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House of the Dragon S2E6 Recap: Positions of Power

“Smallfolk”

Aemond sits at his Small Council in House of the Dragon S2E6, "Smallfolk"
Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO

The following recap contains spoilers for House of the Dragon S2E6, “Smallfolk” (written by Eileen Shim and directed by Andrij Parekh)


In the “Inside the Episode” commentary for “Smallfolk,” the sixth episode in Season 2 of House of the Dragon, director Andrij Parekh opens by saying that in this episode, “The camera is constantly circling characters to give the sense that this world is turning very slowly amidst this battle between the Blacks and the Greens.” We, as viewers, have certainly noticed that in the past two episodes, after the deaths of Rhaenys and Meleys and the dragon battle that mortally wounded Sunfyre in Episode 4 and burned King Aegon II into a gooey mess.

How directors like Parekh and showrunner Ryan Condal can consistently keep House of the Dragon intriguing and at a rapid pace despite the politicking and the character-building that must be done to create an episode like “Smallfolk” is truly commendable. In the source text of George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, some characters we might consider smallfolk might have a couple of lines or a paragraph devoted to them and their story. The entire Dance of the Dragons Civil War only covers a few chapters of the 800-page book, so momentous events happen at a rapid pace, often at the expense of diving into the headspace of many of the characters.

King Aegon lies in bed badly burned from battle
Photograph by Theo Whiteman/HBO

Ryan Condal and his list of writers and directors already have a tough enough task of trying to visually and creatively portray what happened in the Targaryen Civil War. But they have shown that not only can they do that well, they can also build the how and the why certain things happened based on character development and motivations largely absent from the text. As expected, we spent just as much time with the smallfolk as we did with the lords and ladies this week, and we are left with a much fuller understanding of why it’s not just the camera, but also the world, that is constantly circling around these characters and their actions.

It allows us to spend time with Ser Steffon Darklyn, who has not had much influence on the small council, but is loyal to his queen and accepts the task of determining if his ancient Targaryen lineage is worthy of riding a dragon. Rhaenyra believes that his great-great-grandmother, Aeriana, was a Targaryen princess. This is a character never even referenced in the source text and is simply some creative license taken to give Steffon his (ill-fated) attempt at riding Seasmoke.

This expansion of the text and character motivations gives us the brotherly dynamic between Alyn of Hull and Addam of Hull, both bastard sons of Corlys Velaryon, but who want vastly different things. Alyn has been drafted into sea service as Corlys’ first mate, although he is reluctant to take the role. Adddam believes they deserve power and glory because of their heritage, but in a case of be careful what you wish for, Seasmoke seeks him out as, we guess, someone related to Laenor Velaryon, his original rider.

Seasmoke hunts down Alyn of Hull
Photograph by Theo Whiteman/HBO

Daemon’s struggles with visions and his desire to be accepted by his brother (that’s Paddy Considine’s King Viserys music we hear!) gets several scenes. Hugh Hammer and his desperation to save his family causes him to steal of the food Rhaenyra sent over. Gwayne Hightower gets to give Queen Alicent perhaps the best news she has had in weeks: that her son Daeron who is a ward in Oldtown is “kind” above all else; quite the deviation from her other two maniacal sons.

Each of these give us motivations, personal characteristics, and incentives for why these characters make certain decisions and take certain actions. Fire & Blood is a history book, through and through. It, therefore, is fairly agnostic about the headspace of characters in certain moments. What this show has allowed us to do is explore them in between the violent set pieces and blasts of dragon fire.

A War Between Dragons

(This weekly section will break down the most crucial part of the episode that impacts the Targaryen civil war.)

Two quotes from the crafty and strategic Mysaria can best describe what led to perhaps one of the most brilliant decisions in Game of Thrones history. In last week’s episode, Mysaria assured Rhaenyra that, “There is more than one way to fight a war.” Rhaenyra, struggling with lack of training, ability, and support to actually go into battle is comforted by Mysaria that there are ways she can continue to fight while not actually entering the battlefield.

That sentiment was heightened this week when Mysaria reports of the crisis and the discontent in King’s Landing as the naval blockade does its job and the people of the city begin to starve. She advises Rhaenyra that “It is harder to wage war aboard when you must also keep peace at home.” There is not much peace in King’s Landing these days and Mysaria has already begun to take advantage.

Dyana and Sylvi talk to Ulf the White in a tavern
Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO

The negative public relations campaign starts in earnest this week as Dyana and Sylvi begin to spread rumors in the taverns where powerful men like Ulf the White can hear about the grand feasts in the Red Keep and the neglect that the royals are showing their subjects. But meeting an even more fundamental need, Rhaenyra authorized dozens of rafts full of food—under the Queen Rhaenyra banner—to drift onto the shores at King’s Landing. Without raising a finger or drawing a sword, she strikes a massive blow to Aemond and Team Green as she feeds the smallfolk when the royalty in town cannot. Aemond cares not for the smallfolk (actually echoing Rhaenyra telling Daemon in their Season 1 outing that the opinions of common folk do not matter), but Larys advises that is unwise. Taking care of them is the “burden of authority” and they only care that their king has not fed them, no matter who stopped the food from coming in.

Food arriving at King’s Landing causes widespread chaos and riots across the city, eventually spilling over to the area of the Sept where Queen Dowager Alicent and Queen Helaena Targaryen are praying. The smallfolk try to trap them, a solider cuts off a poor man’s arm, and what was a city of unrest has now devolved into a state of lawlessness. All the while, the residents shout to one another “Love live Queen Rhaenyra!” and “Even in her absence, she thinks of us!”

Rhaenyra may be double frustrated that she can not enter the fray (at least until a dragon goes missing, I guess), but she is currently winning both the physical war and the perception war. The people of King’s Landing seem to be on the verge of a hostile takeover.

Who Danced Best with Dragons?

(This weekly section will look at who played the game of war the best within the episode.)

Can it be anyone else other than Mysaria in this episode? Let’s recap. She has become a trusted advisor to the Queen despite being in jail mere days ago. She is the architect of perhaps the most damaging strokes of the war as far as Team Green is concerned. Mysaria maintains a deep bench of spies, whisperers, and turncoats in King’s Landing that can be used in Rhaenyra’s favor when needed. Mysaria knows when to give her boss a well-timed compliment, such as when she tells Rhaenyra how good she looks wielding a sword. And now all of those assets have allowed her to have an even more, um, comfortable relationship with Rhaenyra.

Mysaria and Rhaenyra kiss in her chambers in House of the Dragon S2E6, "Smallfolk"
Photograph by Theo Whiteman/HBO

The kiss that Mysaria and Rhaenyra share is certainly not book canon by any means, but goes a long way in showing how desperate the Queen is for affection after being deserted by Alicent and Daemon. After losing her son Luke at the hand of Aemond. After having to send her children away with Baela so they would be safe from war. Her Small Council does not respect her. Corlys Velaryon appears on the verge of heading out to sea again after just accepting the position of Hand of the Queen. Ser Steffon Darklyn was loyal, but has now been thrown on the barbeque pit. Mysaria recognizes Rhaenyra’s loneliness and need for comfort and has now positioned herself as close to power as someone of common birth can ever be.

What is Within the Dragon’s Egg?

(This weekly section will identify some of the plot points or surprises that hatched during the episode.)

  1. Jason Lannister leading his army through Westeros with a live lion in their caravan is one thing: badass.
  2. I’m a bit confused because it is widely known in this universe (I believe) that a dragon will not take another rider while its present rider is still alive. Rhaenyra should know this, just as she knows that Prince Laenor did not, in fact, die in Season 1. So why would she presume someone with diluted Targaryen blood like Steffon Darklyn would be able to ride Seasmoke. On the other hand, it does look Seasmoke was amenable until Steffon muttered his “I did it!” line, and apparently dragons do not like hubris. Seasmoke then goes off on his own to find Alyn of Hull, so perhaps the inability for dragons to take new riders is more myth than fact.
  3. While we are at it, perhaps we need to get the dragon trainers some more potent weapons than long branches with a small fork on the end. I wonder how much it costs for them to get life insurance in Westeros?
  4. Dyana (raped by King Aegon) and Sylvi (scorned by Aemond, who she thought shared a bond with her) are the two perfect candidates to begin Mysaria’s misinformation campaign. She is so brilliant.
  5. Seeing King Viserys (revisited by Paddy Considine) made me miss him even more. Add in Daemon finally admitting to his brother that he should have been there to help him when his family was destroyed, and I was a blubbering mess.

    Gwayne Hightower talks to Alicent Hightower about her son she does not know
    Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO
  6. Larys Strong’s appeal to King Aegon after Aemond dismisses him was equal parts Tyrion Lannister, Littlefinger, and Varys all wrapped into one. Larys’ words that, “They will stare at you, or turn away. And they will underestimate you. And this will be your advantage,” was eerily reflective of the “cripples, bastards, and broken things” speech Tyrion gave Jon Snow in Season 1 of Game of Thrones.
  7. Otto Hightower has been summoned back! Daeron Hightower is a good man, and the trailer for Episode 7 reveals his dragon has taken flight! Gwayne Hightower is rising in the ranks of Ser Criston Cole’s Green army. Even with Alicent’s “you’re fired” moment with Aemond on the Small Council, the stock of the Hightower family may be on the rise.

Written by Ryan Kirksey

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