I missed the live stream due to other duties… watched some other content ..BUT.. was waiting for the takes of these three all day!!! It’s so good to have fresh viewing content to nerd out on

Me hearing Aziz say he has done psychedelics: *instantly clicks the like button* 😂

Since you guys were being "nitpicky" about the burnt kneeling soldier being fried, but the banner still being in the same shape, I'm going to be nitpicky too, in a hopefully fun way. There is a real life possible explanation for this: carbonization, which can occur very quickly when organic matter is exposed to extreme, searing heat. The material can partially hold its shape, but is very brittle. The roman town of Herculeanum, for instance, which was destroyed in the 79 ad Vesuvius eruption still has carbonized wooden beams and furniture, and even papyrus and bread that were carbonized and preserved due to the pyroclastic flow caused by the eruption. Additionally, I estimate Melys' fire to be between about 750 to 1200 degrees celsius, due to the flesh being burnt off, but the steel armor remaining mostly intact. Probably in the lower range of that though. It seems a direct hit from Dragon fire is like being hit with a pyroclastic flow. Which is pretty insane!

Alicent can talk about "sacrifices" all she want, but what is clear to me is that Aegon is the sacrificial goat here. I mean, she didn't prepare Aegon to be king. She literally fished him out drunk off his mind and put the crown on him. Aegon wasn't an active participant in the scheming and the plotting of his coronation (usurpation), so Alicent's comment " you don't know the sacrifices that were made" don't hold water. No sh**t he don't know and why on earth is she expecting Aegon to honor these so-called "sacrifices". This was a plan concocted by others that was forced upon Aegon who was clueless of any of this and it's stupid for Alicent to reprimand him for underperforming. If she is expecting him to be thankful for being king , she's gotta be really in denyal because everyone wearing a crown in this situation is target. She put a target on his son's back and she's expecting him to be thankful?

Tywin kindly assures Joffrey he'll inform and consult him of happenings within the realm whenever necessary, yet smiles smugly as he walks away, remembering to bow. I prefer that approach to Otto and Alicent

In the behind the scenes or maybe the podcast. The director says it's Meleys who got the better of Vahgar when they're claws latch together, based on birds of prey fighting. Ultimately Vahgar won, but Rhaenys and Meleys fought like hell and due to her moves with catching Vahgars claw. That was a strategic move. To bring Vahgar down, potentially injuring Aemond and injuring her. Rhaenys went back out of duty. It was her duty to win or die trying. She faced death with dignity. She knew what she was about to face and that the odds were not in her favour. She faced it anyway. I do not think she was thinking about Corlys bastards. Rhaenys would have known for a while, but being faced with Allyn, makes a difference. Rhaenys is a professional, experienced dragon rider. Although, we saw her look back at Sunfyre and Aegon as if she hated having to kill another dragon and her kin.

Only being into this story for the dragon fights is WILD to me. Lol

Aziz is the GOAT of GRRRM fandom! I could listen to him all day :)

Aemond's actor gave my favorite performance, MAYBE Eve Best with Rhaenys... The way she was so graceful with Alyn and how she tells Corlys that he should be lifted up and celebrated... I LOVE Rhaenys - She will be missed.

After seeing this interpretation of Alys Rivers, she is kind of an anti Helayna. Both women are considered strange, potentially posess magical gifts, and even what they communicate to those around them is cryptic. From a class angle, Alys is seen as the "woods witch" of a haunted ruin bc of her birth, whereas Helayna is the enigmatic queen closed up in the royal keep.

My interpretation was that Alicent was looking for information on what Rhaenyra told her in the sept. She is doubting herself, and may double down when she can't find anything in the books to support what Rhaenyra said about Aegon's prophecy.

I kept thinking every time Nana Vahgar was on screen that she is like a giant flying crocodile 🐊 or a great white shark. An ambush predator. In the book, she performed a very similar attack but from above instead of below and took out both Malys and Sunfyre in one strike. I can totally see why they switched it up a little for TV 2:18:25

I love the deep dive with you three - thanks so much for the insights!

Alright let's analyse this in detail. To all those who keep saying "why doesn't Rhaenys just fly away?", please think of her options considering the fact that Vhagar is completely unscathed and hasn't just flown from Dragonstone to Rook's rest and so is also completely fresh when she joins the fight: 1: fly to dragonstone. Congrats, now you're leading Aemond and Vhagar towards your queen, granddaughter, husband and Rhaenyra's heir, all nicely congregated inside the dragonstone keep. Aemond and Cole planned this ambush knowing the black's thinking would be "Aemond/Vhagar won't leave King's landing", which would lure out a dragon for them to kill. It's a one-shot opportunity that they're not about to waste, so Aemond 100% is following Meylys to take her out. If Rhaenys turns back, she forces the fight with Vhagar to happen over dragonstone, because if she doesn't hold there Aemond is just going to incinerate the castle and everyone in it as well as the presumably present and riderless Vermax, Syrax and Moondancer. And if she fights him there it'll almost certainly be the same outcome as at Rook's rest with the other three riders only having a few minutes warning. That's not enough time to reach their dragons and get them into the sky. Even if they do, unless the four of them can coordinate perfectly, one decently aimed dracarys from Vhagar and Jace/Vermax and Baela/Moondancer are literally toast. If the stars align perfectly Rhaenys would probaly be fighting alongside Rhaenyra and Syrax for their lives, which is still incredibly dangerous for both of them. More likely Rhaenyra would lift off just as Rhaenys is being killed, at which point a slightly wounded Vhagar probably kills her and Syrax too, ending the war right there. Now maaaaybe you can make the argument that since Meylys is being described as the fastest dragon in the book that she'd have a slight head start between reaching dragonstone and Aemond catching up, and so could raise the alarm in time. But with how short the flight is to dragonstone, and the speeds displayed here on screen I'm skeptical whether that's show cannon, and if it is, how much leadtime it would be. In any case, flying to dragonstone risks her granddaughter and her betrothed (we all know Baela would not have hesitated a moment to help her, and Jace is equally eager to prove himself) and I really don't blame Rhaenys for not willing to risk watching those two die in front of her. The only way this doesn't hold up is if you really believe that under no circumstances would Aemond pursue, and I just don't buy that. He's not afraid of anyone besides Daemon who he knows is at Harrenhal, is not afraid of kinslying, is supremely self-confident, and wants the glory of winning a major battle if not the war. I'm sorry, he isn't letting Rhaenys get away once she shows up. No way in hell. 2: fly west towards Harrenhal. Caraxes/Daemon and Meylys/Rhanys is probably the one combo that Aemond wouldn't be confident facing on his own, so he'd probaly not pursue. However you might as well put up a big sign with an arrow pointing east saying "go ahead, have fun", since that's just giving Aemond clearance to fly to dragonstone and kill everyone there at his leizure, probably piecemeal, before Daemon can even be reched to call upon for help. And if you think that Syrx, Vermax and Moondancer can take Vhagar on their own (take some bites/score some hits sure, but actually kill her? yeah no), then I have a bridge in brooklyn to sell you. That's no real option either. 3: do as she did. Stand and fight were you are to defend the castle you came to defend, and do at least enough damage to Vhagar so that Aemond won't risk flying across the bay afterwards, and maybe, if you get lucky, try and take the greens trump card out in one fell swoop. If Vhagar goes down, so do the greens, it's that simple. It doesn't quite work, but she does do sizeable damage and forces him to the ground, before Aemond makes use of the smoke and the castle to burst out from below (ironically, the same tactic Rhaenys used against Aegon earlier on), taking her out. Still, that earlier skydance and fall didn't look pleasant for Vhagar, and since I suspect Aemond will be needed in King's landing now that Aegon is, uh... let's be friendly and say "no longer in a fit state to rule" to take care of that political mess, Rhaenys was ultimately succesful, even if it did cost her her life.

Y’all should talk about the parallels of 1) Daemon’s obsession with reading the histories after hearing about the prophecy, 2) Alicent’s same obsession, and similarly, 3) Rhaegar’s.

Vhagar rolls nat 20s in stealth

Just a little fyi, since I haven’t heard anyone else speak about it, rhanerya didn’t go to kings landing in complete secret lol Technically the white worm would’ve known about her & her guard’s adventure

This episode was the 1st where Alicent was the closer to her book counterpart. This was all i wanted to see her unleash her rage and anger

Hi guys!!! Long time member, but haven’t chirped in too much. If you have ever seen the Movie, or read The Shining…..I think Harrenhall hall has “The Shine”

Alys Rivers=Ghost of Harrenhal=Ghost of High Heart

Questions 1. With dragons fighting each other: are they only loyal to their riders? What is their awareness and relationship to each other? Some of these dragons have been around each other for a couple lifetimes. Do they not have any bond? 2. I thought Aemond sheathed his sword when he *heard* someone approaching and wouldn't want to be caught killing the king

Alys Rivers's concoction to Daemon made me think of the potion Daenerys drinks before entering the House of the Undying: in both cases they have to master their dreams, to master the environment they're in and their destinies in both cases the individuals giving the potions have ulterior motives in Dany's case, they sure do hope she fails!...

Meleys wasnt injured really in the tussle with sunfyre she lost one horn. Rhaenys was in complete control until vhagar came and even then she took a dragon twice her size down to the ground. If she was going for the kill i acrually think she would have survived and maybe even won.

Upon rewatching it seems clear to me that Rhaenys turned back because of Aemond’s vicious attack on his own brother. She takes the idea of kin slaying quite seriously. I also think she just can’t stand a bully. She had to try and take out that monstrous duo…for the realm. She refrained from incinerating her kin at Aegon’s coronation, she beseeched Rhaneyra to find a peaceful end to the conflict, and at the end, she died standing up to the once-bullied child who had become the aggressor, and defending the king she came to wage war against. What an incredible character. ❤🌳❤️

When Ashaya says Aemond has one move is hilarious I was thinking the same thing lol

​​I missed chat and am getting caught up but the Alys Rivers Scottish accent part made me think of how doctor who Matt Smith matched the RP accent of Scottish actor David Tennant and it stuck for a bit. Yes I was wondering how David Tennant as Daemon would have been.

Every second son in Got/HotD is a parallel to every other second son.

The Daemon hate is ridiculous🙄

Question: did rhaenys have an option but to break through the dragon pit to get out? I’m assuming the opening to the pit was closed to keep the dragon in?

Rhaenys knows about the Hull boys. Look at her face when she's approaching Adam. Any woman who knows betrayal has that look. Pain and anger. She has both.

Also, pretty sure it’s been confirmed that yes that skull is Meraxes

i think Aemond had his sword out while approaching - in case Aegon attacked him (revenge). He is sheathing it because he can now see Aemond isn't going to be a threat (his little weapon lying on the ground).

Quick question, do yuh guys think that Aemond only tried to kill aegon because he embarrassed him in the brothel?? He only seems to act wild when he’s embarrassed, Think about it, with the pig when he was kid , he got sooo upset, then at dinner when he was older, the put the cooked pig in front of of him and start'd laughin, he then got up and started some shit, then (however in the books) when luke goes to treat with house baratheon, aemond was already there and had to choose one of his daughters, after luke came and aemond was gnna let him leave, one of his daughters who he didn't picked said, "im glad yuh didnt pick me, i want a man not a bitch" or something like that, so he chased after luke, now with the brothel!!!

I wanted to chime in on Alicent’s parenting style and how it parallels with Cersei, with Joffrey. Alicent has always called Aegon an idiot and imbecile, so he behaves that way. Cersei tells Joffrey, when you are King, the world will be what you want it to be, you can do anything you want. They both regretted it, in the end when they reaped what the had sewn.

This would have to be the best battle in 10 seasons of GOT/HotD for me. Couldn't have asked for any more. One of you made the great point of saying that if the dragon fights are this good, this early, what are they going to look like in seasons 3 and 4? I think we're I in for a treat in the future! As for the original series, I'm team Blackwater as far as favorite episodes/battles go. Cersei was incredible throughout the whole ordeal. The wildfire was spectacular. And those drums get me fired up every time I hear them...

The only issue I took with the death of Meleys and Rhaenys was that she had literally just used this move to fly up on and surprise sunfyre and Aegon, she knew vhagar was no longer on the ground, and she was too low and should have seen this coming. That being said she had to die here, it was already written and it was too significant to change. On top of that, she died heroically and after coming out on top in a tussle with a dragon twice her size. I actually disagree with Aziz, I think meleys was purposefully going under to grab vhagars leg here to keep her flames away from Rhaenys. It also made it pretty much impossible for vhagar to really damage Meleys. I think this was meant to show us her experience as a rider. She may not have battled dragons, but she has flown with other dragons her whole life. I also agree with Shawn (Shaun? Sean?) that the psychic link is where the commands come from. Rhaenys barely whispers Angos when she goes for vhagar. No way Meleys could hear a whisper while flying through the sky. If Syrax could feel Rhaenyras childbirth pains, and Caraxes knows when to come up to frighten Otto, the dragons can clearly understand the intention of their rider. That being said I love your break downs. Not many live streams I can listen to over an hour, but yours I can listen to all day.

I also knew what was going to happen, yet the second Rhaenys said it had to be her I started nervously tapping my foot and couldn't stop until the end of the episode. It was an absolutely riveting battle scene

Always learning here😊

Sunfyre looks like a Conger eel,it’s been bugging me for a while trying to figure out what it reminded me of.

Really good review and creative intro. When Rhaenyra was about to fall back Tom Pettys song Free Falling started playing in my head. I liked how the dragons' emotions showed in this one how they felt like pets and real animals, The acting was really good All the A names and Rhaenyras acting stood out. Aegon gives off 70s punk rocker energy with his hairstyle since it reminds me of Iggy Pops when he started and his attitude I feel like that actor would make a good punk.

I feel like Daemon will obviously do more hardcore, dastardly shit, but I think by the end he is going to have a Jamie Lannister type of arc. I think he truly fights for his queen by the end.

Thanks for the Georgian shout out y’all!

Viserys personal books, I would think, be in High Valyrian. Other books may be in the Common Tongue. Unless Alicent learned Valyrian as her time as Queen, they would be useless to her.

Aemond was definitely going to kill Aegon. An then maybe finish Sunfyre. I would bet money on it.

I saw myself in Alicent this episode. She acted exactly like I do when I experience one of my more extreme periods (I have Endometriosis). Really all you want to do is curl up with your heating utensils of choice without disturbance and not talk to anyone. Then someone like Larys comes along. You can see how much energy she has to muster up to have this conversation. It is so draining trying to listen to anyone, let alone answer carefully. And the scene with Aegon was so relatable. When a close family member does something wrong or unexpected or not right (according to MY opinion) I always lash out quite harshly. It's kind of like a vent for my pain and feels good in the moment. I feel horrible afterwards of course - my family knows I don't necessarily mean what I say when I am in this state. Still I rather seclude myself and ask them not to disturbe me. So while I think, Alicent wouldn't have said the things she did to Aegon like she did when she hadn't been in pain. Though it's what she is actually thinking in this moment. Great acting (especially the bodylanguage) from Olivia Cooke this episode! Completly different subject: Did anyone else think that Oscar Tully looked like a very young Robb Stark? Was that done on purpose or just a lucky coincidence?

2:25:24 great casting. He does a great job as a villain

The only thing i dont understand is that they very much knew it was a trap and their strength is in their numbers. "Theyre daring us to send a dragon" the only reason they would do that is if they had a dragon waiting there themselves. I dont get that.

Loved Ashaya’s analysis of Rhaenys’ mindset which squared everything for me as to why she just didn’t bolt after Vhaegar appeared. Many times during the dance I kept shouting for Rhaenys to leave, she’s overmatched, and yet kept circling back. It’s understandable from the military perspective, try to kill the usurper King and take out the dragon nuke, Vhaegar which she had to know would most likely lead to her death. As Ashaya alluded to perhaps she was already dead inside learning of the years of hidden betrayal of her husband with the bastard child and knowing it would be Corlys’ heir, something that would have been to her shameful to live with. Thank you Ashaya for further increasing my respect and sympathy for Rhaenys. True heroism and sacrifice from the Queen that never was.

Gayle Rankin hasn't put an extra something into her voice for her accent as Alys, she's drawing out some words to make her native accent no so thick for the general worldwide audience.

I feel so bad for Sunfyre

2:39:38 yep 💯

I wonder if the Scottish accent seems slightly off due to the fact this actress has been in a lot of roles where she does an American accent. I wonder if that has rubbed off on her and effects her natural accent

Fab-ien, not Fay-bien.

VVillem still haunts Yoren iirc

How old are Addam and Alyn supposed to be in the show? Addam looks older than Laenor and definitely Laena. Wonder if they will work out that yes, they are Corlys's bastards, but from before he was with Rhaenys?

This was a great episode but the only real stupid thing was Vhagar peeping out from behind the castle. I mean come on. Why have such a cringe stupid moment when you easily could have just not done it and have Rhaenys and Meleys lose the fight and die.

How do you get access to the show early?

'comely' 🥴

There must be some kinda way outta here. Said the dragon to rhaenys

❤

THHHHHHHEY

🖤💚

Why is she speaking off-screen?

The show purposefully trying to smear and destroy the character of Aegon II is really disappointing but not at all surprising…

Guy on the right is so cringe.

Vhaegar is not a she . Dragons are both male and female , as mutable as flame . - Septon Barth

Who cares about accents in a fantasy world that doesn't exist? Why do they speak with British accents anyway? THAT doesn't make any sense...