House of the Dragon Episode 4 Review: Double Standards Cause a Royal Scandal

Home of the Dragon episode 4 — out now on HBO Max and Disney+ Hotstar — is all about how shortly fortunes can change. By halfway by way of episode 2, Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) had made an enemy of his brother, King Viserys (Paddy Considine), for stealing a dragon egg and styling himself Lord of Dragonstone. Daemon additional angered him in episode 3 by beginning a conflict within the Stepstones and dragging the Crown into it. But, firstly of episode 4, due to a victory he secured, Daemon is again within the king’s good graces. Publicly, at the very least. BUT—by the tip of Home of the Dragon episode 4, Viserys despises his brother and banishes him, due to his half in a royal scandal that has engulfed Viserys’ inheritor and daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock).

Talking of the long run potential Queen, Rhaenyra results in a a lot greater quagmire by the point Home of the Dragon episode 4 wraps. All gave the impression to be effectively between father and daughter after we final noticed them collectively. In the mean time — Aegon II has turned three, we’re instructed, which suggests a couple of yr has handed — Viserys has organised a tour of potential suitors for Rhaenyra. It is how Home of the Dragon episode 4 opens, with males (and boys) of all ages making a verbal PowerPoint presentation on why they’re greatest suited to be her husband. However Rhaenyra swipes left on all of them, and cuts the tour brief two months early. Viserys is “pissed off” that she has returned with out choosing anybody, Rhaenyra’s greatest buddy Queen Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey) tells her.

“It is uncommon for a girl to get a selection between two suitors, not to mention two scores,” Alicent notes to the inheritor of the Iron Throne. “They solely need my title and my Valyrian blood for his or her offspring,” Rhaenyra objects, to which Alicent replies on Home of the Dragon episode 4: “I believe it is fairly romantic.” The Targaryen teenager retorts close to immediately with out considering: “How romantic is it to be imprisoned in a fortress and be made to place out offspring after offspring?” Rhaenyra has inadvertently neatly summarised Alicent’s scenario, and when she realises the unintended jab, she comforts her greatest buddy by squeezing her hand.

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Emily Carey as Queen Alicent Hightower, Milly Alcock as Rhaenyra Targaryen in Home of the Dragon episode 4
Photograph Credit score: Ollie Upton/HBO

However it’s additionally clear that whereas Alicent is completely satisfied along with her place, Rhaenyra cares extra for journey. That has all the time been her. So later that night time in Home of the Dragon episode 4, when Rhaenyra finds a be aware and a bag stuffed with commoner’s garments in her chambers, she jumps on the alternative. Slinking by way of a secret entrance in her bed room, Rhaenyra finds Daemon ready for her, who subsequently introduces her to the nightlife of King’s Touchdown. First up, they see a play — Sport of Thrones did this very properly, so I am completely satisfied to see the prequel spin-off proceed in that vein — that Rhaenyra does not take kindly to. Largely as a result of they’re mocking her feminine credentials (A lady inheritor?! Will she be feeble?), whereas noting that child Aegon II has a conqueror’s title and a penis. How does that depend for something?

The following part of the Flea Backside tour is rather more risqué. For Daemon although, it is simply one other Tuesday. The Targaryen prince takes his niece right into a pleasure den on Home of the Dragon episode 4, opening Rhaenyra to a spread of sexual gratification she has by no means witnessed earlier than. Daemon then takes off her headgear — the very factor that aided in her disguise, protecting her unmistakably white Targaryen locks hidden — as they head deeper in. It is like he desires everybody to know she was right here.

After which, in full view of everybody, Daemon makes a transfer on his niece. “Marriage is an obligation,” he says to Rhaenyra, as Home of the Dragon episode 4 intercuts with Queen Alicent silently taking her husband, who woke her up on a booty name in the midst of the night time, “however that does not cease us from doing what we wish.” As he undresses her, Daemon turns her round and pushes her in opposition to the wall, however when she turns round to face him and repeatedly tries to kiss him, he runs off. Clearly, the rogue prince has gotten too used to paying for intercourse, and does not prefer it when another person takes management.

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Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen in Home of the Dragon episode 4
Photograph Credit score: Ollie Upton/HBO

When Rhaenyra will get again to her chambers, she’s nonetheless in a playful temper. She teases her bodyguard Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) by snatching his helmet, earlier than kissing him as he tries to take it again. The Kingsguard take a vow of chastity, so Criston is of course conflicted. He pauses to contemplate what he is moving into, earlier than giving into Rhaenyra’s very apparent wishes. What follows is without doubt one of the most tender moments within the historical past of Sport of Thrones as a franchise. Although admittedly, that is a really low bar contemplating most sexual exercise is both violent, gratuitous, or each. It has been mere minutes for the reason that Queen was basically pressured into intercourse on Home of the Dragon episode 4 itself.

Within the morning although, there is no time for Rhaenyra to bask within the afterglow. The Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower’s (Rhys Ifans), spies woke him up in the course of the night time to inform him what the Princess was as much as. And Otto’s first motion within the morning is to barge into the King’s chambers and spew every part he has been instructed. Participating in “behaviour unbecoming of a maiden”, Otto tries to place it respectfully on Home of the Dragon episode 4, whereas nonetheless clearly punching down at Rhaenyra. However Viserys does not react properly — he thinks it is a plot on Otto’s behalf. Nonetheless, Otto will get what he desires, as a result of the inquisition begins the second he leaves.

A hungover Daemon is dragged into the Nice Corridor — his star has fallen shortly, contemplating the place he was firstly of Home of the Dragon episode 4 — the place Viserys launches at him. The King is much more livid for a way simply the Prince accepts his actions, after which has the gall to suggest that he’ll take Rhaenyra as his spouse if no different lord would. Viserys has no real interest in his needs. In any case, it is not the Princess he desires, however the Iron Throne. Additionally, Daemon already has a spouse he is ignoring, Viserys factors out, and tells him to go to the Vale with the little shred of respect and dignity he has left. What a rollercoaster for Daemon — he has gone from outcast to being accepted to being thrown out.

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Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen, Milly Alcock as Rhaenyra Targaryen in Home of the Dragon episode 4
Photograph Credit score: Ollie Upton/HBO

First, Alicent confronts Rhaenyra who denies that Daemon even touched her. Although she’s sad that her greatest buddy is accusing her of issues she “overheard”, the Targaryen inheritor does admit that she went frolicking about Flea Backside with Daemon. “It was silly of you to position your self able the place your advantage might even come into query,” Alicent finally says to Rhaenyra in Home of the Dragon episode 4. This may be unsettling coming from anybody, however it’s much more so when it is uttered by a girl and one in all her closest companions. Alicent is clearly not one to problem internalised misogyny. Nobody would even bat an eye fixed if Daemon was noticed in pleasure dens — he is finished it a thousand occasions, in reality — however we won’t have Rhaenyra lurking about such corners.

Rhaenyra factors out these precise double requirements to her father. “If I had been a person, I might father a dozen bastards and nobody in your court docket would blink an eye fixed,” she says, after she’s summoned to his chambers in Home of the Dragon episode 4. Viserys notes that she’s proper, however “you had been born a girl.” The King is successfully saying that the universe dealt her a foul hand — and now she should reside with it. Rhaenyra’s late-night escapades have additionally blown aside the goodwill she had earned. Viserys has determined that she’s going to marry Laenor Velaryon — the son of Princess Rhaenys “The Queen Who By no means Was” and Lord Corlys “Sea Snake” Velaryon, simply as Viserys’ adviser instructed him on episode 3 — to resolve what he notes has change into his “political headache”.

In return, Rhaenyra units out an ultimatum to her father. Otto should go, she says, for he is too dedicated to his private pursuits: to place his grandson Aegon II on the throne. And similar to that, one major solid Home of the Dragon member is out, it appears, as a blindsided Otto is stripped of his Hand of the King place.

And although I am positive there will probably be extra to this royal scandal, Home of the Dragon episode 4 places a be aware on it on the finish, as Rhaenyra is served a “particular tea”. The King had it brewed, to make sure there aren’t any “unexpected penalties,” the Maester tells Rhaenyra. What he is making an attempt to keep away from saying is that the tea acts as a morning-after capsule. It is helpful for the Princess too — she might not have had intercourse with Daemon, however she did take her bodyguard to mattress.

Home of the Dragon episode 4 is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar in India, and HBO Max wherever obtainable. New episodes launch each Monday at 6:30am IST/ Sunday at 9pm ET.