House of the Dragon S1E08 Explained

[@AltShiftX]

He can keep his tongue. Get a free audiobook with an Audible trial: www.audible.com/asx

[@dflatt1783]

Your insights into the show are a must watch!! I wait all week for your synopsis(I won't watch anyone else's) . Thank you for making these!

[@WarriorGirl_113]

truth be told- I call BS that is Moon Tea! ~@HBO not you Alt Shift!!! ;-) I'm hoping we find out in S2

[@vladimirrashkovsky6274]

8:14 ok I'm sorry but 1 of these 4 is not like the other. "Dad will call me a whore for bedding Theon; a guy who treats me like a sex toy" and "my baby was yanked from my arms and decapitated by a knight because I slept with the king(who I legally can't deny the right to sleep with me)" are not in the same boat.

[@DifferentKindofGlam]

Daddy Daemon

[@IZ-aya]

When the king mentioned Aegon being king and uniting nations he meant no one else other than Jon Snow Aegon was his real name and he did unite the nations if it wasn’t for him the night king would have won

[@lemonboi28]

Paddy really hit it out of the park with his performance this episode, the way he portrayed someone whose body was literally falling apart was haunting, his entrance into the hall was just epic and his final meal with his family was both wholesome and tragic considering what’s about to happen.

[@MetalGamer666]

Emmy winning performance.

[@hokogan]

I love how Viserys’ physical appearance is representative of the situation at hand. Dude just wants everyone to get along, but the rot is out of control.

[@scoreboredgaming]

fan theory, Viserys got sick from the crabfeeder's hammer that Daemond gave him.

[@everburn]

@@scoreboredgaming He was already getting sick from before that.

[@scoreboredgaming]

@@everburn Right, the fingers. Forgot about that

[@Melissa-tw2gp]

The way Paddy smiles as he watches his family... heart-wrenching.

[@alastorcorvus]

A smile of both relief and extreme physical pain, Paddy was amazing in the role.

[@TiaguinhoMu]

"you are no son of mine" what about that rumor that a targeryan "raped" tywyn's wife and he is actualy a targeryan and not son of tywyn

[@blakepopsofshi1646]

Are you gonna spam that same comment on every conversation? 🤡

[@Osoch]

And the music…it got me crying

[@karn1003]

Women's 😂

[@josephharrison3565]

Pfffft "He wins the staring contest because he has twice as many eyes" is one of the best lines in these videos so far

[@velvettegreene4858]

Delivered so dryly too! I'm still laughing!

[@isabellemani6453]

I laughed so hard

[@jimpark8316]

agreed. fucking savage

[@bapalee]

i need to CtrL+F to search EYES and here i am. hahaha!!!!!!

[@bobert6259]

I lost it 😂

[@c.w.simpsonproductions1230]

I don’t think Paddy could get any higher praise than George flat out saying Paddy’s portrayal is so much better than the book version he wants to rewrite the book.

[@cameronacaves]

I kind of sucks that every leader in ASOIAF that is like, a measured, good person who tries to make everybody happy comes to a bitter and tragic end

[@azorious950]

​@@cameronacaveswell, that's the reality of being a leader. When conflict starts boiling, good intents are not enough. You need to take action, undermining someone in the process. Viserys was a good person, but the message of ASoIaF is that good people rarely can be good rulers.

[@williamchamberlain2263]

​@@azorious950_and_ that it takes a lot more regular and consistent effort than a very occasional dinner to get people to open communication and bond

[@williamchamberlain2263]

Maybe GRRM just wants another project to help put of publishing WoW

[@liszt646]

​@@williamchamberlain2263damn GRRM will never finish World of Warcraft 😢

[@Dzan500]

Viserys' entrance into the throne room has been one of the higlights of this season for me, congrats to Paddy Considine for a perfect portrayal.

[@SpiralSine6]

Viserys dragging his half-dead body across the hall to sit on the throne that’s caused him so much physical and emotional pain to protect his daughter one last time is one of the highlights of this entire franchise. GRRM has said that Paddy’s Viserys was better than the one he wrote, it’s never more apparent than this episode.

[@nomeutente4890]

You know, when there's just one single scene that makes you go "oh shit" and absolutely fall in love with a character? That's what I felt righ there, I stood up like a fool for all that sequence too lol He was in verge of dying, sick as hell, but his daughter beg for his help and that gave him the strenght for one last roar in defense of her and her children. Man, I'm gonna miss Viserys watching the show now :(

[@naswiipp]

Highly overrated

[@Ronnet]

Yes, he did a fantastic job. You'd almost wish he could stick around. But he can't since he's the ned stark of this show.

[@jordanarriola8649]

@@ChumpionTV I agree with all that except one thing lol he’s not even an old man. Which makes it more tragic. He’s just a middle aged guy with deteriorating leprosy 😢

[@Elitrian]

Couple of insights that you missed - it was also the first time that Viserys sat on the Iron Throne and didn't get a cut, as if it is the first time he is not being manipulated by others. There's also the element that the rotting side of his face faces the Hightower side of the table.

[@thalmoragent9344]

Why would the rotting side be the Hightowers though, they've been upkeeping the Kingdom while Viserys is unwell, and Rhaenyra just... isn't there. Plus, we also gotta make note that his missing arm is towards Rhaenyra and the Black's, so I suppose it depends on how it's all viewed

[@thewhitemonkey64]

Because their plot is to willingly instal an ill-fit rapist onto the throne. Argon the Elder is everything and more that Otto claims to fear from Daemon, and they would have moved forward with their plot even without Alicent’s misinterpretation of the king’s dying whispers.

[@phuong54nguyenthanh65]

Now thats is where this will even get more interesting. Viserys’ rotten side facing the Hightower royal line implying that they are “Corruptions and disease veiled by a golden mask”. While the wounded fingers is of his left hand, siding toward Rhaenyra’s family, which is basically foreshadowing that eventhough how true and righteous heir to the king she was, their destruction and consequences they will make/ had made on the path of claiming the throne shall soon be their own demise and they will be rejected by the throne

[@notyourdaddude1957]

I mean Hightowers were power hungry, but they kept the kingdom stable and took care of Viserys.

[@fermi1]

The kingdom would've been fine without them. Their stuff causes Rhaenyra to leave

[@senpeeyt6153]

can't believe the scene where Daemon picks up Viserys' crown and helps him to the throne was improvised, just goes to show how great the casting was

[@bazonga9085]

Lol yeah sure the whole crew just blocked out the entire shot live while the actor was improving. How the fuck does the average person think this shit works?

[@akcr2889]

I didn't know that was improvised, the actors were a perfect pick fir these roles

[@bobbybigpotatoes7360]

just the crown was improvised

[@senpeeyt6153]

@@bobbybigpotatoes7360 in a BTS, the crown fell on accident and Matt Smith went to pick it up and helped Paddy the rest of the way which wasn't in the original script. Instead, daemon was meant to give a heart warming speech during the dinner scene, but that was scrapped and they went with him helping Viserys :)

[@h-ideas7217]

@@senpeeyt6153 more in character than the characters were written.

[@Death_Korps_Officer]

When even the writer himself said "your version is better", that's when you know you blasted everyone's minds with your performance.

[@pjishomo]

There's very few media that is better than the books they are based on. Fight club is a movie of which the writer said that it was better than his book. Godfather and Apocalypse now are also better than their source material.

[@maazahmedpoke]

When did this happen?

[@Death_Korps_Officer]

@@maazahmedpoke In a interview they did to Martin, he said the show's Viserys was better than the book's version

[@smartlearning6390]

timestamp plz

[@TOTALLYsup]

@@smartlearning6390 Watch the video. It's pretty hard to miss.

[@EmpathyWillLeadUsForward]

The announcer, the music, Paddy himself and the deliberate slow walk towards the throne made him really feel like a king. What a great scene

[@ATN2024]

I don't know about deliberately slow, I think that was Viserys at full pelt, lol

[@SoulDevoured]

@@ATN2024 deliberate on the part of the actor and directors. They could have chosen to cut away from that long slow painful walk and it was genius to do the long take.

[@ATN2024]

@@SoulDevoured oh yeah, agreed on that

[@GeronimoPlaz]

That was one of the best scenes in recent TV history. The whole episode was pristine.

[@360.Tapestry]

i held my breath. i couldn't breathe

[@MuteMusicalMorgan]

I just realized the parallel between Viserys's iconic walk to the throne and Rhanaera's laborious walk after giving birth to Joffrey. They make you watch every second of struggle in each scene. Yet the motivation for each is justified and noble.

[@SongbirdAlom]

whoa good point

[@buzz1ebee]

Both caused by Allicent too.

[@TiaguinhoMu]

"you are no son of mine" what about that rumor that a targeryan "raped" tywyn's wife and he is actualy a targeryan and not son of tywyn

[@Skwadley]

Viserys looking around the table at his family all smiling, having fun, putting their differences aside was such a sweet moment. Then it wasn’t

[@monsieurlaguillotine3481]

Just stop watching at about 55 minutes and you can pretend Viserys dies happy, Alicent and Rhaenrya make up. Rhaenrya becomes Queen. Aemond gets to know his cool uncle.

[@KingCanute777]

sad if you think about it, he dies thinking they will just be a happyfamily but look what happens

[@karlg1535]

@@monsieurlaguillotine3481 imagine what aemond could be after learning dragon tactics & fighting from daemon. Eventually probably get dark sister and become a legend

[@neuralmute]

@@karlg1535 To be fair, he *does* become a legend...

[@FrostyFTL]

He’s not happy, he’s actually heart broken because he knows whats happening around him is a facade and that as soon as he dies, the entire Kingdom goes to war

[@instalation9]

"When Daemon killed Vaemond, Aemond seemed inspired" is pure poetry in your voice.

[@jonasdauerbrenner6432]

@wnnalis cioov this scene was actually one of the best in my opinion. the king didn't want help from anyone, but accepts his brothers help and they somewhat reconsile. amazing scene

[@wisdoomoperational9965]

this show has got some strong strong scenes such as this one, carried by the way by the man playing Viserys.. but it also has some silly lame scenes with talentless actors in it.. its a hard one

[@jonasdauerbrenner6432]

@@wisdoomoperational9965 agree, viserys was played amazing

[@spiderwebb222]

Wonder how many times he had to retake that line :D

[@hinasakukimi]

@@wisdoomoperational9965 who's talentless?

[@TheHonoredMadman]

Daemon not being able to look at viserys directly reminded me of visiting my dad when he was in a coma. Matt smith conveys emotion really good without even talking

[@sflkenpachi290]

I'm sorry mate. I hope things are going better 🙏

[@stelmaria-mx]

And when he first sees Viserys, you can tell Daemon is choking his words as he speaks to him. Its just a brilliant performance the whole episode.

[@h-ideas7217]

Lord be you and your family hopefully we're in better days. It reminded me of my nana and its just crazy. Matt Smith has always been a good actor too, The Doctor delivered.

[@merrittanimation7721]

I visited my grandma a couple weeks ago and Daemon helping Viserys reminded me of trying to help her move around when she tried moving more than she was actually capable of.

[@TheHonoredMadman]

Just to clarify its been 6 years since that happened but I appreciate it. I just really understood that scene. It was imo really well done

[@Fismajster101]

During the last dinner, I like the theory that when everybody seemed happy and smiling, it was only Viserys who saw it like that. It was in his head only. The way the scenes are cut... people smile, and next scene they are stoic and anxious. The distortion in the background, gives it a dreamy appearance. Interesting theory in my opinion.

[@Sofiaode18]

Don’t do this man, that makes his death even sadder.

[@TypicalBricks174]

No please don’t say that. The reason he left to go back to bed was because he felt he had fixed the broken bond between the families, and now that you’ve said that his death is even sadder.

[@user-op6kt8pg9y]

If so then why was alicent nice to rhaenrya after viserys left the room

[@katiefoley7208]

​@@user-op6kt8pg9yIt's because Rhaenyra and Alicent were the only ones who had genuine love for each other. Their kids have no empathy for the other side. I have personal experience with having a dying parent who wants so desperately to believe that things will work out. There was no pixie dust that could magically cure years of animosity.

[@lumi9028]

This episode was such a tragedy especially the dinner scene where Viserys unmasks himself and pleads with his family to set aside their grievances before it is too late, very powerful scene and very powerful episode

[@ysurfed4648]

Which is even sadder cause the moment he leaves the room the bickering and hostility immediately returns

[@bonniescott6470]

I LOVED THIS EPISODE SO SAD 🤔

[@jacob4920]

@@ysurfed4648 Yeah, his children really do not take after their father. Especially "captain eye-patch" over there, who immediately picks a fight with Rhaenyra's kids the moment Viserys is out of the room.

[@AaronGuest]

@@jacob4920 They picked the fight with him, by laughing at him, and further more they started the fight. You crazy.

[@jacob4920]

@@AaronGuest This is wrong on both counts. It's actually impressive how wrong you are.

[@joshuagodson6460]

The unscripted nature of the crown falling from Viserys's head feels as serendipitous as the Rohan flag blowing away in the wind in The Two Towers; just what the scenes needed to drive them over the edge into symbolic greatness.

[@drchuckles1203]

A wink from the universe 😉

[@user-op6kt8pg9y]

Can it really be considered symbolic if it's an accident

[@luska5522]

Yes ​@@user-op6kt8pg9y

[@habeeb5kh]

Rhaenys didn't just change her mind. She saw the King rising to defend his daughter's claim. She is very smart, she knew earlier that Rhaenyra will lose because the hightowers and everyone else is against her. I personally think Rheanys know how to better evaluate every situation. She tells Rhaenyra what would happen when she tries to get the throne and i don't think it was out of jealousy. she always confront others about their real intentions like she did with Corlys about his ambitions. In my opinion she is one of the best characters that know how politics works. The title "The Queen who never was" is just perfect. SHE IS a queen but not of the throne. Always in time for your amazing videos alt. Thanks :>

[@noblehelium3794]

Her support of Luke also ultimately accomplishes what she personally wanted - for one of her granddaughters to inherit Driftmark. It was the only viable path to achieve that desire.

[@mateafilipova8292]

The Olenna of this era!

[@sarahhhhw]

💯💯

[@neuralmute]

@@mateafilipova8292 Only more badass, because she rides a dragon.

[@Seraphina-Rose]

@@neuralmute If Olenna had been given a dragon's egg as a babe, she would absolutely have been a dragon rider! 🙌👑🙌

[@MidEastBeast99]

When Shwifty says jokes in the same demeanor he is commentating the video with, it gets me EVERY time. Daemon: 👁👁 Aemond: 👁

[@strega0]

lmao this needs more likes

[@timstauffacher8663]

👁👁👁

[@DamzelNDistress]

The way I CACKLED at this 😂😂

[@Hazeljv3]

Paddy's performance in this episode was out of this world, and it is wild to me that Daemon picking up the crown and putting it back on Viserys' head was improvised - that was one of the most impactful moments of the season!

[@arthurballs9632]

odd the camera was there to get the close up

[@highjinx6519]

@@arthurballs9632 just because it was improvised doesn’t mean they didn’t reshoot it. Just wasn’t originally in the script.

[@anndruh]

@@arthurballs9632 improvised in rehearsal but go off

[@TiaguinhoMu]

"you are no son of mine" what about that rumor that a targeryan "raped" tywyn's wife and he is actualy a targeryan and not son of tywyn

[@Baelor-Breakspear]

@@arthurballs9632 Matt Smith improvised it in rehearsal and they did it for real with the cameras. Matt Smith just thought of it on the fly.

[@stephenconroy5908]

Paddy's Viserys was a gift to us, and he certainly feels it is a gift to him based on pretty much unanimous audience approval. Which is just bloody lovely, so many actors I'm sure yearn for "that" role that is their finest hour, setting the bar for themselves and for others, and it's great to see an actor fulfil that quest.

[@tonichan89]

"George is tempted to rewrite all his books--" NO GEORGE-- 🤣

[@itsby199]

Readers: "Please don't.."

[@todgerino3475]

GRRM will do anything and everything that isn't finish the god damn winds of winter REEEEEEE

[@Freakincident]

@@todgerino3475 I can’t even blame him tbh after the show utterly butchered his vision it must be hard to get it back on track. I’d also want to work on anything else XD

[@thegrayyernaut]

@@Freakincident The ultimate form of procrastination for a writer: Working on so many things EXCEPT for the thing that is supposed to be finished xD

[@jehovahs_thiccness.]

I think George meant his son, George Velaryon Martin II, Son to George Raniel Radcliffe Martin and his wife Sharyn Velaryon the V

[@whyareyoureadingmynickname8158]

This got me thinking: dinner scene in a lot of ways represents the perfect timeline: Viserys is happy on throne, Rhaenyra and Alicent are still friends, Daemon has settled down and became a family man, Jace and Helaena get to be together and Aegon is free to do whatever he wants. But then, there's Aemond, the one character who doesn't fit into this "perfect" world, the only one who is damaged beyond repair (notice how he's the only one not seen on camera during king's "happy moment") and therefore he's the one who causes all the subsequent chaos. Luke laughing at him just serves as a reminder that, even during good times, he is the laughing stock of the family and the outcast. It's genuinely heart-breaking and it's no surprise that he turned out the way he is. Or maybe I'm just reading way too deep into this.

[@pankreas2195]

The Second Son™

[@Fanga1337]

Nope, makes a shit ton of sense to me. This is the dopest analysis I've read on the show tbh.

[@FlyingFox1994]

'Every lie we tell incurs a debt to the truth, sooner or later that debt is paid', the hatred Aemond feels as the outcast is the culmination of this struggle for supremacy between the families. Viserys and the rest could ignore it but it is still there, waiting just out of sight of the cameras. A very well done visual metaphor. They can act nice all they like and even feel positively towards each other but too much has happened, they are all past the point of no return now.

[@islabee94]

I agree with your analysis but it does paint Aemond in a veery favourable light.

[@FlyingFox1994]

@@islabee94 I pity Aemond, he had a raw deal from all sides. Born into a familial conflict, neglected by his mother and father, bullied by his relatives and elder brother. Also, it was drummed into his head from infancy that Aegon is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, Rhaenyra's kids are bastards, and that Rhaenyra is a usurper bent on killing him and his entire family. No dragon claimed him and when he decided he was going to prove them all wrong and mounted the greatest living dragon, he was attacked and half-blinded for it. Then when brought before the king for justice, his own father ignored his grievances and injuries and let the Strong boys who maimed him off scot free. This is despite the fact Rhaenyra's bastards started that fight and they were the first to draw steel on an unarmed kid. His own mother was more interested in getting even with his sister, using him as a pawn in the process. Furthermore, everyone seemed to blame him for repeating what they all knew to be the truth. Rhaenyra even demanded he be tortured as punishment for calling the Strong boys bastards, which was downright evil. Aemond himself said the eye was a fair trade, but I think that was just a brave face. He was incredibly hurt and betrayed by what happened and that pain turned to hate. Justice was denied to him so he resolved to avenge himself with Vhagar. Knowing all this, is it really surprising he turned out as he did? Or he acted as he did towards Rhaenyra and her sons? He had seethed in hatred and anger for years by the time the Dance broke out and he wasn't going to lose the opportunity for revenge. That being said, I wouldn't say I am pro-Aemond or view him favorably. A shitty childhood is no excuse the monstrous actions he committed in his adult life. But I do understand and recognize why he turned out the way he did, and I acknowledge it wasn't his fault for the most part. Thats the more understated tragedy of the Dance, the fact that Alicent and Rhaenyra used their children as weapons, poisoning them against each other. HOTD showed that brilliantly in this episode, even when Rhae and Alicent are getting on, their children continue the fighting. If Rhae and Alicent (the two main drivers of the Dance) weren't there, these poor kids would still go to war against each other. HOTD shows the complex early lives of these characters in a way Fire and Blood never did, largely because Fire and Blood was written as a history book decades after the fact by people who had never met the individuals in question. As a result, most of the characters are shown to be rather one-dimensional. Aemond, for instance, is presented as a bloodthirsty psycho almost from birth, probably because the author was writing with the benefit of hindsight, remembering the later crimes of Aemond the Kinslayer. However, HOTD shows a vulnerable kid who is abused, manipulated and warped into slowly become a monster, he wasn't born that way. It's one of the things I like most about the show, it's the natural progression into murder and madness we never got with Dany

[@BHuang92]

Also to note that Otto's suggestion to raise a new tax on wool is a hint of the start of resentment between King's Landing and the North since wool is a major export from the North.

[@jonasschich5979]

it could also be seen as a preparation for the looming civil war ahead, as war requires a filled war chest.

[@eacaraxe]

@@jonasschich5979 Or it could just be for shear profit.

[@connorbutler5900]

@@eacaraxe nice.

[@spearshake4771]

You guys know what they say: "All's wool that ends wool"

[@merrittanimation7721]

“Why have the Starks gone over to Rhaenyra?” “Lord Cregan said something about the wool tax being too high.” “…And sounded so good at the time”

[@Siptom369]

The way Daemon puts the crown back on Viserys head was such a touching moment. And to find out this was unscripted seems crazy to me

[@hamzamahmood9565]

Reading the books I never thought Viserys Targaryen would become my favorite king in the entire GOT universe. Paddy Considine and writer Ryan Condal gave us an amazing gift of a character. Rest in Peace, Viserys.

[@lisamarieschnee]

The writers really outdid themselves with viserys character

[@hamzamahmood9565]

@@lisamarieschnee Yep. Feels strange to see good writing

[@RandomUserX99]

@@hamzamahmood9565 HBO's repentance

[@Tonius126]

Viserys is a fool. He's the same category as Maegor, Rhaenyra, Aegon the unworthy, Aeris the mad king. All of them disrespected the traditional, culture and norm of the realm and the house became weaker for it. Even Aegon I and Jaehaeries had to compromise and were respectful, a lesson that Viserys choose to ignore.

[@shlomoshlomo963]

@@Tonius126 you should compare him to ned stark rather than the mad king, he as well as ned stark were too honorable and trustworthy (you can call them weak for their time if you will) which led to (almost) the destruction of their houses . It just goes to show you being a good person isn't good at the GOT world and that someone like Tywin is a much better leader even though he would kill children with his bear hands if he feels like it

[@JaneDoe_123]

I find it really funny how, as the time marches on, there's so many actor changes and/or changes in the makeup. And meanwhile, the actors for Daemon, Cole and Rhaenys are just there like "why mess with perfection?"

[@Mr.Despair.]

The whole time I'm like, I guess they're ageless?? like 20+ years passed throughout so far and none of the one's you've mentioned aged a day lol Felt pretty lazy to me, at least add some makeup and/or prosthetics to age them a bit sheesh

[@dontworryaboutit5490]

@@Mr.Despair. it doesn’t bother me much, and it highlights how much the king has withered away since the start

[@hinasakukimi]

@@Mr.Despair. sometimes people don't age that much. my aunt is in her 50s and she still looks as if she's in her early 30s, it happens

[@tcritt]

@@hinasakukimi You would, wouldn't you?

[@hinasakukimi]

@@tcritt no i'm not a character from westeros

[@chocolateorange]

"wins the staring contest because he has twice as many eyes" never stop doing what youre doing lmao, incredible line

[@w.a.s5819]

What funny about this

[@arthurballs9632]

Alt Shift X has only one eye so he has insight

[@Izmael1310]

@@arthurballs9632 Alt SHift X is three-eyed raven so he would win the staring contest no problem.

[@metaloper]

I absolutely loved the reaction of Halaena when Daemon cuts Vaemond head. She covers her ears, which may seem weird at first but it gives a feel of a genuine reaction when witnessing something terrible and unexpected. It's like she wants to isolate herself from the external world in that brief moment.

[@DarkMuj]

It’s also implied that Halaena is heavily neurodivergent

[@fredwin]

It's possible, I didn't get that read from the scene though. Considering what's been going on with her, I'm fairly confident she is hearing something no one else is privy to.

[@MyUserTubeAccount]

​@@DarkMuj stay off of tiktok pal

[@RandomUserX99]

feels like she's probably on the spectrum.

[@ewrvwergwergwergwerg]

@@MyUserTubeAccount As a guy who is officially diagnosed as high functioning autistic+ADHD and keeps up with the actual academia on the topic, I highly suggest that you don't let dumb TikTok teens shape your opinion on this. Autistics (most of whom are high functioning, not the legit disabled stereotype you might be inagining) are about as common as redheads and VERY easy to spot if you know what to look out for or are autistic yourself. Yes, some autistic kids do like to overdiagnose fictional characters, but this isn't a case of that in my opinion. We'd need to see more of her to know if it's intentional, but if an irl child acted like her literally anyone who's up-to-date on autism science would be tremendously sus. Annoying TikTokers kids often don't know what they're talking about, but that doesn't mean you do either.

[@honkusdonkus5251]

The achievement of making a dying old man walking, one of the most epic and talked about parts of this season is so goddamn impressive. The creators should be proud of this adaptation

[@buzz1ebee]

It's really nice to see this universe in the hands of people who care. It's got me back into the world of asoiaf. I went in with very low expectations but have been very pleasantly surprised.

[@tenkenroo]

Exactly. I love that the writers actually lead into the symbolism and themes that are present in the book and are actually trying to convey what the story is actually about. One of my biggest pet peeves of the later seasons of GOT was the showrunners seemed to have contempt for the themes in ASOIAF because it made the story “predictable “

[@TrueYellowDart]

@@tenkenroo Themes? I thought those were for eighth grade book reports. 🤪

[@TiaguinhoMu]

"you are no son of mine" what about that rumor that a targeryan "raped" tywyn's wife and he is actualy a targeryan and not son of tywyn

[@hinasakukimi]

@@TiaguinhoMu why have you copy and pasted this in several threads

[@baldbeardedbassist]

When he called Rhaenyra "my only child" in one of his last coherent moments with her 😭💔 Perfectly encapsulates what he said about Viserys spiritually dying the day Aemma actually died

[@aintnoslice3422]

23:00 That looks like a genuine moment from the actors, Rhys's comedy and Olivia's laugh, that they decided to keep in.

[@Elementroar]

I have a feeling a lot of the dinner scene was actually candid shots of the actors being themselves. Even the bit with Daemon passing Rhaenyra the peas felt more like Emma and Matt having an inside joke about peas with the way she started cracking up.

[@BrainyBrunetteBarbie]

@@Elementroar Rhys’s “golf clap” killed me

[@jaredcustino6932]

Honestly, Otto’s “Good :)” remark after Helena’s speech somehow was the most wholesome thing I’ve seen in this show and I’m sad no one really talks about it 😢

[@theprimaryread8081]

Something that I love about Viserys’ big Thanksgiving feast plea is how it’s one of the few times in the history of the Game of Thrones franchise that we really see somebody drop the mask (literally and metaphorically) and acknowledge how farcical and manufactured the whole monarchical system of honor, duty and obedience to the crown is. In contrast to the previous episode where he evokes his king status to demand everyone play nice (which is completely ineffectual), in this episode he puts his title aside and begs them to stop the infighting. Not as a king, but as a sad, decaying old man who loves his family. It reminds me of one of my favorite scenes in all of GOT, during the Battle of the Blackwater. The Hound essentially rebukes all of his duties (“Fuck the city, fuck the king”, etc.) and Tyrion follows it up by delivering a speech wherein he appeals to the raw pathos of the soldiers. He asks them to drop the pretenses that they do any of this out of service and duty to the king or his kingdoms and to instead fight for something real. Fight for YOUR city, fight for YOUR property, fight for YOUR families. In dire moments, the mechanisms of politics and social conditioning go out the window. No matter your status, your title, your position, there are times when you can pull back the curtain and see things plainly. It’s kind of rare in a series that usually obsesses so much about the political implications of every glance and syllable.

[@JoshuaBarnes2298]

This comment is so interesting. Thank you for this brilliant take

[@ghistus]

@24:34 "when Daemon killed Vaemond, Aemond looked inspired" ahhh Godwyn, Godfrey, and Godrick. I see now

[@jsb1585]

"The beast beneath the boards". I've just realised what that line refers to. Book readers (and those who have listened to the blu-ray extra on Dance of the Dragons) will understand its significance. It is ominously dark that Helaena herself makes that prediction when it directly involves her. Excellent use of subtlety.

[@zsabellanatadiwirya8954]

What is it?

[@johnmandel7123]

@@zsabellanatadiwirya8954 It is a pivotal moment in the story, I wouldn't spoil for myself if I were you. But if you really want to know, look up "Blood and Cheese."

[@dirtypure2023]

Spill the tea!

[@osamazafar6264]

@@dirtypure2023 some children may or may not die

[@hide904]

​@@dirtypure2023 Do not continue reading if you don´t want to see the spoiler, but . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . As revenge for Aemond having killed Rhaenyra´s son and his dragon, Daemon wrote Rhaenyra promising, "A son for a son" and sent two acquaintances of his, known to history as ¨Blood and Cheese¨ to sneak into the Red Keep where Helaena used to frequent with her baby Maelor and older twin children, Jaeherys and Jaehera. Thus, Blood and Cheese accosted Helaena in the chambers, telling her to pick a child for them to kill. Helaena offered herself but they refused, and Cheese told Helaena to hurry up and deicide lest Blood grew impatient and raped her daughter Jehaera in front of her and her children then killed all of them. Hesitantly, she offered up her baby Maelor as he was too young to understand what was happening. Instead, they beheaded Jaeherys and absconded. I think this is what really pushed Helaena to the point of suicide since she could no longer face her children nor even ride Dreamfyre and just spiralled into her doldrums. The Dance of Dragons is such a heart-breaking chain of events.

[@siimtokke3461]

"Daemon wins the staring competition because he has twice as many eyes". That joke cuts better than any valyrian steel. All jokes aside, Alicent complains that Rhaenyra has secrets, but then she spends all of her free time covering up after Aegon. This show is truly well written.

[@gloriaklint]

That too now under a cloak of religious woman.

[@theelectricprince8231]

Rhaneyra has no secrets, we all know her children are.........................BASTARDS! Vaemond saw to that

[@xLachmonsterx]

Which is part of why Alicent resents Aegon so much. He consistently fails to play Alicent's game of maintaining the 'cloak of righteousness', and forces her to clean up messes which she would never have made herself. Totally agree, great writing

[@QuinnTheGM]

The Targaryens should just name everybody Aegon at this point. Steer into the skid. Not confusing in the slightest. The Omni-Aegon. Great recap as always!

[@balkarjun]

House of the Poly-gon!

[@merrittanimation7721]

House Aegon

[@gathenhielm9977]

Aegon: "You see, we call everything Aegon." Kyle: "Doesn't that get confusing?" Aegon: "No, not at all. Hey, Aegon!" Aegon: "Yes, Aegon?" Aegon: "You see?"

[@justinkroboth360]

Not a patch on the Omni-Walder, though.

[@jazzycat8917]

The Three Heads of the Dragon are all Aegon

[@SongbirdAlom]

I just want you to know that it's a tradition in my house to watch these recap videos, then last week's ep, then the new episode, every week. I'm very familiar with the books + the characters, but my family gets VERY confused with all the people and names, so these videos help them a LOT. There's no annoying video essay "schtick" where it takes 5 minutes of in-jokes to get to the content: just clear, concise, helpful information. Thank you so much for all the work you put into these.

[@Janny_Gurrrl]

So say we all!😊

[@lyreparadox]

+

[@Fanga1337]

And how about the banner and 'words' to your house M'lady?

[@JimmyThree-Balls]

@@Fanga1337 Hard F

[@RueTheWiki]

'Daemon wins the staring contest because he has twice as many eyes' - Your delivery broke me

[@lozmatik1424]

His jokes always catch me off guard because his cadence and narration are always so stoic and scholarly 💀

[@feedstacker]

Everyone is rightfully talking about how good Paddy's performance is this episode but gotta give Matt a lot of credit as well, the way he looks so bothered by Viserys' condition was so well acted, as well as him deciding to help him climb to the throne

[@gameinspection4999]

That dinner scene had me crying. Viserys wasn't the best king but a good man.

[@NiallSkye]

Same, I teared up while watching too. He looked so happy, and so sad, at the same time.

[@zankfrappa93]

bit of a tear jerker alright. i love the bit where it transitions from him smiling at his grandchildren dancing to him with his head down in pain after they pass in front of the camera. genius bit of editing there

[@flensoest]

get a grip

[@chancellorasher9417]

A good man who made mistakes and snakes around him used it to compromised him.

[@user-yp7ke4et7o]

I feel bad for him too but he shouldn’t have spoiled daemon so much.

[@ziva9266]

So sad we won’t see Paddy anymore on the show. He really left his mark on the series 👏🏻

[@maniacalmatt917]

Paddy Considine deserves an Emmy for this episode alone

[@ToxicBanana]

I feel like it's important to remember that Fire and Blood is written like a history book. So the events that happen in the show won't match up perfectly with what we've read since it's mostly second hand accounts of those events. If someone wished to make Rhaenerya look worse they would have added in details such as her ordering Vaemon's death and feeding his corpse to the dragons.

[@everflores9484]

"Daemon wins the staring contest because he has twice as many eyes" Just astounding analysis.

[@Marb315]

everyone was worried about GRRM getting sidetracked from Winds for a new book, we never expected him to get sidetracked by wanting to write a book that's already out a second time

[@yugandharjanardhan6466]

This is as anticipated as the actual episode. Keep up the good work!!

[@larissabechtle5690]

Absolutely true!

[@joxidearmageddonator882]

agree

[@everburn]

Yup

[@NeedsContent]

I have to wonder if Dyanna's moon tea was poisoned. Could Alicent be that cruel/ambitious? Would it serve any purpose at all to poison the servant girl? If it's not poison, I do find it deeply ironic that Alicent looked down on Rhaenyra for drinking the moon tea, and now Alicent is resorting to the same tactics to cover her own shame.

[@Schneikees]

I had a flashback to when the suspicion of relations was seemingly determined by offering moon team. For Alicent - giving Diana the moon tea and watching her was confirming that she was raped. That's how I interpreted it.

[@ThePOPDIVA24]

I think it’s heavily implied that Dyanna’s tea is given as an abortion for any potential fetus that might’ve resulted from the rape. Paying Dyanna off to stay silent and giving her the tea was done to protect Aegon’s reputation. If the tea were poisoned, there would be no use in giving her a bag of money “for her troubles.” Alicent had previously learned about a similar tea given to Rhaenyra for the same reason, which was to abort a potential fetus, to cover all bases just in case she was lying about not sleeping with anyone before her marriage to laenor.

[@FishDinners]

I am convinced of it. Her ominous "just to be sure" when she gives it after confirming Dyana will keep it a secret, her expression changing as she drinks it, and her crying when asked about her all but confirms it

[@kaceydillin7367]

Alt X Shift uploads, always worth the wait! Such quality. Thank you! ❤️

[@TheRealBatCave]

I kno the other channels getvthe episodes early then have the review already up 60 seconds after the credits start, 2 get those clicks even if the reviews r sub par or written for them.

[@mehill00]

@@TheRealBatCave Do you have evidence that the reviews are “written for them”?

[@TheRealBatCave]

@@mehill00 lol yes actually. They say it themselves. These are Million sub channels, they say the reviews r written by thier teams. Go watch a Heavy spoilers vid every once in a while, its not some secret

[@JoshuaHenelyThornhill]

Despite his obvious failures as a king, I can’t help but feel so sorry for this good man. He always protected his brother and daughter but by doing so failed the realm too heavily. And at the end, he went out as a fool confusing Alicent for Rhaenyra and thing of Aemma once again. Also, I can’t wait for Aemond craziness to explode next episode and Daemon is also about to go off.

[@ro4eva]

I don't know if Viserys deserves to be labelled a fool for his last moments alive. His confusion is something that is not all that uncommon if you're very ill and on your deathbed. Plus he was stoned out of his mind on opium.

[@maestrus2121]

I’ve watched the throne room scene three times now and every time it’s chilling. What a performance.

[@DarkMuj]

He can keep his tongue

[@MegaKnight2012]

The Jacy and Helaena dance is so bittersweet. Helaena is a mom by this point but she still exhibits such childlike traits, enjoying such simple delights, which Jacy goes along with and even encourages. A happy marriage could be quite likely between them, which could also help them rule, like Jaehaerys and Alyssane, Jacy a strong warrior with people skills and Helaena a dreamer who could help guide him (maybe if they executed Aegon for his crimes and married Helaena to Jacy). But Otto's machinations and Alicent's prejudices stick Helaena in a bad situation. Ironic, Alicent always complained about Rhaenerya's living without the consequences of her actions and then raised a son who does worse, living free of those actions' consequences, Alicent even enabling him.

[@richard7379]

Saw this even before the notification arrived 😂 probably my favorite episode so far. Paddy deserves an Emmy as Viserys for this episode alone!

[@naomi.cannibal]

If Alicent finds Rhaenyra and Daemon being married to be a sin and evidence her ability to rule, she’d think the same about her kids who are siblings being married. Who knows if she now thinks it’s morally right (probably not- it’s just a power move) she’s at least have to be aware how hypocritical this would appear to condemn Rhaenyra for it because it would likewise call aegons claim to question

[@LoneWhiteMage]

I like the little House Celtigar thrown in along with the last Valyrian houses. Nice touch.

[@thedevilluis]

Viserys will be missed. What a character and incredible acting by the actor

[@shawnrostker4991]

Truly the most well constructed and insightful videos into Westerosi lore that the internet has to offer! Thank you Alt Shift X for all the years of terrific content! Cheers!

[@partytimezombies]

Def TY A.S.X.!

[@MisakiZora]

24:34 “When Daemon killed Vaemond, Aemond looked inspired” sounds more like a tongue twister than an actual sentence 😂

[@Longshanks1690]

Book readers: Say the line, Aemond! Aemond: These three Strong boys. Everyone: *YAAAYYYYYYY!*

[@mfamily5986]

This 🤣. The Aemond actor is so perfect in his role 👌

[@hereiam8]

who's everyone? pirate boy just shitting his pants when looked at Daemon

[@reboot3332]

Paddy Considine deserves an (meaningless in this day age unfortunately) Emmy for his performance. I never thought that someone walking slowly for five minutes could be so insanely powerful. One of the best scenes in the whole SOIAF series'.

[@Huey_Knowsbest]

Thank R'hllor! I feared that I have to watch the new episode unprepared. Mad props that you are able to upload those in under a week!

[@Rhade15]

The immense quality of these breakdowns is unique and deserves more attention

[@hhh1200]

RIP King Viserys I of His Name! Despite all of the mistakes, always with good intensions, he will be sorely missed.

[@oompaloompa6064]

“He wins the staring contest because he has twice as many eyes” Lmao this line had me giggling

[@sidcada6071]

Nice too see little House Celtigar represented as surviving the doom of valyria along the two others.

[@jazzycat8917]

Maybe "The North Remembers" actually refers to them remembering House Celtigar exists because apparently no one else does

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

Yeah- there's a little more Valyrian blood kicking around in Westeros than people like to think; the Targs & Velaryons are obviously the big two- but the Celtigars went with them, so they too survived the Doom- & House Baratheon was founded by Aegon's half-brother- as well as having multiple Targ marriages over the generations. Then there was the ill-fated Qorgyles, who barely survived Aegon I's reign before they died out- the second victims of the 'Curse of Harrenhal'....

[@jamie_d0g978]

The Bar Eamon aren't Targs too?

[@myujmes]

I would like to compliment ASX on his efficiency, it can't be easy to develop, write, and edit these videos in the time frame of a week, and yet he never fails to deliver!

[@filmblooms]

"it looks like aemond and daemon would love to fight or makeout or.. something" had me CACKLING

[@filmblooms]

also how did i just realise that they're the exact same names just with the d switched around... hang on a tick

[@The-Doctor6969]

@@filmblooms the... D

[@merrittanimation7721]

Not the first time he kissed his brother’s child, why stop with one?

[@BradsDad]

I truly love the visual effect of the family dinner scene. The golden mask on Viserys facing the Greens, and his true face looking at Rhaenyra and her family as he smiles, show what his true desire was. He loved his daughter so much more than the rest of his second family, and truly believed that she and her line was best for the realm. The rest of his family being blocked away from his sight signifies how important they were to him, which was not at all.

[@weatherreport9227]

The last thing I ever expected this show would do, is make Viserys Targaryan my favorite character!

[@JewLobster]

When Viserys asks Rhaenys whether Lord Corlys ever changed his wish's about the succession of Driftmark, he inadvertently set the precedent of a wife having a say in succession after her husbands demise. I bet we have a scene where Otto echos Viserys' words but this time the wife in question (Alicent) says "Yeah, Viserys changed his mind". Show Viserys is the most well written "bad" king I've ever seen. Even the most noble moment in his reign still lays the seeds of the realms division.

[@BentNeatly]

Paddy's arc is one of the most enjoyable times ive had with any media, with him hands down being the best performance of a king I've seen in anything.

[@PeyotZET]

I was wondering WHY Daemon won the staring contest and I'm so pleased you clarified on that detail.

[@zyoom8796]

I always wait eagerly for your explained videos. So packed with information and the graphics and editing are very clear. Clearly a lot of effort put in and you voice is very soothing too!

[@trisramhughes9935]

26:06 So Alicent doesn't know about the prophecy, but Viserys did tell her about his vision of his son on the throne in that scene around the fire in episode 3. She's connecting the dots in this scene and wants to honor Viserys's final moments, even if she's interpreting it the wrong way.

[@DGonyt7]

You have no idea how eagerly I wait for these videos of yours.

[@atlasprime6193]

I want to point that Vaemon is actually the nephew of Corlys in the book, while in the show he’s Corlys’ brother. It’s the classical, “Too many characters in the book, so we’re gonna merge some into one person in the show/movie to save the headache and budget”.

[@merrittanimation7721]

Also Corlys’s other five nephews from another brother that come in and lose their tongues.

[@cupofcait]

RIP Vizzy T. You were a bad king but a good dude. I'm gonna miss Paddy so much!

[@26155101]

Doesn’t matter how quick other channels do a episode breakdown Alt Shift X is the only HOT D breakdown channel we need. I’ll wait all week.

[@secondeye1574]

7:39 That zoom into Otto looking to Alicent made me laugh for some reason

[@Hochspitz]

And the music, the ringing, ear piecing as the show focuses on the dagger as Viserys dies, Haelena covering her ears, the ringing of Valarien steel against a Walkers cold blade in GoT....fun stuff and the music always says it all.

[@daisytg]

Always look forward to these “explained” videos. Thanks for all the hard work you do to create them!

[@richroe9577]

everybody hit like let’s make alt happy for these vids

[@reginaphalange9417]

23:02 I also noticed that during the dinner, while Aegon doesn't care that Helaena dances with Jacquerys, Aemond does not take his eyes off them (or rather his eye) and turns his chair to watch them ; plus in the previous episode he already told Aegon that he would have been happy to marry her...I haven't read the books but i wouldn't be surprised if in the future there was also a secret relationship between Aemond and Helaena or even if he was the real father of her future children, especially given the failure of her marriage to Aegon

[@geoDB.]

Would be hard to catch. There is a future king Aegon who claims his son were fathered by his brother Aemon who could reflect Alicents line

[@alaia-awakened]

That dinner scene was one of the most touching scenes I’ve seen in a while.

[@croozerdog]

i enjoy the show but my 240p brain doesn't see all the details, these episodes are soooo helpful, also love the talks after the episodes. thanks man

[@jmchez]

Everyone noticed that Haelena covers her ears when Vaemond is executed and attribute it to the horror of the killing. However, since Viserys' valyrian dagger sings in a metallic tone when he dies, it could be that Daemon's valiryan steel sword screamed when it was used to kill Vaemond and only Haelena heard it.

[@jazzycat8917]

Maybe. Or the squelching sound was too much. Either way given that Helaena is canonically autistic (in the show at least, in the books its her daughter Jaehaera who exhibits those traits) its definitely a hypersensitivity to noise of some kind.

[@rougestarlight4308]

It reminds me that some people on the autism spectrum are bothered by loud sounds

[@Janny_Gurrrl]

Exactly what I thought. 👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@DwreckJ]

Man, I really appreciate these episodic breakdowns. Makes the waiting every week for the next episode a little easier, and you always either answer a question I had or show me something that I missed while watching initially. Thank you for your work, ASX!!

[@adrianpotka3703]

I am unable to watch even silent stillshots of this dinner scene, my eyes are filling with tears immediately. Man, what an emotional episode.

[@evandipasquale9255]

I know the strong boys are younger then the green boys, but when your the sons of a man that was known as the most badass knight of the kingdom you dont expect them to be so small and not physically imposing at all.

[@madyjules06]

Evan, that’s such a good point… you made me wonder if they were intentionally casted this way. we’ve all known plenty of people who are the same age yet some look far more mature & physically imposing than their similarly aged peers. Given what we know is coming during the “Dance” these (probably intentional) casting choices will make what occurs all the more gut wrenching

[@evandipasquale9255]

@@madyjules06 they have made it clear the strong boys aren't afraid to fight for each other even if that opponent is more skilled or better armed.

[@Sofiaode18]

Late bloomers maybe, I don’t see the Strong boys being any older than 16.

[@Sofiaode18]

Late bloomers maybe, I don’t see the Strong boys being any older than 16.

[@BryanPatiag]

Anticipated this more than any other recap. Quality material as always!

[@keirangrant1607]

I've been waiting all week for your breakdown. Did you see the face of the dragon keeper from the Ping Dread episode? He looked like he caught a blast of fire or a dragon claw slash to his face. It looked like a serious injury but he survived it. I love piety. It's another euphemism for pride, and the pious tend to be the biggest hypocrites especially when it comes to things they secretly desire.

[@djcatnyx]

Am I the only one that thinks it's wholesome how Alt Shift X actively hoped Dyana was okay? He never really says he hopes a character survives-

[@davidbarton1806]

Gay🥱

[@etkaiser]

I thought that while Alicent did feel for Dyana and her situation, the drink she had brought for her was not Plan B Tea but instead poison... Better to be sure that she can't tell anyone else about her son's misdeed. And this would have further fueled her anger at Aegon, since it seemed like this might not have been the first time she'd had to off a servant girl to cover up his awful behavior.

[@djcatnyx]

@@etkaiser This would make sense, and there is a part of me that thinks it's possible, but I'm not sure it makes sense for Alicent to poison Dyana after both paying her and saying all this stuff in front of other people. It would not only make her look bad, but it could definitely start some gossip around the castle. Also, Alicent is VERY dedicated to the faith, and murdering a child is, well, probably sinful. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but the writers said it was moon tea, not poison-

[@etkaiser]

@@djcatnyx that was one thing I thought of as well, that if servant girls kept permanently disappearing from the castle, people would talk. I didn't think much of Alicent handing her the bag of coins, though - this could have just been theater to put her at ease and suspect less what she was about to drink. If the writers did say it was moon tea, I didn't hear about that. Maybe I'm too cynical and expect the worst of most characters in the show, but Alicent is a complicated character, and I didn't think at the time that she really had that much in the way of scruples as long as nobody who could hurt her or her family knew what was really being done, and that her faith in the Seven is, while not necessarily a ruse, something that would be flexible when under pressure. (Minor spoiler for the next episode: We do see that she isn't THAT ruthless, at least, so she seems not to be as unscrupulous as I might have suspected.)

[@sjtimmer7]

I thought you'd never upload the explainer... Thank God it finally came.

[@jeffandjoannbauer9567]

I think this episode was one of the best episodes of television I’ve ever seen. It was simply magnificent.

[@EyeInTheSkypaulmcmenamin]

Brilliant timing, just sat down with a cup of coffee! Looking forward to the episode tonight 🐉

[@Silverobots]

I cant get over matt smith performance this episode. Paddy overshadows it based on screen time but the little screen time matt got deserves praise.

[@maciej3273]

Even GRRM said that Paddy's Viserys is much better than his... This man needs an Emmy ASAP. 😍

[@pro-test]

I read the book and watched all the episodes so far, but clearly missed a few subtleties that you very clearly explain. Great video! Thanks!

[@antivanti]

I know this season is mostly setup for what's to come but it still has such good drama that I wish they'd shown even more of it. Could easily have been at least an extra episode between each actual episode