In episode 5, we open with Daemon’s wife, Lady Rhea. A strong hunter, she heads out to hunt for some deer on her own when she happens upon Daemon in a long black cloak. The two are definitely not friends. As Rhea throws some verbal jabs, Daemon spooks Rhea’s horse so it rears backward and crushes her. Unable to move and in immense pain, Rhea taunts Daemon until her last breath. But why kill Rhea, when the two were estranged anyway? Unless Daemon intends to marry Rhaenyra sooner than anyone thought.
Meanwhile, Viserys and family (minus Alicent and Aegon) are on a ship bound for Driftmark, home of Corlys and Rhaenys Velaryon. Viserys has clearly been becoming more unwell over time, and seasickness really takes a lot out of him on this trip. Once the family land, Viserys sets out to make a deal with Corlys: That Rhaenyra will marry Corlys’ son Laenor, and their houses will be united.
Alicent is sad to see her father lose his Hand of the King post. He blames Alicent for choosing Rhaenyra’s version of the truth. She blames Otto for constantly pushing Aegon as heir. Otto warns Alicent against trusting Rhaenyra, as there will come a time when Rhaenyra will need to get rid of Aegon. Otto is right, Aegon is a threat to Rhaenyra’s reign – but I can see Daemon getting rid of the child, not Rhaenyra.
Lord Larys finds Alicent in the gardens. Larys is one who learns many things simply by being quiet and observant. He suggests Alicent needs an ally, now that Princess Rhaenyra is “unwell” which is a surprise to Alicent. Larys informs her of the tea delivered to Rhaenyra – to prevent pregnancy, at the direction of the King – and it’s apparent by Alicent’s reaction that she knows exactly what that tea was for. Now that she knows Rhaenyra lied to her and cost Alicent’s father his post, what will she do for revenge?
Love seeing more of Rhaenys in this episode – she is quick to sense that Viserys is unwell, though he downplays it. Corlys informs Viserys of Lady Rhea’s “accidental” death. Viserys quickly turns the conversation to happier pursuits: The marriage of Rhaenyra and Laenor. Corlys refuses to accept the proposal without clarifying the plans of succession, suspicious at what Viserys is offering him. Viserys wants their children to carry the Targaryen name, Corlys wants them to carry the Velaryon one. The two come to a compromise: the children will be born Targaryen, but when one ascends to the Iron Throne it will be under the Targaryen name. Corlys and Rhaenys share a look, and agree to the naming compromise. The deal is done.
Rhaenyra and Laenor wander out on the beach alone. Laenor is not thrilled about the marriage as he is gay and has no interest in women. Rhaenyra is simply trying to keep Viserys happy. The pair agree to go along with the marriage their parents set up for them, but Laenor gets to keep his boyfriend and Rhaenyra gets to keep her fling with Ser Criston. Everybody wins! Or do they… Corlys and Rhaenys are aware of Laenor’s preference for men, and Rhaenys is suspicious they are putting their son in danger. Will this little arrangement even last until the wedding?
Ser Criston approaches Rhaenyra on the ship deck alone. He decides now is the time to pitch his own plan to Rhaenyra: They run away and get married. Rhaenyra knows this is impossible, but Ser Criston seems to have deluded himself into believing it could actually work. As Rhaenyra crushes his plans and his heart, he looks heartbroken. Rhaenyra attempts to cheer him up by informing him their affair will continue even after she is married to Laenor, which only upsets Ser Criston more. He panics that he has soiled his white cloak and broken his oath, and sees marriage to Rhaenyra as a way of restoring his honor.
Once the family returns home, Alicent summons Ser Criston so she can question him about Rhaenyra and Daemon. Naturally, once Alicent begins to talk about a lapse in morals, Ser Criston panics and confesses he was the one who slept with Rhaenyra. Alicent is stunned for a moment, before she quickly recovers and lets Ser Criston go unpunished… for now.
The pacing is hazy in this episode, but we soon find ourselves at a banquet to celebrate the betrothal of Laenor and Rhaenyra. All the major houses are in attendance, and it’s giving red wedding vibes – someone will definitely die before the end of this night. As the Targaryens and the Velaryons get settled in, Daemon strides in and takes his rightful seat at the table without much fuss. Viserys begins his speech – only to be interrupted by a dramatically late Alicent, dressed in green – a color of war, some in the crowd note. Viserys announces seven days of tournaments and feasting, followed by the royal wedding.
Daemon meets Rhaenyra on the dance floor and asks her if this is what she really wants. He tells her his marriage was recently “dissolved” and Rhaenyra challenges him to take her as his new wife. The two provoke each other until one day, it’s going to catch up with them. Viserys witnesses a near kiss between them, before distraction comes in the form of a fight. Unfortunately the joy and dancing ends here, as Laenor’s boyfriend decided to get cocky and approach Ser Criston, indicating that he knows of the relationship between Ser Criston and Rhaenyra. Ser Criston perceives this as a threat, and bludgeons Ser Joffrey to death in front of the entire party. Oof, way to bring down the mood.
Laenor weeps for his dead love as Ser Joffrey’s blood seeps into the floor. After the brutal end to the party, there is no more celebration. There is only a private ceremony in which Laenor and Rhaenyra are married, their parents bearing witness. Meanwhile, Ser Criston heads to the garden to kill himself but is stopped by Alicent. Viserys passes out just after Laenor and Rhaenyra are wed, and our final shot is a rat drinking Joffrey’s spilled blood.
The pacing of this episode rushed though quite a bit, and in episode six the biggest time jump yet occurs. So much that Emma D’Arcy will take over the role of Rhaenyra – it will be interesting to see whether audiences are happy about this, as many have come to love Milly Alcock in the role.
