The slower pace of the previous episode continues with the sixth episode of Season 2 of House of the Dragon but there is no let up in the build-up to the finale, which is just an episode away.

King’s Landing and the Red Keep get a lot of the limelight this episode and provide an interesting look at the power politics at play between members of Team Green, and the grave state of hunger and deprivation among the Smallfolk. We see more of Ulf the White, Hugh Hammer and Alyn of Hull and are introduced to a new character — Alyn’s brother Addam.

There is nothing exciting happening to the Team Blacks with Rhaena stuck in Vale, Rhaenyra stuck in Dragonstone and Daemon continuing to have visions in Harrenhal. Daemon’s visions could have been one vision too many if not for Paddy Constantine showing up as King Viserys I. But the show makes up for the same-old, same-old with a thrilling and fun episode closing, which is worth its weight in dragon.

Spoilers follow

Politicking aplenty

What I miss most about Game of Thrones while watching season two of HOTD is the politicking, and episode six and Team Green gave us plenty of that. Alicent Hightower realises the extent of her loss of control over the running of the kingdom and her son, as Aemond summarily dismisses her from the Small Council asking her to follow more “domestic pursuits”.

Larys Strong hopes to be Hand but Aemond asks Otto Hightower to be summoned back, pushing Larys to Aegon’s bedside telling him to go easy on the Milk of Poppy since even after the burns have healed his mind will be the only thing that will be whole. Aemond presses Aegon hard to find out what he remembers from the fight and you can see fear take over the pain in Aegon’s one good eye as he tells his brother that he remembers nothing.

Aemond also sends Ser Criston Cole to attack Harrenhal against the wishes of almost everyone at the Small Council, showing how much out of their control he might be.

Plots and the people

There is plotting aplenty going on at Dragonstone as well where Mysaria comes through for Rhaenyra as she helps spread discontent among the Smallfolk of King’s Landing without even leaving the island. Small boats carrying fresh produce under Team Black banners silently sail up to the shores of King’s Landing, causing the starving Smallfolk to chant Rhaenyra’s name. They riot against the King's Guards and mob Queen Haelena and Alicent as they come out of the Septs.

But it isn’t just thankfulness, though there is a lot of that, for having a confidant and support that drives Rhaenyra to change her embrace with Mysaria and turn it into a truly scorching kiss. A lot of it might also be because of loneliness and the fact that they both have Daemon in common and know what he is capable of.

At Harrenhal, Daemon, who is reduced to tears with his latest vision of his brother Viserys, finally asks Alysa the witch for help to raise an army. After being schooled by her about how maybe Rhaenyra would be better suited to the crown after all since she didn’t strive for it in the first place, she, however, tells him to sit tight and do nothing. Lo and behold, Lord Grover Tully suddenly ends up dead, with the Lordship of the Riverlands going to his grandson.

The dragonseeds

Rhaenyra and Jace’s plans to find dragonseeds — that is people with Targaryen blood even though not claimed as Targaryens — get off to an incendiary start only not in the way they had hoped. A trusted and valiant knight, the first to try to tame a dragon, is burned alive by Seasmoke, and Rhaenyra’s plans to fortify her strength by finding riders for the three unpaired dragons go up in smoke.

Ulf the White, who is busy riling up the Smallfolk; Hugh Hammer, who steals produce sent by Rhaenyra from another (important point to take note of for future reference); and Alyn of Hull, who is still saying no to the Sea Snake’s job offer, get more extended screen time as the finale approaches. In addition we meet Addam of Hull, Alyn’s brother and another one of Lord Corlys’s bastards, who has an interesting dragon experience towards the end of the episode.

Dragon action

We almost see Caraxes fly but Daemon is told to sit tight. We see Seasmoke make charred lumps of a knight and a few dragon keepers. And then, right at the end of the episode, we see her engage in a delightful cat and mouse game with Addam, who of course has no idea why a dragon is chasing him. News of a rider on Seasmoke sends Rhaenyra and Syrax soaring to the sky.