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Editor’s Be aware: This story discusses plot factors from “Home of the Dragon” Season 2, Episode 4.
Congratulations! You made it by means of the first battle episode of the season unscathed.
The chaotic fourth episode of “Home of the Dragon” Season 2 marks a significant turning level in the Dance of the Dragons, with King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), Rhaenys (Eve Greatest) and two dragons popping out of the epic Battle of Rook’s Relaxation not so unscathed. It additionally seems like a superb alternative to do not forget that teasing Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) is all the time a nasty concept. Like, a extremely, actually unhealthy concept.
The episode picks up with Daemon (Matt Smith) at Harrenhal ready for Grover Tully to die so his grandson can inherit his authority and assist Daemon procure a military. Daemon additionally summons the Blackwoods to Harrenhal, whereas Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) is gathering the Brackens for his military as they head to Rook’s Relaxation.
King Aegon finds out about Daemon claiming Harrenhal, and he’s mad. Including to his ire is his extra discovery that Aemond and Criston have been “plotting” warfare video games with out his authority, which is revealed when Aemond says that Criston is making ready an assault at Rook’s Relaxation as a substitute of going for Harrenhal.
The petulant King confides in Alicent (Olivia Cooke), who solely gives powerful love – if that’s what you need to name it – and tells him to just about do “nothing” at this level.
In the meantime, Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) returns to Dragonstone and fills in her cranky small council about her tried peace talks with Alicent, the end result of which she says has left her with solely two choices: win her bid for the throne or die.
Empowered by her revelatory chat with Alicent that she certainly is King Viserys’ rightful inheritor, Rhaenyra is able to faucet into their dragon energy and head to Rook’s Relaxation. Rhaenys volunteers to fly into battle with Meleys, Staff Black’s largest dragon.
In a dramatic montage, Rhaenyra tells her inheritor Jacaerys (Harry Collett) about Aegon the Conqueror’s prophetic dream, Rhaenys provides Meleys a pre-battle pep speak, and King Aegon, of course, can’t simply sit round and do nothing so he hops on Sunfyre and flies out to Rook’s Relaxation.
Rhaenys and Meleys make it there first, unleashing fireplace on Criston’s military on the floor.
However Criston and Aemond anticipated this and they’ve a plan. Solely Criston is aware of that Aemond and the dragon Vhagar are hiding out in the forest ready for their cue, so he sends Aemond the sign as soon as he spots Rhaenys on her dragon. Not half of the plan, nonetheless, is King Aegon flying in on Sunfyre, which causes Criston to momentarily panic.
Meleys wounds Sunfyre fairly badly and a wrestle ensues. King Aegon is simply making an attempt to hold on when Aemond swoops in and fires off a “dracarys,” seemingly aimed in Aegon’s route. As Vhagar’s fireplace reaches the King and his dragon, they fall to the floor.
With Sunfyre out of the image, Vhagar and Meleys tumble by means of the sky in a ball of fireplace as they proceed their pursuit of one another in an actual nail-biter of a sequence. Rhaenys is aware of she is enjoying a zero-sum recreation however continues combating for Staff Black, circling the skies till Vhagar inevitably kills Meleys.
In a devastating slow-motion shot, Rhaenys and Meleys fall from the sky. The huge explosion they land in seals their destiny.
Dazed, Criston later finds Aemond in the woods wanting over King Aegon, who’s mendacity limp on the floor subsequent to a sputtering Sunfyre.
• Alicent drinks an enormous cup of moon tea, leaving us to imagine that she believed she was pregnant with Criston’s child.
• Rattled by her assembly with Rhaenyra, Alicent questions whether or not King Viserys really needed King Aegon to succeed him.
• Younger Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) and Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell) make cameos when they seem in Daemon’s unusual visions.
• Daemon additionally chats with Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) once more, who tells him that Harrenhal is haunted with spirits and questions whether or not he’s making an attempt to show his personal declare in opposition to his personal spouse.
Aemond’s betrayal of King Aegon right here appeared deliberate, versus merely opportunistic. Perhaps he was nonetheless upset about being teased at the brothel and is simply that petty.
Or possibly, one thing way more sinister is at play.
“Home of the Dragon” airs Sunday nights on Max, which like CNN is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.