“House of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 4 “The Red Dragon and the Gold”
Spoilers ahead.
“House of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 4 is called “The Red Dragon and the Gold.” It is a great episode, as we see evidence of the bloody war between the Greens and the Blacks. Daemon continues to be greatly troubled by bad dreams at Harrenhal. There is a big battle. Rhaenys dies. She rode her dragon to the battle. She was killed by Aemond on his dragon, Vhagar.
Also in the battle, Aemond wounds King Aegon on Vhagar. His wounds are severe, and viewers are left to wonder if he is dead. His arrival rallies the knights, who plan to attack Rook’s Rest. His injury and possible death deflate them, and, in particular, Ser Criston Cole, who is leading them. Do you think this is the most important episode of “House of the Dragon?”
“House of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 4: Daemon’s Dreams
This episode of “House of the Dragon” begins with Daemon having a bad dream. He approaches the Iron Throne, and young Rhaenyra is mumbling. Daemon tells her to speak up. He grows frustrated and beheads her. She continues to speak after being beheaded.
He has a second dream that somebody is walking outside his room. Daemon pursues with sword drawn and sees himself wearing Aemond’s eyepatch. He then finds Alys in the kitchen. She tells him that Harrenhal is haunted and, after they talk, she makes a potion to help him sleep, and Daemon immediately awakens to find himself in the meeting chamber with the Blackwoods representative, whom he demanded to see. This bit of time loss seems to hint that Alys’ drink was spiked. The Blackwoods pledge their allegiance… but only after Daemon destroys the Brackens completely. The 1,000-year feud just will not die.
The Big Battle: Rhaenys Dies and King Aegon is Severely Injured
This episode ends with Ser Criston Cole leading his army of knights to Rook’s Rest. They have been out murdering and felling castles. As he approaches the castle, his troops are buoyed by the presence of King Aegon on his dragon, Sunfyre. Cole tells them to advance. Their joy does not last long, as joy seemingly never does in “House of the Dragon.”
Rhaenys also comes with her dragon. She starts burning the knights. Then Aemond comes up on his dragon, as he was signaled by Ser Criston Cole, and the three dragons fight. Aemond and Vhagar first burn King Aegon, who falls to earth with his dragon. Then Aemond and Vhagar turn their attention to Rhaenys and sneak up on her (hiding behind the castle). They kill her and her dragon, and they both fall to earth. Aemond and Vhagar leave.
The loss of Rhaenys is a big loss for Rhaenyra, for whom she was an important advisor. It is a little shocking that a character as important as she is dead. Interestingly, she volunteers for the duty after Rhaenyra says she herself wants to go. Even more shocking is that King Aegon and his are seemingly killed. His death negatively affects the knights, and Ser Criston Cole rides frantically to his body, declaring, “Your Grace!”
He is felled and stumbles through the wreckage of his burned army. He eventually makes his way to King Aegon, who is clearly hurt badly. He asks Aemond where His Grace is. His dragon is whining on the ground. This episode of “House of the Dragon” ends there, and we are left unsure if the King is alive.
Final Analysis: Boredom at Small Council Meetings
There is no question this is an important episode of “House of the Dragon.” Viewers see stark evidence of war. However, there is one scene before the battle in which King Aegon is chairing a meeting of the small council. As they prattle on about the war and Vhagar’s insatiable appetite, Aegon declares, “You bore me, you all bore me,” as he twirls his speaking ball around its holder. He shows his true colors as King and storms out of the small council meeting. The meeting continues while he goes and whines to his mother, Queen Alicent.
