House of Dragons - Episode 6 Review

Story posted October 15, 2022 in CommRadio, Arts & Entertainment by CheRanda Hammond

For Game of Thrones fans, the name “Joffrey” is probably followed by a look of disgust thinking of Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) in the show “Game Of Thrones”. Now there is a new Joffrey in town Joffrey Velayron the third son of Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Laenor Velaryon (John McMillan) in “House of The Dragon”

The sixth episode titled “The Princess and The Queen” gives fans the long-awaited time jump of 10 years ahead, still giving a preface to the “Dance of Dragons” mentioned in the books. The episode starts with the birth of Rhaenyra and Laenor’s third son Joffrey and shortly after Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Coke) requests to see him immediately.

Last episode viewers saw a lot of gore. There wasn’t as much gore in this episode but still a lot of tension and fighting. Alicent wants her husband King Viserys (Paddy Considine) to recognize or acknowledge that his Daughter Rhaenyra’s children do not favor their father but favor Rhaenyra’s rumored lover Ser Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr).

The King seems to turn a blind eye as it is his only daughter from his first wife and heir to the throne. The tension between Alicent and Rhaenyra seems to spill over to the children when they are training in the yard. A friendly training turns into Ser Harwin Strong fighting Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) after he mentions rumors about him and Princess Rhaenyra.

This episode still has death without the gore, we meet older Laena Velayron (Nanna Blondell) who is married to Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and has two daughters with him and another child on the way. They face some different opinions as to whether or not they want to stay in Pentos or go back to Driftmark.

By the end of the Episode, Ser Harwin Strong is sent back to Harrenhal by his father to put an end to the rumors about him and Rhaenrya. Rhaenyra is taking her family to Dragonstone where she can stay until it is time for her to take the throne. Laena has issues with the birth of their third child and while the maester is speaking with Daemon about the next steps Laena takes it upon herself to die by fire from her Dragon Vhagar. Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) sends criminals to torch his family home, killing his brother and father who were inside.

Overall, this episode seemed to have the right amount of everything with fighting, deaths, and plotting. Fans who haven’t read the books though may be left with more questions than answers considering what happened in the 10-year time jump off screen and may feel slighted of getting to see the character development of Ser Harwin Strong and Laena Velayron.

I believe the next episode will continue giving us the preface to how the “Dance Of Dragons” began and everything in between. The actors and actresses continue to do an amazing job portraying their characters, Olivia Coke is such a great actress that fans on social media hate her character Queen Alicent Hightower. King Robert Baratheon from “Game of Thrones” once said to his wife “It’s a neat little trick you do, you move your lips and your father’s voice comes out” and the same can be said for Alicent.

Rating: 4.5/5

 

CheRanda Hammond is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email clh5932@psu.edu.