King Aegon Targaryen and Ser Otto Hightower, Confrontation Scene, House Of The Dragon, Season 2, Episode 02. #HouseOfTheDragon #HOTD #RhysIfans #TomGlynnCarney
@@keiishineotto:''soooo you're surrounded by fools?' Tywin:''have a son who could rival my wit or surpass me but he didn't count i hate him so yes im surrounded by fools'' Otto: . . Tywin:..... Both: *yup we could be friends * elegantly sips wine 😂😂😂
He knew the moment Alicent claimed that Viscerys named Aegon his heir in his final breathe. But it meant he didn't have to deal with any pushback from Alicent so he let it go. Alicent drops it, and she works to convince Aegon he is the true heir.
@@melindoranightsilver9298I don’t think it was pushback from Alicent he was worried about but more so the realms as there were a lot of lords who rejected the idea of a queen instead of a King
@@GrippeeTV He shows some doubt when he hears the news. But Otto already had plans in place whether she had come to him or not. He already made sure the council was made up of people who would side with him-minus Beesbury. Alicent being there when Viscerys died ended up being an unexpected windfall for him. At the end of the party, Rhaeyanera and Alicent were making plans to talk and perhaps reconcile. Otto didn't want that so to divide them further again was better for his cause.
@@melindoranightsilver9298 right but ever since the moment Viserys named Rhae heir to the throne he told him it was an awful idea. He listened while all the lords like that Lannister fool talked about how Aegon would be named heir now that Viserys had a first born son. The realms operate on a patriarchy through and through and I think Otto understood that and simply didn’t want conflict. Almost everything Otto does actually looking back is trying to avoid conflict because not every lord and House would accept a Queen instead of a King because that’s just how their society runs, Kings and not Queens. He’s definitely ambitious and he weaseled his daughter into the arms of Viserys to further his family name sure but in hindsight none of the advice he gave Viserys was BAD advice, it was logical advice. Viserys broke the mold naming Rhae heir to the throne instead of his son so when Allicent came and told them of what she interpreted as Viserys saying the current Aegon should be king, it just solved another political migraine for him. He staved off potential rebellion while also furthering his house, but he truly cared for Viserys I think. Viserys operated ironically much in the same way Aegon does in that he operates too much off of emotion. The only reason he even named Rhae was because Daemon pissed him off and JUST like Aegon he was reeling from the death of his son. They’re far more alike than Otto realizes.
Otto Hightower could see beyond the conflict with Rhaenyra that the kingdom would still need a monarch capable of running it. He labored and schemed to put Aegon onto the throne but it became apparent even to him that his grandson had not got what it took to rule.
Britain has a deep and widespread tradition of classical stage training for actors. It gives them the tools to play larger-than-life characters and scenes that actors who only work in television or movies, just don't know how to play.
@@danieldickson8591you can really see it in this scene. His expressions, hand gestures, and overall composure. Thank you for pointing this out! I can see it so clearly now
I think Otto always knew that Viserys in his right mind would never have chosen Aegon to be king. But I think Otto's laughter comes from Aegon claiming that Viserys *made* him king. Because the man who really made him king is standing in front of him, but he's too arrogant to see it.
In a way, Viserys *did* choose him to be King- simply by refusing to reign in Rhaenyra and by forgetting his own prophetic dream that his *son* would be crowned with the Conqueror's crown.
The ratio of how long Otto planned to put Aegon on the throne vs how long it took for him to regret it is hilarious. His vindication lasted like 2 weeks vs 20 years of planning.
@@CodLiverOil8 the great names of great houses hanged because of political scheeming , oh no !! The small folks will be afflicted!!! Lol, the small folks will give a toast in contrary !! The rat catchers were peasant, poor guys trying to survive a cruel world, the fact that you dont see the difference put you in the same category with aegon
@@CodLiverOil8it wasn’t about caring. It was about winning the loyalty of the houses. He wanted to use Aegon’s son’s assassination to paint Rhaenyra as cruel but Aegon undoes that by displaying the same kind of cruelty.
@@buki3009 what about the peasants in king's landing rhaenys wasted? 😂 Also the Lord's hanged would have had peasants under their care because in this world the families run the country! 🤡
I love how Otto is implying that Visery was not only a better person and a much better king. The scene also shows the complex relationship between the two men, he misses his friend and now much deal with his grandson
Viserys was a terrible King too. And so is Rhaenyra. Even Jaehaerys was pretty incompetent too. Essentially the only good Kings in Westerosi history were Aegon I, Daeron II, Jaehaerys II, maybe Maekar I. Daemon Blackfyre would have made a good king too, if he won his rebellion. Viserys II wasnt bad either, although he only ruled for a year.
True. It's apparent in this scene how much Otto loved Viserys, as a friend. I love how complex this show is. Otto usurps the throne away from the daughter of a man he truly loved.
Otto realized that advancing his own ambitions weren't worth sabotaging the succession. He's doomed the kingdom with an incompetent vengeance hungry fool for a king who cannot be controlled or guided away from his worse impulses. It was all for nothing.
Yeah I thought it was very interesting for him to come up at this moment, and for Otto to be so genuine in his respect for Viserys' more admirable traits
@@quadeong7453 There's the crux of it. I think Otto is finally appreciating the noble qualities that Viserys brought to the throne. He wasn't a great king, but he cared about being a good one. His reign was peaceful and prosperous. The Seven Kingdoms might have done better under Rhaenys, but they could have gotten much worse than Viserys. And now they will.
talk about reaping what you sow. not knowing what you had until it was gone. this cold hard realization just hit otto like a ton of bricks... and now Alicent as well
See, what I like most of that is that it's a George R.R Martism. He's not using 'prank' with the modern day joke meaning, but with the word's original meaning where a 'prank' was a bad deed someone committed.
Otto remembering Viserys was so beautiful. Viserys was so concerned with how he'd be remembered, and may not have been the strongest king the seven kingdoms ever had, but there are worse ways to be remembered than "dignified and forebearing".
Here Otto seems to appreciate Viserys for not acting rashly. Even in the book, Otto disapproved of Aemond killing Lucerys because he knew, as well as Alicent that it would only bring about more bloodshed.
@@jt7638 I could be wrong but I think in the show his reign was for thirty years, the show opens on the ninth year of his reign, then after Aemma's passing he marries Alicent half a year later and makes baby Aegon. Aegon then mentions to Alicent after Viserys passing that he could've declared him heir to the throne for twenty years but never did.
Viserys cared about his people and his kingdom, carried himself with honor and dignity, was a loving husband and father, showed gratitude for the people around him, was a man of his word. Only problem was he has too hesitant going to battle for the step stones but he was still a great king 👑
The acting in this was absolutely phenomenal. Rhys has one hell of an angry voice lol. I love how Aegon just goes “ohhhhh… I had them hanged.” 😂😂 he’s such a prick
Aegon sees the throne as an extension of himself, of his desires and interests. He hasn't grasped the whole concept of responsibility to the realm that comes with it.
This scene does a lot to show that Otto isn't an outright power hungry villain, but a shrewd political man who thought he was doing what was right for the realm. That doesnt make his actions okay or make him a good person, but it shines a bright light on the line between that he had to walk to accomplish his goals, which he thought to be just.
@@Raileryeveryone keeps saying that but I really don't get why. He put up with so much shit between vicerys and daemon and rhaenerya and now aegon. Vicerys took out what his daughter did on Otto simply for him relaying the news, daemon never knew his place and was an asshole that constantly threatened him. It's so weird to me how everyone around him acts like such out of control morons yet when he tries to fix the situation, it's his fault? Lol make it make sense. The supposedly worst thing he did was get his daughter with vicerys yet corlys offered his what, six year old daughter to vicerys and somehow nobody talks about that? I can't think of anything Otto did that was fucked up nearly on the level of everyone else around him
@@erich1380 Well he did plot to overthrow the kingdom regardless of what his daughter told him and install Aegon on the throne. LEts not forget that members of the green council were planning to put aegon on the throne even before (in the show) they were told that Viserys might have named Aegon his heir with his dying breath. And that he was willing to murder Rhaenyra and her children to get it done. The fact is, because of his understandable dislike of Daemon, and his similarities to Tywin, he has seemed overtly politically villainous, but clearly thats not the case
When Aegon says that his father made him king, Otto laughs because he himself was the one that made him King. Otto spent a lifetime of pure devotion to that: putting his line on the throne, and he did it only to find himself regretting this decision.
Welp he should’ve never done it to begin with and he caused a war to happen with the realm being in jeopardy his stupid self should’ve never interfered
Otto is the true pos in many ways, he set the course for his great grandson beinng murdered aegon is a prick but his reaction is more "reasonable" as he has suffered greatly here
2:00 I think Otto just realised he's made a terrible mistake when crowning Aegon. But there is no way to undo it now. He has no choice but to go all in. No way to cut your losses now.
@nnekam6153 I always thought that Tywin allowed joffrey to be killed because he was easily ready to make tyrion die for it even though he went to war when tyrion was kidnapped. He knew the culprits but wanted to keep the alliance going through tommen after all Joffrey started showing his teeth more and more. He had to literally drug joffrey to keep him away from important matters.
Deep down Otto was a statesman, and a friend to Viserys. For years his own hubris and ambition clouded his mind, and now he’s caused a civil war that’ll kill innocent thousands.
@@whatisreddin7367In fairness, that only came after she'd endured a hell of a lot already. She was a voice of reason at the start but the Greens pushed her over the edge.
Otto is so interesting here…he cared for and admired Viserys but he refused to honor his friends wish to make Rhaeneyra his successor. His own thirst for power got in the way of love for his friend.
I think on some level he thought his friend was a bit of a weak fool who didn't know how to "play the game"..its in this moment he regrets his decisions and misses his friend's level headedness.
"The King is my grandson and my grandson is a fool!" Has the same energy when Tyrion said, "I'm not calling out the King, I'm talking to my nephew." Or something like that
“He was right about you.” Otto finally opened his eyes and realized that Viserys never wanted Aegon to rule. Seeing how the realm is now doomed to war thanks to stupidity and vengeance . While Rhanerya would’ve been a controversial topic for many lords to rule the seven kingdoms she at least knows how to play “the game” to her advantage and continue King Jaehaerys legacy of peace in the realm.
Nah, Otto always knew what Viserys wanted but he just didn’t care. His entire goal was to make his family more powerful by placing Aegon on the throne and he likely assumed that Aegon would mature into the role so he just ignored the obvious red flags in his personality. Does he have regrets with how Aegon was raised? Probably. Does he have regrets over crowning him? Probably not. At the end of the day it’s still his blood on the throne and even though he is no longer hand he will still support Aegon as a Green.
Otto already, magically, knew that viserys didnt wanted aegon as king. The entire reason about aegon to be king is about the song of ice and fire, that it seems somehow otto knows about that to deduce viserys not wanting aegon as heir. His dialogues dont make sense since otto never had access to such informations.
@@stressedumbra4944 otto knew Viserys didnt want to be king, but he crowned aegon for his own ambitions. Now he realizes s just how bad choise aegon was. Notnimg with song of ice and fire
Rhaenyra doesn't know how to play the game at all. If she did, she would have stayed at kings landing, combated Otto's influence, got alicent on her side as well as haleana and Daeron, kept an eye on Aemond and Aegon, and looked after viserys when his condition deteriorated. Instead, she went to dragon stone. Big mistake.
@@AaronHorsfall-yf2xp thats place for kings heir. Its not out of kingdom. And she tried to make match betven Jace and Helena, its alicent who refused. Alicent decided on being Rhaenyra's enemy since finding out Rhaenyra slept eith Criston.
I love how even the greens will look at cole sideways when he insists on nicknaming Rhaenyra a whore or bitch. Like even Aegon here just ignores him, looks over like “what…?” then just ignores it again and Otto completely ignores it after a pause. I don’t think there’s been a single time where Cole’s called her the Whore of Dragonstone or something and the other Greens have been like “hell yeah” it’s always just “…..anyway” Also the look of utter distraught on Otto’s face when he hears “Ser Cole has acted” is top 5 funniest GoT or HotD scenes
S2E2 is definitely the best episode so far. It shows the inner cracks and discords within each faction, show that neither of the sides are completely black and white, and both sides realize that Vyseris wasn't that weak and simple king after all, and everybody misses him.
He’s still one of the worst kings in Targaryan History. Every Wise king knows how troublesome the maternal house-lines could be and keep their powers in check. If they can’t, they politically destroy them, stopping them from meddling with their successors
This scene made me really like and appreciate Otto as a person. You can tell by how he talks about Viserys that he genuinely did care about him. Daemon said that he was a leech and only using him for his own ends but that isn't true. He's a real one
Even now in this speech Otto admits to using Aegon's dead son against his will to manipulate the population. Otto isnt a real one. He's a stone hearted political manipulator, and he is baffled that he wasnt able to plan for how dumb Aegon actually is
it's both true really, but he loved the control he had over viserys, he could sway him much more than aegon, that's what bothers him the most. Daemon is very right about otto
Otto is both ambitious and compassionate. He is indeed both a snake and a wise man. You have to be cunning in this very dangerous world. Otto is a capable leader, but at the same time he is trying to put his house in a position of power. With that goal in mind, he has helped usurped the crown
At the end of the day, he got what he wanted-his family is on the Iron throne. However, he so assumed that he woupd either be running the show outright or would at least be heavily influencing his grandson. He doesn't think about the damage that his grandkids went through-especially at his own hands, as well as Alicents. Aegon has plenty of faults: drunk, sex addict, rapist, has a cruel streak, low esteem, etc. I think once he had a purpose (being a King) he was willing to try and put his issues aside-to a degree. I also think that he believed thst he would become a better father (at least to Jaehaerys) and would teach him.about how to rule, etc in the way Viscerys did not. One Jaehaerys died,he went back to his old demons made worse by the fact that he had no comfort from his mother & grandfather. That his son's body was used as propoganda. By this scene he is just plain done with Otto's shit because after all he is the King right? Only now does Otto think about Viscerys' decent traits as a person and wishes they were in Aegon.
@@sletzorzI think more so he is stubborn in what he feels is the right way. He did care for him but felt his judgement was always best, and what was good for Otto would be by extension good for the realm cause he had good intentions overall still I think. If Otto felt plan A was the right plan Otto would steer towards plan A even if the king wanted plan B
Cole just keeps getting every job in the realm. He's the Queen Mother's bedwarmer, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and now the Hand of the King... Bro can't multitask like that.
"I promise you, Aemond, you will have all the vengeance that you seek. But you must keep a grip on your impulses." -Otto Hightower in the previous episode. And here he is now, demonstrating how one keeps a grip on their impulses.
@@spottedslash4256how the fuck is it a horrible decision it can easily be justified and excused by spreading a rumor that all members of the guild were involved and were planning another attack really its like otto turned into a half brained bitch like seriously it's not a horrible idea
2:25 that is my favorite moment in the episode. That long pause was a moment of clarity for Otto. He realized that after so many years of plotting and scheming. All the efforts of putting Aagon on the throne. Now he realized that Aagon is not fit to be a king. That after all this years he gravely miscalculated, all the those years wasted to put an incompetent king that might bring ruin to his house. Otto starts to regret everything he has done to the taegeryeons. He regrets having his daughter wed the previous king. He regrets all of it.
When Otto laments how Aegon has none of Viserys' good traits, I wonder if he thinks that Rhaenyra actually has all those qualities he's mentioning lol. All she's done was be dignified, judicious, and forbearing in all of her decisions so far. Also, Rhys Ifans is absolutely killing it as Otto.
That's not the case at all Making bastards knowing how precarious her position is, trusting Daemon as husband and advisor, fucking sneaking in kings landing betting her sides survival on Allicent having pity on her and not ordering her arrest There is nothing dignified, judicious, or forbearing about her behavior, she's just less vicious and ready for war
Right, because having bastards and wanting royal children who were maimed and disfigured by her violent bastards to be tortured some more because they questioned her bastards on their heritage is ''dignified, judicious and being forbearing'' in your decisions. Bro, what kind of shit did I just read? Rhaenyra in S2 is a lot better, but S1 Rhaenyra is the most idiotic, selfish, entitled, impulsive, sexist, arrogant twat ever put to screen.
@@thedread2597 Rhaenyra and laenor coudnt have kids, and he accepted boys as his. Daemon may be impulsive, but otto dont get to judge, his side got both aegon and aemond. And otto yet diesnt know of Rhaenyra stupid attempt.
@@thedread2597 Y'all don't understand. Daemon right now is a dangerous weapon. He is a warrior but he is too unpredictable. He is responsable of the decapitation of Healena's child the person who is the less involved in the war. Rhaenyra because of this is viewed as a child murderer which damaged her position. And no. Trying to see Alicent is actually something big cause it shows that she is ready to sacrifice herself to avoid a bloodbath. Y'all seem to forget they are one family. This is a tragedy. The Dance will lead to their downfall.
"We've had vicious Kings, and we've had idiot Kings, but I don't know if we've ever been cursed with a vicious idiot for a King." Well there's your answer Tyrion; Aegon II *Edit* Okay, let me clear something up here. I am not saying that Aegon is as bad or anywhere near as bad as Joffrey. One can be vicious without being a delusional sociopath.
Nah fam. Joffrey tortures / kills people for no reason other than his satisfaction. While Aegon hanged all the rat catchers because one of them killed his son. Both of them were wrong but the other one had no reason to kill/ torture people.
It ain't truly empathy, it Is rather a Political calculation, he means that they are common men with whom the "public opinion" will inevitably identify, thus undermining all the PR work Otto had done with Aegon's dead child. Still, better moral compass than most GOT characters, that's for sure.
@@giulianoilfilosofo7927TO be fair - I think it was both. Judicial murder and collective punishment are brutish, undignified, and counterproductive. Things Viserys would NEVER have done.
@@giulianoilfilosofo7927 No, it was definitely empathy. He also yelled for the guards to open the gates when Rhaenys and Meleys began brutalizing hundreds for no reason at Aegon's coronation. And he speaks about caring for the realm and its people even in private to his daughter. He definitely has the realm and people in mind. Sure he's not crying about them, but he does not want innocent men to get killed.
1:40 Otto going “What the frack else did these to idiots do?” Was probably the funniest thing I saw. In the middle of a tense argument, got me laughing.
@@timliebhauser Dude was literally half dead when he walked to the throne room to defend his precious baby Rhaenyra... Viserys had no excuses to ignore his other children. He simply didn't like them and always expressed open favoritism for Rhaenyra. That scene where Aemond lost his eye it's proof of that.
@@juliohenrique8546 how evil he didnt cut eye of his grandsons , as alicent wanted. And while Viserys wasn't best father to aegon, alicent and otto also werent good to him.
@@anjadjurovic9617 He didn't needed to cut off Lucerys eye. He could've exiled him from court just like he did with Daemon countless times just to give a example. Instead he was more angry at the fact that his grandsons were called bastards than at the fact that his own son was mutilated.
Otto is reaping the cost of raising broken children in the pursuit of power. Viserys was a weak and malleable man, but he was an honorable man when it came to the throne. The Hightowers thought they could grab power and transfer it seamlessly into their own hands. They forgot that the hands it transferred to would grow into people with their own thoughts and desires.
As much as a dislike Otto, my respect for him went up tremendously when he stood up for the rat catchers and condemned his grandson’s actions to his face.
This was the moment he knew that either Rhaenyra should have the crown or either Aemond or Daeron. Aegon should have been killed the same morning after his father's death.
@@erickonami1I believe they will change that. In the first season, I found it strange that they gave the name Hobert to Otto's older brother when there is another character with the same name in the book. When I saw this episode I understood: The Hobert Hightower of the book will not exist in the series and his “role” will be taken over by Otto. So I think Otto will survive longer and not be executed by Rhaenyra. He will join Daeron and Ormund Hightower, participate in the Battles of Tumbleton, then he will sacrifice himself to kill Ulf the White, by drinking poisoned wine.
@@erickonami1in the book yeah but I don’t think they’ll go that same route. He shows a lot more compassion for Viserys here than he ever does in the book. I think he’s considering changing sides.
@@erickonami1I think he does have some buyers remorse here. If Aegon wasn't his grandson he would likely think Rhaenyra would be more of a suitable heir in terms of ruling.
At first i was stuck on the incredible lines delivery of Rhys as he tore into Aegon over the hangings but the facial expressions and WTF energy he had over Cole's "prank" was equally impressive
0:55 Aegon was pissed and I mean really pissed considering he didn't want his son's corpse paraded and used as propaganda. He wasn't having of it. All I can see in that scene was a man with too much power mourning his beloved. son
Like he said he wants blood not ink. He has no patience for politics and that’s why he should have never been King. He said it himself in season one; he isn’t suited to it. He’s too emotional.
"My father is dead" "He is, and we are the poorer for it." We see Otto spend a lot of time plotting around Viserys in season 1. He thought him weak. But now that hes gone Otto can see what utter morons Viserys was trying to keep in check. The thought just hit him all of a sudden. We had it all with Viserys, and now we're stuck with you Aegon. He was everything youre arent. You are unworthy of sitting where he sat.
*Plot against the king and i will pay it back a 100 times over* *Fuck Dignity, i want revenge* *i wish to spill blood not ink* they keep giving him some sick one liners
Great acting but looks like the show writers keep forgetting that aegon killing less than 100 rat catchers is nothing compared to rhaenys dragon scene that killed hundreds if not thousands of people. Otto only misses king v because he could manipulate him
@@jjosifovic that part was made for show . And utterly pointless. But still, lets discuss aegon action:. He coud have kept blood alive or asked Helena to identify other killer. But he skips to " hangs all rat catchers and leaves theur boidies as "warning".
@@anjadjurovic9617 oh no don’t get me wrong aegon was stupid in that scene but it still doesn’t change the fact the pr of the blacks was significantly worse before aegon did that. It also doesn’t give Otto the right to go off on his grandson when he orchestrated a good portion of the dance
@@jjosifovic well that scene feel like show screamimg "blacks are bad too" when it make no sense in character for Rhaenys. And i dont deny otto is guilty. He just cares for appearances. Otto may be main reason for usurpation, but he underestimated aegon cruelty.
@@anjadjurovic9617 i honestly felt that entire episode 9 scene was made to make a cool "girl boss" moment for modern audiences. Otto definitely cares more for appearances than to what his family actually does. Otto definetly underestimated aegon cruelty but then again otto should understand how mentally unstable aegon is after the death of his son.
@@jjosifovic then Rhaenys scene definitely didnt work. In fire and blood, despite ready for war, Black dont do anything to greens or anyone before Luke's death. Here Rhaenys murder bunch of people, but "wont start war?" Stupid. Either kill them or grab dragon and leave.
This scene was so satisfying. Aegon sucks, but he was also abused by Otto for alot of his life. Watching Aegon realize he has power over Otto was amazing
“You never think of your father, his… forbearance, his judiciousness, his… his… dignity.” …. Wow. He put so much into just those words. Not only the regret of a man coming to a new appreciation of his former king, but the pain of a man realizing that he just misses his friend. As a previous comment said, positively Shakespearean acting.
Otto may have felt Viserys was malleable… but he knew Viserys was a man of reason, too. Someone who knew his limits, someone who was aware of all he *didn’t* know. Someone who had the capacity to listen to the wisdom of others, even if love drove him to make some doubtable decisions at times. Seeing Aegon behave like an elephant in a fine china shop must’ve made Otto realise how good he & the realm had it with Viserys.
I think Otto finally fully appreciates what they had in King Viserys. He wasn't a great king, but he tried very hard to be a good one. He wasn't a strong leader, but he cared about his duty and his people. Aegon sees the throne only as an extension of himself, his interests and desires.
Love how Otto realizes in this moment he fucked up by committing treason and making Aegon the king who’s a man child and a fucking idiot who had no desire to rule in the first place with no training to be heir/king before hand like Rhaenyra who was trained by King Viserys for years cause she was the heir not Aegon. In the book Otto was even the one who suggested Rhaenyra should be the heir in the first place and now he realizes he should’ve let it stay that way LMAO.
@@raymondhsu6407 I think it was more along the lines of Rhaenrya married Daemon, and Otto wants Daemon as far away from the throne as possible. Also, remember it was Otto who recommended making Rhaenerya Viserys's heir in the first place.
