While House of the Dragon has made some significant changes to book characters when adapting them for the small screen, they’ve taken one character and have decided to give him more meat. Ormund Hightower was a relatively small footnote in the George R.R. Martin lore, but thanks to actor James Norton and the writers, Ormund is becoming one of the most interesting characters this season. Full of the same ambition as his uncle Otto, Ormund is young, has an army, and is more zealous than the previously mentioned. Plus, his ward is Daeron Targaryen. He has the ability to take this war in a direction even Otto didn’t. Plus, Ormund is bringing a presence to the screen that is unsettling. Maybe not Ramsay Bolton-level unsettling, but it’s brewing.
Daeron Targaryen’s true identity is revealed in episode four and it’s confirmed that Ormund’s ward is Alicent’s fourth child. Despite being under Ormund’s care, Daeron is an interesting character. He is clearly obedient, but he’s a Targaryen. He loves his dragon, despite his uncle’s orders not to show Tessarion affection. Daeron also clearly knows Ormund’s anger cues and questions his uncle’s methods when it comes to the war, but does not disobey. This will be an interesting dynamic moving forward.
We check back with Rhaena after the Battle of the Gullet, who is in self-proclaimed exile due to her role in Jacaerys’ death. The story that we’re seeing played out here is different than Rhaena’s story from Fire & Blood. It’s clear they’re giving Rhaena aspects of the cut character Nettles and while fans of the book are disappointed by that and by the change in Rhaena’s story, I am happy that we won’t see Daemon having an affair with a teenager (which, is what happens in the book). However, Daemon has deceived Rhaenyra – will she find out that he’s finally stepping up for his daughter [by covering for her]?
It’s also very clear that Helaena is pregnant, so will we finally be seeing her child Maelor, who we all thought was previously cut from the story? Also, Sunfyre may be alive? Aegon is not my favorite character in the least, but it was heartbreaking seeing how upset he was over finding his dragon in such a state. Larys assures that Sunfyre is dead, but a Targaryen has a bond with their dragon – is Sunfyre actually alive?
Corlys annoyed me this episode. Rather than being the wise Hand of the Queen that we thought he had grown into, he reverted back to season one Corlys. The first half of season one. The Corlys who threw temper tantrums when he didn’t get his way. When it was very obvious that Corlys simply wanted power and to put a Velaryon on the throne, even if it was to the detriment of others. This is the Corlys who was willing to wed his 12-year-old daughter to Viserys. Just because Rhaenyra asked for time before legitimizing Addam and Alyn, Corlys has tucked tail and run. It did provide an interesting scene between Alyn and Rhaenyra, though.
Small notes – Barry Sloane is part of the Queensguard! As a fan of Captain Price from the Call of Duty video game franchise, this was cool! Now, we definitely are going to see some consequences from the Gold Cloaks taking Rhaenyra’s orders too far. It’s going to be an intense rest of the season!a bitch
A girl with too many fandoms to count.
