Written by Eileen Shim
Directed by Andrij Parekh
Rhaenyra: "It is my fault, I think, that you forgotten to fear me."
I've got to say, we should all be thanking Mysaria. In the absence of Rhaenys and apart from Jace and Baela, she's really proven her worth as Rhaenyra's Mistress of Whispers. She knows how to get things done and she outdid herself this week.
Mysaria's scheme of sowing dissent amongst the smallfolk against the Greens, coupled with Rhaenyra generously giving supplies of food worked an absolute treat this episode. Not only are they starting to think the Blacks are better but both Alicent and Helaena got a very public dressing down of the very folk that current Regent Aemond has no concern for.
Rhaenyra this week certainly had her mixed successes. Mysaria's plan might have worked beautifully in giving her an advantage but Jace's one certainly needed work. All I can say is that Steffon Darklyn didn't deserve to get incinerated by Seasmoke but alas, he did. Saying that, Rhaenyra and Mysaria getting more intimately acquainted was a turn up for the books (also not in the actual source material).
Getting back to Seasmoke though, he wanted to choose his own rider and the lovely Addam found himself gaining a dragon without even having to do anything for it. I love that Seasmoke actively pursued Addam and wouldn't take no for an answer in this instance. Rhaenyra, you just got yourself a worthy ally. Just go with it.
Back at the Red Keep, when she wasn't getting fish flung at her by the smallfolk, Alicent got another reminder of how her crappy parenting became her undoing. Aemond had absolutely no problem removing her from the small council and he's become an even bigger bastard since being named Regent that Aegon II has suddenly looked like a better alternative.
It's tremendously hard to sympathise with Alicent when her brazen stupidity has brought about her own downfall. I did feel a bit bad when she had to listen to Gwayne tell her how kind Daeron was compared to her other sons. The show's really trying to set Daeron up as an ace for the Greens sleeve next season, aren't they?
Going back to Aemond for a bit, how this season has made him viler than Aegon II took some doing. He's definitely going to do something reckless in the last two episodes that will backfire on the Greens and no-one, including Alicent or Criston can rein him in. He also didn't appear happy when it was revealed that Aegon would recover as well.
Last but not least, it's really time to get Daemon out of Harrenhal and that's in spite of my enjoyment of characters like Alys and Simon Strong. The hallucinations this week included Viserys, which I liked, especially when Daemon did something he should've done during the first episode. Also, how could I not love seeing Matt Smith and Paddy Considine giving such brilliant performances.
I guess the plus side of this Harrenhal escapade this week was the fact that not only did Daemon get his wish with Grover Tully finally dying (no doubt by Alys's hand) but the Greens are also about to head there. If that doesn't liven up this strand in the last two episodes, nothing will.
- Corlys appointed Alyn as his ship's first mate. Alyn keeps cutting his hair to hide his true lineage. At this point, he needn't bother.
- Gotta love Rhaenyra finally slapping one of her council members. It's about time they were reminded who was boss.
- Yes, the dog appeared again in the episode as did the likes of Hugh, Kat and Ulf White.
- Looks like Rhaena will be getting herself a dragon in the form of Sheepstealer. Originally it was Nettles in the book but we're not getting the character for the show.
- Other stuff that happened in the episode included Alicent nearly being married to the Greyjoys, the Beesburys plotting revenge, Aemond wanting to align with the Triarchy as well as the return of Jason Lannister.
- Chronology: Not long from where the last episode left off.
Smallfolk was a stronger episode, compared to last week and one with plenty going on for the Black and the Greens. Even Daemon's story in spite of being the weakest gained some momentum here but it was the Rhaenyra/Mysaria scenes that were the highlight along Seasmoke and Addam.
Rating: 8 out of 10
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