The king is lifeless, lengthy stay the king … or queen. With Viserys lastly having succumbed to his long-running sickness, the Iron Throne is up for grabs, and lots of in Westeros might want to determine whether or not they help Aegon II or Rhaenyra. As Episode 9 of Home of the Dragon, “The Inexperienced Council,” conveyed, the Dance of the Dragons is starting.

However a civil battle will contain extra than simply the Targaryens and Hightowers on the coronary heart of the battle. Will the remainder of the realm align with the greens (as Alicent’s contingent is thought, for Hightower inexperienced) or the blacks (Rhaenyra’s faction, for Home Targaryen’s black shade)? Let’s break it down:

Deep Dive: Carving Up the Seven Kingdoms

Home of the Dragon has saved its world small. Exterior of some transient visits to Pentos, the Stepstones, the Vale of Arryn, and Storm’s Finish, we’ve spent our time bouncing amongst three places, all in or on Blackwater Bay: King’s Touchdown, Driftmark, and Dragonstone. However there have been hints of the broader Westeros on the market, and with battle seemingly on the horizon, the world is about to get an entire lot larger.

In Episode 9, some lords bend the knee to Aegon II. Others—like Woman Fell and Allun Caswell—both refuse to take action or don’t accomplish that credibly, and pay with their lives. This music and dance is about to be repeated all through the realm, as lords far and broad will quickly be pressured to choose a aspect: inexperienced or black. Let’s have a look, area by area, at how Westeros may divide itself within the coming civil battle:

The Crownlands

Exterior of the Targaryens, a very powerful household within the Crownlands (the area positioned round the place Aegon the Conqueror landed in Westeros) is clearly the Velaryons. And as Rhaenys made clear this week, she’s not aligning herself with the greens. However she additionally had an opportunity to burn all of them on the web site of Aegon II’s coronation and didn’t as a result of … causes. So perhaps her coronary heart isn’t absolutely on the blacks’ aspect but, both.

Nonetheless, there are lots of elements that ought to sway Rhaenys and Home Velaryon to hitch Rhaenyra’s trigger. The first one is that every one of Rhaenys and Corlys’s grandchildren are tied to the blacks: Baela and Rhaena via Daemon and Laena, and Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey via Rhaenyra and Laenor (a minimum of on paper). Plus, no matter squabbles Rhaenys and Corlys might have over whether or not one’s blood or one’s identify counts for extra Westerosi legacy factors, Baela is betrothed to Jace and Rhaena to Lucerys, which signifies that the kids of these marriages will carry each the blood and identify of Home Velaryon.

And whereas Rhaenys doesn’t appear to have a lot love or respect for Daemon, Corlys does, owing to his and Daemon’s success within the Stepstones a few years in the past. Corlys is grievously wounded and has been AWOL for the previous two episodes. However ought to he get better, his place on this brewing battle appears fairly clear: He’ll help Rhaenyra and his grandsons. Oh yeah, and one closing purpose for the Velaryons to help the blacks: The greens began their courtship of Rhaenys by having her imprisoned in her chambers. Not one of the simplest ways to start an alliance!

That’s the Velaryons, however what of the opposite homes within the Crownlands?

A lot of the different homes on this space haven’t risen to the extent of prominence and affect that we see in a few of Westeros’s different areas. One notable exception is Home Bar Emmon, which supported Rhaenys on the Nice Council of 101 AC and due to this fact would seemingly comply with her (or simply typically be extra open to a feminine claimant). Home Celtigar (the one different Valyrian-descended home in Westeros) additionally supported Rhaenys.

One other notable home from the area is Home Stokeworth—the identical Stokeworths that Bronn marries into in Thrones in an effort to acquire a fortress. Hearth & Blood tells us that an unnamed “Lord Stokeworth” was one of many lords imprisoned within the Pink Maintain for being deemed prone to defect to the blacks, as was a Lord Rosby, one other noble from the Crownlands. Additionally in Hearth & Blood, Otto causes that the Masseys and Crabbs are prone to be a part of Rhaenyra. Principally, virtually everybody within the Crownlands seems set to help Viserys’s named inheritor. That would make issues difficult for the greens, whose King’s Touchdown headquarters places them proper within the midst of all these homes.

The Attain

The Hightowers will stand with the greens; we all know that a lot. Home Hightower, which has an overlord within the Tyrells, is likely to be the strongest home within the realm that doesn’t rule over its area. The Hightowers management Oldtown, which was the biggest and strongest metropolis in Westeros previous to Aegon’s Conquest and the rise of King’s Touchdown, and which nonetheless serves as residence base for each the Religion of the Seven (on the Starry Sept) and the order of the maesters (on the Citadel). Hearth & Blood tells us that the Hightowers are “able to elevating giant new armies shortly from the streets of Oldtown, and with their very own warships and people of their shut kin, the Redwynes of the Arbor, they may float a big fleet as effectively.”

We’ve beforehand seen Hobert Hightower—Otto’s brother—main this home (he’s the man who tells Alicent that the Hightowers will stand along with her when Alicent wears inexperienced to Rhaenyra’s wedding ceremony), however that character doesn’t exist within the books and hasn’t been seen in a while. At this level in Hearth & Blood, Ormund Hightower, Otto’s nephew, is the lord of Home Hightower. We might even see him quickly. One other character we might even see is Prince Daeron, the fourth little one of Alicent and Viserys, who’s been off display this season however who George R.R. Martin not too long ago confirmed exists. He’s in Oldtown squiring for the Hightowers.

However the Hightowers aren’t even the Attain’s ruling home. That may be the Tyrells of Highgarden, whose present lord is an toddler, Lyonel Tyrell. His mom has the regency and guidelines the area in his identify. The Tyrells are one of the vital highly effective homes within the realm, as a result of the Attain is probably the most fertile area in Westeros and offers a lot of the meals for the continent. As a present of power, the Tyrells introduced 500 males (probably the most of any home) to the Nice Council of 101 AC.

There are a variety of different important homes within the rich Attain, together with Home Caswell (extra on Lord Caswell in a minute!), Home Oakheart, Home Tarly, Home Rowan, Home Peake, and Home Costayne, amongst others. In Hearth & Blood, the greens count on the Tyrells to fall according to their “over-mighty” bannermen, the Hightowers. If that occurs, all of these lesser homes would certainly comply with, and the greens would have an unbelievable power at their disposal. The blacks, against this, haven’t any actual connections to the Attain.

The Westerlands

Tyland Lannister has sat on King Viserys’s Small Council because the grasp of ships for greater than a decade now, and as we noticed in “The Inexperienced Council,” he was an energetic participant within the scheming to place Aegon II on the throne. His older twin brother, Jason Lannister, is the top of the home and was the one who had so many less-than-pleasant interactions with Rhaenyra when the latter was a young person. So it’s protected to say that the Lannisters—who after the Velaryons are Westeros’s second-wealthiest home—are breaking for the greens.

The Lannisters’ bannermen will not be as notable as these from different areas in Westeros, however one now we have seen on-screen is Home Westerling. The lord commander of the Kingsguard since Episode 2 of Home of the Dragon has been Harrold Westerling. Whereas Harrold, who walks out of the inexperienced council’s assembly in protest, clearly doesn’t help the greens, he has additionally sworn oaths to serve the crown and never participate within the politics of the realm, so he shouldn’t be anticipated to publicly push his home to anybody aspect. But it surely’s truthful to wonder if his household will discover the greens’ usurpation of the throne as unsavory as he does. (It’s additionally truthful to marvel the place Harrold is, contemplating Criston Cole was named lord commander on this episode.)

The Riverlands

The Riverlands are the least unified area within the realm. The Tullys rule the realm from Riverrun, however Harrenhal, managed by Larys Sturdy, is the bigger and arguably extra highly effective fortress. We already noticed that the Blackwoods and Brackens have a feud that goes again ages. The Freys of the Crossing additionally maintain appreciable energy.

Let’s begin with the Tullys. The Lord Paramount of the Trident right now is Grover Tully. He has a notable grandson in Elmo and two notable nice grandsons in Kermit and Oscar (yeah, actually). Grover is sufficiently old that he attended the Nice Council of 101 AC, the place he spoke in favor of Viserys. He’s a really outdated man now, however his help of the male claimant then may imply the Tullys will stick to Aegon II.

Regardless of the Tullys determine, it shouldn’t be anticipated to sway the opposite homes within the fractured Riverlands. We all know the Strongs and Harrenhal will declare allegiance to the greens. However what of the opposite homes?

The Twins is below the purview of Forrest Frey, who in Hearth & Blood requested for Rhaenyra’s hand in marriage again when she was in search of a suitor. Rhaenyra didn’t have very a lot tact as a young person, and apparently Forrest earned the identify “Idiot Frey” after Rhaenyra spurned him. That would push him towards the greens.

In Episode 4 of Home of the Dragon, a Blackwood boy slew a Bracken when Rhaenyra was courting suitors at Storm’s Finish. The Blackwoods additionally supported Rhaenys on the Nice Council of 101 AC. Their earlier help of Rhaenys and the maybe comfortable reminiscences they’ve of chopping down a rival in entrance of Rhaenyra may make them supporting the blacks … however after all that might most likely simply push the Brackens to the greens in response. Whichever approach these two homes break, it is going to virtually certainly be for reverse sides; let’s name this a wash.

There are a variety of different homes within the Riverlands as effectively, together with the Mootons, Pipers, Rootes, Darrys, Mallisters, and Vances. However we all know much less about them than the opposite homes we’ve already lined, they usually’re certainly much less highly effective and influential. Oh yeah, and lest you assume the Muppets Tully have the one foolish names within the Riverlands, Home Piper is led by a lord named Petyr.

The Vale

Keep in mind the entire enterprise with Daemon and his spouse Rhea Royce? Home Royce is among the strongest households within the Vale, and I feel it’s protected to say that after Gerold Royce’s phrases to Daemon again at Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding ceremony, the Royces will break for Group Inexperienced. That will have been some 16 years in the past, however Home Royce’s phrases are actually “We Keep in mind.”

The Royces are sworn to Home Arryn, the lords of the Vale, and the Arryns might comply with their bannermen in positioning themselves in opposition to the blacks. At Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding ceremony, Daemon means that he’ll make a declare because the inheritor to Runestone. He really does this in Hearth & Blood, and the Arryns basically inform him to get misplaced:

Runestone handed as an alternative to Woman Rhea’s nephew, and when Daemon made enchantment to the Eyrie, not solely was his declare dismissed, however Woman Jeyne warned him that his presence within the Vale was unwelcome.

Nevertheless, the Arryns’ loyalties will not be so easy. Whereas the Vale has no love for Daemon, we must always not neglect who Rhaenyra’s mom is: Aemma Arryn. The truth that Rhaenyra has Arryn blood from her mom may assist her sway the Arryns to her trigger.

Plus, the Vale is at present dominated by Woman Jeyne Arryn, often known as the Maiden of the Vale. She has no husband and guidelines the Vale in her personal identify, one of many few examples of a girl main a area of Westeros. Breaking for Aegon II over Rhaenyra would put Jeyne’s personal place in danger.

The Iron Islands

Pyke is at present dominated by Dalton Greyjoy, who known as the Pink Kraken on account of his bloodlust and daring nature (so he’s basically like each different Ironborn). Whereas the Velaryons have the realm’s mightiest navy right now, the Ironborn are a substantial sea energy themselves. The issue is they’re all the best way on the opposite aspect of Westeros—to get to Blackwater Bay and King’s Touchdown, they’ll have to sail south round Dorne and again up. That’s not unimaginable (Euron Greyjoy did it in Sport of Thrones), nevertheless it’ll take a while.

The Ironborn are fickle, although. They like to think about themselves as impartial (earlier than Aegon’s Conquest they even managed the Riverlands) and have a behavior of declaring themselves as such each time there’s unrest within the realm. That is nonetheless obvious within the interval main as much as and through A Music of Ice and Hearth and Sport of Thrones. Robert Baratheon has to place down Greyjoy’s Revolt in 289 AC, shortly after profitable the crown and ending the Targaryen dynasty. Then, as soon as the Conflict of the 5 Kings breaks out, Balon Greyjoy instantly declares himself “King of the Isles and the North,” and Euron Greyjoy calls himself king after Balon dies. Aligning with the Ironborn is kinda like preventing with dragons: You higher be able to get burned.

Dorne

Whereas Dorne remains to be an impartial kingdom and usually desires little to do with Westeros (outdoors of sometimes raiding the Stormlands), the Dornish aren’t solely remoted from the realm. They did ship observers to the Nice Council of 101 AC to see Viserys get topped. And whereas it wasn’t actually depicted within the present, the Dornish joined forces with the Triarchy within the battle for the Stepstones. Since succession in Dorne attracts no distinction between women and men, Dorne could also be a fan of Rhaenyra’s declare as Viserys’s first-born little one and named inheritor. However the battle within the Stepstones signifies that Dorne was preventing instantly in opposition to Rhaenyra’s husband Daemon within the not-so-distant previous, so there should still be some dangerous blood there.

The North

May we lastly see a Stark on this present for multiple second? Effectively … perhaps. Whoever earns the help of the North must wait some time to see it come to fruition. The North is sort of as giant as the remainder of Westeros mixed, so it takes an excessive amount of time for the Starks to assemble their banners and march south. That’s one of many causes we so not often see Starks in King’s Touchdown.

The North most likely prefers the isolation, but when the Starks do become involved, they’d tentatively lean towards the blacks. Home Stark was in favor of Rhaenys on the Nice Council of 101 AC, as had been their bannermen in Home Dustin of Barrowton and Home Manderly of White Harbor. One other notable home from the North, Home Cerwyn, is thought to be near Cregan Stark, the present head of the Starks. That’s 4 of a very powerful homes within the North proper there, all seemingly leaning towards the blacks.

The Stormlands

Home Baratheon is the large wild card proper now, which is why they’re mentioned on this episode. The Stormlands are positioned simply south of the Crownlands, making their help essential for the early parts of a battle that can seemingly be centered in that space. They usually have the flexibility to rally a substantial host; there’s a purpose it’s Robert Baratheon who ends the Targaryen dynasty, and never another lord.

We’ve beforehand seen Boremund Baratheon on the present, each when he helped to facilitate Rhaenyra’s seek for suitors when she was a young person and when he obtained Rhaenys’s favor on the event in Episode 1. Boremund is Rhaenys’s cousin (her mom was Jocelyn Baratheon), and he was Rhaenys’s greatest supporter on the Nice Council of 101 AC. That’d make the Baratheons shoo-ins for the blacks … besides that Boremund is lifeless.

Now, Boremund’s son Borros guidelines from Storm’s Finish. Borros should still comply with his father and be a fan of Rhaenys and the blacks, however we shouldn’t be so positive. Hearth & Blood tells us that Borros is “much more belligerent than his father” and, considerably conflictingly, that he’s like “stone, arduous and robust and unmoving” in addition to “the wind that rages and howls and blows this fashion and that.” So, he’s a Baratheon via and thru. Hearth & Blood additionally tells us that “the lesser storm lords would certainly comply with” the place Borros leads them.

Exterior of Westeros

I’m uncertain about how prepared anybody outdoors of Westeros could be to become involved in a dragon-fueled battle for a international continent. However to cowl all our bases right here, we may consider the Triarchy—which, as beforehand talked about on the present, has had a little bit of a resurgence—as leaning towards the greens, as they most likely don’t wish to be a part of up with outdated foes Daemon and Corlys. The identical is likely to be mentioned of Pentos after Daemon declined to hitch them in preventing the Triarchy. As for in every single place else east of the Slender Sea … there’s actually no telling which aspect they’d take. The reply might be nobody’s.

Fast Hits

The significance of crowns

Viserys is lifeless, however his crown—which was additionally the crown of his predecessor, Jaehaerys—stays together with his corpse. As an alternative of assuming his father’s headwear, Viserys’s son dons the crown of his namesake, the Conqueror. And true to the books, this crown is depicted as a easy Valyrian-steel circlet inlaid with crimson rubies (although the present went a bit gentle on the rubies).

The design of a crown can ship a message. For instance, when Joffrey ascends the throne in A Sport of Thrones, he wears a golden crown encrusted with crimson rubies and black diamonds, symbolizing each Home Lannister (whose colours are crimson and gold) and Home Baratheon (black and yellow). Stannis wears a crown of “crimson gold with factors usual within the form of flames,” a transparent homage to Melisandre and her Lord of Gentle (Melisandre additionally wears a red-gold choker). Renly wears a crown with gold roses—symbolizing his closeness to the Tyrells—with a jade stag’s head within the middle. Robb Stark’s crown is a bronze circlet inscribed with the runes of the First Males, and is alleged to look very like the crowns the traditional kings of the North wore. You get the concept.

With its shiny crimson rubies and practically black metal, Aegon the Conqueror’s crown depicts the colours of Home Targaryen. It’s a crown for a warrior, seeing because it’s made with the identical metal that’s usually reserved for the sharpest and most treasured blades in Westeros. The crown options neither gold nor intricate element—it’s meant to indicate energy and power. In carrying it, Aegon II not solely traces his declare to the throne again to the originator of the Targaryen dynasty, but additionally subtly means that he’s able to take the throne by power—simply as Aegon the Conqueror did.

Viserys’s crown sends a distinct message. It options the Targaryen sigil on its entrance, with quite a lot of completely different sigils round its sides. In varied pictures all through the collection, I’ve recognized the sigils of homes Lannister, Arryn, Tully, Martell, Tyrell, and Baratheon. There’s most likely a minimum of yet one more—Home Stark?—to characterize the Seven Kingdoms, and perhaps even one other one—Home Greyjoy?—relying on how we depend “seven” (Westeros really consists of 9 provinces, not seven.) And whereas it’s humorous to incorporate the Martell sigil when Dorne remains to be impartial, the message of this crown is obvious: unity. It is a crown of peace. (It’s a bit completely different from the crown that Viserys wears within the books, a easy golden band inset with seven completely different gem stones, however the message of each crowns is basically the identical: The Seven Kingdoms have one king.)

To this point, there have been solely three crowns for the now six kings within the Targaryen dynasty: the aforementioned two, plus the crown of King Aenys, a “crown of yellow gold with the faces of the Seven inlaid in jade and pearl.” Jaehaerys initially wore this crown earlier than switching, and it’s not clear what turned of it.

At any fee, Rhaenyra will want a crown if she needs to proceed her pursuit of the Iron Throne. Her father’s crown could be an ideal match for her—it will remind the realm that she was her father’s named inheritor, in addition to sign her need for unity and peace versus battle—however proper now it’s caught within the Pink Maintain. She might have to have a brand new one made. Take note of what she chooses—it’ll ship a message about how she desires others to understand her.

Different symbols of legitimacy

The Conqueror’s crown isn’t the one salient piece of {hardware} Aegon II is utilizing to lend legitimacy to his declare. As Alicent says on this episode, “my son will take the crown of his namesake, the Conqueror, and carry Blackfyre, his sword. Let the folks bear in mind the traditional power of Home Targaryen.”

We lined Blackfyre, the Valyrian metal sword wielded by the Conqueror, in a earlier column. Aegon’s thrusting it into the air on the finish of this episode sends a lot the identical message because the crown on his head: He’s prepared for a conquest. That seemingly was additionally a purpose the greens selected the Dragonpit as the placement for Aegon II’s coronation. It’s bigger than the throne room, so it holds a bigger viewers and likewise initiatives the power he hopes will assist him again his declare.

The symbolism doesn’t finish there. As Hearth & Blood tells us: “Each seen image of legitimacy belonged to Aegon. He sat the Iron Throne. He lived within the Pink Maintain. He wore the Conqueror’s crown, wielded the Conqueror’s sword, and had been anointed by a septon of the Religion earlier than the eyes of tens of 1000’s. Grand Maester Orwyle sat in his councils, and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard had positioned the crown upon his princely head. And he was male, which within the eyes of many made him the rightful king, his half-sister the usurper.”

Rhaenyra already confronted an uphill climb to regulate the Seven Kingdoms. Simply by advantage of being a girl, a Rhaenyra reign all the time would have represented an enormous shift in how monarchy works in Westeros. Now she’s not solely been usurped by a person, however one who actually carries the Conqueror’s identify and all of his essential objects, and who lives on the seat of energy whereas she is on a rock within the Slender Sea. It’s a troublesome place to be in.

Who’s Allun Caswell?

Let’s return to the Attain for a second. In “The Inexperienced Council,” we see a lord bend the knee to Aegon II, then attempt to escape the Pink Maintain. Larys catches him, and he’s hanged because of this. Simply who is that this man?

He’s Allun Caswell, the top of Home Caswell, who is called solely as “Lord Caswell” in Hearth & Blood. There, he’s equally killed upon Aegon II’s ascension (although it’s by beheading, not hanging). We’ve seen the briefest of glimpses of Allun within the collection—he runs into Rhaenyra and Laenor when they’re carrying child Joffrey to Queen Alicent, and he greets Rhaenyra and Daemon after they arrive in King’s Touchdown in Episode 8—nevertheless it’s probably not clear why he’s so loyal to Rhaenyra and the blacks. Hearth & Blood provides no different information to go on. Maybe he has some unexplored friendship with Rhaenyra, Daemon, or another person of their sphere; maybe he was near Viserys; maybe he simply has a cussed understanding of succession.

At any fee, Allun’s loss of life ought to theoretically push the Caswells towards Group Black. Bitterbridge isn’t a very robust fortress, however it is extremely centrally positioned, mendacity alongside the Roseroad between Highgarden and King’s Touchdown. That would make it an essential location—and the Caswells an essential home—in a battle.

RIP, Lyman Beesbury

The grasp of coin served on Viserys’s council for a minimum of 20 years, if not longer. And whereas he was a little bit of a doddering idiot, the truth that the greens start their rule by simply straight-up murdering a loyal (and presumably shut?) confidant of Viserys is fairly wild.

But the present strikes previous this moderately shortly in comparison with the way it occurred in Hearth & Blood. Beesbury begins with an analogous kind of protest of what the council is planning. However then he turns to go away the chamber, which is one thing the greens can’t enable, as they want time to place their plan in movement and can’t have Rhaenyra alerted to their intentions. Right here’s what occurs subsequent:

Grand Maester Orwyle tells us that Lord Beesbury was seized on the door by the command of Ser Otto Hightower and escorted to the dungeons. Confined to a black cell, he would in time perish of a chill while awaiting trial.

Septon Eustace tells it elsewise. In his account, Ser Criston Cole pressured Lord Beesbury again into his seat and opened his throat with a dagger. Mushroom prices Ser Criston together with his lordship’s loss of life as effectively, however in his model Cole grasped the outdated man by the again of his collar and flung him out a window, to die impaled upon the iron spikes within the dry moat beneath.

In Home of the Dragon, Beesbury’s loss of life appears virtually unintentional, and his was the one blood shed on the inexperienced council, which isn’t the case within the e-book. Take a look at this passage:

Lord Larys Sturdy, grasp of whisperers, then spoke for the primary and solely time. “Allow us to be the primary to swear,” he mentioned, “lest there be traitors right here amongst us.” Drawing his dagger, the Clubfoot drew it throughout his palm. “A blood oath,” he urged, “to bind us all collectively, brothers unto loss of life.” And so every of the conspirators slashed their palms and clasped palms with each other, swearing brotherhood. Queen Alicent alone amongst them was excused from the oath, on account of her womanhood.

So the inexperienced council was a bit extra intentional and violent within the e-book. However a method or one other, the primary blood within the Dance of the Dragons has been shed. RIP, Lyman Beesbury.

What does Helaena know?

After the inexperienced council, Alicent and Otto burst into Helaena’s chambers in search of Aegon. When Otto realizes Aegon isn’t there, he leaves—presumably to search for Aegon elsewhere. Helaena asks her mom what’s occurred, and simply as Alicent begins to inform her about Viserys, Helaena blurts out: “There’s a beast beneath the boards.”

This quote virtually precisely mirrors one thing Helaena mentioned final episode, when she muttered, “Beware the beast beneath the boards” below her breath on the dinner between the greens and the blacks. As beforehand detailed on this column, Home of the Dragon has made Helaena one of many Targaryens who experiences prophetic desires. Her imaginative and prescient that Aemond must “shut an eye fixed” to assert a dragon got here true virtually instantly. However the significance of this newest prophecy is much less clear.

A search of Hearth & Blood exhibits that the phrase “beast” is nearly all the time utilized in connection to dragons. Maybe she meant this as a reference to Rhaenys’s dragon Meleys, who burst via the ground of the Dragonpit this episode … however that ground was made from stone, not picket boards, and Meleys’s large second had no actual impact on any main characters.

There are many different beasts that stay beneath floorboards: rats, worms, beetles, and many others. Helaena might be referring to something right here; solely time will inform precisely what. At any fee, as a dreamer, nearly every little thing she says is value listening to intently.

Aegon’s line of succession

When Aemond is looking for Aegon on this episode, he tells Criston, “I’m subsequent in line. In the event that they search for me, I intend to be discovered.” Initially I used to be confused by this, as Aegon has a male inheritor in his son Jaehaerys (and within the books he has a second son in Maelor, although this character could also be getting minimize from the present). Simply as Daemon fell behind Rhaenyra when she was initially named, Aemond certainly comes after Aegon II’s male kids; that shouldn’t be up for debate.

However Aemond says this earlier than Aegon is topped, which brings up an attention-grabbing query: If Aegon had accomplished extra to refuse the throne, would the greens have topped Aemond? Aemond himself clearly would have accepted the nomination, and I feel we are able to see that characters like Otto would have had no subject anointing a distinct grandson in an effort to safe his home’s place on the Iron Throne. However Alicent’s total justification for crowning Aegon is that she thinks it was Viserys’s dying want. Viserys didn’t say something about Aemond.

Alas, one thing that Otto mentioned in Episode 1 proves prescient on this episode: “The gods have but to make a person who lacks the persistence for absolute energy.” Aegon accepts the crown, and now his son is definitely subsequent in line for the throne, with Aemond coming after.

Household Tree Watch

We had no new births or marriages this week, however we did have Martin confirming the existence of Daeron, the fourth little one of Alicent and Viserys. Which means Daeron will get a spot on the household tree, even when we received’t see him till Season 2.

We additionally bought a glimpse of Aegon and Helaena’s kids, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. Solely Maelor, their youngest little one, was nowhere to be discovered, so I’m eradicating him from the household tree for now:

Subsequent Time On …

Subsequent week is the finale, and the preview guarantees we’ll get solutions to quite a lot of questions, together with:

• What is going to Rhaenyra do?
• Who will aspect with whom?
• How will the dragons be deployed?

And most significantly:

• What’s below Aemond’s eyepatch?