REVIEW: House of the Dragon – Season 2, Episode 5, “Regent”

Television Reviews

***SPOILERS***

“Regent” Opens with Rhaenyra and Corlys mourning the loss of Princess Rhaenys. Meleys is paraded through King’s Landing as a traitor as the King’s wounds are tended to. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra’s Council remains unwieldy, worse with Rhaenys gone. Jacaerys wants to confront Daemon at Harrenhal despite Baela’s protests. Daemon seeks to gain the Brackens as allies, but they would rather burn to death. Rhaena arrives at The Eerie, and Lady Jeyne Arryn isn’t happy to see her. Mysaria counsels Rhaenyra on the power of whispers and the people’s discontent. Daemon has another dream in Harrenhal. Alicent urges the Small Council to nominate a regent in the King’s absence. Despite her desire to rule, Aemond is chosen. Alicent calls Criston out for betraying her as the people of King’s Landing suffer and starve. The Freys ask Jace for Harrenhal in exchange for cooperation. Alys cautions Daemon against waging war on the innocent. House Bracken pledges to Daemon after a defeat by the Blackwoods. Baela delivers Corlys the news that Rhaenyra wants him as her Hand. She then denies his offer to be his heir. Rhaenyra sends Ser Alfred to Harrenhal to speak with Daemon. The Lords of the Riverlands refuse to support Daemon in the wake of their people’s mistreatment. Mysaria’s emissary arrives at King’s Landing. Jace informs Rhaenyra of the progress with the Freys, and she expresses pride in him, but also anger at her lack of freedom to act. 

House of the Dragon is my favorite show running right now, and it serves as the perfect contrast to The Acolyte. Almost everything about this show is great, whereas every aspect of that one needs significant reworking. Some episodes will naturally be more flawed than others, but even a lesser House of the Dragon is preferable to the best The Acolyte has to offer. I mention this because “Regent” is my least favorite episode of House of the Dragon in a while, certainly this season. But it’s still better than most other shows airing right now. It’s important to acknowledge that this show is generally so good that one “meh” episode is a blip. 

I didn’t enjoy “Regent” as much mainly because I’m tired of Daemon’s Harrenhal trips, and nothing much happened. I felt like things were happening during the episode, but none of the major stories advanced. Offers are made, and suggestions thrown out. But nobody does anything! I have generally enjoyed the Harrenhal exploits a lot; they’re creepy and atmospheric, and I don’t fully know most of the Strongs’ intentions. Alys Rivers, though, is bad news; I don’t trust her. Anyway, we’ve officially reached what I think is enough of this subplot, at least the weird dreams. We get it; Daemon isn’t in his right mind. We didn’t need to see him fantasize about his mom. I thought it was Aemma, Viserys’ wife, but people are saying it’s Viserys’ and Daemon’s mom, and that does make sense. Creepy. Daemon is one of my favorite characters, so I tend to like it better when he’s doing something. He threatens to burn the Brackens alive in “Regent” and surprisingly doesn’t do so. Although what he does is far worse, sending the Blackwoods in to rob, rape, and pillage common folk with no dog in this fight. Rather than winning the allies he needs to his side, he forces them to join with heinous acts against the innocent. I like this part of the episode, and when the Lords come to Harrenhal to chew his ass. Although I like Daemon, I know he does bad things, and scenes like this are well-deserved. I think it’s strange for the witty, dangerous Daemon to let Alys toy with him like this. He’s usually the one doing the toying, and that’s more interesting to watch. Alys is poisoning him and messing with his head, which is hurting his charisma and prospects in this Harrenhal pursuit. I think this frustration is partially intentional, but I’m officially over it. 

Daemon and Rhaenyra are both being incredibly stubborn, the former trying to stake his own claim to the Iron Throne and the latter refusing to ask for help. I understand Rhaenyra’s desire to stand independently; she’s the heir and a woman, and she feels she has much to prove. But Daemon’s support does mean a lot. He’s ruthless, and together, I think they would be unstoppable. Regardless of what both are saying, I think they do need each other. Rhaenyra needs this unstoppable warrior, and Daemon needs Rhaenyra’s steadying hand and claim to the Throne. But they won’t get along and present a united front against the Greens. How is this supposed to look? Your family is already splintered into two factions vying for the crown, and now, your splinter group splinters off again. Not a good look. I don’t think these two will see each other alive again, much less cooperate to get the Throne, and I find that so frustrating and disappointing. In the end, Rhaenyra does the right thing, sending Ser Alfred to Harrenhal with a message for Daemon. I’m not sure the message is compelling enough or that Alfred will arrive in time, but Rhaenyra unsurprisingly comes to her senses faster than her husband. I like Rhaenyra’s line to Ser Alfred that they’ve only lived in peacetime, and he hasn’t seen any more battles than she has. 

Calling Meleys a “traitor dragon” is awfully harsh; she’s just an animal. She didn’t make any oath to the Greens or the Blacks; she just obeyed Rhaenys. The Greens also lie about who killed Meleys, giving Aegon credit for Aemond’s handiwork. I like how this plays out, though; they may have just made a serious error in PR judgment. The people of King’s Landing view the dragons as God-like beings, and this display as a bad omen. Not to mention, these people are starving; it’s not the time for such a tacky celebration of bloodshed. They’ve done a wonderful job this season of showing how ordinary people are suffering because of this familial civil war. It will pay off in a big way, as Jace suggests they find dragon riders among other families to bolster their numbers. Just like in real life, other families have Targaryen blood due to cheating, prostitution, marriage, etc. I’m intrigued to see how this goes down. Maybe some of these “Dragon seeds” can tell the Targaryens exactly how they’re hurting the people of Westeros.

The only plot development in “Regent” besides Daemon’s war on the common people is Aemond becoming the King Regent. It’s delicious watching Alicent getting undermined. I especially like the long shot of her face as the Small Council continues business as usual. I can’t believe this woman joined the side that doesn’t think a woman can rule, only to be shocked and offended that they won’t let her rule. Now, she knows how Rhaenyra feels, although I doubt she’ll make that connection or feel sorry. Watching her reaction to being denied the power she denied Rhaenyra is almost funny. She even preaches to Cole about what Aemond is. Girl, why do you think he’s like that? Alicent’s sons are messed up in part because she was such a distant, unaffectionate parent. With Viserys focused on ruling, his legacy, and those Westeros Legos, she was her kids’ primary influence in their formative years – Alicent and Otto, in fairness. I don’t feel bad for her that her sons are turds, and especially not that she has been denied the Throne. I like the scene where she comforts Aegon, though, caring for her son like she should have when he and the others were little. The scene where Helaena asks Aemond about what he did to Aegon is great, too. I especially like his silhouette against the Throne and the look they give each other. 

The acting, dialogue, and visuals in “Regent” are on point; House of the Dragon never disappoints there. However, the story mostly lumbers along, with only two events occurring. The rest is talk and gesturing at what will happen in the coming episodes. Still, it doesn’t even feel like setup because nothing is happening! I look forward to the rest of the season, nonetheless, and it’s not a terrible episode.