The Dragonpit

The Dragonpit S2E8: To the Gullet on the Morrow

We start this episode in the Free Cities with Tyland Lannister begging the Triarchy to join the war on the side of the Greens. After the fierce Commander Lohar makes Tyland prove his mettle, they agree to set sail. Meanwhile, in Westeros, Aemond has started burning cities to answer outrage with outrage and proceeds to bully his sister into joining the fight, over Alicent’s and Helena’s objections. On Dragonstone the six dragon riders are getting to know each other and Rhaenyra is readying her battle plans when she finds out Daemon has finally raised his army. She flies to Harrenhal to confront her husband only to find that he is a changed man after weeks of Weirwood tripping and downloading eight seasons of Game of Thrones. Corlys tries to be a good dad. Rhaena finds her dragon. And with Rhaenyra back on Dragonstone, Alicent comes to tell her that she’s also changed woman who just wants to wander the woods with her daughter and avoid the slaughter of the small folk. The episode ends with everyone marching to war.

The Dragonpit S2E7: Some of You May Die

We start with a confrontation between Rhenerya and Addam with two dragons squaring off and one bending the knee. Rhenerya returns with Addam to Dragonstone and wants to instruct him in High Valyrian — over the concerns of her council and her son. In Harrenhal Daemon gets schooled in politics by the 14-year-old Oscar Tully who pledges the Rivermen to his cause. Back in King’s Landing Alicent decides to go camping and no one wants to be honest with Prince Regent Aemond. Returning to Dragonsone, the Targaryen bastards converge to claim Vermithor and Silverwing and we finally get the Dragonseeds Rollins has been waiting for. Aemond see the Silverwing joy ride and almost takes Dragonstone before he realizes he’s a deadman.

The Dragonpit S2E6: Indignities

The episode starts with a scene of the Lannisters marching to war and Jason Lannister summoning Aemond to join him. Obviously, Aemond hates that and screams at his council that they must get more aggressive in their efforts to end the blockade and take back Harrenhal, going so far as to dismiss his cautious mother from the group. Aegon’s recovery bothers Aemond who continues to terrorize the inhabitants of the Red Keep. On Dragonstone, Rhaenyra asks Ser Steffon Darklyn to try to try mount Seasmoke. This attempt ends in his death and Rhaenyra begins to regret the plan and question her ability to win the war at all. At Harrenhal, Daemon continues to hallucinate and confides in Alys Rivers who convinces him to stay. On Driftmark, Corlys names Alyn as his First Mate and Addam seems resentful of the attention he receives from their father. In the Vale, Rhaena realizes Lady Arryn has been lying to her and that there is a dragon in the region. In King’s Landing, Mysaria’s scheme to stir unrest with the small folk takes hold as boats of food cause chaos in a starving city. Back on Dragonstone, Rhaenyra questions if she can win the war and Mysaria convinces her she can with a passionate kiss. The two are interrupted when news is brought to Rhaenyra that Seasmoke has found a new rider, causing her to take flight to confront Addam of Hull.

The Dragonpit S2E5: Competing Councils

In Episode 5 we see the realm’s reactions to the battle at Rook’s Rest. Despite Criston’s best-laid propaganda plans, the small folk in King’s Landing see the parading of Meley’s head as a bad omen. On Dragonstone, Rhaenyra’s council continues to second-guess her and she sends Baela to Driftmark to convince her grandfather, the Sea Snake,  to become the Hand of the Queen. In the small council room in King’s Landing, Alicent’s campaign to become the Queen Regent fails as Aemond is appointed to serve in the place of the severely injured Aegon. At Harrenhal, Daemon is struggling to build his army of Rivermen and with his own Oedipus Complex. Jace has some success in winning over the Freys as Rhaena struggles to convince Lady Arryn to send her men to war to fight for the Blacks. At the end of the episode, we see Rhaenyra and Jace hack a plot to find new riders for the dragons residing on Dragonstone.

The Dragonpit S2E4: The Queen Who Never Was

Titled “The Red Dragon and The Gold,” this episode will go down as one of the best episodes in the entire Game of Thrones universe. We start at Harrenhal where Daemon continues to struggle with both his past crimes and shifting reality. In between flirting with the woods-witch, Alys Rivers, and tripping on Weirwood paste, Daemon continues to terrorize the Riverland lords demanding fealty from both Oscar Tully and the Blackwoods.  Back in King’s Landing, Alicent sips on her moon tea while searching for answers on the Song of Ice and Fire. Aegon and Aemond bicker about war strategy and Larys’ loyalty is questioned. On Dragonstone, Rhaenyra returns from King’s Landing to a divided council unable to proceed forward without her and struggling to defeat Criston Cole’s campaign throughout the Crownlands. Rhaenyra declares that she’s ready to send the dragons into battle as Rhaenys heads into battle on Meleys — not realizing Rook’s Rest is a trap for the Blacks and she is playing directly into the Green’s hands.  Defending Rook’s Rest is already a lost cause when Meleys and Rhaenys arrive to aid Team Black. But before Rhaenys can even take out the Green’s army, she is attacked by King Aegon on Sunfyre — much to the surprise of Criston Cole. Meleys seems to be winning when Aemond and Vaghar enter the fray. Against two fully grown dragons, Rhaenys doesn’t stand a chance but she fights until her last breath. The episode ends with Cole and Aemond finding Aegon and his dragon badly injured, but still alive.