House of the Dragon (Game of Thrones Prequel - HBO) TV Show • Page 106

I will say I suppose it loses a bit of importance vs GOT because that intro at least used to tell us where we were going that episode

 

I think it looked better and more cinematic I guess. I should probably watch this episode not drunk though, had too much to drink yesterday afternoon.

 

some of the shots looked great, but that camera swing during the Rhaenyra/Daemon talk took me out of it a bit haha

 

lol “wait, why do you hate her so much?”

 

Haha

 

I like that they're leaning more into Aemond having a weird emulation complex about Daemon stuff.

 

Major book spoilers here so don’t peak, can’t really be vague about this one:

Just realized that the battle above the God’s Eye is gonna be extra personal to Daemon because I think in his mind, finally “bringing” Rhaenyra Aemond is how he “makes it up” to her and shows he is devoted to her/her rule, even at the cost of his own life

 

People are so fucking stupid

 

I remember reading the book thinking like man Criston Cole really seems like the biggest prick here besides maybe Aegon, and he is nailing it. The only complaint I had is I envisioned Cole as a little older and more grizzled/tough looking, and Fabian is not that haha

 

I feel like his young sexiness is making me hate him even more.

 

It’s like a good wrestling heel. Criston Cole has heat brother

 

Yeah I was so confused as to why they ended it that way instead of the duel.

Agreed with both. As much as I hate Otto, the actor absolutely killed it this episode. He was FANTASTIC.

JFC people. Fandoms proving why they suck.

 

@David87 Fabien currently lives in Philly lol. @ 5:40 he talks about cheesesteaks

 

Twin duel stuff not really a spoiler but don't want to ruin anyones head cannon. Was talking to a co-worker and he thought it was Arryk that fell on their sword at the end, I don't know which I find more interesting, but I wish they just left it open ended.

 

I think the ”your grace” gave it away, unless the other twin decided in that moment that he made the wrong choice

 

Yeah that’s how you could view it. Which maybe is more compelling. I don’t know. But interesting to think about.

 

Paddy is so great lol

 

Can someone who knows the books/lore (I only watched GOT until like season 5) why everyone in HOTD is cool with incest yet it was more taboo in GOT? Is it just the Targaryn family? The time?

 

In the lore the thing that explains this is what is called "The Doctrine of Exceptionalism". Basically after Aegon the Conqueror died, the Faith of the Seven rose up against the Targaryens because of such things like incest. King Jahaerys I then reconciled with the Faith, and the Doctrine of Exeptionalism was proclaimed.

It means that the rules of the Faith apply to those whose ancestors practiced the Faith, but it should not apply to Targaryens who come from a completely different cultural tradition, and are considered above the rules that apply to "normal" people. So when the Targaryens do incest it's fine, when the Lannisters do incest it is considered heresy.

 

So originally, people just kind of accepted Aegon the Conquerer and his two sister wives (Rhaenys and Visenya), mostly because they came over on 3 huge dragons and conquered the land. The religion of Westeros (Faith of the Seven) is very anti-incest, thinks it’s a huge sin, etc, but just kinda looked the other way with Aegon. Aegon’s son and heir Aenys married a Velaryon so no problem there, but HIS son and daughter married and at this point Aegon was dead and the Faith was was very staunchly against it, rising up militarily, calling any kids that came from that marriage abominations, etc. It caused a ton of bloodshed in Aerys’ reign and in his successors’, Maegor the Cruel (Visenya’s son with Aegon the Conquerer, stole the throne from Aerys son). Maegor basically spent his entire reign killing/warring with the Faith militant and more pious lords because they had basically stopped accepting the Targaryens due to the incest. After Meagor died, Jahaerys (3rd son of Aenys, old king we see at the very first scene in HOTD presiding over all the lords picking Viserys over Rhaenys to be the next king) was crowned as the next king. He wasn’t yet married to his sister, but ended up doing so in secret after his mother (the aforementioned Aenys’ wife) and Hand tried to marry his sister off because they were terrified them getting married would set off a war with the Faith and pious lords/knights again. They basically kept it a secret for a year and a half until Jaehaerys turned 16 and became officially King. During/around that time, Jaehaerys sent 7 Septons and Septas wondering around the realm spreading the idea of Targaryen Exceptionality, basically saying since Targs are a bit more special and different (they can control dragons!), incest for them actually isn’t a sin at all. This along with some other politicking mostly worked and cemented the idea that incest for Targaryens isnt a sin/against the Seven Gods of the Faith.


So yes the tl:dr is incest caused a lot of strife and fighting for years until a Targ king convinced and politicked enough so that Targs=Special, but non-Targs can’t do it

 

Favorite sequence of the Ep was Rhaenyra in the room, the camera is behind her, and you see the reprise of the dust. Some really small but beautiful shots in this episode, probably one of the best of the series. Cinematographer was cooking this ep