[@panthertvchannel5921]

I wanted her to flame them all but she felt sad for Alicent projecting her son as she would. That saved them

[@erikvina3587]

She's not a kinslayer - she won't let herself fall that far...

[@vgmaster9]

@@erikvina3587 I'm pretty sure she just wanted to give Alicent the answer she was asking for.

[@michaell4315]

It would end with one season 😂

[@vestyycpn9265]

@@erikvina3587 no not a kinslayer but an absolut ignorant massmurderer who kills thousands just to save himself as it appears

[@ceciliaSF-TX]

Alicent is full of hypocrisy: her sins are worst than Rhaenara having consenting sex outside her marriage. Everyone knew her husband preferred men. Alicent has done a lot of ‘indignant’ behavior.

[@jerlinej3516]

It’s giving me the same vibe as when Drogon and Jon had a stare down. After his mom gets stabbed to death, all he does is scream in his face 🤨. I guess this is what suspension of disbelief is, but it’s just not believable bc it doesn’t make sense

[@omarbey3868]

Great video. I really liked this episode. I understand you questioning Alicent's interpretation of Viserys' last words. I think Alicent and Viserys were doing the same thing. They were making a disjointed connection between two conversations. For example, Viserys was continuing the conversation he was having with Rhaenyra earlier. He has an excuse because he is drugged. Alicent was connecting what Viserys was saying, in his milk of the poppy delirium, to the conversation she had with him in front of the fire at the hunt about his prophetic dream, so many years ago. In short, Alicent now believes she is fulfilling Viserys' prophecy about placing Aegon I's crown on Aegon II's head. I think this is why she wanted to have the coronation at the dragon pit. Alicent wants to crown Aegon II and have all the dragons roar as one. Only one dragon roared and it was Rhaenys' dragon. This is why they added the crazy scene of Meleys entering from below. They also wanted to give the people of King's Landing a reason to hate dragons. The hate starts at this point and book readers know where it leads.

[@thepunisherxxx6804]

Rhaenys and her dragon moment felt like shitty season 8 writing. She was aligned with Rhanera, knew this would turn into a massive war, and could have ended it right there. Felt really dumb. Most of the season I have really enjoyed but that just felt like schlock.

[@stealth11]

Rhaneys learned they weren't letting any dragons out so I think having her break out was fine. That alone would've been a nice spectacle but it became problematic when she faced down all the Greens. Why are they just standing there when a dragon is breaking through the floor? If they had all been forced to flee I think that would've worked better and we wouldn't have had that awkward scene where Rhaenys does nothing, and just leaves. They wanted the one on one showdown and we didn't need it.

[@bennytherotty]

I think Aemond saying HE is next in line, despite Aegon having kids, means the greens would never bring peace and even if Rhaenyra's line is wiped out, Alicent's line will continue to war with each other. None of Alicent's kids seem to care about each other. By contrast, Rhaenyra's kids and Daemon's kids all seem to get along and have each other's back. The irony is, if the war never happened, Alicent's kids may have been in more danger from each other than from Rhaenyra.

[@leykimayri]

If Aegon abdicates the throne before getting crowned his children his line of succession loses the right to the throne as well and the next in line is Aemond. If he gets crowned and later abdicates, or dies before or after the coronation, his son is still too young to rule, which means that the next in line, uncle Aemond, gets the throne until the nephew is old enough to rule, if ever....

[@bennytherotty]

@@leykimayri Not trying to argue, but genuine question: is THAT what they say in the GOT universe? I am basing my own assumption on what happens in real life -- for example, if William walked away from the British throne when Charles dies, the throne will then go to George, William's oldest child. It would NOT go to Henry, William's younger brother.

[@leykimayri]

@@bennytherotty It has only happened once in the UK and according to the British law abdication is not supposed to happen unlike other monarchies so the Parliament had actually to intervene and make sure that the throne would go to Edward’s brother and then his daughter Elizabeth and no descendant of Edward III could ever challenge George VI or Elizabeth for the throne. But remember that in the UK the king CANNOT decide to whom he will pass the throne (who’s the next in line), so what Viserys did (choosing Rhaenyra) is something that cannot happen in the UK, the throne goes to the next in line and only the Parliament can choose otherwise. That’s for real life in the UK. Now as far as WESTEROS is concerned, more or less they are doing a coup so if Aegon abdicates or dies, you think they will put a 3 year old on the throne and who will support the enfant on the throne? His cuckoo mother or his dragonless grandmother and great grandfather (Otto)? Of course the next in line would be Aemond and he would be placed on the throne, as a strong adult Targaryen male who commands the largest dragon. So yes, Aemond is the next in line. I don’t want to insult you since I don’t know you, but people who want to REVIEW shows should start using their brains a little bit you know. It’s a coup, the oldest brother abdicates or dies and they will put an enfant on the throne? Who will support the enfant, which Lord and which common folk, 😂 ?

[@Tormund_Giantsbrain]

I was blown away by the details of the coronation. It felt like watching Nicholas II being crowned in an Orthodox ceremony with all the hollow pomp & circumstance of a rotting system. It's what I'd always envisioned from a GoT coronation. Tom Glynn-Carney was terrific in bringing out Aegon's emotions of conflict, hesitation, pride & euphoria all at once. I'm glad they kept much despised Criston putting the Conqueror's crown on Aegon II's head. The Kingmaker is born! What the show's doing really well is the details, down to locking up servants. Usually the passionate debates, the sense of treachery & heartbreak are glossed over. We only see the regime change as a "fait accompli". This bring to life the mechanism that historically goes behind a coup, which I assume is as emotionally taxing for the people seizing power. That's why I like agonized & conflicted Alicent more than her steadfast source counterpart. It's more flesh & blood. She vacillates but her messianic fear for her children fates her to make a cursed gamble. *Jokes aside, I only support my Green Lives Matter King for the extermination of Strong Boys cause I'm pro Valeryian blood supremacy.*

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

Thank you for amazing video as always Pete love your breakdowns, and insightful analysis🙌🏾

[@ledzepmj]

I really felt busting through the floor like that and killing hundreds if not thousands was a terrible play, why would the citizens of King's Landing stand behind Rhaenyra after that? It seemed too Game of Thrones season 8 dramatic to me.

[@To-Ji004]

SPOILER they won't

[@eds1942]

They’ll make do with whoever sits on the throne. It’s the dragons that they’ll be fed up with.

[@DuggyDarko]

They won't stand with her anyway because she's a woman.

[@Megor_connection101]

King Maegor with teats 😂

[@Mikerich_94]

It was intentional bc the citizens do something as a reaction to that

[@marisaj2346]

Agreed on all you points. One of the weakest episodes for me, I did not like the spectacle of the dragon scene at the end at all. Also the Alicent’s “confusion” about the small council plotting to put Aegon on the throne was laughable. She wants to get him there but with clean hands, while simultaneously using Larys for her dirty business, including murder, in exchange of some feet glazing. I hope the next episode is better then this.

[@mateustravaglini6103]

true, seems like Alicent also doesnt care about no one else that is not a noble, its the only explanation for how she is such a bitch with the servants and small folk, but when come to rhaenyra, shes like: oh i am so candor.

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

Rhaenys might not have been the queen of the seven kingdoms...but after the last episode she became a true dragon queen in all of our hearts🖤

[@Skabanis]

The murderer? She killed a bunch people for no reason.

[@TheCloveart]

22:30 the frozen shot of the dragon roaring at the Greens is interesting because the the dragon’s head has 7 spikes. Just like 7-point Star that represents Alicent’s religion.

[@jeffnogo]

Rhaenys killed a lot of peasants, which isn't a good look, but she didn't do it just to make a big spectacle and put fear into the greens. She did it with the full intention of killing them all, but she couldn't after seeing the mother's love from Alicent who was attempting to protect her son. Rhaenys, who deeply loved both of her children and lost both of them, had a moment of forgiveness and wasn't able to bring herself to kill this mother and her entire family. So, she left.

[@television1088]

If that's what happened, they did a pretty poor job of conveying it to the audience.

[@joasbenjamin6804]

Exactly thank you

[@jeffnogo]

@@television1088 It seemed pretty straightforward to me. Either way, this show is constantly walking the line of showing/not telling us what the characters think. That's a risky approach because on the first view, sometimes the viewers piece it together, and sometimes we don't. But I'm sure you're also the type of person that would be complaining, as would I, if they made things too obvious and had Rhaenys do a big speech on her dragon about why she couldn't bring herself to kill them. Can't please everyone.

[@h33-q8w]

No way dude. She was never going to kill any of them. She can't then there would be no dance of the dragons. She just wanted them to know who's side she chose 🤣

[@jeffnogo]

@@h33-q8w Clearly we all knew she wasn't going to in the end, but my point was that she fully intended on killing them all but couldn't do it for the reasons I discussed.

[@leykimayri]

​​ @Pete Peppers If Aegon abdicates the throne BEFORE he gets crowned, his whole line of succession is disinherited. Which means that his sons lose any rights to the throne and Aemond becomes the king. But even if this doesn't apply, still Aegon's both sons are too young, so the next adult male in line becomes the protector of the realm until the son comes of age. Actually when Aegon II was later hurt, Aemond indeed became the protector of the realm until his brother was capable of ruling again. Anyway, in such cases, according to our own history, the child is not guaranteed that will live to become an adult or that he will be allowed to actually rule, once he becomes an adult....

[@lord_young]

Considering the injuries suffered at the ceremony milk of the poppy will be in low supply going forward.🤕😆

[@stilettoCPAstyle]

I agree, I hate that this popped off over a misunderstanding of which Aegon he was referring to. It almost makes me lose interest in the show.

[@julianwells4055]

Very good analysis.

[@prrrakshal]

Highlight for me is Ser Walter Westling, commander of the King's Guard, standing up to Cole and then removing his cape. He saw the treason being committed and wanted no parts of it. Also was good to see Ser Eric's bravery in helping Rhaenys escape. Rhaenys is like one of my favourite character now. Her enterence of the crowing was epic! Lastly, Allicent stood up to her father to protect Rhaenyra and her children. It is good to see that she still loves her and vice versa. The Dance of Dragons has finally begun and the first fight will come at Storm's end.

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

RIP beesbury at least he got some good stingers before he died.

[@mshepnj]

What if Aegon's children are actually Aemond's? That would make Aemond's declaration about being next in line technically true.

[@leykimayri]

It is true if Aegon denies the throne before getting crowned his children cannot inherit the throne from him. So the next in line in case of abdication before the coronation is Aemond.

[@idawg7332]

Final scene was the worst part of the show so far, not quite season 8 level bad but definitely on par with season 7. Rhaenys doesn't want to be a kinslayer but she's fine with killing hundreds of people and even worse the writers clearly wanted us to cheer while it happened

[@dante2037]

I mean to be fair kinslaying and regicide is seen as a 1000x worse offense than just killing some meaningless small folk. Remember the small folk don't mean shit to the nobility. They're hardly even seen as people

[@annabougato9628]

What was the worst part. Her saving her own life (and her dragon's) and proving to her enemies that she's not a mere prisoner but a fire and blood Targaryen princess that cant be pushed around?

[@television1088]

@@annabougato9628 It's the worst because it means the real life showrunners, not just the fictional royalty, see the poor as valueless and present their deaths as something to cheer for, rather than a mass murder tragedy. You must be a republican.

[@joasbenjamin6804]

@@television1088 if you read the book you would have understood that scene . Spoiler alert that’s why the small folk gonna invade the dragon pit and kill the dragons

[@idawg7332]

@@dante2037 I get that, doesn't change that the writers clearly want us to cheer for rhaenys she accidentally kills hundreds of people

[@TheRealNGTN]

With the next in line part, I assumed he meant that it was for the brief window between Viserys' death and Aegons coronation, since during that break Aegon was not sworn in as king, which meant that his children were not next in line yet

[@jeffnogo]

Very good point.

[@TheRealNGTN]

@@jeffnogo Thank you

[@aaronia8092]

I woud say, even before Aegon had been crowned , his son came before Aemond as an heir to Viserys. Of course Rhaenyra and all her sons came first.

[@leykimayri]

@@aaronia8092 Not if Aegon abdicates the throne. If he does, his line of succession also loses any rights to the throne (or goes way back in the line, not sure about that). But for sure Aegon's sons are not the next in line and the crown goes to Aemond, in case of abdication BEFORE the coronation.

[@aaronia8092]

@@leykimayri - Yes, that's true, Aegon's abdication could remove Aegon's children from the line of succession (I guess, if he as the father of minor children renounces also their rights in their name), the point is that without the abdication they still have their rights to be heirs before Aemond. And if Viserys had died a few years later, the abdication of Aegon would mean that his eldest son would take the crown not his brother.

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

I'm glad they didn't include the book scene with Aegon ,and the child under twelve. The child fighting was bad enough at least they didn't show the pedophilia.

[@emilymiguel8198]

He used his own child like a fighting rooster. He would be 100x a better dad if he just abandoned them like a normal worthless deadbeat dad.

[@Young.Supernovas]

I think the scene with Meleys would have been stronger if they had just done the coronation outside, and she flew up. Killing the smallfolk just makes the characters the show wants you to sympathize with seem like bad guys. And that goes for what happened with Laenor too.

[@xancypillosi9497]

Nobody is ever caring about that. Nit picking

[@ljsshrimp]

Love end - why no one else get this... Rhaenys looks from on top dragon goes to say the word, and realizes - It's not her fight anymore, she was suppose get throne and lost it. She is loose with her dragon and leaves. Totally saw on her face she was gonna kill them and last minute thought "This is not my fight anymore" 100% pictured in her mind.

[@xancypillosi9497]

But it is. And she dies

[@OSheaShenanigans]

Now would be a great time to finish the Winds of Winter

[@jkalil]

As someone who has not read the books, I enjoyed this episode. It felt like the story is finally taking off, the characters are well established and I'm looking forward to next week. The score was great. The final scene was satisfying.

[@h-dawg969]

I was worried about this show before it began, but I am so glad that they have done it justice. You can tell that those involved behind the camera actually care for and appreciate the source material of which they are adapting, and it feels good to have my mind fully involved in Westeros again. Something that was taken away from me after season 8.

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

I can't believe there only one episode😢 left ,but it look like it will be an amazing episode that will soon break the internet bring on the dragon fight it will be epic🐉🔥.

[@eaglekeeper7737]

Why is know one talking about how dark these episodes are getting someone light some f#@$ing lanterns.

[@Syisulis]

The Dragon Pit was filled to the brim with people she killed 1000's. They just got crushed in the rumble. That was a burning down Kings Landing moment

[@DeterminedButterfly]

The part where Rhaenys bust through the floor with here dragon!! When the dragon yelled at Alicent said to me Don’t you ever try me again, biatch!!!! I mean I got my whole life from that moment!!! I mean what better way to check someone who imprisons you against your will and tries to force you to align with them.

[@television1088]

By killing them? This is a great way to make yourself a target.

[@eds1942]

To align with them over family with the fate of the House that she married into hanging in the balance… totally empathize with her there. But, as others needed to point out to me, Rhaenys killed a lot of people for her display of defiance.

[@mihkelhint]

Your stuff is just so good and tight. It impressed me several shows you've covered. But even in something as competative and overly covered as this show, I think you stand out!

[@h-dawg969]

These final 3 episodes are going to be a perfect little arc for a rewatch. All 3 episodes cover a few days in a row.

[@furiogiunta7886]

I don't understand why Rhaenys didn't have her dragon kill them all and win the war before it even started.

[@jemi3822]

You don't understand why she doesn't want to kill her own family.... she's not a murderer

[@jemi3822]

She def thought about it tho

[@furiogiunta7886]

@@jemi3822 She just killed a few hundred peasants, she isn't a murderer though?

[@furiogiunta7886]

@@cosmo43095 Yeah that's what it seemed like. I swear the writing in these TV shows just gets worse and worse every year. I doubt that's how it happened in the book. She literally could have ended the entire conflict by uttering one word, and she would have been right to do it since they usurped the throne.

[@batgurrl]

Thanks Pete. What a fantastic episode. For me, The Queen who Never Was, rising up on her dragon was the most dramatic moment and even everyone does a great job, Eve Best was the shining star for me

[@PetePeppers1]

Eve Best is fantastic in the role. Loved watching Olivia Cooke play off of her and Rhys Ifans in this episode.

[@batgurrl]

@@PetePeppers1 funny you mention that because those three are the only Actors I have seen before, Rhys from various movies, Olivia from Bates Motel and Eve Best from SHOWTIME series Nurse Jackie (Showtime sold it to other platforms, clearly for political reasons, and erased it from On Demand on TV and on their App.) Cowards. I did my research and they didn’t do that with any other popular series. They maintained ownership. I’m not sure if they made other shows available elsewhere too, at a cost. Pete, if you don’t know what Nurse Jackie was about the whole situation is ‘juicy’. If you need or want to know more, please let me know. It’s rather long winded but I hope you’ve seen it and don’t need any explanation

[@doreenguenin8592]

Awesome review as always

[@paisan8766]

I’ve had zero problems with anything in this show. Period

[@dwaniscool]

This series gets better and better! I love yr reviews! Thank you!

[@DewkChronic]

If Alicent talked to Reynera and mention the death bed story about a dream that Agon was king. Reynera can say yes the dream is not about your Agon.

[@eddymonies8302]

Yeah it was step down, the Rhaenys dragon pit scene was goofy, they should’ve kept a lot of this closer to the book imo.

[@mikepelosi9877]

The writers have truly made Alicent one of the most interesting, despised, admired, and confusing characters I’ve ever seen. She is masterful at saying only what needs to be said and spinning a factual event into a convincing lie when it benefits her. On top of that, she’s a stone cold killer. She’s thinking of the long term ruling plan in a space all of her own. Bravo. Her subtle manipulations are perfect. Bless this show. Keep George involved.

[@DoobieDrewski]

Alicent didn't have a misunderstanding. She saw an opportunity to twist his words to her benefit.

[@MC-810]

Why would Kristen Cole (yeah, I know I am spelling it wrong) be the one to place the crown on Aegon’s head? That makes zero sense to me. That is an extremely high honor. Cole is a guard. His job is to be in the background and vigilant for threats. Real world, crowning the monarch was is done by the pope. King Charles will formally be crowned by the Archbishop. Napoleon was so full of himself put the crown on his own head! Back to fantasy…Gandalf crowned Aragorn because (paraphrasing) the victory against Sauron has been due Gandalf’s efforts. But Aegon is crowned by a guard? (Caveat: I had a discussion with my brother, who is a book reader about this and he explained more of the book canon to me on why it’s done in the book. makes no sense in the show, however.)

[@johnserra9]

The beast beneath the boards ? Was that not a reference to where her brother was hiding?

[@shannonm2005]

I think it was also a reference to how her husband sneaks out beneath the hidden tunnels to go into flea bottom and visit brothels and children fighting pits. Making bastards and abandoning her.

[@lesliemisaacs]

Who are you talking about? Whose brother?

[@WaveRider1989]

@@lesliemisaacs lol. Maybe you didn't realize aegon married his sister, well for the Targaryan tradition not that they wanted to.

[@odasurf5480]

@@shannonm2005 And maybe a reference to how Cheese & Blood sneak in via same tunnels? Is Aegon the "beast" or Blood & Cheese the "beast"?

[@shannonm2005]

@@odasurf5480 I honestly think her prophecies can have double meanings, and it’s intentional. We’ll probably never get real specification.

[@i.turner9841]

Thanks for another great video. I liked this episode. I laughed at how pretty feet are such a turn-on to Larys. Kind of makes perverse sense since his own feet are a mess. I was hoping that Rhaenys would dracarys the hell out of the coronation, but I feel that the reason she didn't was because she had compassion for Alicent. Rhaenys has lost her children and didn't want to do that to another mother. Also, I think she felt like "Why should I make it so easy for Rhaenyra?" Now the stage is set for the battle, which I am looking forward to very much.

[@eekinelsa]

the dragon couldn't have fried the new king, because Targaryens are immune to fire

[@thomasbrady3827]

Would Aemond be next in line if Aegon wasn’t coronated yet because he is Jaeherys oldest son

[@xancypillosi9497]

Exactly. Dorks looking too much into it

[@trelliswansley8446]

Until Aegon was crowned king than Aemond was next in line. Once Aegon was crowned king then the sucession moved to his bloodline instead of Viserys so than Aegons children begin to inherit.

[@leykimayri]

Yeap, exactly, finally someone who has some knowledge about history, I have got tired of listening to people "reviewing" the show when they have no idea about how succession lines have been working in our own history. If Aegon abdicates the throne BEFORE getting crowned, the throne goes to Aemond and Aegon's children cannot inherit something that never belonged to their father, common sense. If he abdicates after getting crowned, his son inherits but as being too young, the next adult male is Aemond who becomes the protector of the realm (regent) and rules until the son comes of age, if ever...

[@MuffinMario-nv8rq]

Pete where are you wheres episode 10?

[@pegleg4633]

I can't wait! I hope he's okay!

[@PetePeppers1]

Uploading now

[@MuffinMario-nv8rq]

@@PetePeppers1 letsgo thanks!

[@Max_Cherry]

A drop in quality with this episode. Hope it isn’t the start of a trend where the show prioritises shock and awe over more considered writing choices.

[@chelleyd4020]

Rhaenys didn’t kill then because it wasn’t her fight, she needed to tell rhaenyra and rhaenyra to decide what to do, it’s rhaenyras fight, not rhaenys’

[@vivianamora7505]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼STANDING O FOR OLIVIA’S PERFORMANCE IN THIS EPISODE🥇👍🏼😊

[@kvizachaderach3892]

Larys Strong = Keyser Söze. His feet is healty....it is just a play like Grand Maester Pycelle.

[@ammertos1517]

I don't like the scene with the dragon staring down the Greens because it makes no sense without actually killing them. Killing them in that moment would have been the only logical choice. So imo that scene shouldn't exist.

[@just42day]

Rhaenys showing off her dragon Meleys, the Red Queen in all of her glory was truly epic!

[@scottishcelts2040]

Still the best dude man I'm dexter after next week. Thanks dude you explain the bits I miss. 👍

[@soopahsoopah]

Kind of jarring that they have downplayed Aegon's marriage so far. It's like you'd totally miss it if you weren't paying attention, even more so if you aren't hip to Targaryean tradition.

[@deeobrien5417]

Always look forward to your videos Pete, only at the start but always know they’re going to be top tier from the get go; so glad I watch a good few of the shows you cover 👌🏼

[@PetePeppers1]

thanks for watching

[@uhrtmyfillins951]

Olivia Cooke is shining

[@keithm656]

I did like this episode, but I thought the CGI when the dragon comes through the floor was terrible. The dragon looks fine after the dust clears, but the explosions looked 80's esque.

[@princealexander6155]

disagree with Pete on this one, this was a very great episode and as high on quality as the last 2

[@dantesos7564]

What do you guys think about the controversy surrounding Sara Hess? It made me rethink my whole view on the Meleys dragon scene. 😲.

[@yensid4294]

If a King with very young heirs dies, a regent is usually chosen. It could be the widowed Queen, a close & trusted advisor but in this case, it would probably go to Aemond who is 2nd in line after his nephew when his nephew comes of age.

[@xancypillosi9497]

It happens when aegon becomes a cripple basically. But aemond only calls himself protector of the realm

[@yashrajbangera9992]

Been waiting for this episode since morning!! Finally get to watch it ❤️✨

[@AaronCrawford]

Loved this episode. Acting was great and the closing scene looked so good

[@buyerclub2]

I find this series far too much work for so little reward. Certainly not GOT level of enjoyment.

[@amstarla]

Rhaenys doesn't want to risk her dragon's life by killing the royal family. And then she would also be a Kinslayer so her own life would be forfeit too. She's smart enough to know that the sight of the nuclear option is enough to get the point across. She's not to be controlled

[@bevinboulder5039]

Am I the only one who can't look at Rhys Ifans without seeing Spike?

[@TylerSkylionChilders]

You are watching an episodic television show. Most scenes in the end are there to compel you to watch next week. And her not being a kinslayer? Otto was very much prepared to do just that,

[@leykimayri]

Otto is not related to Rhaenyra or Daemon or any of those children. It would be murder but not kingslayer

[@stupidminotaur9735]

In the books the Targs are loved by the smallfolk

[@marakandatravel3628]

true

[@ceciliaSF-TX]

Rheanarys showed that women can have power & they have the ability to show it with grace & dignity. She may have wanted to kill the royal family, but killed plenty of the small folk. High price to make a point. But she is off & away!

[@homeboundtraveller6100]

This was an OK episode, THAT scene ruined it. Its like an HBO VP was like, "We need Dragons in each episode! Do it" So, the writers were forced into adding a scene with Rhaenys on Meleys. That, or someone wanted a GirlBoss! moment. Either way, that scene makes *ZERO* sense. 1. The King is dead, and the Greens don't want word to escape. OK, so Kings Landing would be on lockdown, all the gates would be closed and barred, the Goldcloaks would be everywhere, especially the Dragonpit, cuz duh you don't want Rhaenys to escape. That, and theirs a Coronation to make Aegon, King and they have to protect the future King lol In fact, you'd want to double the Guards on Rhaeny's door, so she has more time to "think about her options." All the Dragons would be "grounded" until further notice, with orders not to net anyone in. As Alicent says, TeamGreen needs Rhaenys's Dragon. 2. I get Dragons are tough, but to Blast through stone, wood, and whatever materials that were used to construct the Dragon pit? That entire structure is HUGE, no cheap materials and no corners cut on building it, lest the whole thing collapse! You have the Goldcloaks forcing every Man, Woman, and Child that lives in KingsLanding, into the Dragonpit for the ceremony, so you know that the floor can handle the weight of thousands of people standing on it. So how does Rhaenys "explode" through the floor? lol 3. Where does Rhaenys get that armor from? Does every Dragon rider have their own locker in the Dragonpit? Does she put the armor on all by herself, so quickly? Are the saddles for the Dagons, always on? Or do the staff have to do this? None of the Guards or the people who feed and care for the Dragons are wondering why Lady Rhaenys isn't attending the coronation above, that something isn't quite right, and maybe they should alert the Hand and summon the Goldcloaks? Or maybe the Hand left strict orders that No, Lady Rhaenys isn't to be allowed to fly off on her dragon lol 4. Why didn't Rhaneys order Meleys to burn Team Black? She could have single handily ended the Rebellion and Usurpation, right then and there. Flown back to Dragonstone and told Rhaenyra what happened, and been well rewarded. Yes yes, then the whole show would end. Crap writing, just sucks. 5. All those dead people, hundreds of people, thousands of innocent people crushed by Meleys's claws, swiped by Meleys's tail, or they plunged to their deaths below.... This single event should have Won the Hearts and Minds of the People of Kings Landing right there for TeamGreen. But! the writers didn't factor that in when they wrote the scene, and just wanted a "cool moment". So i doubt such a horrific event, that would be used as major Propoganda by the Greens, won't even be mentioned in the next episode lol This scene REEKS of D&D, and Season 8 GOT tier writing, its Arya Naruto Ninjutsuing through all of the Night King's guards to one shot him tier moment, All Over Again lol

[@DewkChronic]

I think they want the end scene to get the people of Kingslanding to hate the Dragons and want them gone.

[@fatizzle716]

RIP Lord Lyman Beesbury

[@eadred9164]

Rhaenys hasn't read Fire & Blood to know the horrors to come. So her pre-emptively killing her own family would've been ridiculous. Having said that, the Rhaenys thing was to give audience a 'send home happy' moment which wasn't necessary. The coronation was fantastic in itself. But gawd forbid the 'bad guys' are on top in 1 episode. The worst stan is the one who thinks lowborn of KL had any obligation to support Rhaenyra. You're in for big disappointments. Aegon is following the law of popular King Jaehaerys' Great Council stating king's firstborn male son to be the next king. Viserys himself won his crown over a female, woulda been insincere for him to take away his own son's birthright. As for despairing mom alicent, it does highlight her humanity more than the cold hearted iteration of the actual green council. A well needed change imo, they've constantly shown subtleties in her character which the audience wilfully ignores since they're watching this as a Black vs Green team sport and you gotta cheer for team lovable manipulative daddy! Show alicent as a whole has been better imo. Her being more humanized shouldn't be a problem unless one wants the show to remain as grotesquely black n white as it has been for Team Black (like Laenor escaping instead of being off'd). The finale is the Rhaenyra "also ran consolation prize" lol.

[@HokkaidoSan]

Maybe Larys knows a few secrets of Alicent? Maybe something between her and Crispy Cole? They did hint at something between them at that one scene

[@TommyDidads]

Wow I didn’t know know Otto had as much bass in his voice as he had in the coronation scene

[@davidanderson_surrey_bc]

Larys finding victory in de feet.

[@muffin6369]

As the Great Varys said "Power resides where people think it resides."

[@dc7117]

I really enjoyed your recap. Looking forward to your next one. I'm thinking now E10 will be the blacks discussing everything and informing their supporters what went down and riding off toward King's Landing on their dragons at the end. I don't anticipate seeing much of a fight until next season.

[@doublestrokeroll]

I like the fact it was a misunderstanding. She heard what she wanted to hear because that's where she was. And in a way it's perfect because it's the exact thing that probably would have been on a dying King's mind as he was in that state. The thing he's been protecting his whole life. A release of that weight on him. I know where your coming from though. GoT certainly wraps it's intrigue in more complicated packages in most cases, but sometimes life situations simply ARE more simple. Confusions like this really do happen all the time. It's quite realistic. I also disagree with the ending and Otto. I believe the writers are trying to tell you (as you said, small folk aside...lol) Rhaenys is not a murderer. She's mirroring Alicent in how she doesn't want to murder Rhaenyra. Especially with family. And to her they are still family. A decision I'm guessing she'll probably regret later. (not a book reader). Also with Otto killing Rhaenys I think it is the right choice from his perspective. In those situations killing the figurehead can make movements collapse. Sucks the motivation right out of the other side. I imagine that's what worked for King Robert after he killed all the Targaryens. Once he killed Rhaegar, opposition kind of collapses. You're right the episode is not quite the last two but I think it's better than you're making it out. Much like the original series, the "weaker" episodes still are at such a high level they're not really "weak".