House of the Dragon's First Episode Just Took Me on the Emotional Ride of My Life

By Krista Perez

I have not been this stressed out during an episode since the Battle of the Bastards in Game of Thrones.

This episode was marketed as having the bloodiest, most chaotic battle we have seen in the show thus far, the Battle of the Gullet. I can say for a fact that they delivered.

First off, let’s get the elephant out of the room…SHEEPSTEALER DID NOTHING WRONG. That feral little baby with a gnarly underbite was NOT the problem. You’re telling me Rhaena flew a wild dragon - who only ever knew solitude and quiet in the Vale - into the most chaotic battlefield and expected everything to just workout? NO. Once Sheepstealer started getting hit with fire and arrows EVERYONE was catching those hands. It was a dragon eat dragon world and his will to protect his rider overpowered his willingness to obey her commands.

Aegon and Larys fled Kings Landing and spent most of the episode on a side quest until they were captured by Rhaenyra Loyalists. I, for one, can’t wait to see how that all plays out because Aemond is losing his shit about it and trying to hold on to his waning power. I wish them all the misfortune.

Speaking of Aemond, it was incredibly uncomfortable to watch him kiss his mom. I feel like as Targaryen fans, we need to be okay with a lot of weird shit if you want the dragons, but I think, as a collective, we draw the line at parent/child romance.

We got our first real look at a new dragon, Tessarion, and the most elusive of Alicent's children, Daeron. The show gave him red hair - which is a diversion from the books. I imagine the writers are really driving home how hypocritical Alicent was when she gave Rhaenyra a hard time for her boys having black hair.

At the Gullet, Corlys Velaryon took on the Triarchy, led by Lohar the Bitchfist. She was a standout character because her motivations are always her own. The Lannisters may have procured her services, but she was not doing their bidding. Her hubris and taste for revenge against the Seasnake was ultimately her downfall. Which is a shame because I would have LOVED to see more of her.

Several miles away, Daemon took on another host of Lannisters in the Riverlands. As he hunted the remaining force, he comes across none other than the Starks themselves. Cregan Stark promised 2000 greybeards for the cause to Jace, and he delivered. As soon as they came on screen declaring for Rhaenyra, I had full body chills. You know you are on the right side when the Starks fight with you.

The most devastating part of this battle was losing Jace and Vermax. This death hurt more than I thought it would. Prior to his death, however Jace and Baela were killing it. They fought like a well-oiled machine together. Baela was really the MVP of the Dragon Riders, though, but there was only so much she could do. Especially when Rhaena showed up with Sheepstealer.

With Jace gone, Rhaenyra is now down two sons. I don’t know how she will emotionally recover from this, but it will be interesting to see her next moves. Emma D’Arcy said herself they will test fans’ loyalty to Rhaenyra which leads me to believe she is going to do some reprehensible things. Trust, that I will always support Rhanyra's rights and wrongs. No one could ever make me hate her.

All in all, this episode really set the bar and tone for the season. Things are getting real and stakes are getting higher. I am mentally preparing myself for all the emotional damage this season will bring.

#justiceforsheepstealer