Episode seven of "House of the Dragon" was one of the twistiest and most shocking yet, but it did leave a lot of viewers with a question about what might have been going on off-screen: Are Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) sleeping together? If they are, that would have inadvertently led to the fight that tore the Targaryen family apart. Let's consider the facts.
The relationship between the two started in earnest in episode five, after Criston slept with Rhaenyra (played then by Milly Alcock). Alicent speaks to him to see if he knows anything about Rhaenyra sleeping with her uncle, Daemon (Matt Smith), but Criston confesses to their own liaison instead. Alicent feels betrayed because she defended Rhaenyra's virginity to the king. At the end of the episode, Criston kills Rhaenyra's husband's lover, and he almost decides to kill himself, but Alicent stops him.
The relationship between the two started in earnest in episode five, after Criston slept with Rhaenyra (played then by Milly Alcock). Alicent speaks to him to see if he knows anything about Rhaenyra sleeping with her uncle, Daemon (Matt Smith), but Criston confesses to their own liaison instead. Alicent feels betrayed because she defended Rhaenyra's virginity to the king. At the end of the episode, Criston kills Rhaenyra's husband's lover, and he almost decides to kill himself, but Alicent stops him.
- 10/4/2022
- by Victoria Edel
- Popsugar.com
The historically fantastical world created by George R.R. Martin has always been riddled with violence, with some of the most memorable episodes of "Game of Thrones" centering around legendary battles and wedding night massacres. Thus far, the spin-off series "House of the Dragon" has been a masterclass in emotional manipulation and the devastating understanding that the birthing bed is as much of a battlefield as the fields of war. However, without White Walkers, Wildlings, and multiple kingdoms fighting for the Iron Throne, the violence has been minimal compared to the series predecessor. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as extreme portrayals of violence do not a good show make, but "House of the Dragon" finally gave us an epic battle worth talking about, and it's all thanks to the littlest members of the Targaryens and Velaryons.
In the episode titled "Driftmark," the adult rivalry between Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke...
In the episode titled "Driftmark," the adult rivalry between Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke...
- 10/3/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
This House of the Dragon review contains spoilers.
House of the Dragon Episode 7
If nothing else, House of the Dragon’s most recent two episodes have made it clear that the show is really going to miss director and co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik.
Last month, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Sapochnik (who directed some of Game of Thrones‘ most action-packed installments like “The Battle of the Bastards” and “Hardhome”) would be leaving the series that he developed alongside co-showrunner Ryan Condal before season 2. This being Warner Bros. Discovery’s biggest TV product by a wide margin, viewers can be forgiven for looking for spilled tea all around Sapochnik’s departure. In listening to Sapochnik on the most recent episode of the official House of the Dragon podcast, however, it really does seem like the guy just needs a break.
And what a well-earned break it will be! Just like last week...
House of the Dragon Episode 7
If nothing else, House of the Dragon’s most recent two episodes have made it clear that the show is really going to miss director and co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik.
Last month, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Sapochnik (who directed some of Game of Thrones‘ most action-packed installments like “The Battle of the Bastards” and “Hardhome”) would be leaving the series that he developed alongside co-showrunner Ryan Condal before season 2. This being Warner Bros. Discovery’s biggest TV product by a wide margin, viewers can be forgiven for looking for spilled tea all around Sapochnik’s departure. In listening to Sapochnik on the most recent episode of the official House of the Dragon podcast, however, it really does seem like the guy just needs a break.
And what a well-earned break it will be! Just like last week...
- 10/3/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Nanna Blondell stars as Lady Laena Targaryen in Episode 6 of House of the Dragon Season 1. Pic credit: HBO/Ollie Upton
Episode 6 of House of the Dragon not only saw a massive time jump but the death of one of the important characters.
In Episode 5, viewers saw Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) turn up uninvited to Princess Rhaenyra’s (Milly Alcock) wedding to Ser Laenor Velaryon (Theo Nate). Here, he set eyes on Lady Laena (Savannah Steyn), who is the sister of Laenor.
With a ten-year time jump, it was revealed in Sunday night’s episode that Daemon and Laena (now portrayed by Nanna Blondell) had gotten married since Rhaenyra’s wedding.
Laena had also given birth to twin girls, Baela (Shani Smethurst) and Rhaena (Eva Ossei-Gerning).
However, things did not go well for this union and Laena died during childbirth with their third child.
Well, not exactly during childbirth. When it...
Episode 6 of House of the Dragon not only saw a massive time jump but the death of one of the important characters.
In Episode 5, viewers saw Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) turn up uninvited to Princess Rhaenyra’s (Milly Alcock) wedding to Ser Laenor Velaryon (Theo Nate). Here, he set eyes on Lady Laena (Savannah Steyn), who is the sister of Laenor.
With a ten-year time jump, it was revealed in Sunday night’s episode that Daemon and Laena (now portrayed by Nanna Blondell) had gotten married since Rhaenyra’s wedding.
Laena had also given birth to twin girls, Baela (Shani Smethurst) and Rhaena (Eva Ossei-Gerning).
However, things did not go well for this union and Laena died during childbirth with their third child.
Well, not exactly during childbirth. When it...
- 9/27/2022
- by Rachel Tsoumbakos
- Monsters and Critics
Tolstoy once wrote that “all happy families are alike, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”. It is a credo that George Rr Martin, author of the Game of Thrones series, carried through into his novels. And here, in the first episode where House of the Dragon takes a significant jump forward in time, the mantra is as true as ever. This is now the story of three, deeply unhappy, families.
Family affair
The first of these families is headed by Princess Rhaenyra (now played by Emma D’Arcy) who has just given birth for the third time. Her sham marriage to Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan) has necessitated the procreational skills of Ser Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr), eldest son of the Hand. “Healthy?” she asks the midwife, as the baby arrives. “Kicking like a goat, Princess,” the woman replies, earthily.
But the child, (fake) father and mother are...
Family affair
The first of these families is headed by Princess Rhaenyra (now played by Emma D’Arcy) who has just given birth for the third time. Her sham marriage to Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan) has necessitated the procreational skills of Ser Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr), eldest son of the Hand. “Healthy?” she asks the midwife, as the baby arrives. “Kicking like a goat, Princess,” the woman replies, earthily.
But the child, (fake) father and mother are...
- 9/26/2022
- by Nick Hilton
- The Independent - TV
Tolstoy once wrote that “all happy families are alike, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”. It is a credo that George Rr Martin, author of the Game of Thrones series, carried through into his novels. And here, in the first episode where House of the Dragon takes a significant jump forward in time, the mantra is as true as ever. This is now the story of three, deeply unhappy, families.
Family affair
The first of these families is headed by Princess Rhaenyra (now played by Emma D’Arcy) who has just given birth for the third time. Her sham marriage to Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan) has necessitated the procreational skills of Ser Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr), eldest son of the Hand. “Healthy?” she asks the midwife, as the baby arrives. “Kicking like a goat, Princess,” the woman replies, earthily.
But the child, (fake) father and mother are...
Family affair
The first of these families is headed by Princess Rhaenyra (now played by Emma D’Arcy) who has just given birth for the third time. Her sham marriage to Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan) has necessitated the procreational skills of Ser Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr), eldest son of the Hand. “Healthy?” she asks the midwife, as the baby arrives. “Kicking like a goat, Princess,” the woman replies, earthily.
But the child, (fake) father and mother are...
- 9/26/2022
- by Nick Hilton
- The Independent - TV
Olivia Cooke stars as Alicent Hightower in Season 1 of House of the Dragon. Pic credit: HBO/Ollie Upton
Episode 6 of House of the Dragon saw some major characters aged up as a ten-year time jump occurred.
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) was now a mother, giving birth to her third child in the opening minutes of the episode.
Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) also bore another child, a son called Aemond (Leo Ashton).
Along with this, Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) had also married since Episode 5. He was wed to Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell), the sister of Rhaenyra’s husband, Laenor (John MacMillian).
The pair had two daughters, the twins Baela (Shani Smethhurst) and Rhaena (Eva Ossei-Gerning). Unfortunately, Laena died during the birth of their third child.
With Laena’s death, it looks like Episode 7 might take a closer look at House Velaryon.
Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen and...
Episode 6 of House of the Dragon saw some major characters aged up as a ten-year time jump occurred.
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) was now a mother, giving birth to her third child in the opening minutes of the episode.
Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) also bore another child, a son called Aemond (Leo Ashton).
Along with this, Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) had also married since Episode 5. He was wed to Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell), the sister of Rhaenyra’s husband, Laenor (John MacMillian).
The pair had two daughters, the twins Baela (Shani Smethhurst) and Rhaena (Eva Ossei-Gerning). Unfortunately, Laena died during the birth of their third child.
With Laena’s death, it looks like Episode 7 might take a closer look at House Velaryon.
Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen and...
- 9/26/2022
- by Rachel Tsoumbakos
- Monsters and Critics
Shani Smethhurst as Baela Targaryen and Eva Ossei-Gerning as Rhaena Targaryen, as seen in Episode 6 of House of the Dragon Season 1. Pic credit: HBO/Ollie Upton
As was expected, Episode 6 of House of the Dragon introduced a massive time jump of ten years.
This also meant that some of the younger characters were aged up.
Princess Rhaenyra and her husband, Laenor Velaryon, had actor changes, with Emma D’Arcy and John MacMillian replacing Milly Alcock and Theo Nate, respectively.
Alicent Hightower was also aged up, and Olivia Cooke stepped in for Emily Carey because of this.
In addition to this, the children of Alicent were also recast, with Ty Tennent portraying Aegon Targaryen and Evie Allen playing Helaena, who was only a baby in Episode 5 of House of the Dragon.
Added into the mix were several new children. So, let’s have a look at who all these kids are.
Fabien Frankel...
As was expected, Episode 6 of House of the Dragon introduced a massive time jump of ten years.
This also meant that some of the younger characters were aged up.
Princess Rhaenyra and her husband, Laenor Velaryon, had actor changes, with Emma D’Arcy and John MacMillian replacing Milly Alcock and Theo Nate, respectively.
Alicent Hightower was also aged up, and Olivia Cooke stepped in for Emily Carey because of this.
In addition to this, the children of Alicent were also recast, with Ty Tennent portraying Aegon Targaryen and Evie Allen playing Helaena, who was only a baby in Episode 5 of House of the Dragon.
Added into the mix were several new children. So, let’s have a look at who all these kids are.
Fabien Frankel...
- 9/26/2022
- by Rachel Tsoumbakos
- Monsters and Critics
Tolstoy once wrote that “all happy families are alike, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”. It is a credo that George Rr Martin, author of the Game of Thrones series, carried through into his novels. And here, in the first episode where House of the Dragon takes a significant jump forward in time, the mantra is as true as ever. This is now the story of three, deeply unhappy, families.
Family affair
The first of these families is headed by Princess Rhaenyra (now played by Emma D’Arcy) who has just given birth for the third time. Her sham marriage to Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan) has necessitated the procreational skills of Ser Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr), eldest son of the Hand. “Healthy?” she asks the midwife, as the baby arrives. “Kicking like a goat, Princess,” the woman replies, earthily.
But the child, (fake) father and mother are...
Family affair
The first of these families is headed by Princess Rhaenyra (now played by Emma D’Arcy) who has just given birth for the third time. Her sham marriage to Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan) has necessitated the procreational skills of Ser Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr), eldest son of the Hand. “Healthy?” she asks the midwife, as the baby arrives. “Kicking like a goat, Princess,” the woman replies, earthily.
But the child, (fake) father and mother are...
- 9/26/2022
- by Nick Hilton
- The Independent - TV
Fear not, people of Westeros: The line of succession is strong.
True, we’ve said goodbye to Milly Alcock as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Emily Carey as Queen Alicent Hightower, two key peformances that helped make House of the Dragon a massive hit. But even after a 10-year time jump, the introduction of a whole new generation of Targaryen heirs, and the replacement of Alcock and Carey with older actors Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke respectively, this prequel series has somehow not missed a beat. Indeed, this is the show’s best episode yet.
True, we’ve said goodbye to Milly Alcock as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Emily Carey as Queen Alicent Hightower, two key peformances that helped make House of the Dragon a massive hit. But even after a 10-year time jump, the introduction of a whole new generation of Targaryen heirs, and the replacement of Alcock and Carey with older actors Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke respectively, this prequel series has somehow not missed a beat. Indeed, this is the show’s best episode yet.
- 9/26/2022
- by Sean T. Collins
- Rollingstone.com
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