#HotD 2.06

[peach-coke]

➤ House of the Dragon || 2.06 - Smallfolk July 21, 2024

[alicenthightowerdaily]

ALICENT HIGHTOWER + the royal wheelhouse

[dragnsofthread]

Emma and Sonoya had NO RIGHT having that much chemistry!!!!

[emynarnen]

HOTD + parallels:

“I need you to be the mother to them that I cannot.” Rhaenyra at Dragonstone in 2.03 // Rhaena in the Eyrie in 2.06

bonus: the tiny toy dragon

[daenerys-stormborn]

@gameofthronesdaily's HOTD SEASON 2 APPRECIATION WEEK Day Three: Favorite Episode — 2.06 "Smallfolk" // insp (x.x.x)

[thedragonqueens]

TEAM BLACK STILLS FOR HOTD 2.06

[arabian-bloodstream]

HOTD - 2.06 "Smallfolk" I haz thoughts

A few quick thoughts about the episode… Heads-up, I will be vaguely referencing spoilers for Fire & Blood, so I want to give peeps a warning about that. I'm not going into any specifics, but I do mention something from that, so, yeah.

First, the Rhaenyra & Mysaria scene. My first reaction, uhm OK. My second, OK, this makes sense. Lemme break this down why I think it makes sense, why it didn't surprise me, why I thought the set-up has been building throughout (a) the series, (b) this season, (c) this episode, (d) this scene, and (e) the point of it moving forward -- note, this is the where the F&B spoilers come in.

(a) Mysaria was introduced as someone who mostly trusted Daemon. Who put her faith, more or less, in him even if she had one foot out the door and had her back-up plan ready to go. She also knew that Daemon had a soft spot for someone with silver hair (uh huh). Daemon didn't respect her, didn't listen to her, speak to her, treat her even remotely as an equal. However….

(b) Rhaenyra has been doing so. Rhaenyra has been fair. Rhaenyra has listened to her counsel. Rhaenyra has shown herself the opposite of Daemon. Mysaria can see why Daemon was so in love with Rhaenyra now. Mysaria is revealing herself to Rhaenyra, showing her vulnerability and trust because Rhaenyra has done the same to her. Showing her equality. And this companionship has been growing all season.

(c) In this episode in particular, we turn to Rhaenyra. She has been abandoned by Daemon again. She's heard no word from him. She's sent ravens. Nothing. She lost Rhaenys, her most stalwart supporter on the council. Because of Daemon going off and ignoring her, she had to send her second-most stalwart supporter, Lord Alfred, to go find out what is going on with Daemon. This leaves her with a bunch of men who don't respect her, don't listen to her, talk over her. Even Jace, though he loves her, he clearly doesn't think she can do it without Daemon. So, as she said, all she's hearing is Daemon, Daemon, Daemon

And Daemon, Daemon, Daemon flounced off and abandoned her! Well, the last time that Daemon flounced off, he was gone for ten years! That's why she told Mysaria, the ONLY person she can talk to about this because everyone else is telling her, well, you need Daemon!, that she has to do this on her own. Because, well, what if Daemon doesn't come back? She can't make plans for when he comes back if he doesn't because she doesn't know because Daemon isn't answering her texts! He has ghosted her.

Her feelings about Daemon were made abundantly clear in this episode. She told Mysaria that she and Daemon were over. Literally said those words.

Now, let us circle back to her big fight with Daemon the last time they spoke. She asked him if he was ready to accept her as his ruler and queen. He did not answer. In that fight, they were both playing the role of ruler/subject and lovers, and both roles ended without resolution and Rhaenyra has been left hanging waiting, waiting, waiting, unfulfilled. Now, here comes Mysaria, who was a courtesan. Who knows how to fulfill a role. Who knows that Rhaenyra is isolated, alone, missing her husband, angry with her husband, and frustrated beyond all measure.

And, I genuinely believe--could be wrong, but I think it's the case--that Mysaria meant what she said to Rhaenyra. She believes in her. She believes she should be queen. She believes in her. She believes that Rhaenyra cares for her and sees her as her equal, so when Rhaenyra, the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, took her in her arms in an embrace, Mysaria took it a deep further. She sniffed her neck, she made it sexual, and Rhaenyra, who we know in her youth had an affection for Allicent--she wanted to run away with her at one point, that was not said in jest--was affected.

Let us look at Rhaenyra in this moment, angry, frustrated, hurt, betrayed by her husband. She knows that there is the VERY real possibility that Daemon is raising a host in his OWN name, turning against her. More than that, she is alone, has been alone in that big empty bed. She and Daemon are a passionate couple, we know that about them (although, it would be nice to see more of it, ahem). How often have we seen Rhaenyra in that big empty bed on her side leaving his empty? They clearly sleep together in that bed. But he's gone and she has not had physical touch beyond that moment when Jace crumpled. Her son calls her "Your Grace." Everyone keeps their distance but for dressing her from her servants. Rhaenyra has been in isolation.

Thus this moment.

But what happens when Daemon comes back? When Daemon answers Rhaenyra's question with a resounding, definitive YES! I accept you as my queen and ruler! as I believe he will. When Daemon and Rhaenyra are once more on the same page. Ie., Daemon's arc. Well, that brings us to…

e) As (d) I'm hoping made clear, while I do think that Rhaenyra values Mysaria's counsel, physically, she is just a substitute for what she does not have right now which is her husband. Mysaria is just a warm body, and Rhaenyra gave in to that moment because she believes that Daemon and she are over. However, once the two are reunited again, Mysaria will be forgotten in a romantic/sexual fashion, I believe, and her counsel may be lessened as well. Likely because Daemon will be disparaging her at every turn.

And this is where Fire & Blood comes in. From what we know Mysaria whispers not so pleasant things about Daemon to Rhaenyra to fuel paranoia against him. My conjecture after this episode is that we now have our reason. It is one of two things. Either she wants to punish both Rhaenyra and Daemon, Daemon just because she hates him still, and Rhaenyra for not loving her/ignoring her. Or, she wants to keep the two at odds because it's only when they are at odds that she has Rhaenyra to herself. Either way, it makes sense.

Phew! Now a few other things…

I really hope that Alys doesn't betray Daemon or they don't turn their relationship into something sexual because I really like the idea of them as friends. I really do. Daemon needs a real friend. And as fucked up as his visions are, I genuinely think they are going to help him in the end.

Viserys! I was all… VISERYS! Daemon really needed to see his bro again. And I did enjoy those two scenes, I did. Paddy!!

You know, I still have zero sympathy for Alicent. Reaping the consequences of your actions there. Yup.

Seasmoke chasing down Addam was awesome. I yelped/laughed when he pounced.

I am sorry, but the disparity in screentime for the Greens vs the Blacks is ridiculous! The first half was heavy TG and light TB. Now we're in the second half and sure it's heavier TB, but we're STILL seeing TG on a decent scale. In the first half, Rhaenyra was barely seen while Alicent was all over. And whaddya know? We're finally getting more Rhaenyra, and, hmm, Alicent is still getting tons of screentime. Grrrr!!!

Gay Abandon. I just can't.

OK, I lied. They weren't quick.

[leyzzz]

this post includes info about the hotd s2 finale leaks so beware

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i was fully behind alicole at first but in hindsight it’s so clear that their relationship turned sexual to rub salt in the wound once criston inevitably chose aemond over her. team green is a little more open to the idea that criston wasn’t loyal to alicent just for anti rhaenyra reasons but out of genuine kinship and affection but the general public isn’t so his choice in the small council wasn’t just insubordination to alicent but -from her pov- a romantic rejection.

and their whole story is very messy because on one hand you could take away that it was purely sexual for her and that’s why it’s so easy for alicent to all but sentence him to death (nevermind it includes her brother whom she seems to love very much) but then you get scenes like their farewell in 2.06 and her referring to him as “my lover” and it’s like… i get she’s disappointed by him and isn’t interested in resuming their affair but i don’t think she hates him -or is afraid of him- enough to sell him out like that.

[sentys]

hotd 2.06 spoilers under the cut:

has anyone considered how truly fucked it is that this is the only episode where aemond has a full conversation with his mother onscreen???

i know that the smallfolk pov is necessary and under different circumstances i would welcome it, but honestly…i'm sick of dyana and madame sylvie.

jason lannister slacking on the job? what a shock.

oh, so harrenhal is agitating caraxes.

can't talk. vale subplot boiling my blood. well and truly, fuck you ryan condal.

she sent them care packages. 😁

shout out to lord beeeeeesbury! 🐝🐝🐝 i know glidus must've been happy.

listen, i get that it was probably more economical for the appearance of otto's son to be identified as the eldest … but gwayne is alicent's younger brother. there are other sons in otto's line of the hightowers. yes, i'm nitpicking. leave me alone.

I DON'T WANT A RHAENYRA/MYSARIA MAKEOUT SESSION. I WANT NETTLES YOU FUCKING INGRATES!

they tried so hard to make tom into an uggo but i'm sitting over here like…………………………………still would.

oh, okay. so, alys isn't a ghost. other people can see her. cool cool cool.

seasmoke: come back! i just wanna talk! these weirdoes keep shoving strangers at me! I NEED AN ADULT!

[weirsight]

hotd 2.06

i would much rather his reason for alicent leaving is due to king's landing being in disarray and he wants to keep his mother safe after what happened to aegon at rook's rest. but then that would require aemond not attempting fractricide!

it was only a matter of time before viserys made an appearance. would've been weird to have another daemon vision without him. so, not much of a surprise. nice to see ya' paddy! 👍

i am not sure how i feel about daemon being vulnerable enough to let his guard down around alys. then again, he's been put into an environment that is inherently supernatural. like, the castle (and alys) is actively tormenting him with nightmares and visions. eh, i'm willing to let it slide.

"daemon targaryen asking for help." ...she said not even 30 seconds after i thought it. don't wink at the camera, show. 😒

rip, sir steffon.

i mean, rhaenyra's always idealized warrior women like visenya and nymeria. so, it's not out of character for her to start carrying a sword around and being more assertive. ⚔️

didn't think they would bother to showcase the hull brothers having valyrian ancestry, but i appreciate it being present in an episode that focused on the dragonseeds.

no surprise when you consider the already disappointing track record that asoiaf television adaptations have when it comes to race. they truly thought they were doing something inclusive when they casts the velaryons, but to cut out nettles and shoehorn her entire storyline to rhaena, who they purposefully racebent, is nothing short of abysmal. there's sure to be even more backlash now that it's officially been made show!canon, and i can't say it's undeserved.

when your expectations are so low that you're surprised when a seemingly forgotten plot thread is actually brought up. i see you house beesbury.

otto paralleling viserys in having a favorite child? more likely than you think.

"my son daeron." ok...were these reshoots? because the way they keep mentioning daeron is signaling to the audience HeY, gUeSs WhAt EvErYbOdY? aLiCeNt HaS aNoThEr ChIlD! 🙄

i am so tired of seeing that fucking dog. 🐕

that riot scene felt even more visceral than the one in got s2. well done.

i know that we had lyonel strong for only, what, 6 episodes back in s1, but he never struck me as the type of guy who look at a deformity and make a big deal out of it. larys is on some bs, because if that were true, then lyonel wouldn't have brought him to court alongside harwin "breakbones."

"you have seen me as worthy, as an equal, even. because of that, i will serve you." oof, that line needed a rewrite.

all that time coding the rhaenicent dynamic as sapphic to the point of warping the motivations of either character and even the story itself...........only to shove rhaenyra/mysaria in my face. no thanks.

until they show the rest of the dragons all throughout the dance, syrax might be the ugliest. vhagar is definitely up there, but i genuinely like vhagar because i like her riders. syrax just isn't doing it for me.

[alicenthightowerdaily]

OLIVIA COOKE as ALICENT HIGHTOWER & EMMA D'ARCY as RHAENYRA TARGARYEN HOUSE OF THE DRAGON — 2.02 // 2.06

[alicenthightowerdaily]

House of the Dragon | 2.06 Stills Alicent Hightower with her children

[dragnsofthread]

I want to know where she went here. What did she see on those steps?