House Of the Dragon: Episode 10 Review
“A war is likely to be fought over this treachery, to be sure. But that war is not mine to begin.”
Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best). The last episode titled “The Black Queen” of “House Of the Dragon” has finally premiered and the series’ first season has come to a close.
Princess Rhaenys informs Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) what has taken place in King’s Landing including the passing of King Viserys (Paddy Considine) and Aegon (Tom Glynn - Carney) being crowned as his successor.
The news sends the princess into early labor, forcing her to have a stillbirth for her sixth child. While the princess is mourning the child she just lost, Ser Eryyk Cargyll (Elliott Tittensor) shows up with the king’s crown and recites the oath of the Kingsguard (now queensguard). Rhaenyra is then crowned by her husband and all in attendance at the funeral bend the knee to their queen.
Now that Rhaenyra has had time to process some things she now needs to find a way to not send the realm to war, although her husband Daemon (Matt Smith) seems hungry for war.
Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint) returns from his war at sea and is in good health. Corlys decides that he no longer wants to pursue the Iron Throne and does not want to declare for anyone, Rhaenys convinces him otherwise.
The Velaryon fleet being one of the biggest fleets in the realm gives Rhaenyra the confidence to see who her other allies are before she sends them to war. House Arryn, House Baratheon, House Stark, and House Tully still have yet to declare which side they are on. Instead of sending ravens, Jacerys (Harry Collett) suggests that they take their dragons to deliver the messages.
Episode ten of the series was a great way to end the first season. Episode nine was centered around the performance of Olvia Coke, while episode ten focused on Emma D’Arcy. House of The Dragon in my opinion alternates the theme of every episode with action and emotion. The odd-numbered episodes seemed to be more action-packed with very small amounts of emotion whereas even-numbered episodes took some on an emotional roller coaster.
Just like Queen Alicent (Olivia Coke) we see princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) go through the same set of emotions of grief and betrayal all in one. Rhaenrya loses her father and her child in a small amount of time but also learns that she has been betrayed by her childhood best friend. The last scene of the episode has no talking but the acting is phenomenal as you can feel the emotion coming off the screen.
Sadly fans will have to wait until 2024 when the second season is set to come out, but if it is anything like the first it will definitely be worth the wait.
Rating: 5/5
CheRanda Hammond is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email clh5932@psu.edu.
