In an episode that’s steep in politics and action, House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 6, titled “Smallfolk,” continues to elevate the series to new heights.
Spoilers Ahead
Tensions in King’s Landing
King’s Landing is in turmoil. As to be expected, the first casualties in war are the smallfolk. They’re trapped within the city and starving. At the beginning of the episode, there’s an arrival of food on boats carrying the black and red banners of House Targaryen. In a plan hatched by
Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno), Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) sent boats of food to both aid and cause chaos amongst the smallfolk of King’s Landing.
Queen Dowager Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and her daughter are caught in the chaos at the Sept. As they’re rushed to their carriage by their knights, the smallfolk attack the knights and tensions rise.
Meanwhile, Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) is concocting his own plan for power. Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) isn’t the best at ruling, so Larys Strong, as the recently appointed Master of Whisperers, suggests the Prince Regent appoint his own hand (seems familiar, doesn’t it?). Yet, Aemond does the first smart thing all season and summons his grandfather, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans). Yet, he still dismisses his mother from the Small Council.
Aemond also sets Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) marching toward Harrenhal after Jason Lannister summons Aemond and his dragon to assist in taking the stronghold. He then instructs the other Lannister twin to make an alliance with the Triarchy to try to get through the blockage.
He wraps all this up by visiting his injured brother. Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) has awoken, but still sleeps most of the day. Aemond presses on his wounds while demanding to know what his brother remembers. Aegon claims that he remembers nothing, but he’s not fooling anyone.
After Aemond leaves, Aegon is visited by Larys Strong. Strong encourages Aemond not to take the milk of the poppy because while it makes the pain go away, it will also muddle his mind. He tells the young king that while his wounds may heal, he will never be whole again. It’s a stark reminder of how severe Aegon’s injuries are from someone who has been considered a cripple his entire life. Larys reminds Aegon that his brother is vying for power and his life is in danger. While Larys only visited the King as he was once again passed over for Hand, it is an interesting new avenue of scheming we see happening.
Out in the castle yards, Ser Criston Cole and his knights prepare for the long journey to Harrenhal. Among them is Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox), the eldest child of Otto Hightower. The arrogance he once had has been tempered by the brutal realities of war.
Alicent inquires about her youngest son, Daeron, who was sent to Old Town as Gwayne’s ward. Gwayne points out that she must know since they write letters to each other. She admits they rarely do anymore, causing Gwayne to soften.
“He’s stalwart,” Gwayne says. “Clever. As skilled with his lute as he is with his sword. And quite popular among the young ladies, I’d wager.” He pauses, thinking. “He’s kind,” he adds. Alicent looks both relieved and sorrowful. Gwayne also notes that it was good Alicent warded her youngest son as he points out that the Red Keep doesn’t foster kindness in young men, clearly unimpressed with his other nephews. “Was it the court or was it their mother?” Alicent wonders aloud, the weight of her mistakes evident.
Ser Cole exchanges a long, meaningful look with Alicent as he prepares to depart. Their last words were bitter, and there’s no telling if these lovers—bound more by hate than love—will see each other again. She gives him a slight nod, and he turns and rides off.
More Visions at Harrenhal
Daemon (Matt Smith) remains haunted by visions of his brother, King Viserys I (Paddy Considine). In these visions, we see that Daemon doesn’t crave the throne for power but for his brother’s love and approval.
Viserys, from the Iron Throne, accuses Daemon of once calling his son “Heir for a day,” a slight Daemon dismisses as ancient history. Viserys’s anger and rejection have consumed Daemon, driving his resentment towards Rhaenyra’s rise to power. Daemon attempts to flee the throne room, only to tumble before a bemused Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale), steward of Harrenhal, who humorously questions his state of mind. Daemon, suspecting treachery, threatens Strong, who remains unimpressed.
Storming out, Daemon heads to his dragon, Caraxes, but encounters Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) at the Godswood. She speaks of older, unseen powers and Daemon’s blindness caused by anger. When he laments Rhaenyra’s undesired crown, Alys suggests that those who don’t seek power might be the best rulers. He seeks her counsel on dealing with the Riverlords, who will only unite under Lord Tully. Daemon, finally admitting his need for help, receives Alys’s advice to wait, as the winds will soon shift.
Later, Daemon learns of Grover Tully’s death, orchestrated by Alys. Alone, he weeps—whether from relief or grief remains unclear.
Other Happenings
We can’t have a recap without mentioning the two biggest twists in the episode. First, Seasmoke claimed a new rider. While Rhaenyra tried to find her own rider for Seasmoke, which literally ended in flames, Seasmoke had other ideas. The dragon literally chased down Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) to claim him.
Meanwhile, when Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) shares a vulnerable story with Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra rushes to the woman to comfort her, which transitions into a kiss. The two are interrupted by the announcement of Seasmoke’s new ride.
Conclusion
“Smallfolk” is a standout episode that encapsulates what makes House of the Dragon compelling. It weaves intricate political plots with heart-stopping action, all while maintaining a focus on the human cost of the Targaryen civil war. As the series progresses, the stakes are higher than ever, promising more thrilling episodes to come.
Scattered Thoughts
- The episode’s pacing is superb, balancing high-stakes political drama with action-packed sequences.
- Rhaena stumbling upon burnt grass, evidence of a dragon in the Vale, is the introduction book readers have been waiting for as we anticipate her claiming a dragon.
