Where Every Scroll is a New Adventure
HotD episode 10 was a masterpiece, one I both adored and hated. The entire episode felt like a dream of being chased yet having the feeling of not being able to run at all.
There were so many things I wish to highlight. But first, the ironies:
The cruel irony of how everyone had to lose something to attain the crown. While Viserys lost his body, Rhaenyra lost her child (and recieved the crown in front of the pyre)
The way that Daemon ignored Rhaenyra's gut-wrenching calls to him but was the first to bend the knee, fulfilling his role as her ally but failing as her companion.
The fact most predominantly shown was how without the dragons... Targaryens are nothing. To think that the Dance of Dragons began because of a Dragon refusing the command of their rider.
The way Rhaenyra, even through her pain, made it a priority to inform her sons of what had happened in order to save them the pain.
There were also so many parallels in this episode.
Both Daemon and Corlys refusing to acknowledge that they weren't the only ones who have lost a child (completely sidetracking the sentiments of their spouses to have their overdramatic diva moments).
Rhaenyra stripping Otto of his pin, the same way her father did.
Daemon crowning Rhaenyra, the same way he put the crown on his brother's head.
And finally, Rhaenyra receiving the crown standing in front of the burning pyre of her child facing away from it, and in the end... recieving the news of Luke's death standing alone, facing refusal of her claim as a ruler in front of a fire, looking towards it rather than away, thus disregarding her desire to not be a queen of the ashes... now she wishes to set it ablaze herself.
All in all, it was a fitting end to season one and I can't wait to see how season two turns out.
(I have not read the books and all my interpretations are based solely on the show)
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