Want to hear more from the actors and creators of your favorite shows and films? Subscribe to The Cinema Spot on YouTube for all of our upcoming interviews!
Lead Critic for the site, as well as serving as an editor when needed.
Following the heavy strategizing of last weekend’s episode, HBO’s House of the Dragon picks up the pace as both sides of the war suffer gains and failures. Meanwhile, King Consort Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) continues his side quest in Harrenhal and reckons with his past.
“Smallfolk” is written by Eileen Shim and directed by Andrij Parekh (Succession, Watchmen, Scenes from a Marriage). The Blacks gain traction in this new episode of George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal’s fantasy adventure drama series, and the Greens slow down a bit with more internal turmoil. Daemon attempts to discover the source of his torment with few answers. Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) is also stretched to the limits of her council but grows closer to Lady Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) in some ways.
Dragons Everywhere
Many know the path to victory is hugely dependent on dragons and their riders. This episode finally reveals more about their general locations throughout Westeros. Rhaenyra boldly suggests that Ser Steffon Darklyn (Anthony Flanagan), who shares blood with the Targaryens, attempt to mount Seasmoke. For Darklyn, this is perhaps the highest honor because the dragons are seen purely as gods in this world. It is also a fool’s errand.
The thing with Targaryens is that their blood and ability to bond with the dragons differentiates them from the rest of the Westerosi people. In Old Valyria, the Targaryens were amongst a number of dragonlord families. Seeing someone else conquer a dragon would be amazing. Still, it would be somehow demeaning. Desperately, Rhaenyra attempts to almost determine whether someone can become a dragonrider. However, the noble knight gets too cocky, and Seasmoke burns him alive, then flies away from Dragonstone. The scene reminds the audience why Targaryens are the rulers of this land. Conversely, as the wisest of Targaryens—such as Viserys and Jahaerys—knew, the dragons also enable them to rule. They have the power but must wield it wisely, lest things boil into what is now happening. Moreover, the dragons themselves are ancient creatures that ultimately have a final say in their riders.
Later, in the Vale, Lady Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell) and Prince Joffrey Velaryon (Oscar Eskinazi) encounter a large, burnt pile of bones, with only one obvious answer. She confronts Lady Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin) over this fact, who simply rebuffs Rhaena. This particular dragon is wild, without a rider, essentially doing what it pleases. Due to the Dance of the Dragons, nearly everyone is restless and can sense the unease throughout the land. More so, many want a rider. Within the source material, the wild dragon in the Vale—Sheepstealer—grants a rider from the Blacks but is one of the few dragons to survive the war. The dragons who do survive either die out briefly after the war or leave Westeros altogether. This subplot will be quite interesting to see develop, as the dragons become more and more central to House of the Dragon‘s overall plot.
Daemon’s Side of the Story
Meanwhile, Caraxes seems to be desperate for Daemon’s attention. Harrenhal continues to beat Daemon down this week as well. Upon witnessing a vision of Viserys (Paddy Considine), he seems to finally break and attempts to find genuine answers. He can’t even truly tell true friend from foe, as he confronts Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale) about the fogginess of his mind. For instance, Simon mentions that he wonders whether Daemon is getting enough sleep.
Simon and the folks at Harrenhal are not really against the Blacks though. The true lord of Harrenhal, Simon’s nephew Lord Larys “Clubfoot” Strong (Matthew Needham), had his father and brother killed last season before siding with the Greens. In some ways, Simon’s best course of action is neutrality, but of course, picking a side is inevitable. However, it would be hard-pressed to say that Simon does not have some general idea of Daemon’s mental anguish, knowing how troubled of a man Daemon is.
Daemon goes so far as to think Simon is an agent of Rhaenyra, paid to torment him. However, he is really just attempting to throw blame at people while also not realizing the true complexities of being the King. He never really understood it either. From the beginning of the HBO series, he is shown to be as crass as one would expect from one in his position. However, he has grown ever slightly. In this episode, he seems to finally realize that he cannot just ride in on Caraxes and swing his sword around.
He councils with Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) and learns that patience is a virtue all must have, as she simply tells him to wait three days. This is almost an ominous warning because Alys will undoubtedly throw some magic around and move the chess pieces forward. Hearing Caraxes call for Daemon while he shuffles around in the background of this scene was a great reminder of how close the dragons are to their riders. Surely, Caraxes just wants some action of his own.
The Bastards
Later on, Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim) is essentially commanded to be Lord Corlys Velaryon’s (Steve Toussaint) First Mate, as he shows his visual reluctance to step up when asked. He and his older brother Addam (Clinton Liberty) discuss their parentage. Alyn shaves his head to hide their true lineage as Corlys’s bastards. This is another interesting comment on the role we as children play in our parent’s lives.
In terms of this world, these two are Corlys’s heirs regardless of their assumed birth status. Moreover, it is interesting to see the juxtaposition of the two brothers. Addam wants everything that comes with being the heir, while Alyn just wants to be a simple sailor. At the end of this episode, Seasmoke successfully attempts to bond with Addam, as if he can somehow sense Addam’s lineage. This can seemingly feed into the fact that, in some form, the dragons are indeed gods. Being that Seasmoke’s last rider, Laenor Velaryon, was Corlys’s true-born son, it indisputably proves that much of your blood comes from Old Valyria. The Velaryons are another house with roots in Old Valyria.
Smallfolk, Big Opinion
As the episode’s title suggests, the opinion of the common folk is key to winning any war. The smallfolk of King’s Landing are always key to influencing the ways in which the King will behave. With King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) bedridden and Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) on the Throne, the smallfolk seem forgotten. Even his closest confidante Sylvi (Michelle Bonnard) seems to have grown tired of the drama that plagues the Greens. She attempts to stir the pot in conversation with Ser Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) and Dyana (Maddie Evans), which seems to work. This seems to amplify the unrest in the streets, an advantage that works amazingly in Rhaenyra’s favor amongst the smallfolk.
With the help of Mysaria, she sends essentially care packages by way of the Blackwater, a river leading into King’s Landing. These ships are marked with the Black Targaryen flag. Some of them are carried as far as the entrance of the Red Keep. This only further fuels the agitation amongst the smallfolk. While they are just seemingly given these small boats full of food, it proves who truly cares about their well-being. Furthermore, it could prevent the Greens from ever leaving the Red Keep, purely out of fear.
This is compounded when Queen Dowager Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and Queen Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) go to the church to light candles. They are quickly descended upon by a riot. One of the smallfolk claims she is the Queen of the Fishes whilst tossing one directly at her. This further proves how unaware she is of the goings on around her. They do escape, but not before Ser Leon Estermont (Ralph Davis) severs the hand of a peasant who grabs Alicent. He is then seemingly killed by the crowd in the chaos.
Oh Brother
Alicent witnesses her brother Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) and Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) leaving to march on Harrenhal. While conversing with the former, they reminisce on their childhood. Gwayne also reassures Alicent that she and Viserys’s youngest son, Daeron Targaryen, are kind, unlike his older brothers. Daeron was sent to a ward in Oldtown upon his birth. This is a far cry from how she saw her children before House of the Dragon Season Two. Much like last week’s episode of the HBO series, she seems to finally have accepted the war’s current movement. She can finally sense the chaos brewing inside her children but remains hopeful about her youngest son.
Aemond removes her from the Green Council, further fueling the uselessness she feels in the war. She confronts her middle son about his past indiscretions from childhood, and whether they have been paid for. Still, even though he is now technically King, there is a sense that he will not give up his position lightly. He even questions Aegon about what he truly remembers during the Battle of Rook’s Rest. This is a very tense scene, as the unrest between the brothers can be felt even more here than it did in the air above Rook’s Rest. It’s almost as if Aemond is warning his brother to remain incapacitated, lest he fear Aemond having him killed.
Later, Larys speaks to Aegon, as if to be one of the few who is truly sympathetic to Aegon. Similarly to Larys, he really only has his mind left to strengthen. Within the source material, the subplot developed between Larys and Aegon is quite intriguing. This scene feels like the first step in Larys wanting to create a big wave within the Red Keep. As the war goes on, Dragonstone and the Red Keep shift between the headquarters of the Blacks or the Greens. Larys will begin his own scheme soon enough. The difference between Aegon, Aemond, and Daeron will no doubt play into Alicent’s own feelings on her sons, and their actions along with hers.
Technical Elements
Parekh’s direction keeps the pendulum swinging this week, as it feels like many events have finally reached the edge of reason. Vanja Černjul’s cinematography is great work, as the audience is gifted with more shots of dragons. In particular, Seasmoke is perhaps the best-looking dragon effects-wise because most of those shots are of him flying. He is really just roaming around looking for a rider, and when he follows Addam, the shot of Seasmoke landing square in front of him is so crisp and cool. The dragons are no doubt a favorite element of this universe.
Adam Bosman’s editing is also refreshing this week. The camera and many of the outlying elements fit together quite nicely. It feels as if Parekh is metaphorically making the atmosphere around the characters tighter and more controlled. Production designer Jim Clay’s set pieces also remain key, as we see more visions of the Throne Room and sets with dragons.
Final Thoughts on HBO’s House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6
As “Smallfolk” ends, Rhaenyra grows intimately closer to Mysaria, sharing a kiss together. This is great because it showcases the continual change in dynamics among the powers that be. While these two will continue to share these moments, the war could be quietly steered in a direction they see fit, as the Black Council does not really do much for Rhaenyra but bicker anyway. Regarding the power dynamics, they also continue to demonstrate the complexity of the world, as Mysaria would have to be a sort of concubine to Rhaenyra during a time of peace. Despite everything, Mysaria has been the one person, besides Rhaenys, to give her true council. They also share a past relationship with Daemon, which makes theirs even more interesting because they both know how troubled of a man he is. Rhaenyra and Mysaria’s development has been one of the more worthwhile relationships to blossom.
Daemon, after hearing of Lord Grover Tully’s passing, breaks down in tears upon more visions of Viserys, seemingly accepting the cards he has been dealt. However, it would be an uneasy sight if he doesn’t, in the slightest, truly accept within himself the events of his life. It would be great to see him take his headstrong attitude into moving forward and helping the Blacks win, but almost anything is possible with The Rogue Prince. He is a fantastically complicated character who usually seems to have the best intentions. However, he needs to get past his need to prove that he can be King.
Rhaenyra then flies off atop Syrax to meet Addam and Seasmoke, as her son Prince Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett) unsuccessfully tries to stop her. This is perhaps the best cliffhanger ending thus far. The best part of this short scene was finally seeing Rhaenyra mount Syrax, as she has essentially been persuaded each time to stay behind. With just two episodes remaining, the next steps will become key leading into the end of this season.
For our continuing coverage of HBO’s House of the Dragon Season Two, follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram!
Want to brush up on the lore of HBO’s prequel spin-off series? Well then, purchase either a physical hardcover copy or a physical paperback copy of George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood via our Amazon Affiliates links today!
Lead Critic for the site, as well as serving as an editor when needed.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.