House of the Dragon S2: Episode 2 Preview with Maester Merry 

Im so Glad Valar Reredus got me here years ago. What a ride that keeps getting better every time. Thank you for the best ASOIAF show bar none.

38:36 That shot of Aemond 🤌 Perfect casting

Merry always is a great guest!

One of these times I swear I'll be able to catch the stream live 😖

Inheritance customs were a lot less clear than you make it sound. There was no uniform law around inheritance before the Widows Law of 52 AC. Some of the seven kingdoms and some regions within the subkingdoms had their own laws or customs. Sometimes a woman could inherit if she had no brothers. Sometimes an adult woman could inherit if her brothers were minors. Sometimes a woman could not inherit but her sons would take precedents over her brothers. Sometimes bastards could never inherit, but sometimes they would inherit before daughters and brothers but after legitimate sons. Sometimes a brother would inherit over sons and daughters if the children were minors. The Widows Law of 52 AC affirmed the right of the eldest son to inherit, but it explicitly forbid any man from disinheriting a child of his first wife in order to let any child of a later wife to inherit. That specific reason may however mean a man could still disinherit one son or his heir in favor of a full blooded brother though, like Jaehaerys did when he chose Baelon over Aemon's daughter.

I like the idea that Aemond could help Criston avoid any blame for B&C and help him get into the position of hand and pull him away from Alicent and into war by holding those things over his head

I don't know if this has been pointed out or dismissed but in episode 1, behind Helaena in the kids' room, is that not a third bed in the corner? Also when Helaena is running down the stairs to Alicent's room, is that not a baby crying? It's not from Jaehaera so would that be a baby Maelor? Maybe they'll mention the succession of a baby Maelor as well as a female heir.

Interesting that the Valaena/Daenys/Balerion information has been part of the CK2 for so long. Good guesses all around

Queen Heleana is precious. She is one of the only characters i like from the greens. I thought crispy cole didn't want to be "a queen's wh ore" and went nuts over the suggestion. Look at him now.

The world would be less interesting without HoW spitting lore every week.

I love Aziz’s shirt! What color is it on Joe Magician’s threadless shop!? Is it the Fushia or the berry?!

Tbh Visery's reign was probably considered a really really good one by the smallfolk, just an extension of Jaehaerys' reign

Im speculating at the moment the Greens are going to end up putting out propaganda of what happened which closely resembles what we read in Fire and Blood. It would certainly cover up for Alicent and Cole. Aemond could claim he was still with Cole, "strategising" Depending on who is involved in the cover-up, i could see the lack of guard on Heleana and the kids being laid at the door of Otto to get him out of the way - given how "slow to action" Aegon, Aemond and Cole probably think he is being. If Larys gets involved, its highly likely he will use it to his advantage as he'll have both Alicent and Cole in his debt. The cover story/propaganda could even be his idea. I doubt Aegon will find out where Alicent and Cole were in the show. The chances of him making Cole his Hand if he knows are slim to none.

I want Daemon to get Laenor killed because he realizes he needs a new rider for Seasmoke. Don’t fix Daemon, make him worse 😂

Excited

One thing I haven't seen examined is Alicent's self harm, which we saw in S1 with her picking at her fingernails. In Ep1 of S2 she was aggressively scrubbing her arm in the bath which to me points to a similar kind of obsessive behaviour. Theh fact that her grandson was brutally killed while she lay with that simp, should amplify that self harming behaviour going forward. Anyone else noticed this?

Yesss

We don’t need more of the White worm. There will still be plenty of female representation in the show, after Rheanys dies. Her granddaughters Rhaena and Baela are still in the game and Nettles is coming. I feel, having Alynn say to Corlys “Sorry about the loss of your heir.,” and not, “Sorry for the loss of your grandson.,” was deliberate. It not only to demonstrates, some type of rift between Corlys and Alynn. But, also softens Rhaenyra’s attitude and actions towards the dragon seeds later on.

Your intro video and music get me so hype!!!! 😡