I am going to start out with my score 7.5
This episode actually moved the plot along, had political intrigue that was believable and consequences.
Lets get the Cringe out of the way. People they are Targaryen’s and it was no shock to anyone who knows the story of them from books or the original Game of Thrones, they Marry and Have incestuous sex. So, stop being fake shocked.
Also Spoiled, she Marries her uncle aka Matt Smith better known as Daemon. It is the Targaryen thing to do after-all. Now the Brothel scene was not that great. The Orgy in Conan was better and really the one in Rome is even better than that.
Ok now that the “GASP” omg moment out of the way, Lets dive in to Daemon giving up the crown, yes its in the books. But how he did it is different. But nonetheless is what they did and wasn’t done bad.
Next is the aftermath of The Princess’s night out. The lines were good between the Queen and Princess, but there is absolutely NO onscreen chemistry between them. The actress who plays the queen just has no presence on screen at all. She is as dead a presence than she was a lay in that scene.
It hurt that scene tremendously, they could not play off each other. Rhaenyra Plays well off other characters, but not off the Queen. Again, the dialogue was good, but Alicent’s actress is just there filling a dead space.
When the King confronts Daemon, it was and OK scene Paddy really has me enjoying him in interactions with Daemon and even with Rhaenyra. I had to chuckle a hung-over Daemon still more believable than Otto or Alicent. The problem with this is I do know the story and both of them should be much more cunning and believable. I just do not buy their performances. Could it be the directors?
The King talking to Rhaenyra… Bunch of BULLSHIT, again the first mention of the prince that was promised was Rhaegar in Danys dream in the House of the Undying. Now we do know the Prophecy is much older possibly 5,000 years old, and originated in Asshai. Many cultures have a story such as that in our own world. But not sure why they would put it in this series because it bears no relevance on it. It is a “member-berry” and does nothing for this series.
Lastly the King and Otto scene, again Paddy does a great job delivering his lines. Otto is like his daughter “a dead lay” no emotions none at all.
All-in-all, I enjoyed this episode, it moved the plot along and did not have any wasted scenes, I wish we had better directors as that might help with the actor’s chemistry, maybe not, maybe we needed both. Luckily or Unluckily, we will be getting 2 new actress’s soon to play Alicent and Rhaenyra, maybe they can have chemistry, or better yet, Let the Civil War start and not need to see them interact.
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