Setting Up The Path To A Storm

Runtime:
50
mins

Episode
5
of

House
of
the
Dragon
is
full
of
development.
King
Viserys
(Paddy
Considine)
has
decided
on
a
suitable
bridegroom
for
Rhaenyra.
Daemon
(Matt
Smith),
his
disgruntled
brother
is
already
scheming
his
way
towards
the
throne
he
covets.
With
his
wife
done
out
of
the
way,
his
chances
were
looking
bright
but
Viserys’
plan
cuts
him
out
once
again
and
brings
Lord
Corlys
Velaryon
(Steve
Toussaint)
and
Princess
Rhaenys
Targaryen
(Eve
Best),
the
groom
Laenor’s
parents,
back
into
the
fold
closer
to
the
throne.
The
wedding
festivities
are
on
in
full
swing
but
a
stirrup
of
passions
leads
to
a
hasty
betrothal
ceremony.

This
episode
is
dark,
brutal
and
basically
speculates
on
the
outcome
of
unrestricted
passions.

Queen
Alicent
makes
her
displeasure
felt,
Daemon
tries
to
re-engage
with
Rhaenyra
and
Ser
Criston
Cole
(Fabien
Frankel)
finds
himself
left
out
in
the
cold
and
vents
his
frustrations
on
Laenor’s
consort.

It’s
quite
a
vicious
turnaround.
The
fight
scene
comes
just
out
of
the
blue
and
one
couldn’t
understand
the
motivation
or
the
consequences.
It
was
a
bit
too
confusing.
Looks
like
it
was
meant
merely
to
shock
you
out
of
getting
too
immersed
in
the
sequential
storyline.

There
are
no
major
battles
to
be
won
yet,
nor
is
there
any
room
for
Dragon
fire
in
this
episode.
It’s
all
about
ensuring
the
Targaryen
lineage
and
securing
the
throne
for
future
heirs.

The
family
of
schemers
has
a
lot
of
behind-the-scenes
work
to
do
with
shifting
alliances,
newer
factions
emerging
and
enmities
developing.

The
scale
of
the
series
has
contracted
quite
a
bit
but
the
biting
dialogue,
political
twists
and
character
machinations
continue
in
right
earnest.

The
production
design
excels
in
the
setting
up
of
the
throne
room
at
King’s
Landing
–
newly
outfitted
for
a
weeklong
wedding
celebration.
The
choreography
is
engaging
–
Dance
of
the
Dragons
is
quite
a
revelation
in
itself.
The
cinematography
of
dark,
stone-hewed
visuals
emanates
cold
foreboding.
And
the
performances
hit
all
the
right
notes.

House
of
the
Dragon
Review
Episode
2,
3
And
4:
Shocking
Twists
Bring
It
Closer
To
Game
Of
Thrones

LOTR:
The
Rings
Of
Power
Episode
5
Review:
Dark,
Conflicted,
Full
Of
Foreboding

This
episode
of

House
of
the
Dragon
manages
to
work
up
interest,
as
it
gathers
up
some
more
antagonists
in
its
efforts
to
stir
up
a
storm!