House of the Dragon S1 Episode 9 Review: “The Green Council” Another Great Episode
“House of the Dragon” “season 1 episode 9” has three important stories in it. First, King Viserys is dead. Second, Aegon Targaryen becomes king. Third, his coronation is interrupted by a dragon. Yes, that third one is true. Things are as crazy as they ever were in “House of the Dragon.”
In this episode, we see the first real indications of the coming civil war. After Alicent announces the king’s death and insists that Aegon should succeed him, Otto moves quickly to secure the support of the realm. Most do, but some do not. Lord Lyman Beesbury initially swears allegiance, while Lord Allun Caswell tries to leave King’s Landing to warn Rhaenyra. He is caught and executed. Did you think a civil war was coming at this point?
“House of the Dragon” Episode 9
The three stories in this episode of “House of the Dragon” are all impactful. First, the king is dead. Though this was a major story in episode 8, the reverberations of the death are still being announced and felt in this episode. After Alicent misunderstands Viserys’ final words as a declaration that their son Aegon should succeed him, she moves to put him on the Iron Throne. His final conversation with Alicent was about Aegon the Conqueror and his prophecy. Alicent misunderstood Viserys and believed he was talking about their son, Aegon II. Third, Rhaenys interrupts the coronation of Aegon by bursting through the floor on a dragon.
King Viserys’ Death Sets Up Aegon’s Coronation in “House of the Dragon”
The first important story in episode 9 of “House of the Dragon’ is the death of King Viserys. He died in episode 8, but his death was announced in this episode. His deathbed confusion set the conditions for a civil war and revealed Aegon’s reluctance. The coronation ceremony is a particularly shocking episode.
Aegon’s Reluctance to Become King Explained
On his deathbed, King Viserys is understood to have changed his mind about his successor. It would be Aegon II, not his daughter Rhaenyra. Aegon disappears into King’s Landing rather than accepting the crown, forcing both Alicent and Otto to send men searching for him. It seems he does not want to be king. Instead, he would rather drink, visit brothels and disappear into the streets of King’s Landing.
Aemond and Ser Criston Cole both head into the city together to try and find him. Otto sends the twin Kingsguard knights, Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk Cargyll, to find Aegon. Alicent separately sends Ser Criston Cole and Aemond to find her son and bring him to her. Also, twin knights Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk Cargyll are after him, working for Otto Hightower, Aegon’s grandfather. Otto tells Ser Erryk not to tell anyone.
The White Worm, Mysaria, is a woman who seems to know everything, tells Otto Aegon’s whereabouts after he promises her to look into kids fighting in Flea Bottom. Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk find him, hiding in the Great Sept. They drag him out, and he tries to flee again, but he is tackled. Outside, he tells his brother, Aemond, that he will go away and never be seen again, and to leave Aemond as king. That probably gets him thinking. This is how things go in “House of the Dragon.”
Why Rhaenys Spares Aegon and the Greens at the Coronation
Third, Rhaenys sneaks away from the coronation ceremony. It turns out she is going to get her dragon, Meleys, from the dragonpit. Rhaenys escapes the Dragonpit on Meleys, interrupts the coronation by bursting through the floor. This kills numerous people in the process, who happened to be standing where the dragon burst through the floor. Meleys then faces Aegon, Alicent and the rest of the Green family. Rhaenys has a chance to kill them, but she ultimately chooses to fly away.
Why “House of the Dragon” Season 1 Episode 9 Is So Important
Episode 9 of “House of the Dragon” is a pivotal episode to watch. It is one where there is a change in leadership, though it is a contested one. There is also a dramatic appearance of a dragon at the end of the episode, during the coronation ceremony. Bursting through the floor, the appearance of the dragon seems apropos.
