#king Cole riot

[cottonkhaleesi]

@bookbunny9

Absolutely.

You ever have someone rave over a yarn and internalise it until it becomes your “gold standard” before you’ve even tried it out? That’s what happened to me with malabrigo. I was told it was the softest, the most beautiful; expensive because it was the best.

So I bought two skeins. Sure, they’re nice looking, and sure, the yarn itself is very even.

But whilst doing this project I’ve found the dyeing is only surface deep; the project is dark blue but as soon as one splits a strand, (as one is likely to do accidentally whilst cabling) a shock of white breaks through. This can be a feature, but also if this is the result of tea kettle dyeing, then I’m not impressed.

Secondly, whilst knitting just one (unsuccessful) sock, I’ve discovered three breakages. These are sudden, held together by a single minuscule thread, and don’t look like natural breakages, they look very clean cut, like someone went to cut the yarn here but did not do a thorough job.

All in all, I’ve used softer, I’ve found prettier, and for cheaper.

Malabrigo rant over, now I want to be positive and ask y’all about your tested and true gold standard yarns? What are your absolute favourites to work with and why? What makes them the best? What are their outstanding features?

I guess I’ll go first:

King Cole riot. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if you want something with a halo that is also a gradient yarn, can go in the washing machine and tumble dryer on low heats, has wool content for extra warmth, and don’t mind single ply, you want riot.

The gradients are super fantastic, they say it’s a dk but it runs slightly thin (maybe more a 6 ply in reality) and it also comes in chunky. The halo is short and soft and fuzzy, and I have to stop myself from using riot for everything.

[falllpoutboy]

the ritualistic humiliation of alicent this season was absolutely disgusting and the show constantly needed to remind us that she is the character we should root against all the time and never feel bad for her, everyone else gets a pass because they’re a slave to fate, apparently, but not her. nearly every single plot point this season regarding her is swiftly followed by a punishment, whether literally or narratively.

she starts this season by having clandestine consensual sex with criston cole her sworn sword. they are so bad at being clandestine that otto and larys have clearly suspected something is going on with them. after being stood up by her, larys then replaces her regular lady’s maids with some from his staff so that they can spy and report back to him which makes alicent uncomfortable enough to send them away. that’s punishment #1

she and criston are having sex when b&c happens and are interrupted by helaena and jaehaera running in. but remember, jaehaerys was not the original target of b&c, and the mastermind behind it, daemon is redeemed by the end of this season, so alicent is so much of a POS hypocrite that while she too busy having sex with the LC of the kingsguard, her grandson dies on HER watch. and as much as i loved alicole, i really hate that the writers used their relationship to seemingly punish the characters when they literally haven’t done anything wrong. and now helaena knows about the affair too. punishment #2

alicent is confronted by rhaenyra at the sept of baelor, who lets slip that she heard viserys push for aegon to be king as his last words to her. but oh no, silly alicent, rhaenyra is here to tell you about the song of ice and fire, this stupid prophecy that has been passed from Targaeryen king to heir for generations now. how would alicent have known about it when she is neither king nor heir? doesn’t matter, she’s stupid for believing his words to be literal and stupid for playing a part in crowning her son. punishment #3

alicent takes moon tea, as an abortifacient or as a late contraceptive, we’ll never know! but the very act of taking moon tea is now perceived by grand maester orwylle, who now also has reason to suspect queen alicent has been having an affair. punishment #4

bitter and disillusioned with herself for not knowing about a stupid fucking prophecy nobody told her about and letting her horrible son aegon be crowned (even though the council was planning on installing him anyways), alicent talks down to aegon by reminding him he’ll never be as good of a king as his father (L O L) and he should do nothing. such a rousing speech leads to aegon getting drunk, flying out into battle on his dragon and getting maimed because of it. why did you say such mean things alicent? now look what you did. punishment #5

back at the small council, alicent advocates for herself to be regent with only one person there to agree with her, grand maester orwylle but not even her lover and closest confidant advocates for her. the son she is scared of the most becomes regent instead. silly alicent, don’t you know you will never be respected in a room full of men? how do you like misogyny, something you have apparently never personally experienced until this day, now? punishment #6

alicent goes to the sept of baelor to pray with helaena when a riot mob happens and is forced to retreat. this mob is apparently so righteously angry at not having enough food, they throw fish in her face with such good aim and call her the queen of fishes, alicent trips and falls for leaving helaena behind momentarily, and she also receives a bloody gash on her arm before barely escaping with her life and helaena. oh alicent, didn’t you know that the blockade of ships that carries food into the city which has been enforced by rhaenyra and corlys has actually been your fault the entire time?? punishment #7

back at the small council, alicent confronts aemond and is relieved by her duty on there by him. maybe its because she brings up a theory that he is now avenging the bullying he went through when he was young, which one could argue happened on her watch, is why she gets the boot. oh well, there goes any little ruling power and say in the war effort she had left. punishment #8

alicent sees off her brother ser gwayne who makes mention that their father otto kept her closer to him than gwayne because she was his favored child. Oh! so because alicent was otto’s favorite, it doesn’t really matter that he sold her into marriage and marital rape at age 14 last season. why would you ever want to be otto hightower’s favorite child? punishment #9

alicent also asks about daeron, with gwayne saying how unlike to aegon and aemond he is because he was raised away from them in Oldtown and not by her.. she even says this and gwayne dissuades her of that opinion but honestly, once alluded to that alicent is a bad mom, it’s just her biased brother claiming otherwise. punishment #10

[sourcherryandsprinkles]

Hi! Could I request an Aemond X reader with prompt #11? Maybe something where people break into Kings Landing and Aemond finds his way to reader to protect them?

11. ''Stay with me.''

It's a bit short, but more would have been unnecessary

my taglists are here + you can send requests here at any time

—

Cloak over his silver hair, the tall prince waved his way through the angry smallfolk. A fortnight ago, the gates had been closed, preventing anyone from leaving the capital. But now, led by their hunger, they started forcing the gates of the Red Keep and rioting against the crown. They could be seen trying to trespass the gates, but the gold cloaks were on watch and brutal in their response.

When Aemond was informed of the severity of the situation, he began to worry for your safety.  

‘’My prince, what are you doing here?’’ you said, surprised to see him knocking on your door. 

Aemond kept his head down, not wishing to get recognized by other people. He should have taken Cole with him for protection. If the smallfolk saw him, things could get ugly. And he didn’t take his sword with him, only a dagger as it was easier to conceal. 

‘’Taking you to the Keep. The city has become too dangerous. You must come with me.’’ His single eye looked up at you, begging you to come with. 

You bit your lip, hesitating. You were part of the smallfolk. This was your home. 

But you couldn’t deny that danger had been more prevalent these past days. People were fighting for meat, their livestock taken by the crown to feed their dragons. Neighbors were stealing from each other and robbing fishermen. You’ve seen people fight over one golden coin. 

Aemond was right. It wasn’t safe anymore. 

You opened the door wider, letting him in. 

It was strange to see a prince in your small apartment. It had the bare minimum to live: a kitchenette, a small wardrobe, and a bed. He must find it cramped and dirty compared to his chambers. His bathing chamber was probably bigger than your whole home. 

‘’Pardon me for the unmade bed, my Prince. Had I known you would be coming, I would have cleaned before your arrival,’’ you said, embarrassed by the clutter.

Aemond shook his head. ‘’There’s no need to apologize. Please gather your things to bring with you. We must get back to the Keep rapidly.’’

He watched as you packed your things in an old flour bag. Mostly clothes and small jewelry. You made sure to grab the scarf your mother used to wear, the only piece you had left of her. 

When you were finished, you tied your bag and said goodbye to your apartment. You had been living there since working at Madam Sylvi’s pleasure house when you were five and ten.  

‘’Ready?’’ Aemond asked. 

You nodded. 

Before heading out, he took a peek outside your window, which revealed chaos. People were shouting, running about, and a few fires had started. The city was in panic.

The journey back to the Keep won’t be easy, but you trusted Aemond to take you there safely. 

He took your hand firmly in his, feeling a protective instinct towards you. ‘’Stay with me. We must not get separated.’’

—

House of the dragon taglist: @khaleesihavilliard@domoron @ididliquorice @lover-of-helios@lover-of-helios@shine101@tanyaherondale @mikariell95 @serrendiipty @lantsovheiress @gilliananderfuckme @shine101 @tetgod @clayzayden @memeorydotcom @tnu-ree @futuregws @blackravena @winxschester @mysteriouslydelightfulchaos @xxlaynaxx @secretsthathauntus @pilarxxxaguayo @emmavan39 @stargaryenx @erylilly @bbblackmamba @rainedrop97 @dreamer087 @gothicgay14 @ashlatano7567 @superkittywonderland @justaproudslytherpuff @evesolstice @buckysmainhxe @padfootsvixen @scarletmeii @evesolstice @dkathl @kaywsworld @tetgod @padfootsvixen @domoron   @weird-addiction @angeliod @xjennyx2 @adaydreamaway08  @mymultiveres  @secretsthathauntus  @puffycreamcakes @thirsty4nonlivingmen @naty-1001 @katiepie67 @moshpot24x @hc-geralt-23 @lovelynerdytraveler @saturn-sas  @zgzgh @sssjuico10 @tabloidteen @timetoten @deekaag @wondxrgurl @aerangi @strmborns @astridyoo15 @daemonslittlebitch @queenbeestuffs @severewobblerlightdragon @agentstarkid @msliz @vane1999-blog @fairyfolkloresposts @todaywasafairytale07 @otomaniac @zgzgzh @thebeardedmoon @golden-library @kikyrizuki @hnslchw @camy85 @winxschester @armstrongscommentsection @withfireandbl00d @randomstory56 @JudgmentDays-Girl @darylandbethfanforever9 @darylandbethfanforever9 @aegonswife @dakotapaigelove @jays-bullshit @blublock404 @Icefyre19 @paulilvsremus @mfedits @aemondwhoresworld @angrybirdxx @YarianyIrizarry @frutiloopslupin @minedofmoria @aleemendoza2425-blog @quinquinquincy @Rosey1981 @maria-reads-everything @eddieslut69 @barnes70stark @baybaybear @prettyduckling22 @Briefwinnerpersonaturtle @darlingcharling-blog @deliaseastar @Wolfgirl-205 @visenyareads @Nanaldy @Lovelywiseprincess @not-neverland06 @newtmyhusb @mikimimic

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[entitled-fangirl]

Chance. (P3)

Aemond Targaryen x reader; Aegon x Wife!reader

Summary: the people grow restless with no king. The reader is determined to find out Aemond's motives.

A/n: A short little chapter to get us to Sunday when the next episode releases!

Part 1, 2, 4

Masterlist

...........................................................

"Ser Hightower!" Y/n called out as she walked down the stairs to the courtyard. 

Gwayne looked away from Alicent, immediately moving his attention to her, "My queen. How may I be of assistance?"

"I wondered if, time permitting, we may speak?"

Alicent tilted her head, eyeing the girl closely. 

Gwayne nodded. "Even if time does not permit, I shan't leave the queen wanting. I am yours."

Alicent noted the smile that grazed her brother's face. She huffed and walked off, not bothering with a goodbye. 

Y/n sighed, "You were at the battle, fighting valiantly, I assume."

He nodded and spoke with his usual soft voice, "Indeed, I was."

"What happened?"

His head tilted and a curious look came to his eye, "I'm lost, I'm afraid.  Ask me plainly, my queen. I don't keep secrets, you know."

She looked over to Alicent and Cole speaking across the courtyard before looking back to the male Hightower. "Who truly harmed Aegon?"

His brows furrowed and he looked away for a moment, "I didn't get a look at it. I was too concerned with the fighting on the ground."

She sighed and nodded, "I had figured you would have been."

"You suspect foul play?"

She shrugged, "It's all foul play, ser."

He let out a soft chuckle, "You're right in that." He shifted his body weight in thought, "I know you're not looking for allies-"

"-I am, actually."

His brows furrowed again. "Ah. Well, I am not much, but I will be your eyes in the bannermen if you wish."

She smiled, "I'd like that very much, ser. I thank you, as does the crown."

"Your thanks is enough."

…

"You're really to go?" She asked with a frown. 

Aemond smirked, "I am needed to win this battle. Vhagar listens to no one else."

She sighed, "Aegon is furious with you, you know."

He shrugged, "So be it. I care not what he thinks anymore."

"That's your king, Aemond. Be careful with who you speak such things to."

"I am," he stated. "I'm speaking it to you, am I not?"

Her cheeks flushed, "Just don't get injured. Please. I wouldn't be able to sleep well at night if you did."

He grinned, "Promise."

…

"My queen, we must leave now!"

Her head shot up, "What? What's happened?"

…

"They mock me!" He growled.

"My love, they do not."

Aegon scoffed, "My brother and my hand makes plans without me. They do not ask me of anything."

"They mean it in good favor-"

"-What is good favor if it is not from your king!?"

She rubbed her forehead softly, "Perhaps let this one go, and reconvene when the battle is won."

"You've have me just let this go?"

"Drink some wine. Take a bath. Go see a whore. I dunno, Aegon."

He sighed and leaned back in his chair, "I'm a lousy king, aren't I?"

"You're doing just fine."

"Why doesn't it feel like it then?"

She paused, unsure of what to say. 

Alicent walked in, and Y/n stood. She kissed Aegon's forehead, "Give it thought, my love. You're as fearsome as any of them."

She moved past Alicent with a glare.

…

"GET THE WOMEN TO THE WHEELHOUSE!"

Alicent grabbed Helaena's hand, helping drag her down the stairs. 

Y/n joined them not long after, leaving from a different door.

Surrounded by guards, the three were dragged through the rioting crowd, occasionally grabbed by the people.

"Tis the queen of fishes!"

Something was thrown, smacking Alicent in the face. She gasped, but was ushered further on.

Alicent's iron grip made her not lose Helaena, but Y/n was quickly lost. 

She disappeared in the crowd, pushed left and right in panic. 

She felt someone grab her chin and pull her forward. "You'll sleep with anyone with a crown, won't you, pretty girl?" The voice sneered. 

She whined out, closing her eyes as if it would will it away. 

Hands moved everywhere, one tugging at her dress, tearing it from her shoulder with a loud rip. 

Hot tears ran down her face, not stopping even when a guard found her again and pushed the others away. He paused for just a moment to access her, "My queen!"

Only then did she see the guard's wide eyes and a white hot pain moved to her cheek. 

She reached up, her fingers coming back with bright red blood. 

Black clouded her vision. 

..................................................

part 4

taglist: @p45510n4f4shi0n, @darktrashsoulbear, @vieenr0se, @pez-unicorn, @marlenees-world, @thatbabydeer

[imperatorcaesaraugustus]

Daemon and Alys, Aemond and Helaena: Loyalty, Recklessness, and Fate

(this is one section of my House of the Dragon Season 2 Review)

Daemon and Aemond’s stories both deal with similar themes in this season. Both have questionable loyalties to their monarch, seeking their own power instead. Both are determined to act, sometimes in ways which are ill-advised. And both have stories that engage in some way with fate and prophecy and visions, though far more so with Daemon. We will focus on Daemon’s story first.

            Daemon starts this season attempting to rule in Rhaenyra’s absence, eager to take action during this pivotal time, but he is rebuffed by those such as Rhaenys who do not cede authority to him. Searching for a means to act, Daemon seizes upon the opportunity afforded by the capture of Mysaria in order to orchestrate what is known in the books as the Blood and Cheese incident (Blood being the name used for the guard and Cheese being the name used for the rat catcher). When Rhaenyra confronts him about this, he flies to Harrenhal, both so he may have the freedom to do the things he views as necessary and so he may claim some authority for himself in Rhaenyra’s absence. Once at Harrenhal, Daemon attempts to recruit the Riverlords for his army, but faces resistance from all save the Blackwoods. Frustrated with the lack of progress, Daemon tasks Lord Blackwood with harassing the smallfolk in order to encourage the Brackens to comply, a tactic which backfires massively as the other Riverlords turn firmly against him in response. Because of his shortsighted actions, Daemon is forced to execute Lord Blackwood, who had been his most loyal follower in the Riverlands, in order to gain the support of Lord Grover Tully and the rest of the Riverlords.

            While at Harrenhal, Daemon is tormented with visions. The visions confront Daemon with the consequences of his actions and the futility of his quest for personal power, slowly driving him mad. These visions are closely tied to the character of Alys Rivers, a mysterious healer/witch who interacts regularly with Daemon, repeatedly emphasizing to him that he is only a part of the greater whole. It is only once Daemon begins to accept this and seeks Alys’ help that she kills Oscar Tully, placing the Riverlands in the hands of a lord capable of taking action with whom Daemon can negotiate. In the final episode, Alys shows Daemon visions from the weirwood, and knowledge of what may come leads to Daemon abandoning his ambitions in order to loyally serve Rhaenyra.

            Aemond spends most of this season in King’s Landing. When he returns at the start of the season, he is confronted about his reckless actions leading to Luke’s death at the end of season one, but he shows no regret. Once on Aegon’s small council, he shows no respect for his brother’s authority as king, undermining him in the open by contradicting him in the small council and undermining him in private by making secret plans with Criston Cole. And then, at the Battle of Rook’s Rest, when Aemond’s tendency to keep Aegon out of his plans leads to Aegon joining the battle, Aemond takes the opportunity to remove his brother from power, burning him near fatally.

            Once he is named regent, Aemond pays no heed to the council he receives from figures such as Alicent and Larys, confident that he himself knows what the best course of action is. He dismisses concerns over the attitudes of the smallfolk until they begin rioting in the streets, then sends the men Aegon appointed as Kingsguard to the Wall for starting said riots. Aemond also has a tendency to act recklessly. He makes plans to attack Harrenhal, leaving King’s Landing vulnerable without Vhagar. Upon learning about Rhaenyra’s new dragonriders he burns Sharp Point in a rage and attempts to force Helaena into flying into battle with him.

            Helaena’s story has been a difficult one this season. She first looses her son Jahaerys in retaliation for Aemond’s actions, then suffers through a traumatizing funeral procession and a trip to the sept that escalates into a riot. She has been shown to have prophetic visions throughout the show so far, though other characters never seem to recognize them as such, and in the final episode she is seen when Daemon journeys into the weirwood in a scene that may be interpreted as her already being present within that world of visions. She then, in response to Aemond confronting her a second time, speaks of his fate in a way much more definitive than any of her other prophetic sayings so far. Aemond decides to continue with his course of action in contrast with Daemon, who changed his behavior when presented with visions of the future.

            With this aspect of the narrative laid out, the question becomes whether or not it was executed well. Many have complained that Daemon’s storyline in Harrenhal drags on too long. I personally always found his scenes enjoyable, but I recognize that not much progress is made in his story for a long time. Alys Rivers makes for a very interesting character, and her interactions with Daemon are fun to watch. Other characters in Daemon’s story, such as Simon Strong and Grover Tully, are also very entertaining, and of course Matt Smith is giving an excellent performance. Aemond, meanwhile, serves mostly to drive other characters’ stories through most of the season, being an obstacle for both Aegon and Alicent to overcome. This I take no issue with, as the aspects of his story that I am discussing here mostly serve as a parallel that accentuates the Daemon storyline. Both stories up to the first episode were, in my opinion, good, with Daemon’s being a bit drawn out in a way that others grew tired of but I did not.

            As for the final episode, I have more mixed feelings. First, let’s quickly address Helaena in the last episode (Helaena earlier in the season will be talked about a bit more in the Brutality of War section of this review). A charitable reading of the shift in the nature of her prophecies would be that perhaps, after all she has suffered this season, her connection to her gift has strengthened, the grief causing her to see the future more clearly. A less charitable reading would be that her prophecies become much less cryptic and much more specific out of nowhere. It is, to me, a moot point, because of what I will now discuss regarding my opinions on the inclusion of prophecy in this show.

            I am not a massive fan of prophecy, conceptually, in any franchise. It doesn’t necessarily ruin my enjoyment, but it never enhances it. This is even more the case in a prequel, where prophecy serves primarily to remind the audience of the original work rather than to motivate the actions of the characters. And the fact that much of the prophecy in House of the Dragon calls back specifically to the conflict which occurred towards the end of Game of Thrones is, I think, an unfortunate choice given the quality of those final seasons. But broadly speaking, the idea that the characters are approaching a set fate is not one I typically find compelling. The idea that Daemon was convinced to change his ways by a vision of the white walkers rather than by his conversations with his dead brother is a disappointment to me. I will, once again, offer a charitable reading, where the only reason Daemon reacted this way was because of all the earlier visions, a reading potentially supported by Aemond’s differing reaction to Helaena, but it doesn’t much matter. Not everything needs to tie back to the white walkers, and I really would prefer if it didn’t.

[crownrots]

🍇 PRINCESS RAENESSA TARGARYEN (75 AC - 133 AC) (template by @kanos)

↳ Raenessa Targaryen was born in 75 AC to Prince Aemon Targaryen and his wife, Jocelyn Baratheon. She is the older twin sister of Princess Rhaela Targaryen, and younger sibling to Princess Rhaenys Targaryen.

Meek and emotional, she was oft called The Weeping Dragon behind her back. Ever compared to her two sisters, she lingered in their shadow for most of her life, trailing behind them and cleaning up their messes or sifting though the scraps they left behind.

Her cradle egg, as green as Wildfire, hatched shortly after her birth and finally in 91 AC at the age of sixteen, the timid Targaryen finally took the beast to mount. The Green Jewel of Dragonstone, Vysera, as she named her, seemed to be just as timid as her rider, but was fiercely protective of the young woman. While barely ridden due to Raenessa's distrustful nature, the dragon and rider shared a bond that was as close and unique as any other.

In 94 AC, at the age of nineteen, she wed Donnal Redwyne. The two struggled for years to have a viable pregnancy, and after many failed attempts, their prayers were finally answered when she gave birth to a girl in 113 AC, whom they named Daenys.

Unfortunately, their new found bliss was cut short as a fever took Donnal Redwyne's life mere weeks after Raenessa had given birth. The now widowed mother was never quite the same after that and as years passed she rarely let her daughter out of her sight. Months following the tragic loss, Queen Alicent extended an invitation towards her and the still young child, offering them a residence in the capitol should they want it. Raenessa graciously accepted and the mother and child lived in relative happiness and great comfort for many years.

When the Targaryen civil war commenced in 132 AC, Raenessa declared her support for King Aegon II Targaryen and The Greens, though, suffers a great loss at many turns.

In the days following the slaying of her older sister and her dragon at the Battle of Rooks Rest, Raenessa used the exodus of small folk from King’s Landing to flee the capitol. Amid orders from the Prince Regent, Aemond Targaryen, to seal the city, she managed to slip through undetected. Still reeling in shock and grief, she declared for her cousin, Rhaenyra Targaryen, but subsequently found herself locked in the cells beneath Dragonstone for a time, her untimely and sudden arrival sending ripples of confusion though the Queen’s small council.

Back in King’s Landing, Raenessa was branded a traitor and in retaliation Criston Cole suggests her dragon, Vysera, be slain and her remains fed to King Aegon's mount, Sunfyre, for her treachery.

In 133 AC, after failing to be reunited with her daughter, Daenys, until Queen Rhaenyra takes King's Landing, she suffers another great loss; one that will prove her last. During the riots lead by The Shepherd, Daenys would retreat to the Dragonpit to ensure the safety of her own dragon, Duskwing. Her demise was said to be particularly gruesome, the young woman and her unborn child crushed underfoot by her frightened dragon in its panic as the mob descended upon the chained beasts.

Overcome with grief, Raenessa Targaryen ended her own life just days later, through means of poison, succumbing to the deadly concoction nestled among her daughter's belongings.

tag list (ask to be added or removed 💞): @queennymeria @laiostoudenn @roberthouse69 @wardsables @thedeadthree @statichvm @frankwoods @josephzeppeli @countessrooster @lucky-107 @cptcassian @arborstone

[thephantomcasebook]

Do you think Criston and Alicent have feelings for each other or was it just sex? Emily Carey said once that young Alicent was in love with Criston, but I'm not sure about the adult version of Alicent because Olivia sometimes plays as ambiguous. I wouldn't want their romantic relationship to be one-sided, because most likely Criston in love with her

Yes, I legitimately think that Criston and Alicent absolutely love one another, 1,000%

Alicent has been in love with Criston Cole since she was 14 years old and she has never stopped. Criston has been in love with her for eighteen years. We saw in 1x09 that the love is fucking electric and if you've ever read the script that describe their feelings as very much romantic and not sexual.

The ugly truth is that Condal and Hess fucked around for months and missed the production deadlines. By the time that Production got underway the writer's strike hit and Condal and Hess went back to America and so did GRRM. And since a lot of Season 2 was being written on the fly due to delays and scripts not being done they hired a ghost showrunner that didn't know anything about HOTD or F&B. So he, stupidly, relied on the actors to steer the characters this season.

To quote Alicent.

"Condal's intentions died with him."

The idea of the actors and actresses steering the production can be a good idea if you have a veteran cast of seasoned actors. The Showrunner for "The Crown" could trust his cast in "The Crown" because they had templates and historical figures to base their performances on. They also had a mostly mature cast of very talented actors.

HOTD does not have a mature cast. They have elite level actors that cannot be trusted with plotting their own character arcs, cause some of them have really - REALLY - bad instincts.

Alicent, right now, is being played the way Olivia Cooke wants to play Alicent without any supervision from the actual Showrunner. She doesn't want to be in a love story, she doesn't want to be the matriarch of the Greens, she wants to be this angry, petulant, woman-child who hates her children and acts like a teenager. These are the actions of a woman trapped in preputial adolescence not the mother of a four children who ruled a realm for eight years.

I will almost guarantee you that in Season 3 we will a completely different Alicent when Condal reasserts himself, getting Alicent back on track the way she was supposed to be acted, not letting Olivia Cooke run riot with her immature power fantasies because she was given too much control over the character development.

Alicent is reportedly going to Harrenhal with Criston and Aemond this season on campaign. So it looks like Alicent will not be at King's Landing at its fall. So, we'll get a little bit more Alicole in Season 3.

[starkdirewolflove]

House of the Dragon

Rhaenyra is venting to Mysaria about her council and the white worm has a plan to help Rhaenyra by turning the smallfolk against the Hightowers and Cole. She knows they will see the dragons head as an ill omen and they will need food. Rhaenyra is comforting Baela and sharing stories about Rhaenys, she wants Baela to give Corlys the hand of the queen badge.

Hugh Hammer’s wife wants to escape the city while their daughter still has a chance to survive. Alicent is having a tough time at the council, she wants to be regent but everyone turns against her and chooses Aemond as prince regent as Aegon’s heir. He immediately takes charge and orders the gates barred and the rat catchers cut down. A riot almost breaks out while the gold cloaks stop the crowds from leaving. Alicent confronts Cole and he thinks he’s sparing her from making hard decisions, he has PTSD after Rooks Rest and Alicent seems to be going off him.

Jace makes a bargain with the Freys to give them Harrenhal for bending the knee. Daemon is working on getting Harrenhal repaired and dreaming about banging his mother (🤢). He wants to rule as king himself and to hell with Rhaenyra. Alys Rivers is fucking with his head still.

[queercomesthesun]

Okay so Aziraphale's playlist has an easter egg where the first letter of the lyrics of each song spells ineffable.

My predictions for Crowley's:

1) Good old fashioned lover boy, Queen

2) Dreams, Fleetwood Mac

3) Angel please, Ra Ra Riot

4) Starlight, Muse

5) Funny how love is, Queen

6) Open Your eyes, Snow patrol

7) From Eden , Hozier

8) Love of my life, Queen

9) Everyday, Buddy Holly

OR (less likely but would be hilarious):

1) Hey Lover, The daughters of eve

2) Unforgettable, Nat King cole

3) Killer queen, Queen

4) From Eden, Hozier

5) Open Your eyes, Snow patrol

6) Dreams, Fleetwood Mac

7) All I have to do is dream, the Everly brothers

8) pale blue eyes, velvet underground

[duchess-of-oldtown]

House of the Dragon, Season 2, Episode 3 thoughts

Just clarifying, these are my own thoughts, you don't like them, don't bother telling me so. Also, I'm not a book purist, I like adaptions taking putting their own spin on things - if it makes sense to do so. So, here were my thoughts. Obvs, this post is dark and full of spoilers.

I like the Bracken-Blackwood thing. I like the injection of a little bit of history but also like pettiness.

Jace, get out of your mother's ear. Can you even tell which one is Arryk or Erryk?

Rhaenys giving us slay as usual. Eve Best really gets the greatest lines.

I really like Criston Cole's squire. I don't know, he reminds me of Pod.

Criston pulling that managers face right there. We've all been on both sides of that.

Ironrod, they could never make me hate you. Master of Shade

Tyland stop bullying the Grand Master.

Harrenhal is giving all these guys a hard on. It's not even that nice a castle (before yall come for me, I know it's importance)

Aemond teasing Aegon at the Council, that younger sibling grin

Mysaria's gown looks so comfy. Her scenes are alright, better than before

Rhaenyra vs Mysaria has to get away from the whole Daemon thing. That vibe is still there and it gives me two exes sniping at one another.

I get Rhaena's annoyance but it's also an opportunity.

The Harrenhal scenes were perfect. The ambience, the setting it's all *chef kiss*.

I hate the whole Prince Consort vs King thing. For one, it's completely against etiquette and the rules but also in the book, Daemon never needed to be King, he was supporting his Queen.

There's Alys.

Daemon "I'm claiming harrenhal". Yes, girl we see

Simon I give you this castle, also dinner is on the table, it's not great but it's good" Strong, you were the best thing in this episide. " Also, this exchange feels written by George RR Martin.

Grover Tully is getting it tonight

Daemon defending an ill lord paramount's abilities, he's thinking of Viserys

Gwayne Hightower, you're giving me Harry Hardying had a baby with Alfie Allen vibes

Cole's hair... I don't know how to feel.

Alicole doing the whole courtly love shit, as if Cole wasn't on his knees that morning. She pegs him, Your Honour

I need whiter Kingsguard Cloaks.

If they fucking mansplain, ridicule or correct Rhaenyra one more time, I fucking Harrenhal them. Who the fuck are these men?

Rhaenys, eating as usual, mic drop

Rhaenys and Corlys, I know they're setting us up for what happens, but *mournful screaming*. She's standing on a little crate 😭 Corlys beefing with baby Joffrey. Corlys grabbing his lady's hips while talking about heirs is my new roman empire

Let me see Stormcloud and Tyraxes

I wanted a little more conflict with Baela and Rhaena. But Baela assuring her is top tier.

Joffrey with his mummy 😭😭😭 Jace too. It's the last time Rhaenyra will see Viserys.

Helaena's speech, I think I know what's about to happen there. The families of the rat catchers + that riot. Also Helaena isn't forgiving Alicent for Cole, she's forgiving her for the war

Aegon looks so lil in his armour.

DID THEY SAY THE ARMOUR WAS VALYRIAN STEEL? MOTHERFUCKERS

Kingslanders partying as only Kingslanders can

Ulf the White's scenes are good but Baelon the Brave? You want me to believe that Baelon the Brave cheated on Alyssa?

I did not need to see Aemond's dick. Aemond you should be out committing atrocities not getting it wet

FUCK HIM UP MOONDANCER, FUCK HIM UP

Also Baela the trees are flammable.

Daemon take Dark Sister out of there it's too damp for her

YOUNG RHAENYRA - this is how guest stars should appear, with no warning and with the actors swearing they aren't ever coming back.

Also, Alys is American?

Rhaenyra slaying in her Septa Unella cos play. I wonder whether that's the same wimple

I loved the Rhaenyra and Alicent exchange but it was still such a dumb idea. This exchange is heartbreaking, there are parts that feel sitcomy and I love it.

Rhaenyra's lil face when she thought Viserys changed his mind

Alicent's lil... "oh Aegon the Conqueror... '

Over all 9/10

[cyarsk52-20]

I know that it’s been weeks since my Spotify wrapped but I thought it would be a good idea to talk about my top songs

First track: "Killing in the Name" is a song by the American band Rage Against the Machine, and appears on their 1992 self-titled debut album.It features heavy drop-D guitar riffs. The lyrics protest police brutality, inspired by the beating of Rodney King and the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

The guitarist Tom Morello wrote the riffs while teaching a student drop D tuning; he briefly paused the lesson to record the riff. The band worked on the song the next day. According to Morello, "Killing in the Name" was a collaborative effort, combining his riff with Tim Commerford's "magmalike" bass, Brad Wilk's "funky, brutal" drumming and vocalist Zack de la Rocha's "conviction".Morello recorded his part on a Fender Telecaster.

this song (their signature song btw) combines elements of punk and hip hop and has been described as alternative metal, rap metal, rap rock, hard rock, and proto-nu metal. The journalist Peter Buckley described it as "a howling, expletive-driven tirade against the ills of American society". The song builds in intensity, as de la Rocha chants the line "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me", building in a crescendo the next four times and aggressively screaming the line the final eight times, culminating with the scream "Motherfucker!" The song contains the word "fuck" 17 times.

The lyrics were inspired by the police brutalitysuffered by Rodney King and the subsequent 1992 Los Angeles riots. The refrain "some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses" draws a link between the Los Angeles Police Department and the Ku Klux Klan. According to BBC News, "Killing in the Name" protests the military–industrial complex, justifying killing for "the chosen whites".

It’s not a surprise that this song has been on my Spotify wrapped multiple times in the past few years but I never thought it would be number one twice in a row.

second track: "Superhero" is a song by American rock band Jane's Addiction and it’s from their third album Strays . Though not a single, it’s best known for the theme song for HBO original series “Entourage “ (2004-2011)

I’m not a huge fan of Jane addiction but this one slaps hard

third track: “like that” is a song by American rapper Future and record producer Metro Boomin with fellow American rapper Kendrick Lamar . It’s the third and final single from Future and Metro's collaborative studio album, We Don't Trust You, on March 26, 2024. Rodney-O & Joe Cooley are also credited as songwriters as the bass line in the song contains samples of their 1986 song, "Everlasting Bass". "Like That" also has additional elements that contain samples of Eazy-E's 1989 single, "Eazy-Duz-It", and contains a vocal sample of Michel'le.

A trap and hardcore hip hop song that is predominantly composed of lively percussions, "Like That" received acclaim from music critics, who primarily praised Lamar's performance and Metro's production. His verse, which attracted significant media coverage, is a diss aimed at fellow rappers Drake and J. Cole in response to their 2023 collaboration, "First Person Shooter." 

Lyrically, Lamar uses his surprise appearance to directly respond to "First Person Shooter", rapping: "Yeah, get up with me, fuck sneak dissing / "First Person Shooter", I hope they came with three switches". He also rejected J. Cole's idea of the three rappers representing hip hop as its "big three" and claims that he alone takes the top spot: "Motherfuck the big three, nigga it's just big me". Throughout his verse, Lamar compares his rivalry with Drake to Prince's reported feud with Michael Jackson ("What? I'm really like that / And your best work is a light pack / Nigga, Prince outlived Mike Jack"). Drake has notably compared himself to Michael Jackson on numerous occasions, including during the final verse of "First Person Shooter", and Lamar has similarly compared himself to Prince. Lamar also makes references to the Click ("Niggas clickin' up, but cannot be legit / No 40 Water") and Stephen King's 1983 novel Pet Sematary("'Fore all your dogs gettin' buried / That's a K with all these nines / He gon' see Pet Sematary").

Lamar verse is the contender for iconic feature verse in a hip hop song of the year and that’s saying something

Fourth track “lights on “ is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes from his second studio album Illuminate. This song contains lyrics about lovemaking in a way that is not too racy or overly sexual in nature. Very classy, very demure and mature

fifth track: "Meet the Grahams" (stylized in lowercase as meet the grahams) is a diss track by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on May 3, 2024, through Interscope Records, during his ongoing feud with Canadian rapper Drake.

The song is written in the form of a letter, with each verse addressed to members of Drake's family, including his son Adonis, his parents Sandra and Dennis Graham, his alleged daughter, and Drake himself.

In the song, Lamar accuses Drake of being an absent father, signing sex offenders to his OVO Sound record label, and being a sexual predator himself. He even goes as far to compare Drake to disgraced Director and movie mogul Harvey Weinstein saying that people like him should die.

He also alleges that Drake is running a sex trafficking ring out of his Toronto mansion, saying it will soon be raided by law enforcement. Lamar further accuses Drake of lying about his family, his OVO Sound labelmates, and Lamar himself.

Produced by the Alchemist, "Meet the Grahams", unlike Lamar's previous responses, takes on an unsettling, haunting atmosphere, with an eerie piano-driven beat, sampled from Timothy Carpenter & Triunity's "I Want To Make It" accompanying critical lyrics accusing Drake of a number of wrongdoings including parental negligence, sexual exploitation, sexual grooming, sex trafficking, and another incident of child abandonment.

I remember when I heard about this track. When I first heard it I knew the moment I heard the opening lyrics “dear Adonis, I’m sorry that man is your father” along with the haunting, unsettling atmosphere of the beat(combined with a eerie piano playing) this is going to be brutal . From beginning to end I was stunned speechless and then I was like oh my gosh. Totally brutal and dark (and the darkest song in the history of my Spotify wrapped ,and that in a world where “we cry together “ featuring Taylor page exists, see my 2022 version of Spotify wrapped) and yet methodical and creative.

[craftyintentions]

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[osarina]

🧛/🐉

Aemond saying “more domestic pursuits” … get off my screen, I’ll cut you

“There is Princess Rhaena” and then the idea gets shut down again… LET HER SHINE‼️‼️

WHOAAAAAA I WAS NOT EXPECTING MYSARIA AND RHAENYRA TO ACTUALLY KISS OH MY GOD

I suspected there was Something earlier, with all their ga(y)zes and whatnot, but this was truly not expecting them to actually do that! I’m very happy!! My Rhaenicent heart was going crazy because THEY COULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY UGHHHHH

I do love how important the lower class is becoming in the show, it kinda feels like where I am in GOT (season 6 episode 3/4-ish) which is super cool

In the podcast episode for this one, they said something like “what does wielding power look like as a woman in this world” and so I was very happy that Rhaenyra got to slap someone ☺️

But we need some action up in this joint, I fear. Two consecutive non-action episodes of hotd… how am I supposed to survive in these conditions

If I have any other thots, I will let you know, but I’m soooo excited for more dragon time ‼️‼️

yo okay. aemond is actually pissing me off so much LOL. like everytime i see him on my screen i get mad and edits of him keep popping up on my fyp and it just PISSES ME OFF like he's so arrogant i actually can't stand him. him and criston cole need the guillotine as soon as possible

NOOOOOOOOO STOP ABOUT RHAENA BECAUSE IVE HEARD RUMORSSSSS IVE HEARD RUMORS DO YOU WANT TO HEAR THE RUMORS OR DO YOU NOT WANT TO HEAR THE RUMORS IM ACTUALLY SO EXCITED ABOUT IT

i was soooooo bittersweet about the mysaria + rhaenyra kiss because im still bitter about how they didn't show rhaenyra's relationship with laena in season 1 ... but at the same time i LOVEEEEEE mysaria and i love seeing my favorite girlies be with each other

OMGGGGG the riot in king's landing was actually one of my favorite scenes so far. i also really love what i think they're about to do with hugh hammer bc iirc, in the book they didnt rlly flesh him out all too much ?? and im really excited to see where they take his character in the future

omg ... me and my family have been talking to this, they've truly been dragging this season on, i've been dying for more action. although at the same time .. i'm so scared that they're gonna end the season with the battle of the gullet and that will actually destroy me

[arabellasleopardcoat]

My thoughts on Episode 5 SPOILERS AHEAD

Corlys must be regretting everything.Commoners think a dead dragon is a bad omen. I love Gwayne, telling Criston how it is. Aemond with Viserys' dagger. Helaena still in a mourning dress, watching Aegon pass in what looks to modern eyes like a casket. Ugh that is disgusting. Taking off his armor, the noise and the blood are so gross. Of course Aemond worries about the throne.

Alicent and Cole are a mess. Interesting that he doesn't tell her the truth, despite the fact she suspects Aemond did something.

Ser Alfred going at it for the fifth time, weaker sex. Hah! At least Rhaenyra has a good comeback.

Jace visiting his Baela before going to Daemon. Interesting that he is embarassed over not being on the frontlines. Good show of strategic thinking, but behind his mothers back. The Freys again? No, please, I hate them

Daemon so cocky in his Caraxes. Praising the Brackens for their willingness to die for their cause, and not bend. Interesting, he admires conviction and defiance. What did he order the Blackwood to do? Sonetjing bad for sure.

Poor Rhaena dealing with Lady Arryn, but she has a beautiful gown. Crushed velvet, I believe.

Rhaenyra complaining to Mysaria about men. I do get the feeling. I am angry too. Voices a wish to know how to use a sword. Mysaria is proving herself a good advisor. The servant Rhaenyra snapped to marches off somewhere.

I like the grief in the girls, and in Rhaenyra, but I feel we should have gotten more from Corlys. Baela and Rhaenyra getting closer. Rhaenyra sending a book to Corlys.

Daemon hallucinating over dinner, not about fucking his mother, but eating her out, being told he is better than Viserys and then seeing blood in his hands. All in all very Freudian. Alys eating casually. Good God does anyone in this show not have mommy issues? Daemon discussing money issues. Ah, Daemon is now King. He doesn’t want to be Prince consort or King consort, simply King. Because he is married to a Queen, you see, not because he is high on a powertrip. Of course, how can I think that. Does he crave power, throne, or recognition from his mother?

I love how they shut Alicent down, and her only support is the Grand Maester. Aemond just pouts, which is so funny to me. Not even Cole backs her as regent, which is cold. Great point about hypocrisy, Tyland Lannister.

Aemond smirks so much, he might be jumping up in joy. Ewan Mitchell is great at conveying so much emotion with so little. The shot on Alicent feels almost claustrophobic with Aemond ordering to close the city gates to avoid the commoners fleeing the city. Perfectly timed.

Ah, now the lovers argue! Cole is traumatized by dragons, and backing Aemond because he seems like a stronger and more ruthless regent than Alicent. He wishes to spare her the ugliness of war, which

Uh oh! Trouble at the gates. A riot will break out soon.

Freys again. I hate them. I like Lady Frey’s shrewdness. Poor Jace, negotiating with these two. He is great at it, though. His first victory. Open styled communication, present it as a win win. Textbook negotiation (Harvard’s style, my law student is showing)

Daemon arguing with Alys and chopping wood. Rape and pillage, those were Daemon’s orders. Ugh. I love how weird and witchy Alys is. Daemon has turned brutal. Alys, you feminist icon. You went right in for the kill, Rhaenyra would disapprove. I love the foreshading with Aemond. I love that she taunts him about hus mother too and the vision she sent.

So Daemon wants to rule as Rhaenyra’s equal. How funny, were he the King, he would never grant his Queen that concession. I despise men so much. Saying, they wouldn’t obey a woman, but will look to a man. It is a fair assessment, but still.

Corlys and Baela share a scene of grief, asking to be Hand seen as a mean act. Poor Baela. Curious, honor of having a dragonrider death, they seem to love it. I like Baela’s arch, of fulfilling her grandmother’s last desire, and Corlys doing the same, trying to name her heir. And I love that she refuses.

So here are the Riverlands lords, angry that the Blackwoods do all their raping and pillaging under Rhaenyra’s banner. So of course, this is the time he hallucinates Laena and thinks of his girls. Riverlands refuse to bend to him because he ordered that and the death of Jaehaerys and fails to argue anyrhing because he is hallucinating. Great.

Servant in red trying to get inside King’s Landing, visits Dyana? Dyane? I do not remember, but the girl Aegon SA. War will be fought in other ways. Aemond, Helaena and the Iron Throne! Was it worth the price? Alicent being tender with Aegon for the only time in his life. And he feels it, and calls for her.

Ay, Jace and Rhaenyra. Jace doesn’t want her mother to fight like Visenya. Poor him, wanting to do more. They are so alike, it’s so sweet, even if they argue. Over something so simple as not having permission to be out. Rhaenyra terrified of Aemond is very interesting. Daemon once more being a deadbeat dad. Ah, here they come, the dragonseeds. I love how Jace thinks about history, and the fact that the need for Valyrian blood is not so true for a dragonrider. I love it is something they will do together, but feel like it takes a bit of the glory from Jace. Great closing scene.

[horizon-verizon]

Another ask I got from a person I just decided to block (but will continue to "answer" for the sake of deliberation):

Not everything can be written away with the “propaganda excuse”. Rhaenyra was as AWFUL as those books portray.

Someone was putting smallfolk heads on spikes and squeezing the peasantry for additional funds after she took King’s Landing, and it could have only be the one who was in the city issuing edicts: Rhaenyra herself. Her lavish spectacle to name Joffrey as Prince of Dragonstone while the city was suffering from war and winter can’t be explained away as bias; there would be far too many witnesses to such an event. Manfryd Mooton and Corlys Velaryon betrayed their patron when the greens were losing, and it wasn’t just on a lark, Rhaenyra’s death sentence on Addam Velaryon and Nettles were matters of public record. The Princess and the Queen pretty much spells out the minutes of the Small Council meeting where it happened, so it can’t be explained away as the Mootons attempting to cover their own behinds and paint themselves as forced into turning by evil Rhaenyra. The narrative of Blood and Cheese presented in The Princess and the Queen supports Rhaenyra signing off on the murder (or at least knowing beforehand and consciously not ordering him against it), and even if that’s propaganda, it fell to Rhaenyra to punish Daemon for murdering a noncombatant and child just as surely as it fell on Aegon II to punish Aemond for attacking and murdering a noncombatant envoy. The fact that neither one of them did speaks volumes about them.

The smallfolk of King’s Landing didn’t riot for no reason either (granted, they were also influenced by the Shepherd), we see this in the original novels. Tyrion was falsely blamed for some of Joffrey’s actions in ACOK, but the street preacher is not basing his argument on nothing: Joffrey does shoot random peasants dead with his crossbow and mockingly permits the rest to eat the dead, the High Septon is gluttonous while the peasants starve, the upper crust is venal and corrupt. Rhaenyra’s regime and policies are sparking the same arguments, and the responsibility for all that falls on Rhaenyra herself. She’s the one who’s wasting food in a time of want on a party, she’s the one who is squeezing more and more taxes out of the peasantry, she’s the one constantly accusing everyone of treason regardless of proof, guilt or innocence. She’s the only one in power at King’s Landing, and so the buck ultimately stops with her.

Even if you take an extreme and delusional step and say that every single negative word written about Rhaenyra is untrue slander, how then, did those events happen? Because they clearly did and they can’t be easily explained away as unrelated. Aegon II and Larys Strong were in Dragonstone, Aemond was in the field, Alicent was imprisoned, Criston Cole was long dead, so they can’t be false flag ops, and the riots directed against the regime meant that the smallfolk held them responsible for the cause. Nettles and Addam Velaryon didn’t have phony death sentences.

And yet when others try to express that Rhaenyra was an awful person, I find reasons how she either was provoked unfairly or how those arguers just flat out lie about what she did versus what others did.

*EDIT*: 5/31/24: all of this is not about Nettles, bc that is where I'd say that Rhaenyra deserved her fate. Plus this ask was mostly not abt Nettles. And the real problem is actually that GRRM chose to write her so passively (not morally, passively) when he had a lot of options not to.

A)

I already addressed the executions, the party after taking KL, taxes, her progression into paranoia being more from her loss of sons (of which no one can ever criticize her for, at least reliably bc unless they are themselves a parent what cred do they have to deny that a caring parent shouldn't be destroyed with back to back child losses?), etc. HERE...along with all the posts that that post links to.

B)

Them: " Manfryd Mooton and Corlys Velaryon betrayed their patron when the greens were losing, and it wasn’t just on a lark, Rhaenyra’s death sentence on Addam Velaryon and Nettles were matters of public record. The Princess and the Queen pretty much spells out the minutes of the Small Council meeting where it happened, so it can’t be explained away as the Mootons attempting to cover their own behinds and paint themselves as forced into turning by evil Rhaenyra."

AND

"Even if you take an extreme and delusional step and say that every single negative word written about Rhaenyra is untrue slander, how then, did those events happen? Because they clearly did and they can’t be easily explained away as unrelated. Aegon II and Larys Strong were in Dragonstone, Aemond was in the field, Alicent was imprisoned, Criston Cole was long dead, so they can’t be false flag ops, and the riots directed against the regime meant that the smallfolk held them responsible for the cause. Nettles and Addam Velaryon didn’t have phony death sentences."

Okay...so when did I refute these happened? When did I ever say that every single thing that the text said Rhaenyra did, from being born to her going after Nettles, were just fabrications? I said that many were either twisted tellings from misogynist ideas and how these people view how a woman should act because she is a woman.

When did I reject that Rhaenyra did these things? That was never my counterargument, this person was upset bc they couldn't fathom the actual argument I was making that flouted their own feelings. My actual CA was that the narrative clearly conveys that Rhaenyra's paranoia did not come from nowhere, was not totally unjustified, nor because she hadn't been instigated into defending her own political rights from more ambitious and greedy actors who should have seen her more as a family than a threat to their own patriarchal/patriarchally-granted rights/ties to political power.

And Fire and Blood's account of the Dance is basically the Princess and the Queen but with more/added information; it also gives us what happened with Corlys, Mooton, the dragon seeds, and the meeting where Rhaenyra decided to imprison Addam. This person seems to think I haven't read that book or that it is somehow giving more and more relevant information than F&B?!

I never denied facts, I told people what and why Rhaenyra acted the way she does in particular circumstances and explained why some of those actions were not as evil as they were presented to be or believed to be. Evil to either those in her world or those reading this book. I explained how there was a level of scrutiny of her actions that encourages and affirms a misogynist reading of her because that scrutiny does not actually observe specific details in its comparisons when there were actors there who performed terrible things or targeted her with no/unjustified/ambitious provocation.

C)

Blood and Cheese is another topic I already talked about many times. People looking at this post can start HERE, where I mention B&C and put other posts under section A. In this post, I talked about the stupidity of claiming that Alicent had a better hold on her emotions and didn't let them influence her into making bad or rash decisions/actions and gave many examples, as the asker there tried to make Alicent a better ruler than Rhaenyra for somehow not letting her grandsons' violent death curtail her emotional control-ability to reason at critical moments to strategize and be pragmatic. Or in any way logical.

Yes, Alicent Hightower, the same woman who: tried to negotiate with Rhaenyra after her own son killed one of hers and ends up dismissing the deaths of the person she's seeking a middle ground with AND tried to get Jaehaera (her own granddaughter who she knows was mentally troubled) to kill Aegon III out of sheer spite; the same woman who had to be talked down by Larys into listening to Corlys an accept his terms temporarily; who told her son to mutilate Aegon III to put off Rhaenyra's supporters as if that were not going to turn public opinion against her son and the greens.

So really, that asker was trying to express that Rhaenyra's paranoia versus Alicent's blind rage was less acceptable because it was more apparent, more public and Rhaenyra was not in Alicent's position of being a support to a male authority figure (Aegon II here). Rhaenyra is the person ruling herself, being the woman in the actual seat, so she receives scrutiny & censure in a way that Alicent doesn't. Because Rhaenyra, just by acting towards having the same position of power traditionally given to men less-reliable-of-character and destabilizing societal prejudices perpetuating the supremacy of male authority, so there are some like anon above who want Rhaenyra to become this Mary Sue Perfectiana.

If a woman is going to do a "man's job", she better not be a real person with a unique psychology of her own developed from her environment, human interaction, social systems and pressures but be Athena. But a man can be Ares and rule with little question b/c the martial world is believed to be a man's. She must surpass the bounds of human selfishness or patience (that men can have and rule simultaneously [Aegon IV, Aegon II, Aerys II, Maegor I]) AND put the wishes of the wishes agents who wish to hypocritically invalidate her right to rule before her own rights AND be evaluated as such by those men and/or those who wish to maintain the very system of gender inequality Rhaenyra's rule would trouble.

But we already have a genuinely good/compassionate AND "real" ruler in Dany; Rhaenyra is supposed to re-contextualize Dany through the misogyny (which doesn't care if you are good in morlaity or not, it's botu gender...di we say Cersei or Lysa Tully's treatment at the hands of men don't matter?!) that Dany still is herself a victim of and will continue to have to deal with as sh gets to King's Landing. Because Rhaenyra's story is another story about Queenship and who DESERVES to be queen, how that is very much part of how a ruler is measured by in Westeros...the very place Dany hopes to reconquer. To show why Dany is a great ruler AND what can turn someone into a worse version of themselves (for Rhaenyra, misogyny).

In order to be a ruler "in her own right", she must be a pure agent of emotionlessness but also fall in line with medieval models of motherhood, chastity, and obedience to a male relative/spouse.

D)

Them: "The smallfolk of King’s Landing didn’t riot for no reason either (granted, they were also influenced by the Shepherd), we see this in the original novels."

Again, you can check out what I say about the taxes above...the reason why they grumbled was out of fear (which hello, this is a time of war, fear of loss of life during a retaking or defense is bound to happen) and the greens stole the treasury that Rhaenyra could have used to really supply the KLers with food stuffs, negotiations with other parties, materials for ships, etc. It was a very deliberate choice, and to make the KLers more difficult to deal with in their demands to be succored during such a volatile time. Funny how this never gets highlighted in discussions as to how Rhaenyra began taxing the KLers in the first place, or how no one ever provides their own plan for how to raise money as quickly as possible during such a volatile situation....The Shepherd PLUS Larys' rumor-mongering BOTH exacerbated the fear into making the inhabitants turn against Rhaneyra and the Targ dragons. The Shepherd himself is possibly an agent or "virus" sent by the Citadel/Faith to destabilize Rhaneyra (a theory that has some traction bc this guy quite literally comes out of nowhere and also has great rhetorical power, implying that he at one point may have had leisure time to contemplate his words for speech and idea-dissemination...something maesters and septons/septas do in their vocations). Rhaenyra ALSO didn't tax for no-good-reason.

E)

Coming off the last section, let's also get back to this piece:

"Even if you take an extreme and delusional step and say that every single negative word written about Rhaenyra is untrue slander, how then, did those events happen? Because they clearly did and they can’t be easily explained away as unrelated. Aegon II and Larys Strong were in Dragonstone, Aemond was in the field, Alicent was imprisoned, Criston Cole was long dead, so they can’t be false flag ops, and the riots directed against the regime meant that the smallfolk held them responsible for the cause. Nettles and Addam Velaryon didn’t have phony death sentences."

I love how the past subtle and overtly violent actions each of these characters took against Rhaenyra--even the primary, recent one of stealing the treasury!--aren't considered enough to set up later situations in King's Landing. Apparently, once Rhaenyra landed in KL,, there was no past, nothing to trace her behaviors to. No one died, no one had to move to Dragonstone to actually become some sort of practicing ruler and grow a family without abuses, no one openly questioned Rhaenyra's rights on multiple occasions based on her gender or endangered her and her kids, no one was planning to kill or imprison her on multiple occasions, and NONE of this has anything to do with how Rhaenyra--or any person/woman who happens to get into this position in life--shored up her emotional and political defenses. there is no progression, no causation, no origins of self.

Again, Rhaenyra is quite literally a failed Athena to these people--she failed to spring up a perfect leader from her father's (lacking) instruction and others' fancies of what a leader should look like and act like (which is to be male). When she landed in KL, she never was a child. She had a fresh new start!

F)

Two posts by mononijikayu: HERE and HERE applying some real medieval facts to Rhaenyra and Westerosi feudalism.

Excerpt from the second:

one of the primary drivers behind the erosion of female importance in political life was the transformation of societal norms and legal systems. as the medieval world transitioned to new epochs, shifts in power dynamics often paralleled shifts in gender roles. the rise of feudalism and centralized political structures led to an increasing concentration of power in the hands of a male-dominated aristocracy. the prevailing mindset began to associate public authority with masculinity, and legal frameworks were adapted to mirror these evolving social hierarchies. as a result, women faced mounting barriers to entry into political spheres as societal norms and laws codified their roles as subordinate figures more closely tied to domestic and familial duties. the transformation of royal and noble courts played a crucial role in redefining the nature of women's participation in political life. royal courts were epicenters of power, culture, and decision-making, but they underwent significant changes over time. the reformation of these courts often resulted in a more structured and regulated environment, which in turn began to marginalize women from active political engagement. courtly life increasingly emphasized ceremonial roles and decorum, wherein women might be celebrated for their beauty, grace, and strategic marital alliances, but their direct influence on policy-making and governance diminished. religion just as much held immense sway over medieval society, shaping perceptions of gender roles and political involvement. the doctrinal teachings of the church and the papacy played a dual role: they both reflected and reinforced prevailing gender norms. ecclesiastical doctrine often highlighted the virtue of women as pious wives and mothers, positioning them as symbols of morality and nurturing rather than as political actors. as the church gained prominence as a moral authority, these teachings permeated societal consciousness, reinforcing the notion that women's role in political affairs was secondary to their roles within the bounds of being members of their families and their duties to the wants of their faith. the evolution of these three novel concepts within existing paradigms played a pivotal role in solidifying these notions within the narrative and their implications for society. many of these notions were intricately interconnected, leading to a tight symbiotic relationship that favored the progression of men within the transformed societal landscape. consequently, women found themselves compelled to adopt a more nuanced approach in their pursuit of agency, lest they antagonize a resurging patriarchal order. 

[carrionkid]

5 genres you have a soft spot for and personal favorite bands from them? Love to hear what music you find neat

You absolutely activated my autism trap card so I apologize in advance lmao I am VERY passionate about music. Gonna bold the ones I really like

1. INDUSTRIAL - KMFDM, ministry, orgy, my life with the thrill kill kult, nine inch nails, chemlab

2. PUNK - lots of subgenres here lmao

dead kennedys, bad brains, the clash, pure hell, minor threat, rancid, Bob vylan, circle jerks, crass, stiff little fingers

Queercore: pansy division (one of the best bands I've seen live), the muffs, middle aged queers (part of my local scene), hunx & his punx, against me! (Also anarchopunk but I don't wanna add another subgenre), gloss

Riot grrrl: (albeit there's a lot of issues wrt race among other things in that scene but the label is useful for categorizing) bikini kill, L7, bratmobile

Folk punk: AJJ (another fantastic band to see live), the taxpayers, oh lonesome ana (another one from my local scene)

3. NEW WAVE - talking heads, devo, Adam and the ants, Blondie, gang of four, the psychedelic furs, XTC, Elvis costello

4. DARKWAVE - using this as a very BROAD label

Older: sisters of mercy, Bauhaus, depeche mode, soft cell, new order

Newer: ritual howls, the soft moon, type o negative

5. OLDER ROCK - this is another really vague label sorry

Girl groups: the Supremes, the shangri-la's, Lesley gore, the shirelles

Blues & soul: Nina Simone, Billy Holliday, Nat king cole, otis Redding, Percy sledge

Country: Loretta Lynn, Wanda Jackson, Johnny cash, Dolly Parton

Folk: Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, Peter Paul & Mary, Joan baez

And here's some other artists I really like that I couldn't squeeze into any of these 5 categories: Viagra boys, fugazi, Ezra Furman, Jane's addiction, hole, the boomtown rats, electric wizard, 100 gecs

I've also got a big mix of punk music, and a big playlist of stuff I play at work, plus playlist of jrock