Review with spoilers: House of the Dragon 1×06 The Princess and the Queen

The time jump gives the series new life, but doesn’t solve its biggest problems.

Dragon House finally came the long-awaited time jump, which resulted in the replacement of part of the cast, primarily the main characters Alycent and Rainier. The episode is clearly theirs, but the new dynamics and characters introduced also stand out. It’s a pity that we barely have time to cling to them..

After a major blunder in the fifth episode of the season, the sixth episode almost manages to fully restore the balance, although one of its main inconsistencies is a direct result of the failures of the previous one. Generally, this is a good episodebut which demonstrates some of series problemseven when she’s on top.

Starting with the birth scene, which more than shocks or delights women’s pain, surprisingly realisticthe series already makes room for Emma D’Arcy show that you came from the beginning. Replacing Millie Alcock as Rainier’s interpreter, D’Arcy shines throughout the episode, managing to give more imposing what the young version had, all with a lot of expression and charisma.

Emma D’Arcy is the highlight of the episode. (Reproduction: HBO)

Other new actors are not far behind. Olivia Cook presents a completely different version of the one Emily Carey has seen so far. Alicent is no longer a rather naive young woman full of insecurities. So her kindness is not shown as before, and she does not hide her cruelty demanding to see Rainier’s newborn baby shortly after the princess’s birth.

The moment means so much to strength Targaryen faced it even in the midst of pain and left a trail of blood as far as evil queens in demanding it from her. THIS IS a completely different dynamic what has been shown between them so far and sets the tone for all the scenes between them in the future. The friendship that once existed is over, and the war between them is not as cold as King Viserys makes it seem.

As a book lover George R. R. Martincharacteristic pleases bring characters closer to their literary counterparts. However, more than that, the changes make sense with what has been seen in the series so far, bringing freshness, slightly changing what we already knew and expected characters so far. Ten years is more than enough time for Rayneera to put her teenage tantrums behind her, as well as allow Alycent to feel comfortable enough as a queen not to hide in the expectations of others. And in this sense big jump in time is very welcome with all the changes in characters and dynamics it brings.

The opening scene demonstrates all the things that character and dynamic changes bring to the positive side of the series. (Reproduction: HBO)

However, this would be enough and let things happen for real, unlike the constant jumps seen in the first half of the series. Too bad it doesn’t happen and affects how viewers can interact with characters who end up with very short screen time. Sir Harvin Strong and Laena Velarion are highlights in that sense: two characters full of potential in the short time they appear, with interesting relationships with Rainier and Damon respectively, and who would be great to see for longer.
Harwin’s taste as a father unable to take on his children, the family dynamics of Laenor and the princess, the standoff between the commander of the city guard and the Kingsguard all point to the fact that Harvin could have become a beloved character if the series had taken time.. However, this is not what happens and he meets his end in the same episode where he is most visible.

It’s the same with Laena, who could be a lot bigger, but she doesn’t have time for that. Loss, however, is not only in relation to what could have been. The decision to jump from one important event to another, not caring about the characters and only about the events, makes some of these moments lose their power. How much more impressive would these deaths be after we’ve bonded with these two in a plot that gave them the opportunity to really win over the public? That kind of heaviness just doesn’t exist, as House of the Dragon doesn’t allow itself to stay in the moment long enough for the minor players in the story to be anything more than just bits and pieces in the setting.

If Harvin was already shown with what little was on screen, imagine how devastating his death would be after long enough for us to become attached to him? (Reproduction: HBO)

This is emphasized by the fact that the series knows how to build correctly when it wants to. Sir Christon especially hated now precisely because it was presented as such Kind first. Your cruelty, now revealed, is still more disgusting because there was time to see it differently the first. It’s clear that the show could have done more, but prefers to prioritize only what happens rather than who it happens to.

Given all the newbies on the list, I hope it won’t be the default. However brief the participation of children and adolescents, they some good points. sadness Jaqueiris saying goodbye to Harvin and then asking if he’s really a bastard makes you sympathize with the lost little boy in the middle of this messy situation. emond and your swiftness and the desire to prove oneself also stand out, and Helena Targaryen, with her cryptic and meaningful speeches, quiet and restrained even in the company of her mother, easily aroused my interest. But it leaves me wanting even more than that they have time gain depth, reveal yourself to the public, win heartsto the events that await them in the future.

I hope to see more of Helena than what little is in the books. (Reproduction: HBO)

Another major shortcoming of the series, marked by the sixth series, is also related to Kriston Cole. Without any mention of earlier events in which he, as a knight of the Kingsguard, attacked a guest at the wedding feast of the princess and heir to the throne, there are no consequences for the brutal murder that he commits with all intentions and in plain sight.

OUR suspension of distrusthowever, it can only go so far, and it gets even worse when in the sixth episode Ser Harvin was expelled from the city guard for hitting Cole twice.. This move seems completely out of place compared to the actions of the other in the previous episode; or rather it seems it’s completely unreasonable that Cole doesn’t bear any consequences for doing so much worse.. Here, a person’s attitude affects his position and the status of his family at court, which is to be expected in this universe. All this is very different from what was seen in the fifth chapter of the season, which makes it even more obvious bad decision from previous episodeas well as drop in quality as a result of focusing solely on shocking the audience.

Who better to teach the children of Velaryon and Targaryen to hate each other, right? (Reproduction: HBO)

While these issues that the series as a whole presents are even more obvious, and own stumbling (It seems implausible that the same nobles who so resisted the princess as heiress would gladly accept the way Alicente commands and rules, even in the presence of the king), this episode is far from another very low point.

On the other hand, Dragon House here is gaining strength, getting renewed interest as well as provoke the news what represents. But this does not solve what is wrong with the production, which will only benefit. recognition of these problems and avoid them in the future. Not that the story itself was all that bad, but it must be admitted that characters are the heart of a good storyand that it’s not just about what happens and the shock it causes.

Dragon House available on HBO and HBO Max.

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