House of the Dragon Episode 5 has been released after one of the most exciting and ‘scandalous’ episodes of the series. The latest episode is titled ‘We Light the Way’ and has a runtime of about 1 hour. It is directed by Clare Kilner, and the teleplay is written by Charmaine DeGraté.
Set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, this epic series tells the story of House Targaryen. Starring Paddy Considine as King Viserys I Targaryen, Milly Alcock as Young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen, Emily Carey as young Lady Alicent Hightower, Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower, Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Velaryon, and Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole.
-House of the Dragon Episode 5 Recap/Review Contains Some Spoilers-
Previously, after Rhaenyra cuts short her tour of Westeros, Daemon introduces the princess to the Street of Silk after dark. Rhaenyra, disguised as a boy, sneaks out with Daemon to explore King’s Landing, where they drink, attend a bawdy play, and visit a brothel where Daemon seduces a willing Rhaenyra, but he abandons her before they have sex.
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Returning to the Red Keep, Rhaenyra seduces Ser Criston. A spy informs Ser Otto, who tells the king about Daemon and Rhaenyra’s carousing. Alicent overhears and privately questions Rhaenyra, who denies having had sex with Daemon. The king angrily confronts a dishevelled and hungover Daemon, who seemingly confirms the accusations and proposes he wed Rhaenyra.
Viserys claims Daemon wants the marriage to gain the crown, then exiles him back to the Vale. To avoid scandal and strengthen the throne, Viserys orders Rhaenyra to marry Ser Laenor Velaryon. Viserys dismisses Ser Otto as Hand after Rhaenyra alleges that Otto manipulates the king for personal gain. The king has Grand Maester Mellos give Rhaenyra a precautionary abortifacient tea.
In HoTD episode 5, we are introduced to the much-mentioned wife of Prince Daemon, Lady Rhea Royce of Runestone in Vale as she is returning from her morning hunt but I wouldn’t say it was the best time to meet her, as she meets her rather an unfortunate end at the hands of Daemon. Meanwhile, King Viserys and the princess are off to meet Lord Corlys and ask for his son’s hand personally.
At first, Rhaenyra was not in favour of marrying someone that his father has chosen for her, as a political decision. But soon she understands what’s at stake and seems to be taking equal interest in it. She knows that this is going to be a marriage of convenience. So, she wants to make it as convenient for herself as possible, as we see her making negotiations with Laenor.
As the creators would say, her agreement with Laenor Velaryon is a very modern conversation set in medieval subtext. Simultaneously, Alicent is left alone after her father Ser Otto’s dismissal from the red keep and that’s when she has to dig deep to find out what she’s truly made of. In all essence, this episode is about her coming to terms and owning her status as a Queen.
House of the Dragon Episode 5: Final Thoughts
House of the Dragon Episode 5 is an embodiment of the calm before the storm. Many things happened previously which has led them to this stage and as they are hoping for things to go well, well only if it didn’t involve a wedding. If you have been well known with the world of Game of Thrones, then you know every season that had a wedding, doesn’t quite go right in the end.
As flashes of the red wedding come to mind, I can assure you that it’s not to that extent but in any way it ends tragically for all the main characters as we will be bidding goodbye to their young selves and meet their adult and mature version in the coming episodes.
HoTD Episode 4 is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
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