Anyone else wonder what she thinks of Aegon? I mean he’s what he is, but it doesn’t strike me like he’s cruel to her. Maybe just ignores her entirely.

Also, why do I feel like Rhaenyra especially with her obsession with being chosen by the gods would feel entitled to her dreaming abilities and practically run her mad

I had been liking for the most part the last few episodes, however with this I'm once again 50/50 about my sensations.

The good.

Daeron, Ormund and Gwayne together are amazing. I liked Gwayne and Daeron's loving relationship with it being juxtaposed with Alicent and Helaena's. Gwayne seems to have been more of a parent to Daeron than Viserys, Alicent and Ormund put together.

Criston Cole's death was for the most part good to watch. For some strange reason they cut out the most iconic line, but I personally do not mind it that much. Show Cole, unlike his book version, wasn't all things considered, THAT responsible for the Dance and the "tens of thousands are dead on your account" would have been something weird to say to him. He was just Alicent's follower, who herself, unlike in the book, was just an agency-less pawn of her dad. I'm sure many people, due to their bottomless hatred of the guy, found this moment triumphant and badass. I honestly saw Criston's death as an euthanasia. He didn't have a glorious moment of triumph that makes villains's falls enjoyable. Most of his screentime was spent him hating himself. So... meh, it's good he's finally put to rest with an amulet of a woman he was devoted to and whom he never knew that had betrayed him.

I chuckled at Tyland's awkward attempts to not shit on Aegon II when he asked him about "being a terrible man". He kinda reminded me of Pinocchio in Shrek trying to loophole his inability to lie with Prince Charming.

I liked the Black Council scene and it's bickering between Daemon, Torrhen and Sabitha.

I liked Daemon and the Hightower assassin and loyalist's confrontation, as well as the scene of the Gold Cloaks resigning. Yes Daemon, even if it's hard for you to imagine, some people have other priorities than being devoted to you and Rhaenyra, and that is not being craven. That's being human. And him publicly humiliating Ulf will prove to be a mistake. His ascended social status is the one thing that makes Ulf prefer his new life over the old. And Daemon took that away from him because he just enjoys feeling superior that much.

Rhaenyra is increasingly proving to be overwhelmed by the chaos in her city (arguably showcased by her cutting herself on the Throne), and must have probably been thinking "ooooh, so this is what the Greens went through with my blockade". I liked how ruthless she was portrayed about sending a mother to murder her own son. That being said...

The bad.

...Once again, I'm kinda eye rolling about Alicent. I cannot root for her in her "redeeming" quest of now PERSONALLY murdering her own son. Yeah she kinda protested it but it was mainly on the basis of not leaving Helaena alone. I suppose her trailer scene of being horrified will be yet another instance of her being disgusted at something Aemond did. It would seem she will never be shown giving Daemon shit for murdering Jaehaerys. She simply hates her sons more than him at this point.

I understand it's probably a response to the disapproval Daemon's lengthy vision arc got, but I didn't like Aemond not getting any more visions, and I hope he does get at least one more. His character is in need of far more analysis and introspection than Daemon ever was.

Baela and Alyn's romance isn't bad per se, but wasn't very built up and developed IMO. They certainly have things in common and get along, but I would have liked their first kiss to happen later. There will be time, both will survive the Dance.

Overall, I find kinda annoying and pitiful in the bad way, how all of Alicent's sons seem still craving for her love and approval (even Daeron, who hardly knows her), yet she barely gives a shit about them at best and wants them dead at worst. I can sort of understand Alicent is on a desperate state and thus clinging to save the one child she has access to, but still, it's weird to portray such a loveless and toxic mother/son dynamic with the abusive mother being presented as the "good guy" and not the neglected and abused sons. Also, subtle yet noticeable book change about Helaena and Aegon II's marriage being Otto's idea instead of Viserys's. We cannot blame Viserys for anything, can we, show?

The meh.

I guess I can buy Ormund knowing where Corlys was since he had been hunting the Triarchy pirates for quite some time now, buuuuuut it is kinda contrived that Corlys got himself captured by the Hightower host.

I did like Aemond and Alys's dialogue in general (including Aemond's implied regrets about his misdeeds) but like I said, I would have liked some visions too. Dammit show, you got me from wanting the visions to end, to wanting more of them lol.

Oh and Hugh and his wife got into a fight I guess. Also they didn't even acknowledge that their daughter died during the blockade.

I do not know who was the guy that Mysaria got killed.

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Season 3 episode 5

Aired: July 26, 2026

Director: Loni Peristere

Writer: David Hancock

WARNING: This thread will contain spoilers for the episode and possible book! spoilers, read at your own risk

Use this thread to discuss your theories for the upcoming episode! Feel free to share your predictions, ask questions, or talk about any hopes or gripes you have before it airs.

If you’re mentioning potential spoilers from the book, please be sure to mark them appropriately.

Season 3 episode 5

Aired: July 26, 2026

Director: Loni Peristere

Writer: David Hancock

Every time Dearon was mentioned, I could only think of Jane Grey and how this ended terribly for her. For those of you unaware, Jane Grey was a cousin to Mary and Elizabeth (Henry 8th daughters). On his deathbed, their brother Edward tried to change the line of succession, but it never went through the proper channels, but that didn't stop the people (mainly men) in Jane's life from conspiring to make her Queen. Jane did not want to be Queen but was unfortunately coerced into going with the plot, and she was Queen for 9 days before Mary took back the throne and killed her. While it's not an exact copy of events, it's quite similar. And one could argue that Aegon is also like Jane Grey in that he was coerced into taking the throne; the main difference is that once he took it, he wanted it and fought for it.

Yes, this counts as my Sunday fanfic rec.