IN REVIEW: HOUSE OF THE DRAGON (S1 – EP7) Driftmark

Synopsis: As the families gather on Driftmark for a funeral, Viserys calls for an end to the infighting and Alicent demands justice.

The Story

Following up on the death of Prince Daemon Targaryen’s wife in last week’s show. The families gather at Driftmark for the funeral and old resentments continue to simmer. Things come to a head when the children of King Viserys and Alicent call out the legitimacy of Raenyra’s sons and a fight ensues in which the Young Prince Jacaerys Velaryon takes the eye of Prince Aemond Targaryen who had just successfully claimed and ridden the late  Laena Velaryon’s dragon. As the fight gets broken up. King Viserys demands an explanation and insists that the two families cease their hostilities, but his wife Alicent wants justice and demands an eye for an eye. A fight breaks out between Alicent and Rhaenyra, which is broken up before anyone is killed. However, Alicent does manage to leave a reminder with Rhaenyra. 

Realizing that her position as heir to the throne is undeniable as things stand. Rhaenyra proposes to Daemon, but before the two dragons can wed. They must do away with Rhaenyra’s current husband. To say that things are about to get interesting would be an understatement.

The Acting

Leo Ashton gets his moment to shine in this episode and he does so with an edgy performance as the young Prince Aemond Targaryen calls out the legitimacy of Prince Jacaerys Velaryon. It’s an epic and bloody scene and the actor approached it with the right amount of intensity to make it convincing. 

We also get great performances from Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke as we see Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower finally come to blows. This has been bubbling now for weeks. Alicent is developing into a proper schemer and is obviously looking to play the long game. She has a telling scene with her father Otto Hightower who has been reinstated as The Hand. It is pretty obvious that Otto has designs on his daughter taking the throne. Another scene toward the close of the episode pretty much seals the deal. Alicent is definitely not someone that should be trifled with. Her last scene with Larys Strong strongly hints that she is more than prepared to bend the rules and traditions of the court to get her way. 

Overall

This episode got off to a very slow start but suddenly exploded as events unfolded that there is no going back on. Viserys continues to try and keep the families from fighting and comes across as a weak king. The question is. How long will Viserys continue to reign?