A Cate Blanchett voiceover in the beginning would've been awesome though =)

I won't lie, I felt the pain in Daemons voice when he said "they don't protect you, I would!" He's going to be a massively misunderstood charachter

The actor who plays Otto Hightower does a fantastic job. I also cannot wait to see more of Rhaenys and Corlys Velaryon. They seem to be a power couple. Also, I don't think the "secret" survives The Dance, I think it is lost to the Targaryens.

I love everything about this- except… the maester told Vicerys that either both baby and mother would die or they could save the baby. There was no way to sacrifice the child and save the mom- the baby had to come out and it was breach and they didn’t know how to turn it, so she was going to die regardless. I think saying he had a “choice” was a poor choice of wording. The mom will not survive with a baby that won’t come out and they did not know how to “abort” the baby to save the mom. She was going to die regardless. They did kill her, but it was either both of them or save the baby. Not one or the other.

The costumes and set design this season are breathtaking, the beautiful shots you can get are simply dumbfounding

"Dreams didn't make us kings. Dragons did." Is what I think Daemon thinks about Aegon's dream regarding the long night. I think Daemon knows, he just doesn't care, or dosent believe in such things

As someone who hasn’t read the source material for this particular series, I’m happy to see these breakdowns. You caught a lot of little things I never noticed, hope we get a few more of these this season if it interests you!

What I really loved about the first episode was the symbolism. The contrast between Queen Aemma's chidbirth and the jousting at the tourney was executed very well. Interesting detail is that even the place was shaped like a woman's reproductive organ. And the first and last scene contradicted each other and is very foreshadowing of what's to come. What great writing they have.

Technically the maester said choose to sacrifice one or lose them both. I wish they used the lines from the book for Jaehaerys mother Alyssa’s death!

I can not believe how great this 1st episode was so glad they got me back into game of thrones after season 8

I don't think Rhaenera tells anyone about the prophesy. I believe the tradition of passing it down from Monarch to heir is broken and dies with her. Rhaegar has to search for it after all, Ghost of High Heart, Scrolls, Studying. I do like the inclusion of it in the story. Arya killing the Night King Breaks all of it but this show seems to be following Book Canon, Thank the Seven!!!

All the reviews I've seen are saying the same thing that Mellos said it was one or the other, but it was pretty clear to me that he said it was the child or neither. And that was backed up in the little after-interview thingy. But it was definitely shot in a way that Mellos might not be trustworthy in his assessment and that Viserys has trouble making tough decisions.

I have to disagree with your description of the birthing scene. King Viserys I choice wasn't the baby or your wife, it was to try and save the baby or both die. The baby was breached and would have killed both of them, if something wasn't done about it.

Great review Kev. Watching the first episode made me realize how much I missed Westeros and the KZfaq community that covers the show. I caught you on Teflon TV's pre-show stream along with Gray Area. You were right you have to watch the subtle glances people share.

The choice Viserys had to make wasn't between his wife and his son. The maester said that either the baby could be saved or both could be lost.

he didnt have to choose between Aemma or Baelon It was either both of them die or try to save the baby.

Loved the different colors of Syrax’s scales on the back of her neck in the Dracarys shot!

I don't think Little finger is known from being from the Vale, but more from the Fingers. I understand that the Fingers are in the Vale.

So happy you are back looking into the subtext of the show. I really enjoy all you put into it

Another great explanation video! Keep 'em coming!

Such a fantastic recap! Thank you for explaining the episode with some color and history and plot points without spoiling it for non-book readers (i actually like to read the books after watching the series so I can he surprised!) I loved it. I will watch any recap for HOTD you are willing to do. :)

Now that S1 had ended and while rewatching your breakdowns I must repeat myself that yours are the best!! 🥰

Awesome job as always! Great to be back!

I remember back in the days when Kev would drop his banger GOT videos and have up to 2 millions views. I hope those times are coming back and they stay consistent, He makes such great videos and he is very educated on the subject matter, O just want Kev to thrive. Love you man.

That was quite an enlightening insight to the new series! Thanks man!

I think you may have misread Boremund Baratheon’s asking of Rhaenys’ favor. I think it was heavily implied that it was an insult, with Rhaenys looking to Corlys in disgust, and Viserys dismissing punishing the slight insult. This is emphasized later in Baratheon’s clear anger/disapproval when he pledges himself to Rhaenyra. He clearly does not believe a woman should be on the Iron Throne.

Honestly impressed! In one episode the series made me despise Otto Hightower as much as 2+ seasons of Joffrey!

Been a while since I’ve been here, but you still have the absolute best ASOIAF videos after all these years. Book 3 Tolkien status my man

Fantastic vid as usual! Really well done. Might recommend it to some people unfamiliar with the source material :) Just one thing I interpreted a little differently to you - when the impossible choice was presented to Viserys - it was said they could save one and sacrifice the other, they didn't say which one... then the deadly version of a C-section was presented as an option. It more seemed the king was presented with the option to save the babe and sacrifice the mother, or let it play out, and likely lose them both. I do not remember ever reading in the source material of a way to save the mother and sacrifice the babe in a serious breech birth, etc... but even if they did have one, that did not seem to be an option presented to Viserys. What i thought was horrific more than the action itself, was that they took the knowledge and choice from Aemma. She may have agreed to it or at least understood why it was happening, but instead they just butchered her in absolute terror. That performance was brilliant. All the actors were fantastic, but damn that scene was intense.

Can't wait to see Galadriel in action. 😄

Thanks for the video! I disagree about Rhaenys being "over" the fact that her superior claim to the throne was passed over twice.

Great breakdown !

Promise me rhaenerya, promise me Ned

Your analysis is very detailed, enjoyed this video a lot! EDIT: I enjoy these types of videos a lot and usually devour lots of them but don't sub because I can always find more from other sources. However, you are the exception because your channel STANDS OUT despite many others doing similar topics and I need to follow your next great video detailing things that other channels may have glanced over or not even cover. Really well put-together video!👍

Been waiting for your breakdown 🙂

The maester said that they either both die or he tries to save the baby so it wasn’t or the other it was one or neither

Great review on the first episode 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

The maester doesn't say choose one or the other. He says we can save one or lose both. All along he indicates that Aemma is going to die regardless, he never presents it as an option for her to be saved. Calling her death murder is incorrect. The intention was never to kill her and they certainly tried what they could to save her after the baby came out.

I've been waiting for this explanation. As always, you are really great. I always love your voice and your narration. 👍👍 The story from Fire and Blood upto ASOIAF is really amazing!

I think "power resides where men think it resides" has 2 meanings.. 1. The normal meaning.. I think you're powerful and there for you are. 2. Magical power, I believe in magic and therefor I can perform it. I believe hard enough that the lord of light can bring people back and therefor power resides there and they do come back. Dany's dragons.. she believed that they'd hatch so power resided where she believed it did and they hatched. Basically you create power in your mind through belief.. magical power and normal social power alike.

Thanks your review is epic

Dude! I love your youtube channel!

After just one episode, I dare to say I'll like the series... Great video again! 😉👍🏼

Also, while they totes murdered Aemma, the Maester told Visarys that Aemma would die. "Sabina Trandafir "it sometimes falls on the father to make an impossible choice" "Well? Speak it!" "To sacrifice one, or lose them both." If they did nothing, they risked losing both.

Thank you for the video! Do you remember where the mention of the throne cutting kings was a sign to others that the cut were cursed? I thought the cuts were symbolic of one's unworthiness, but not necessarily a legend about a curse. Looking forward to all your HOTD content!

Thank you!

Good video Keep them coming… I noticed the god wood trees

I dunno why but you "quoting" Anderson Silva made me way to happy!haha Great job as always mate!

Off to a great start!

Loved this episode, the only thing I don’t like was the fight between daemon and cole because it was just really choppy with the editing and couldn’t really see anything

As far as i understood it wasn't a choice between saving Aemma or saving the baby. Aemma was going to die either way but if they did a c section there was a chance that the baby would live. So the choice was between letting both die or maybe having the child survive.

I will not lie, I did not understand half of what I saw after listening to this. Thank the god's for quality KZfaqrs!

Yes House Of The Dragon is now over 20 million viewers for the first episode!!! This is awesome!!! Game Of Thrones is back baby!!!! And now a season 2 renewal!!¡!!!

Dude great job. I now understand what happened in the episode

That final scene changed so much of my thinking about the Targs.

Just started it yesterday. Been putting it off because of a former friendship. It is definitely interesting, but I love the politics in GoT. Rhys Ifans sounds like Charles Dance at times. I once asked a good friend about Daemon Targaryen and he said, "You don't fuck with Daemon Targaryen."

He never chose between his wife and unborn child. The choice was the unborn child or both die. It was very clear that the wife had no prospect of surviving

Haven't been in your channel since the finale of GoT. Feels great to be back 😌

Great review!!! I’m 💀 dead.. at the Galadriel comparison.. I swear I thought the same thing!!! 😆😆😆

I hate the sex and violence of these shows but I love the dragons. Not watching, so I live for these breakdowns! Great as always.

Is normal! Loved the UFC drop haha. Great video my brother

I bet Rhaenyra will survive by forcing someone else to be glamored as herself with her ruby and get eaten by Sunfyre in her place. That’s why she is narrating; she survived the Dance.

THANKS :)

HAHA love the Silva reference, did not think you were an MMA fan

Small note: little finger isn't from the Vale, he only became lord paramount there after he killed Lyssa, he is originally from the fingers, hence the name

Ahhh finally a detailed breakdown for someone like me who is a fan but hasn't read the books!! 🔥

Hi Bridge 4 I have a interesting Question! What heppened to Aegon the Conquerors original Crown? Where is it now? & will we see it in the books of A winds of winter or dreams of spring again?

The good stuff 👌

So glad to be back here I left for awhile because the only show I watched was game of thrones

12:43 to ty to save one, the child, or lose them both. No the queen was not killed, she would have not survived either way

Oh I've missed your breakdowns.

Hi Bridge, I have a question, I thought the choice put to Viserys was save the child or lose them both? Please explain, thank you.

You are literally the only male reviewer who is calling the queens death for what it was- thank you

17:20 Where was Damon? You can see him standing behind the wall with the circle shaped holes, during that small council meeting (behind Lord Beesbury).

And in today's episode of You Should be Recording Audiobooks......

Why was the Long Night a secret in the first place? They all need to rally together and fight.

Dude I would love to see a flashback of Balerion in the flesh just to see how much of a BEAST he was that would be awesome ✌️💚🤘

17:30 I believe he’s standing hiding right behind the King while he talks.

You were thinking about the implications "in the present". I was thinking about the implications "in the future". Most likely, Mad King told Rhaegar, Rhaegar told... Lyanna (in case he would die at the Trident) and Lyanna told Ned. Then, Ned couldn't tell Jon (Aegon) yet, and eventually, didn't tell him. But he dreamt about it, over and over.

What year is it?

Bro I felt like im the only one who regularly quotes "it's normal" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤘🏾

Blood & Cheese are gonna sneak & creep through those tunnels in the Red Keep in a future season!

Great Video an awesome explanation too! I did notice you said King Viserys had to choose between his Son Baelon and His Wife Aemma the Maester actually said his choice was between leaving it to the God's and losing Both Son and Wife or Saving his Son basically Aemma was dead either way?

I love this ❤️

I'm confused about the "option to continue" and "immediately resetting" is it a creative liberty? From all I've learned there were "rounds" and you had a minute or two to grab your Lance n get ready and I've never heard of being allowed to call for a weapon after a tilt.....

Ha! Galadriel. Love your videos on our favorite show!

Viserys didn't tell Daemon about the Song of Ice and Fire secret. Rhaenyra will tell him...

14:00 we don’t have confirmation that he said it. They don’t show it and when Viserys confronts him he stays silent. Only way we know is from Hightower who hates him.

The choice was not the child OR the wife. The choice was to save the child OR neither.

Hope you do a dragon size comparison when the series is over

The irony of another Stokeworth having a child out of wedlock

Shout out to the Anderson Silva “eetz normal”, lol!!!!

Wasn’t the infection in the very beginning of the episode?

I thought the master told king viserys that they can try to save his baby by cutting him out. The other choice was to lose the mother and child

House Velaryon is an ancient and proud house, with the blood of old Valyria in its veins. A noble house with a storied Valyrian lineage, the Velaryons had come to Westeros even before the Targaryens, if their family histories can be believed, settling in the Gullet on the low-lying and fertile isle of island of Driftmark (so named for the driftwood that the tides brought daily to its shores) rather than its stony, smoking neighbor, Dragonstone. The castle of Driftmark housed their ancient high seat, the Driftwood Throne, which according to legend had been given to them by the Merling King to conclude a pact. Though never dragonriders, the Velaryons had for centuries remained the oldest and closest allies of the Targaryens. The sea was their element, not the sky. During the Conquest, it was Velaryon ships that carried Aegon’s soldiers across Blackwater Bay, and later formed the greater part of the royal fleet. Throughout the first century of Targaryen rule, so many Lords of the Tides served on the small council as master of ships that the office was widely seen as almost hereditary. Their close proximity to the Gullet enabled the Velaryons to fill their coffers from the passing trade in the narrow sea and Blackwater Bay. They allied with House Targaryen from Dragonstone and House Celtigar from Claw Isle, both houses of Valyrian descent; while the Velaryons and Celtigars dominated the middle reaches of the narrow sea with their ships, the Targaryens ruled the skies with their dragons. Robert's Rebellion The Velaryons frequently served as master of ships-so often that at times the office had seemed hereditary-and provided much of the Iron Throne's royal fleet. Lucerys Velaryon served as master of ships for King Aerys II Targaryen, being one of the king's bigger supporters against his son Rhaegar, the Prince of Dragonstone. After Robert's Rebellion, the new king, Robert I Baratheon, granted the castle Dragonstone to his brother Stannis. The Velaryons have been sworn to House Baratheon of Dragonstone ever since.

Buddy. Littlefinger is from THE FINGERS. Not the Vale.

I was wondering how Maegor knew about the secret but his mom was queen so she could have just told him.

Hopping on the Good Foot! Hahahahah...

Do you Think we’ll get to see an “accident” occur at Harrenhall involving daemon and his pet worm dragon?

I'm kinda disappointed that they didn't give a couple of episodes showing how Aegon's Conquer, what happened after like Maegor The Cruel or the regin of King Jaehaerys before directly jumping into The Dance of Dragons