With some powerful performances and compelling writing, ‘The Lord of the Tides’, the eighth episode of the first season of House of the Dragon, was perhaps the most moving episode of the season and definitely one of the best so far.
We see another six-year time jump, with new actors in the roles of the Targaryen-Velaryon brat pack. It seems to have been six years of relative peace from scheming, fighting and intrigue with each of the crucial players staying away from each other. But then good things don’t last long in Westeros and a succession contest (no, it is not for the Iron Throne yet) threatens to throw things into chaos once again.
Lord Corlys seems to be gravely injured in battle and with his recovery in question, his brother Vaemond wants Driftmark and the title of The Lord of Tides for himself. Rhaenys, who is handling the affairs of Driftmark in her husband’s absence, wants to fulfill Lord Corlys’ desire to make Lucerys Velaryon the Lord of the Tides. Both decide to take the succession petition to King’s Landing for a solution, prompting Rhaenyra and Daemon to head to King’s Landing as well, fearing challenges about her children’s parentage and her succession to the throne.
The decision is supposed to be taken by King Viserys, but there is one minor problem. Viserys is a bedridden, skeleton of a man, who spends his time drinking opium and all the decisions in his name are taken by Alicent and her father Otto, the reinstated Hand of the King.
Alicent’s compromised ethics
Amidst all the administrative decisions that Alicent has to handle, she also has to handle her useless, bratty and rapist son Aegon’s misdemeanors. The scene where she “takes care” of her son’s latest victim is a potent one, where you can see that she feels for the girl but her ethics have been compromised by power. Alicent tells the girl that she believes her but others might not because it is her word against the prince’s and she hugs the girl genuinely but at the same time hands over a bag of money and the morning after potion.
But it is once all parties gather at the Red Keep that the episode enters its best leg. Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra delivers a powerful portrayal of a woman who finally understands how tenuous her hold on the claim to the throne has become. Olivia Cooke (as Alicent) doesn’t have a lot of scope to have an impact in this episode but holds her own.
The episode is won by Paddy Constantine as the fading Viserys. The scene where, urged by the pleas of Rhaenyra, he turns up at the Driftmark succession petition is one of the best scenes of the season. An emaciated, bent over, feeble Viserys, with half his face covered in a mask makes the long trek to the Iron Throne to what might be his last attempt at keeping the peace. And it makes for a poignant and powerful scene. Daemon’s quiet assistance and Viserys’ acceptance of it hints at the brotherly bond that remains under all their clashes, especially when Daemon puts the crown, something he coveted, on Viserys’ head.
The season’s most sudden death
When Rhaenys puts forward her support of Lucerys as heir, Vaemond loses it and among a lot of ranting and posturing and prattling about bloody nonsense decides to go ahead and call Rhaenyra’s children bastards. The last time Viserys had promised to take the tongues of people who made such allegations and says the same this time, but before one can comprehend Vaemond is beheaded, very neatly, by Daemon as Aemond looks on with what can only be called glee (more about Aemond in a bit). It is one of the most sudden deaths of the season.
Gruesome and pointless death apart (we have learnt to take those in our stride by now), Viserys ends up confirming Lucerys’ claim to Driftmark and announces a family supper.
Again the scene belongs to Constantine who gives a speech worthy of a Shakespearean drama. This is a man who knows he is not going to live very long and he takes off his half mask asking all the people gathered to see him as who he is. He urges them to stop the in-fighting and keep House Targaryen strong.
Rhaenyra proposes a toast to Alicent
And he succeeds, almost. Rhaenyra proposes a genuine toast to Alicent for her devotion to her father. Alicent reciprocates by toasting Rhaenyra’s potential as a Queen. Jacaerys toasts Aegon, despite taunts and the table settles into a happy feast. Till Viserys retires to his chambers and mayhem almost breaks loose. Who instigates it? Why Aemond of course. Finding his dragon and losing one eye seems to have made him a master swordsman and a bloodthirst. He stands up to toast Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey and keeps referring to how “strong” they are, not making any attempts to hide what he wants to imply, making the Targaryen boys react with a punch. But before there could be another sudden beheading, the fight is diffused by Daemon. We are sure the staring match between Aemond and Daemon is a precursor to a face-off sometime soon.
Despite the slight hiccup, Rhaenyra and Alicent part on what feels like a tenuous but genuine attempt at a cordial relationship.
But, please refer to the sentence far above and remember that nothing good lasts in Westeros, so obviously Viserys mistakes Alicent as Rhaenyra and tells her that he believes in Aegon the conqueror’s dream and about the Prince That Was Promised. He tells her that she has to do it, which Alicent, who has never heard the prophesy, obviously misunderstands, thinking Viserys was referring to their son Aegon. Viserys dies soon after and I am sure Alicent will try to make her dying husband’s wishes come true. Oops!
