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Lead Critic for the site, as well as serving as an editor when needed.
Following last week’s culminating Battle of Rook’s Rest, HBO’s House of the Dragon continues that same pace, but not as chaotic and messy. This week of George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal’s drama fantasy series feels like a chess board, as the Blacks and Greens preform heavy strategizing during this episode.
“Regent” is written by series story editor Ti Mikkel and directed by series co-executive producer Clare Kilner. This episode deals with the repercussions of the Battle of Rook’s Rest, along with both sides assessing the war as it currently stands. At the same time, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) continues to reckon with his life’s choices in Harrenhal.
Gathering Allies
As the episode begins, Meleys’s head is paraded through King’s Landing, declaring that King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Sunfyre defeated her in battle. Several of the townspeople mark this as a ghastly omen. Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew), a blacksmith in King’s Landing, remarks that the dragons are “just meat.” This scene further proves the loose grip that the Crown has on the respect of its people. Hugh continues to struggle to care for his ailing daughter as well.
Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) begins to mourn the loss of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best). Throughout the HBO show so far, he has lost much already. Last season, both his children died, he almost died, and now his wife has suffered the same fate. All that remains are his bastard sons, Addam (Clinton Liberty) and Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim), as well as his granddaughters by Daemon, Ladies Baela (Bethany Antonia) and Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell). His main concern stems from a proper heir, but he also probably feels as if he has lost everything. The way grief shifts from episode to episode is worthwhile. There will be so much loss during this tenuous civil war.
Baela, by order of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), later delivers a proposition for Corlys, to be her Hand. He almost acts as if he will not accept, but Corlys knows the path to war. He must declare that at some point, having the greatest naval fleet in the Seven Kingdoms, it will happen eventually. This task can also give him some more purpose to keep going in the memory of those he has lost.
The Targaryens and the Hightowers
Rhaenyra continues to meet with Lady Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) and learns more about the “power of the people.” Rhaenyra is the only one between herself and the Greens who is truly contending with the people’s will. At the end of the day, she cannot rule a kingdom of ashes. The people are the ones who reside within the normalcy of the Seven Kingdoms. Rhaenyra sends her handmaiden Elinda Massey (Jordon Stevens) to King’s Landing to presumably begin to spy on the Greens. Elinda intercepts Dyana (Maddie Evans), a former handmaiden of King Aegon, where she now bartends in King’s Landing. This was one of Game of Thrones‘s more subtle aspects and was sometimes a little fun to see, as the common folk can sometimes be shifted aside in these stories. It’s great to see this subplot begin, and it will be interesting as it develops within the main plot.
The Greens begin to plot their own ideals. After the maesters tend to a severely burned Aegon, who is now incapacitated, Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) is installed as King Regent in Aegon’s stead. Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) begins to sense the change in direction for the Greens as well. There is a nice scene during the council where the camera lingers on her as Aemond begins to give orders. She almost feels as if she wants to flip the table over. She doesn’t like that she isn’t in charge again, and now she knows how serious everyone is towards her. It isn’t much.
Losing Yourself
Meanwhile, in Harrenhal and the Riverlands, Daemon and Caraxes threaten the Brackens, but they would rather die. Daemon doesn’t understand what is going on, and it seems the Rivermen do not have the same respect for Targaryens as everyone else. He is honestly lost within a mental maze of horribly pointless or morally questionable life choices. He dreams of another incestual relationship with his mother, who he actually never knew. She died when he was young. However, this just proves his issues and continues to make him think about his life. While most of this is comedic, it shows how challenged Daemon is internally. Hopefully, he can figure out the right choice rather than the wrong one.
In an early scene, he basically declares himself some version of a king. He’s still a bit annoyed he was not made the heir to the Iron Throne before his brother Viserys died. He still somehow firmly believes that many of the Black Council will not follow Rhaenyra to the end. This further reinforces the whole gender dynamic within the HBO show and proves how wrong he may be in the end. It could be part of Alys Rivers’s (Gayle Rankin) plans for Daemon, in making him truly reckon with his views. She is present in much of Daemon’s dealings within Harrenhal as well. The dynamic of their personalities is considerable. Overall, Alys is not afraid of much anything, so it is nice to see some pushback.
However, Daemon essentially orders Ser Willem Blackwood (Jack Parry-Jones) to commit war crimes to make the Brackens bend their knee. This, of course, backfires and he later deals with the Riverlords demanding answers. He oddly contends with forces he seemingly doesn’t understand. At this moment, he sees a vision of his deceased wife, Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell), further proving his underestimation of everything.
Technical Details in This Episode of the HBO Series
“Regent” continues the building pace of the season with Ti Mikkel’s screenwriting, and Clare Kilner continues to direct great dialogue. Kilner doesn’t make the dialogue feel slow or awkwardly paced.
Alejandro Martínez’s cinematography gives audiences another great shot of Caraxes this week as well. Caraxes is regarded as a pretty agile dragon, so seeing him fight in battle will be worth waiting for. Jim Clay’s production design is also pretty neat, as much of this season hasn’t taken much place in the Throne Room. The scene between Aemond and Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) is great because of the location, but it somehow felt like she was interrogating Aemond. She asks him if “it was worth it,” and he is left to dwell on his actions as the scene cuts away. Frances Parker’s editing makes it feel like she was waiting for the proper moment to confront him and make him feel as unwanted as she does, in an almost eerie way.
Final Thoughts on HBO’s House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 5
“Regent” continues moving the series along in some subtle ways. The pacing of the HBO show continues to be a great element though, as there is no evidence of slowing down. Nearing the tail end of the season, there is bound to be more action in store. This episode felt like pieces on a chess board, and both sides began to properly plan. It feels as if both sides are firmly united in their stance. Daemon continues to be entertaining in the wildest of ways, and it will be great to see him face Rhaenyra again in a later episode.
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Lead Critic for the site, as well as serving as an editor when needed.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.