House of the Dragon S1E09 Explained

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@6:12 Otto definitely does NOT tell Harold to arrest Rhaenyra. "Be quick, and be clean" is clearly a subtle order to murder her and her family

Helaena Targaryen is the Patchface we didn't get in the original series

When Alicent called Aegon an imbecile I actually thought she meant: "You imbecile, of course, I love you, how can you even ask that?" She even smiles lightly when she says that. But at the same time, she's not capable of actually saying she loves him so that's her way of expressing it.

Also notice how Aegon looked so depressed walking towards his coronation, but once he received a standing ovation from the people his confidence increased, because it was the first time he was recognized and appreciated, after years of being used, rejected, scorned and ignored by Alicent and Otto.

Criston is totally the“nice guy” that kills a girl that doesn’t reciprocate his feelings.

They really did an awesome job casting this show

Anyone else notice how the conqueror's crown is too big for Aegon's head? The symbolism is everywhere in this episode

The whole 'girl boss' moment is kinda undercut by the whole killing hundreds of civilians thing.

Poor Alicent during that feet scene. She had the same dead-eyed dissociative look she’d have when Viserys would send for her in the middle of the night

I love how the Twin Kingsguard are as if Jaime was split in two characters

HOTD really makes both Rhaenyra and Alicent more sympathetic, their book versions seem more evil and conniving

I feel for Aegon. Let's be real, his father and mother did not love hor care for him. Every time we see him interact with Alicent, she belittles him, his father spoke maybe 4 sentences to him during the show. He was also forced to marry his sister whom he does not love. Dude knows nothing of love or kinddness. Is it really a surprise he is so messed up? The kicker, though? He KNOWS he shouldn't be king and tries to run away. He has enough self-awareness of his own flaws to know the best he could do is walk away, and knew that for YEARS. He is also smart enough to not only see Aemond wants the throne, but humble to know Aemond would be so much better at it than him and is very willing to give it to him. How many characters in GoT are both selfaware and humble enough to do that. Aegon could have been a far better man if his parents actually did their job.

I didn't believe Alicent was actually calling Aegon a "Imbecile" as an Insult but rather saying his question was dumb. Almost as if she said "Of course I love you idiot"

who else loves Olivia Cooke? I absolutely love her acting as Alicent.

11:28 The woman who recognised Aemond actually taught Criston Cole’s actor drama. He said it was awkward for him

Otto met Mysaria back in episode 2, standing side by side with Daemon. I guess 20 years really had passed since he just doesn't recognize her.

Larys: My Queen, there's something.....afoot Alicent: Ugh, what is it this time?

Olivia Cooke is not only crazy beautiful but such an amazing actress. They really did an awesome job casting this show.

I think you misunderstand Otto's comments about Alicent looking like her mother. He uses the same facial expression and tone that he did after Alicent cut Rynaera. He is proud of Alicent for beating him to Aegon. It's a pretty common film troup for a father who is proud of his daughter to say that they look or remind them of their mother. He only sees Alicent as an equal when she stands up for herself and goes after what she wants. I have a feeling that was what her mother was like, and one of the reasons Otto loved her so much. The only other explanation I can see is Otto seeing his power slipping, and uses Alicent's mother to pull on her heart strings and keep himself in the Redkeep. Now that I think about it, both could be true.