House of the Dragon Episode 9 Review – The Greens’ King?

The latest GOT prequel is  about the house whose people are closer to gods than men. The house that tamed the greatest power the world has seen- dragons. The house our Mother of Dragons – Daenerys Stormborn belonged to: House Targaryen or rather House of the Dragon. The show focuses on the great Targaryen Civil War that was known to be the Dance of the Dragons. The war between Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Aegon II that destroyed that Targaryen house from within and the might of the house was never the same. The war that rendered all the dragons extinct. The show is based on another book of George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood. The pilot of the prequel became HBO’s biggest debut and has since continued its glorious run with each episodes seeing a rise in viewership numbers.

The latest report suggests that the show has an average audience of 29 Million per episode, making it the biggest hit after Game of Thrones.  The show’s events are set 172 years before Daenerys Targaryen. Season 1 is laying the foundation for the civil war and episode 8 has taken the biggest step towards the war. Viserys’ death while sad was inevitable to move forward the the story. So after the last episode ending with his death was extremely intriguing. I knew the next episode would be absolutely explosive. It was extremely painful to wait for seven days for the next episode. Now, that it is out, it is a much different episode then I thought it would. All the episodes from the prequel have been great especially the last three. Let’s find out whether this one lives up to the quality of the others.

So, without any further ado, let’s continue the Dragon Saga. Review Marathon – Episode 1 / Episode 2 / Episode 3 / Episode 4 / Episode 5 / Episode 6 / Episode 7 / Episode 8

Episode – The Green Council (SPOILERS AHEAD)

Rating – ★★★★1/2

House of the Dragon Episode 9 Review: The Last Wish!

House of the Dragon Episode 9 is very rightfully titled The Green Council as the entire plot revolves around the Greens. This episode doesn’t feature Emma D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra or Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen. The storyline entirely about Alicent and Olivia Hightower finding out that the King is dead and plotting against Rhaenyra as they seize the Iron Throne by crowning Aegon II the King. The episode itself begins with an atmosphere full of dread. The color palette of the entire episode is mostly black.

Most of the action happens at night or in darkly lit rooms. It appears as if the entire King’s Landing is mourning. Although, no one knows that the King is dead. Talya is the first know and she tells her mistress Queen Alicent. After which Otto is informed. The entire small council is informed where Alicent tells her misinformed last words of Viserys. She still thinks Viserys wants Aegon II to be King. The small council led by Otto then reveals their true intension that they were planning to overthrow Rhaenyra as Queen for 20 years now.

Otto orders to massacre Rhaenyra and her entire family. Lord Beesbury who is Master of Coin objects to this treachery. Criston Cole kills him as he tries to shut him up. Ser Westerling resigns from his post of Lord Commander of the King’s Guard. Alicent doesn’t allow Otto to slay Rhaenyra but she does ensure that Aegon II would be crowned on the morrow. However, the King to be crowned is not anywhere. No one knows where he is. He is not in the Red Keep, so Alicent and Otto send out their servants to trace Aegon II in the entire King’s Landing.

Alicent sends out Aemond and Criston where Aemond mentions how he thinks Aegon II is not worthy of the throne and in his stead, Aemong should take it. No one is able to find Aegon II anywhere. Until a birdie tells the searchers that the White Worm knows where he is but she will only tell that to the Lord Hand. Otto meets with the White Worm where we know that Mysaria is the mysterious title. Mysaria demands that the crown would ban savage use of children in Flea Bottom. Otto agrees and then tells her where Aegon is.

She says one of the best lines from the episode, “There is no power but what the people allow you to take.” It was a GOTy line. Alicent meets with Rhaenys and asks for her support. Their conversation is extremely interesting. Rhaenys asks Alicent why does she imagines herself as only a servant to her husband, father and son. However, Alicent leaves simply asks for Rhaenys support and doesn’t answer. Otto calls all the banners and asks them to pledge fealty to Aegon II. The ones who bend the knee survive, others are slaughtered.

Larys too is in support of Alicent and does his part to help her cause. Aegon II doesn’t want to be King. He simply wants to flea King’s Landing but he is still taken to the Red Keep. Rhaenys with the help of her sworn protector fleas the Red Keep. Alicent reveals to Aegon II that his father loved him and his last wish was for Aegon II to be King. Aegon II then understands how he is needed and not ignored. Everyone from King’s Landing gather to see the crowning ceremony. Aegon II is crowned and he is cheered and hooted by the crowd.

And just when we think that all hope is lost, in the episode that only showed the Greens plot against Rhaenyra and see their dreams and plans succeed, the final minutes of the episode absolutely shatter everything. Princess Rhaenys enters the crowning ceremony with her dragon ruining everything. Rhaenyrs is almost about to burn Aegon II but Alicent stands in her way and thus, Rhaenys simply scares the pants of everyone. Everyone is absolutely terrified by Melys’ roar. She flies away on her dragon and the episode ends.

Verdict

I like this episode so much. I like how they haven’t shown Rhaenyra’s side or reaction to all this. This episode is the epitome of treachery and cruelty. The episode very rightly shows the worse side of Otto, Larys and to be honest almost everyone who is on the Greens’ side. However, I like how they distinguish Alicent from all the others, she still has an ounce of humanity left in her. Another thing that I loved in the entire episode is how there is a sense of dread, mourning and threat.

Be it the performances or the cinematography or production design, it all melds together. The episode does one great thing on top of all these things. The previous episodes from the birth of Aegon II were dedicated to characterize him as a jerk and an outright undeserving candidate for the throne. This episode changes that. I mean he is still a jerk but there is some depth to him. He doesn’t want to be King because he feels Viserys loved Rhaenyra more and never wanted him as the King.

He didn’t want to be King as he thinks Alicent is always disappointed in him. Because of all this he thinks he doesn’t deserve to be King and he wallows in his own misery and self-pity. I absolutely love how the episode ends. Rhaenys siding with Rhaenyra to keep her husband’s wish of having a Velaryon on the throne. I love how Rhaenys enters like a badass. Finally, she gets some recognition and a great scene. I love that character for so long and it is great to see her making everyone scaring everyone’s pants off.

I can’t wait for the finale as it will focus on Rhaenyra and how she becomes -“The Black Queen”. The finale will be disturbing as the event that leads to Rhaenyra’s transition is quite horrifying and sad. Episode 9 is great and gets a rating of drum roll please……. 4.5 out of 5 stars. The betrayals and shocks have officially kicked in. I’m sure there’s more to come in the season finale. If you haven’t watched it already, check out House of the Dragon on HBO Max or Disney+ Hotstar.

House of the Dragon has an incredible ensemble cast that includes Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans. Along with the main cast, the supporting cast of the show includes- Milly Alcock, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Emily Carey, Harry Collett, Ryan Corr, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jefferson Hall, David Horovitch, Wil Johnson, John Macmillan, Graham McTavish, Ewan Mitchell, Theo Nate, Matthew Needham, Bill Paterson, Phia Saban, Gavin Spokes, Savannah Steyn, and more.

The first nine episodes of HOTD are currently streaming on HBO Max or Disney+. New episodes will debut on every Sunday or Monday on HBO and HBO Max or Disney+ Hotstar depending on the region you live in, at 9 pm or 6.30 am.

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