If there one thing we never really saw during Game of Thrones it was just how destructive dragons could be. Sure, we got to see Dany mow down enemies in battle from time to time, but the true destruction and loss of life wrought by her posse of dragons was always at her behest – she was taking out the enemies to her claim, and thus the death and destruction was in service of what she was hoping to achieve. And, until this week, we never really saw that destruction on House of the Dragon. But, boy, if there’s one thing this week’s episode of the series did, it was clue us into just what it means to have a war with dragons. And it’s a doozy.
When dragons clash, there’s no telling them to hold off and protect the foot soldiers on your side of the battle. And, when Aemond is the one commanding said dragon, well, there’s no such thing as a foot soldier to save. The death and destruction that occurred during that short but decisive battle for Rook’s Rest was harrowing to witness. And, to Aemond (and presumably to Aegon as well, although I suspect he doesn’t particularly care one way or another now – and I don’t know if we’ll be hearing from him much in the coming episodes after those injuries), collateral damage is worth it if it means achieving the goal – and taking one of the more ferocious dragons and riders off the gameboard permanently. While I’ve had many a quibble with House of the Dragon in its past season and a half, this particular set piece was excellent at showing us just what Rhaenyra was trying to avoid through her parley with Alicent last week. Sending dragons to war isn’t simply asking them to mow down enemy troops and help secure a victory. No, it means clashes like this one that leave both sides utterly decimated, where victory simply means the side who has the most soldiers left unburnt and alive at the close. That’s a pretty awful way to conduct a war – and an example of just how crucial having the most dragons and riders will be in winning it.
But let’s take a moment to eulogize the only adult left at the table, Rhaenys, who Rhaenyra relied upon as her closest councilor and advisor, and who was the only person who could see just what was about to befall the whole of the Seven Kingdoms once the real war began. The woman who should have absolutely burnt the entire royal family to a crisp when she escaped from King’s Landing last season. And the loyal soldier who could have run away from Rook’s Rest but who was determine to land as many blows as possible to the Greens before her own death. And she certainly made her time in battle count, grievously injuring Aegon and Sunfyre. Of course, anyone who knows television or narrative structure knew her death was imminent when she started getting more screen time and started pestering Corlys to name a clear heir to his position. Oh, and the revelation that Alyn, the sailor, is one (?) of Corlys’ bastards, well, that was the writing setting all Rhaenys’ ducks in a row before her death. A death that strikes a huge blow to Rhaenyra’s position, losing a key dragon and rider as well as her smartest advisor. Oh, and aside from wanting revenge in his wife’s death, there’s not a ton holding Corlys to this war at this time. I guess protecting his granddaughters? But still, this puts a key ally of the Blacks in a precarious position. I, for one, will miss Rhaenys and Eve Best’s excellent work in the role. She often added much needed levity to the Blacks’ side of the tale, and in a series so focused on scheming, it was nice to have a character who would tell it like it was without much of an agenda.
Speaking of the Blacks, some strange things are going on over there at Harrenhal – a castle that Daemon truly cannot hope to hold, even if he wasn’t having disturbing visions of young Rhaenyra and his first wife. Alys Rivers, a truly intriguing addition to the story – what’s not to love about a strange witch living in a haunted fortress – seems like someone we should keep an eye on, even if Daemon would like to steer clear of her for the rest of his stay. But Alys had a very important point in her conversation with Daemon: He’s only there to prove his worth, not to Rhaenyra but to himself. He wants to show that he could be king, that he has the power and strength to take what he wants without Rhaenyra or Viserys or anyone telling him to. Of course, as is often the case in this story, a fool hearty attempt prove oneself often leads to the exact opposite – exposing one’s flaws, outward and inward, leaving one to flee in hopes of preserving some strength of the future. Thus, I suspect that’s the fate to befall Daemon. After all, while he was out having his temper tantrum and taking Harrenhal, his side lost a key piece of their offensive strength. Perhaps, had he been at Dragonstone, he might have aided in the fight and preserved Melys and Rhaenys. But, instead, he hid away, a non-entity in the war.
So, the war has begun in earnest. This isn’t just squabbles between generational enemies with swords. No, it’s dragons, destroying ally and foe alike in a quest to destroy each other. And, so long as each side possesses dragons in their arsenal, this won’t be like Dany’s march across Westeros, armed with weapons of mass destruction that cannot be beaten. No, it’s a mutually assured destruction scenario, wherein the small folk take the brunt of the suffering while the monarchs fight above them in the sky. I’m glad the series is making the cost of this war crystal clear to the audience. And, with the Blacks now down two dragons – at the hand of Aemond – I suspect a counter punch is on the way. I pity the foot soldiers when that particular death blow arrives.
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