House of the Dragon S2E01 live Q&A discussion

[@Malforian]

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

[@Malforian]

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

[@isaacmartinez7557]

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

[@PhattyBolger]

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

[@elderscrolls69420]

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

[@Leakampff]

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

[@rissjohnson3308]

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

[@chae660]

suuuuch a good detail

[@KariEFos]

AWESOME pick-up!!!

[@Hubabuba258]

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

[@made-line7627]

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

[@hairglowingkyle4572]

and he's dead :(

[@Monotremewisdom]

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

[@Hubabuba258]

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

[@BacklogReviewer]

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

[@_juanadecastilla]

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

[@A-Grat-A]

Oooohhh! I am not alone with this lullaby! 😄

[@redrenegade13]

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

[@eibhilinor7712]

We’re so back

[@Fnidner]

@@redrenegade13which one is that? 😂

[@majastas1802]

THIS IS SO REAL

[@TheSmithPlays]

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

[@myNiceguy271]

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

[@thecayman2258]

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

[@smithplayspokemon]

@@thecayman2258impeccable odds :)

[@TeratoidToast]

THESMITHPLAYS

[@FarewellOrwell]

Alt shift x sounds shit faced

[@44r0n-9]

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

[@leonrobinson2475]

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

[@nikolascsgo]

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

[@minticecream1249]

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

[@srwordsussecuaces6374]

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

[@helixxharpell]

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

[@ejax904]

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

[@Groulphy]

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

[@gezenews]

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

[@Sam-t7c7j]

Lol, you cried?

[@brrruhdon__718]

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

[@CaleebTalib]

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

[@rankalot]

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

[@vincentmasterbassist6784]

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

[@Jam-go8ob]

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

[@JuniperArtemis16]

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

[@duggs4456]

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

[@guwopzy]

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

[@cacogenicist]

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

[@mischr13]

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

[@NaughtyWeiss]

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

[@dannypapes8380]

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

[@Killerkwoi13]

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

[@will420high4]

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

[@dannypapes8380]

@@will420high4…and?

[@Blur041]

​@@will420high4 so ?

[@will420high4]

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

[@TheHonoredMadman]

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

[@proudsaiyanprince2651]

It was so tame and ruined Helena

[@crowsdontcry8258]

@@proudsaiyanprince2651hardly

[@TheHonoredMadman]

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

[@jada9401]

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

[@Killerkwoi13]

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

[@Rupert_Astralnauta]

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

[@mtzdude31]

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

[@signeaarejrgensen61]

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

[@thebigmanufacturer]

@@mtzdude31THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS

[@ayakid921]

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

[@Ironcorgi2]

Went from kingmaker to orgasmmaker

[@Edward-W]

He's such a hypocrite I love to hate him

[@ankejl3830]

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

[@Ironcorgi2]

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

[@Leakampff]

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

[@Viper8962]

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

[@Leakampff]

​@Viper8962 you're a sad unempathetic person.

[@popeyethe29th]

The lannister drip was amazing

[@Ingrid-mo7zt]

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

[@corvoattano44]

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

[@stevesmith4600]

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

[@aknol74]

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

[@Leakampff]

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

[@Dubious_Neon]

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

[@Starkiller2725]

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

[@kirsten_305]

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

[@kevincarter2020]

Ser Criston nailing the Princess and the Queen. Naughty

[@davedennison7386]

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

[@infinityentity]

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

[@kirsten_305]

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

[@kirsten_305]

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

[@nicholkola9975]

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

[@sebastiaanv]

Thats how I read it too

[@enotik7sky237]

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

[@melissak8419]

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

[@asorlokirunarsson9864]

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

[@TheFireStarter1215]

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

[@Zocto31]

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

[@haridaspalleeri6765]

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

[@Sam-t7c7j]

*shooed* by the way

[@AB-ee5tb]

@@Sam-t7c7jit’s actually S H O W E D

[@Sam-t7c7j]

@@AB-ee5tb nah

[@shinymk6562]

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

[@hogndog2339]

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

[@Alpuffca]

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

[@namo525]

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

[@hameed]

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

[@Starkiller2725]

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

[@ShubertReads]

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

[@CSNA_Gaming]

A Rat Terrier?

[@ShubertReads]

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

[@srb2591]

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

[@gezenews]

@@srb2591 And find a lot of different kinds.

[@gezenews]

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

[@mallaryroberts3346]

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

[@douglassb6615]

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

[@AlbinoKiwi47]

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

[@vonnyoutside]

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

[@tengu8560]

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

[@douglassb6615]

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

[@jb-ch7ug]

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

[@olorin4317]

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

[@Starkiller2725]

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

[@hillbillypowpow]

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

[@cheekloins4126]

lol

[@zhabruh4682]

That won’t age well

[@Ironcorgi2]

Winter takes awhile to come but it gets there eventually

[@Starkiller2725]

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

[@Jonoridge]

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

[@mjinba07]

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

[@itzjake5283]

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

[@bettinanielsen6336]

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

[@honestinsincerity2270]

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

[@EddardFlowers]

Hopefully they learned from their mistakes moving forward

[@ajaysworld93]

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

[@cmd7930]

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

[@WrangleMcDangle]

into your starbucks coffee cup

[@bellowl]

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

[@bellowl]

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

[@krissuyx]

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

[@muhammadasjad3071]

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

[@steveandortudge]

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

[@thelameg6]

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

[@themeangene]

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

[@TheDream6842]

Aegon was the highlight of the episode.

[@MrProjectmayhem]

100% his character development has been excellent.

[@miketrujillo3677]

The dragoncock

[@TheGuyCalledX]

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

[@sfbenji]

He carried the episode

[@rebelliousben]

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

[@zcherry]

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

[@foley15136]

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

[@ssshar2176]

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

[@117MasterSpartan]

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

[@vpmkhang]

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

[@Belisaur]

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

[@corvoattano44]

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

[@amyr3293]

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

[@natjak06]

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

[@jroygbiv]

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

[@pp-on6cs]

What I thought he was English

[@lucymariposa]

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

[@jello_cudgel9213]

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

[@victoriagill1588]

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

[@walkingdeadbarbiedoll]

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

[@ssotkow]

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

[@Nairb1007]

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

[@ooooolong1563]

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

[@michaelsalmon9832]

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

[@TheHonoredMadman]

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

[@thomaswillard6267]

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

[@michaelsalmon9832]

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

[@Isuream6331]

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

[@michaelsalmon9832]

@@Isuream6331 lmao

[@MarshallCake]

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

[@annaventuree]

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

[@honestinsincerity2270]

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

[@FlyingwithFire]

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

[@Darkstar_Dayne]

He literally becomes a guardian to a kid

[@keedxx]

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

[@DanaVMBVSDDM]

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

[@BennyOkay]

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

[@maleala2048]

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

[@gettingbeat]

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

[@TheHonoredMadman]

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

[@blueberry212121]

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

[@themannaking]

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

[@Dustupajee]

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

[@AkronRain69]

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

[@Sebshep]

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

[@amezzeray2]

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

[@Kallynthehuntress]

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

[@SuperStella1111]

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

[@brendanfoster5320]

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

[@SuperStella1111]

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

[@nikolascsgo]

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

[@thewaltzofthelizards8986]

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

[@lucymariposa]

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

[@DelusionalSquare]

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

[@arjunv10]

Thanks!

[@rahuldhargalkar]

Was Helaena sewing the same intro tapestry in that scene? That's some cool little detail

[@taytayqueen7024]

Daemon did say a son for a son. Blood confirms this in the murder scene. He says ‘ a son for a son, he said ‘

[@srwordsussecuaces6374]

Correct, it's obvious that Daemon did order them to kill him if they didn't find Aemond.

[@RussellB]

Not that I think this, but, he could have literally said "Listen, Find Aemond no matter what, A SON FOR A SON" and the two doofuses just take that to mean to kill any son

[@Tillu_Noob]

Creators have mercy on that dog

[@AugustRx]

Hehe no

[@ShubertReads]

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

[@DildoDaggins69]

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

[@katherineunson5477]

Hurting that dog was unnecessary! I was outraged

[@miketrujillo3677]

​@@DildoDaggins69go outside

[@johansmallberries9874]

Daemond invoked the ancient Valyrian law of ‘Even Stevens’

[@Epiphonelespaul56]

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

[@alisterfolson]

The "Sophie's Choice" near the end was heartbreaking. Also, Cheese kicked the dog. John Wick would not approve

[@donianamvar5274]

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

[@Nemo67577]

Thanks, Shift!❤

[@carmacksanderson3937]

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

[@Jeschica]

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

[@GarthKnight1884]

Whatever happened to that Glidus character who covered Phil Collins solo stuff and hungout with the scurrilous alt schwift x? I don't miss him but i worry about him on behalf of friends with pets

[@miketrujillo3677]

Fr wheres our gilby boy, alt said they were gonna do a abridged together

[@ak14459]

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

[@EasternStandardTim]

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

[@kat-the-ren]

It's good to have HotD and post episode Q&A with you again. I missed your livestream but one thing I thought of catching the rewatch; In the episode Helaena says "what if he doesn't want to be King" about her son. This is probably not intended but what if prophetically she knows her son would grow up not wanting to be king or perhaps that him being alive implicates him in the conflict. Maybe in the show her choosing him is kind of a mercy killing, removing him from a the conflict early and a potentially messier life and end for her son as well as allowing his wish of not wanting to be king.

[@Noura.McCaskill]

Larys literally told Alicent "yeah I put amazon echos in every single room of your house btw. you're welcome :)"

[@guve25]

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

[@design834]

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

[@vasilispapadopoulos4397]

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

[@leykimayri]

All three dragons not just Drogon

[@jazzsangg]

Will you be posting episode analysis vids for s2?

[@ShubertReads]

Yes, there will be recaps for each episode.

[@Lewsepher1]

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

[@kevinw712]

AEMON: "I feel sorry for you" DAEMON: "I don't think about you at all"

[@drainedzombie2508]

Aemond: "That's funny, considering how much effort you put into telling me." Daemon: 🤨

[@shegocrazy]

Outstanding analysis as usual ASX. Well done!

[@jasongreenfield3861]

When is the season2 E01 explained video coming?

[@ShubertReads]

Soon!

[@Rhade15]

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

[@elundgren1091]

I have been equally looking forward to season 2 and ASX’s commentary. Missed listening to these streams on the drive Monday before/after work

[@Olegbvpl]

maybe the final scene wasn't very smart because of the lack of guards in a huge castle, but aesthetically it was amazing - very cinematic, haunting, this long shot following Helaena through endless galleries and stairs

[@summeriscoming814]

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

[@jovonedube738]

“I did not expect that George would buy me a burrito one day but that is what happened” 😂😂😂

[@AntrozLPs]

I think the reason why there are no guards in the keep is that Larys killed a lot of them for being Rhaenyra's sympathizers, and they simply didn't have the time to replace them.

[@mummeii]

@@Gojeto346this

[@SuperStella1111]

@@Gojeto346 Helaena’s handmaidens are unlucky people (even in the book!). The handmaiden saw a menial person doing a menial task. It didn’t register as a threat.

[@Killerkwoi13]

multiple reasons why there are no guards: 1. Larys replaced all the staff with new people who wouldn't have recognised the real rat catchers anyway 2. Aegon and his buddies were drinking in the throne room with all of the kingsguard 3. Cole was doinking Alicent instead of patrolling, he also likely told other guards to leave the area and be with the king and his friends so he could doink Alicent without arousing suspicion

[@will420high4]

Still a guard dies in the books blood and cheese

[@yensid4294]

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

[@SuperStella1111]

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

[@melaniewilliams1351]

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

[@jeanne6961]

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

[@thenedsmmachannel8970]

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

[@Adamantium93]

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

[@Bentzi_Ganot]

I like to think that the Cheese appearances in the beginning of the episode are a reference to Mulholland Drive with the cowboy

[@xParaLyZe]

Lol bro you did not have to say ooo just the tip like that. Had me dying broski

[@design834]

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

[@stephenchambers5659]

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