the DEEPER tension in House of the Dragon S2 EP5

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I liked the irony that Alicent told Aegon to do nothing ... & now that's all he can do

I love how kinda low-key this episode is. It really shows the impact of dragons crashing. The political tension was also very interesting (which I felt it previously lack strategizing). This world is bigger than just the dragon, it's also about resources & allies management.

It actually kind of makes sense why Criston backed Aemond over Alicent to be Regent. Criston just watched Aemond turn on his own brother and tried to burn him alive and now Criston probably thinks Aemond will turn on him next.

This episode blew me away with how good it is. It doesn’t need giant set pieces to be 10/10, this was a character episode, and it was amazing.

Damon isn’t confronting her about the potion and dreams because HES INTO IT. He knows it’s real magic, and he is interested, he wants more power, but of course is playing with power greater than him that he doesn’t understand.

Enjoyed Criston telling Alicent happened. Seeing an army obliterated by a 100 ft long fire breathing lizard tends to do that

Rhaenyra as the named heir should have been regent queen the whole time when Viserys was terminal but team green hid how sick he was so Alicent got a taste of power. She actually thought they were going to pick her! She’s is rethinking everything now as she should.

Yeah, with Daemon you were accurate about the previous episode's dream being his subconscious forcing upon him the question of what does he really want? He wants the throne? Then he has to confront the fact that that could easily mean killing his niece to secure it. This episode is merely him trying to muster the resolve for his ambition...although funnily enough, in dealing with the Brackens and Blackwoods he is once again reminded just how ugly that sort of ambition can get, when he unleashes the Blackwoods upon a campaign of terror. It's why his own stress goes up so visibly, when the riverlords come to him during the night to tell him the Blackwoods are terrorizing everyone now, not just the Brackens. In essence, he's trying to steel himself and find the resolve and ambition to go for the throne...but every single time one of these truly vile things comes back at him, to remind him how ugly he'll have to become to get that, it very visibly bothers him. I agree they are overdoing it with the dreams, but I have a bit of an advantage of knowing his ultimate fate, so I won't spoil it...I'll just say that I can see what the writers are aiming for psychologically with his journey and I approve massively as it makes total sense as to what his ultimate choice becomes later on. I just hope they can do it justice in the show, so that people can understand it...

As much as I do like how much they're exploring the magical side of the world, I do agree that the weirwood visions are getting a little much. I think we've gotten all we needed from them to get a look into Daemon's psyche, and it only seems to be embolden his resolve at this point, so unless there is a turning point for him from them, I kinda hope they're done now.

I've been stewing on the Alicent / Krispy affair for a bit now and I think I understand it better. Alicent has had so little agency in control of her body, her mind, her spirit all her life. Her own father was trying to exploit her as a young girl because her mother wasn't around to try to protect her. She's never had anyone truly be there for her and looking out for her. Criston is the first person she feels that what is shared between them is truly sacred and private. ( unlocked doors aside...) in addition to this, she seemed jealous of Rhaenyra's freedom when they were younger. Sexually and personally. Hurt her friend got to experience the pros of sexuality while she was experiencing marital SA. I also think she was a bit jealous and had a supressed childhood crush on Rhaenyra, and the showrunners have confirmed the ambiguous nature of their earlier friendship) What better way to reclaim one's anatomy and personhood than with the same man in the same bedroom as your friend you had wanted to be? It makes sense honestly. She also knew it would be more likely to be discreet so that she may maintain her Public Image. Although it's obvious she's been caring less and less about the discretion of it with each episode, such has the not locked door or so openly talking intimately in the courtyard.

Rhaynys was heroic.... to her family and supporters. To the citizens of kings landing, she randomly showed up and killed them during aegons coronation. (Though i will admit, she was under duress. She was about to be imprisoned in KL unless she bent the knee and she couldnt leave her dragon.)

the people pointing out thay dragons are just meat at the begging of the episode and then screaming "give us meat, we want meat" when they're being not allowed to leave... not so subtle

When Daemon was speaking with the Blackfoot, he specifically says that there are things that the Crown can't be seen doing, then whispers, do your worst. Then later in the episode, when the River lords come to Daemon, they say that the Blackfoots carried the Targaryen banner while committing crimes. Daemon's failure is of his own making -- no wonder Viserys never wanted Daemon as the Hand of the King.

I love the slow pacing, people say it was boring and felt like a filler but i like mainly because it was just as you described setting the pressure and building the tension more and more up for what's to come

People need to chill about the occasional slow episode. No show that’s well written can be nonstop action. Unless it’s Fury Road or John Wick. Normal shows have ups and downs.

I want Daeron to show up before the end of the season looking Dornish more than I have ever wanted anything in my whole life 😂

I like how Criston and Aemond won't say what happened, but won't lie either. They could have said Aegon's injuries were caused by Rhaenys. They could even have chalked it up toe the general chaos of battle and called it an accident.

HOTD is between a roch and a hard place because this set-up episode is, well, setting up future plot points which people are complaining about but without it then people would complain that this season was rushed like GOT S8

alicent knows that if aemond gains a little bit of power he will not relinquish it, and he cannot be controlled unlike aegon. alicent is done.... also dragging meleys head around will brew to become the stormin of the dragon pit, cole is moved only by revenge for his rejection by rhaenyera .