My GOAT | HOUSE OF THE DRAGON REACTION - 2x5 “Regent”

[@mariogutierrez385]

House Macram: “Competence Above All”

[@DJ_Cub]

Haha Jimmy is the man and he needs to remember that your “loudest” fans are usually gonna be those with the worst takes or those that disagree with you the most. Those of us that agree with you don’t usually comment about how much we agree with you

[@JimmyMacram]

Love, brother

[@TinaMUFC10]

This.

[@NovaLena22]

Corlys deserves a bit of grace here. He just lost his wife and greatest supporter. Yes... she was a grown woman who died on her own terms. But you also have to remember that Corlys also lost the two children he and Rhaenys made. He still blames Rhaenyra for the "death" of his son (understandably so), and he probably blames Daemon for the death of his daughter (or at least for keeping her and her children from Driftmark for so long). And of course, Daemon did murder Corlys' brother. Much of Corlys' blood has been spilled at the hands of Team Black. He's going through some seriously tough grief.

[@lafields08]

Corlys is arrogant and bombastic, generally. But I agree. He’s shown a lot of character and loyalty to Rhaenyra considering that he believes she killed his son, lol. Laenor needs to come home to ride a dragon anyway, but mostly because it’ll activate Corlys. He’d get on the good foot then.

[@React2This]

The Hand and The Feet have both turned against Alicent.

[@j00jy]

It's driving me insane that no one is talking about the sacrifice that Sir Criston Cole made when he tipped the barber for that fucking hair cut. A true hero!

[@nikolaivillek8178]

“Not like Drake, but in my own way” 😂

[@RemyM89]

OMG for real! 😂😂😂

[@heysylvs]

ROFL

[@tiagocardoso2897]

Lmao those first four minutes were entertainment gold, it's stuff like this that makes you stand out from others reactors.

[@lucasdolding6924]

I don't necessarily get douchey vibes off Jace but I get where you're coming from, I think he's had some influence from Daemon as a step father and that's what they're trying to go for.

[@lalaland12]

If even Rhaena almost got killed trying to claim a dragon I can't wait to see all these other bums try to 😂

[@phoenixfox2697]

Jimmy reading the comments for filth 🤣

[@MFBloosh]

15:07 Also the same girl you brought up earlier, who Aegon R-worded in the first season. Alicent gave her the tea.

[@anthonyd.8067]

I would characterize Aemond as ruthless, but not cruel.

[@nikolaiquack8548]

Though I would say that Ruthlessness can quickly and easily turn into cruelty.

[@ulqcifer1]

Intro rant was accurate and I fully agree Aegon is a bum of the highest order. Also, “You can like rapists all you want I’m not gonna judge you. Everyone else can judge you, im not” lol good make them feel bad for defending him 😂🤣

[@deborahwirtz]

Aemond may be more “competent” than Aegon, but taking down the rat catchers was not his first move. He first ordered all of the starving people that can’t find food in the city to be locked in the city.

[@kevinjohnanand]

Yeah, Aemond is gonna flop HARD.

[@AmyL._orcgirl]

He made them a meat shield so Rhaenyra would be less likely to attack.

[@kevinjohnanand]

@@AmyL._orcgirl He’s basically stirring up a revolution. As bad as Aegon was, the people at least seemed to like him, and he seemed to care about them.

[@thefryinallofus]

Let’s get some Vermathor and Silverwing action! Team black!

[@Zseventyone]

Jimmy has NO TIME for Corlys tears. :) You're my man, JMac!

[@WitcherSigns2023]

I think the show has done a lot to humanize aegon in season 2 which I appreciate as I prefer morally grey characters. Not saying that he is morally grey, he has done awful things absolutely. He’s incompetent and he is impulsive as hell. But I do feel sympathy for him at the same time even knowing everything and I think that’s okay. I appreciate that he has layers. Why does Jamie Lannister get a pass and aegon doesn’t? Aegon has redeeming qualities - he loves his children and he has good intentions. he actually tries to help the civilians in the first episode (before his son is decapitated and his emotions get the best of him). the show has portrayed him as someone who has only wanted love/affection from anyone all of his life and has never received it (except from his dragon). He had enormous expectations placed on him since birth and was expected to play a position that he never necessarily wanted to play, and now that he has he’s lost everything. he is also the product of terrible parenting. None of this excuses the terrible things he has done but it does explain why he became who he is. maybe it is the just actor doing a fantastic job but at the end of the day I just can’t help but feel bad for him

[@Bloorane]

Rhaenys was right back in S1 when she had her chat with Alicent. Alicent is not a dumb woman by any means (doesn't mean she hasn't done dumb things) and she has ambition, but ultimately, what she seeks isn't so much power, but to build herself a gilded cage. And that is exactly what she did, by propping up men who, ultimately, do not see her as an equal. I feel bad for her, but this is definitely a hell of her own making

[@khaalmalki4039]

Lmao no she is dumb. She never actually had power of her own. She was tricked by her father to be the queen which by title alone gives her power but after she and her father pushed for Aegon who they didn't love, care for or teach him how to be king, they lost and was the dumbest move. She did nothing of value or held any power or respect among anyone. Don't get me started on Rhaenyra.

[@Ziaotic]

thing is, that's what Otto trained her to be: a bird. this is as much fault his as Alicent

[@Lady_Yunalesca]

This is true, though I also agree with the other comment that Otto is as much to blame for that. The bars of her prison were already there before she was even born. She's certainly added more of them, and I don't want to take away from how much is a consequence of her own choices. But there is definitely something inherently tragic in that too: of course she could not see a way out, could not think to do more than build herself a window. She's lived with those bars here whole life, as far as she knows they are supposed to be there. And it's only now that she's starting to see that prison for what it is.

[@RemyM89]

0:30 Me too Jimmy, me too I don't know what they see in him, 🤣 And sir...WTF is going on with Daemon? Homie is tripping for real and he's gonna take everybody with him. He might...you know....need to go 😉 Also I love your stuff, keep it coming 👍

[@Zseventyone]

Rhaenyra's "you've seen as many battles as I have" is a better line than argument. Many of these dudes would have received extensive martial schooling.

[@ToeKnife166]

This is a story based on George RR Martin, he writes morally grey characters. It doesn’t matter which character you like they are all not fit to rule. Rhaenys murdered hundreds in the dragon pit and people are crying over her death, they are literally crying over a mass murderer 🤣

[@whtsthadealio1]

Can’t be mad at Aemond for playing the Game of Thrones 😅

[@yassinemiri3555]

Yup yup I agree with the tell me in "private" part. Pun intended. I'm such a child.

[@coreym0]

Let me start out by saying that I believe Rhaenrya would make the better ruler. But for the show I'm here for Team Green. They are so entertaining haha. I get excited for every Aemond scene. Team Black has been a bit of a snooze this season. I might also be swayed by the actors though. Olivia, Tom, and Ewan are just so fun in their interviews.

[@JacobCorenthose]

Team Black has been taking L after L after L.

[@JimmyMacram]

Team Green easily the more entertaining side.

[@JacobCorenthose]

The aggressive defense of Aegon is whack. lol He's a good character, but despicable. I thought we were all in agreement on that.

[@ToeKnife166]

Rhaenys was worst, killed hundreds of innocent small folk but the show brushed over it.

[@JacobCorenthose]

@@ToeKnife166 The show didn't brush over it, it removed it. Rhaenys is a different character in the show.

[@jacobisweird280]

I am on team black but I was hoping Aegon lived because when he recovers and starts to rule again, he will be very cold and distant with amond (his greatest weapon) and with cole (his hand and someone with the reputation as the king maker)😂 call this a massive w for team black

[@Zizou19989]

10:20 I think she's far from alright and realizes that with Aemon in charge, it is a certainty that war and bloodshed will follow, he can't be controlled. Olivia Cookes acting is so good in that scene

[@mimi4811]

I think Ser Alfred might team up with Daemon against Rhanyra.

[@starralert2678]

Allicent isn't just concerned... she's jealous. She's mad she backed men that could never see past their misogyny to see her as capable.

[@nikolaiquack8548]

I don't discount that Aegon has raped women and is overall not a good person. That being said, I do think it's important to see his entire character in the context of his upbringing. He grew up with all of the power/influence of a prince and yet none of the guidance or love necessary to make a good person or even a good ruler. Viserys literally gave 0 shits about him and was pretty much an absent father, clearly preferring Rhaenyra. He put all of his eggs in that basket. Alicent at least tried to guide Aegon at some points in his youth, but also gave up way too quickly and focused more on Aemond and ruling in Viserys' stead. And I think you kind of misunderstand what Alicent's words to Aegon in the last episode meant for him. That wasn't just a "chill and listen, dude". That was a "You're worthless, you have no value." Imagine your own mother saying that to you. It's pretty much the worst thing anyone can say to another person. All of that just to say: I think Aegon is a complex character. He can absolutely be cruel, stupid and arrogant. But he has also shown moments of compassion (for the small folk), affection and even grace. He's much more than just "dumb king".

[@JimmyMacram]

I think you misunderstand her words. She quite literally tells him to absorb the wisdom of those around him. That's not "you're worthless." That's "you don't know anything right now" and he doesn't. Is she saying it as nicely as she could? No, but Jesus. The villainization of Alicent to wash Aegon, whilst her own upbringing is ignored is silly.

[@unc54]

Damn I didn't expect a rant about Aegon fans lol. I just like him a lot because he's carried a season that's otherwise felt really slow. This wasn't a bad episode by any means but it did feel pretty forgettable. Nice to see Rhaenyra finally do something for once though.

[@Zseventyone]

14:17 - I wonder if R picks this guy since she knows there's a good chance the Daemon kills whoever the messenger is in a fit of rage.

[@teodorakoslov2929]

Some of us that like Ageon, I think we must be book readers. I know show Aegon is different, but I forget to separate the book Aegon from show Aegon, so I somewhat like show Aegon, too, even if not on his own merit, if it makes sense.

[@KdeeBUBBLES444]

that's definitely part of it, i do have some sympathy that is exclusive to his show counterpart, but it can be hard to parse the conflicting details of his show/book versions. Some of his more heinous acts in the show (i.e. the r*pe of Dyana) i keep forgetting to keep in mind when i'm busy feeling bad for the guy💀

[@m1ssjoanna]

I think the show runners had made comments in interviews stating that they (in so many words) don’t like daemon nor the attention he got in season 1…so how he’s portrayed this season isn’t surprising…it’s almost like they took the allure of daemon and put it into Aemond who is a super fan of daemon lol it’s weird but I’m entertained ngl

[@jacobisweird280]

6:19 but there have been battles, we seen Daemon fighting one last season, unless she is strictly talking about war between nations.

[@CokeZeroHero]

It was a war against the triarchy for the stepstones Viserys never send reinforcements Daemon and the Velaryon just took back the islands on their own

[@React2This]

I don’t know the source material so this is not a spoiler, but I keep thinking Laenor will return. Wherever he is in the world, he will learn about the war, and his mother’s death. He loved Luke and Jace, and just as importantly he will know that Corlys needs him.

[@ianwestc]

Laenor doesn't fake his death in the books, he disappears and is presumed dead. That's hard to say. I wouldn't say that's a spoiler, because I haven't read through the books and they COULD just have him return and explain how he faked his death. Heck, they could still do that in the show, they've never been afraid to diverge a little with who lives and who dies. As far as I know, Laenor's dragon is just hanging around, riderless.

[@mereassassinates550]

13:41 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭😭

[@gr8esthandleever]

These Aegon fans remind me of the Daisy fans back in the Agents of Shield (The real shield) days. 🤣

[@JS-ct3kr]

Hopefully Otto left behind a pack of Newports for Alicent to stress smoke

[@esinach]

Wait? people were commenting in support of Aegon?? That be cray cray. You are right Jimmy, if that makes you feel better.

[@monie3558]

Rhaena deserves better from all this 😢

[@ianwestc]

There's the affair with the assassins, and now the affair with the Blackwoods. He really trusts the wrong people and things turn out the way he didn't intend. I think this is how Daemon has always been. He just doesn't seem to be that good of a strategic thinker, unable to foresee the actual consequences of his actions. He's a total badass, excellent with his sword and his dragon, but... he just doesn't seem to be good at anything else. Season 1: Daemon's "heir for a day" got him exiled. He illegally occupies Dragonstone, and Otto and Rhaenyra talk him out of his nonsense. He tries to seduce Rhaenyra and is exiled again. Just operating on impulse instead of plan. House of the Dragon, King's Landing without Otto is like Game of Thrones, King's Landing without Tywin. It's just missing something.

[@jjosifovic]

Daemon has always taken L. The dude got disinherited 1st episode then 3rd episode he barely won a war he was loosing for 3 years, got kicked out of the vale, couldn’t marry Rhaenyra until another 10 years n in season 2 the man can even build n army while the greens took over the crown lands n have killed 2 dragons

[@penguin50279]

why do people think jace has no authority? he’s literally the heir to the throne.

[@JimmyMacram]

President-elect mofo. If someone on your side can come behind you and say “nah,” you have no authority.

[@penguin50279]

@@JimmyMacram that’s not true at all. the ONLY person who could say no is rhaenyra. just because rhaenyra is queen doesn’t mean nobody else has any authority. daemon has authority, baela has authority, corlys does, etc.

[@penguin50279]

@@JimmyMacram and the president elect is very different from an heir to the throne in a fantasy universe.

[@JimmyMacram]

Idk if you’re parsing words or misunderstood what I was getting at. I’m gonna assume the latter since you rattled off several other names. I don’t mean in the literal sense.

[@penguin50279]

@@JimmyMacram also sorry if i’m being annoying but if jace had no authority then he wouldn’t be able to make alliances period. but he can. jace has the most authority over everyone except rhaenyra. (and possibly daemon but i don’t want to argue over the logistics of that)

[@zVizzions]

Idk how To feel about daemons arc this season. It’s complete backwards of what he’s doing in the books at this point in the story. BUT i will wait to see how it ends

[@YounaPun]

We gotta wait to see the pay off i feel like its gonna pay off in the end

[@unc54]

Can you really say it's backwards when the books don't really say what he's doing at Harrenhal?

[@zVizzions]

@@unc54 the book specifically says the alys had no influence on daemon while he was in harrenhal

[@bettinanielsen6336]

@@zVizzions the book also says, that noone knows what happened to him while he was at Harrenhal - there are no witnesses or written accounts.

[@zVizzions]

@@bettinanielsen6336 but we know that alys had no influence on him? Yet the show is giving alys a lot of influence over him!???? I think the daemon stuff will pay off in the end but I just hope the show runners don’t make to many massive changes from the source material

[@marleymarsss]

Aegon fans be acting like he’s redeemable lol like he’s the Hound or somebody 😂😂 it’s so weird.

[@yassinemiri3555]

"Not like drake" Nearly pissed myself !

[@yassinemiri3555]

Jimmy, you are right bruv he is awful. As much as he is a nuanced character for whom we feel empathy since nobody loved him since ever and he is always in this quest of acceptance (something everyone can sympathize with) he is far more preferable to any villain from GOT. (Joff, Ramsey, Euron Greyjoy) but he is still a creep, a scum and all the other colorful adjectives. He is entertaining to watch he is far more nuanced than (the mentioned villains) in no short part because of the writing and the actor's stellar performance but he is still a villain. You are one million percent right ! and F anyone who think that you are wrong or too harsh on him.

[@KelliFranklin]

I couldn't agree more with you Jimmy. Aegon got the karma he so richly deserved.

[@kevinjohnanand]

Not gonna lie, the fact that Aemond’s entire personality is built on spite from being bullied as a child takes away from his “cool” factor a little bit.

[@markusfrancis7525]

What alicent taut was gon happen i rather her be mad at me then the greatest power in the realm

[@jfjffj7223]

Jace is the first male victim of misogyny😩 he’s being bullied online for being too pretty

[@fastsean9]

kind of a douzy

[@sivannatalie]

I have the same reaction to Jace. I want to like him, but he seems a bit smug at times, and he hasn’t really earned the right to be.

[@starralert2678]

As far as your rant at the beginning, you are not wrong. He is awful. His mom is awful. His grandad is awful. His brother is awful.

[@suncore598]

Have no sympathy for Aegon. He got what he deserved but it seems his story is not over yet. Aemond knew he had it in the bag to become Regent. It's why he didn't say anything while the others discuss the matter. He probably had a little talk with each of the council members before the meeting to secure their commitment. I like how Jace and Baela stepped up this episode. I assume the point of the Harrenhal storyline is for Daemon to come to terms with the loss of his right to be King and fully embrace Rhaenyra as Queen. Hopefully, next episode wraps it up.

[@Steef_Lee]

Hey man if you’re gonna take up 5 minutes speaking your truth then this shit can be 30 minutes long now come on now lol

[@ab-tu5wc]

Yeah Jace's actor needs to tone down the modelling bit, he's supposed to be a great character and he makes some good competent moves but the acting isnt the best in this show, a lot of characters and their delivery feels flat.

[@Goldenaerrows]

This show whitewashes Rhaenyra way too much which is why Rhaenys had to go out OOC and they force Baela to think it’s honorable to have a violent death when Laena’s book death was not brutal like that. Rhaenys was sent alone in the book and it was a trap but they have her offer to go now. Rhaenyra in the book executes a bunch of Velaryons, basically Corlys has GOOD reason to not want to support Rhaenyra anymore and even more reasons upcoming and I wonder if those will also be whitewashed and turned into someone else’s fault. There’s a book character the writers are apparently planning on cutting and Rhaenyra was classist and racist to the teenage black girl, calling her a low creature and a witch because she claimed a dragon without looking having Valyrian features. Again, I’m wondering if everything from the book will continue to be twisted like that 🤨 I hate that it forces other characters to be OOC

[@monie3558]

They keep trying to make it seem like everyone else is crazy and ridiculous. They’re trying to write around *spoilers* her death and make it seem like she didn’t take an L when she did and it’s at the expense of other female characters so idk how the writers are calling themselves feminist

[@absoluterandomfacts]

They cut out Daemon’s achievements and making him seem incompetent, they won’t let Baela and Rhaena see their father in any positive way to make Rhaenyra seem better by default. They cut out Laena’s healthy marriage to Daemon to make it seem like he only loved her. They’re trying to cut Nettles to make it seem like rhaenyra didn’t try to take her head out of jealousy. They took away Baela’s book characteristics of being a tomboy and gave it to young Rhaenyra and then they gave Jace’s achievements to Rhaenyra to make her seem less incompetent but now people think he’s useless. It’s crazy. They’re cutting everyone down 😭 they also cut two more female badass characters from the book. They don’t want anyone outshining Rhaenyra

[@zVizzions]

I tend to like that they add more depth to every character in the show compared to book. But for some reason one of the few characters from the book that actually has depth they take all away and make her a a character who can do wrong

[@dominiqueodom3099]

I'm sorry but It was so satisfying to see Alicent lose her position of power and influence over the men she thought she had control over. Tywin Lannister said it best "I don't distrust you because your a woman. I DONT TRUST YOU BECAUSE YOUR NOT AS CLEVER AS YOU THINK YOU ARE". Alicent came across so much more competent in the books and in the show they've just shown how utterly incompetent she is. She now knows she is fighting to keep a Throne she doesnt deserve nor her son yet she's still preaching patience and Restraint. Criston Cole is right that ALICENT is not the Leader they need nor does she deserve any role in the Council because she's yet to actually contribute to their cause

[@elijahhanna7432]

I like Jace and he's so far the only productive player on team black. You don't like him because he's a babyface as your over here saluting Aemon and sad over Damien incompetence as the Heels number 1 fan boy knowing damn well the show doesn't want you to like them.

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

Daemon's storyline these last 2 or 3 eps has been boring.