A new episode of House of the Dragon is available on OCS. In “Lamarck”, the conflict within the Targaryen family takes a new turn.
The first season of House of the Dragon continues on OCS with this Monday, October 3, episode 7, entitled “Lamarck” Where “Driftmark” in original version. This second episode after a first jump in time continues to lay the foundations for the war that will tear the Targaryen clan apart, but at an inconsistent pace that is disconcerting. The whole first part of the episode is indeed rather slow. Laena’s funeral is the scene of multiple sets of gazes and slow camera movements that give more like watching a soap opera than a fantasy series. The unusual soundtrack does not help, so that viewers spend long seconds watching characters watching other characters themselves, the whole being supposed to be full of innuendo and messages. The problem being that the messages in question, made of mistrust between enemies and call of the foot between Rhaenyra and Daemon, do not add much to the story.
Yep, the animosity between Rhaenyra and Alicent is already well established, Alicent’s fear-tinged distrust of Larys as well, as is Rhaenyra’s attraction to her uncle Daemon. The most entertaining in the first half of this episode 7 of House of the Dragon remains the presence of children. The descendants of the characters are put on the front of the stage and allow a breath of fresh air to blow over Westeros. Not quite old enough or experienced enough in the ruthless world of Game Of Thronesthe children of Rhaenyra, Daemon and Alicent all have tongue hanging out and turn out to be as frank as they are entertaining. The other shadow that extends over a good part of this episode will remind connoisseurs of the famous episode 3 of season 8 of Game Of Thrones which was aptly named, “The Long Night”. Because once again, the directors of the franchise offer intrigues that take place at night, without providing the essential light that would make it possible to distinguish what is happening without spending time squinting…
Aemond wreaks havoc
The brightness problem had, at the time of Game Of Thrones, much talked about and it’s unfortunate that the franchise didn’t learn from its mistakes – or just didn’t listen to fan recriminations. Whatever, the culmination of the relationship between Rhaenyra and Daemon takes place on the beach, in the dark, which at least prevents the most sensitive eyes from seeing this incest materialize. Must wait the second part of the episode so that the pace finally picks up, thanks in particular to a young Aemond Targaryen with explosive charisma who is hard not to imagine as the next successor to the throne. His big brother Aegon is indeed destined for great things, but it is the young Aemond who comes to redistribute the cards by seizing a dragon that was not intended for him.
There follows a scene of argument between all the children, those of Rhaenyra: Jacaerys and Lucerys, those of Daemon: Baela and Rhaena and the young son of Alicent, Aemond – his brother Aegon being probably decubating somewhere . The dispute oscillates between the comical to see all these kids kicking each other any way they can, and the apprehension to see the inevitable tragic gesture take place in the face of the hatred that drives them. It does not miss besides since the sons of Rhaenyra finally manage to slash Aemond’s eye before the guards finally intervene. The chaos sown by the children is then reaped by the parents, who tear each other apart in the middle of the night in the Velaryon domain to find out who is responsible for this brawl which ended in a blinding. Once again, actress Olivia Cooke who replaced Emily Carey as Alicent Hightower shines with aa theatrical performance that adds just the right amount of tension and emotion to his face to face with Rhaenyra.
Cersei Lannister tunes
The hatred that animates the two women no longer affects their common past but has now reached their children. Like Cersei Lannister in Game Of Thrones, Alicent Hightower crosses the line when it comes to her kids, and does not hesitate to take the famous Targaryen dagger in hand. The scene is spectacular and makes you forget the slowness of the first part of the episode. This dispute also allows to start the next stage of the Dance of the Dragons, with the wedding between Daemon and Rhaenyra. As at the end of episode 5 in which Rhaenyra marries Laenor, this new marriage of the Crown Princess to her uncle Daemon suggests that the writers are about to transport viewers a few years ahead once again.
The pace of this second part of the episode has indeed contributed to changing a lot of things in a short time and the moment seems conducive to a new ellipsis. Despite its pacing and the glaring lack of brightness that’s sure to anger fans, the House of the Dragon sequel continues to deliver on its promise. The dragons are present, the tensions within the Targaryens as well. Hopefully, however, the last three episodes of the season will focus a little more on the new protagonists in order to give viewers the opportunity to become attached to it, an essential step to guarantee their investment in the rest of the series.
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