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I think its funny that Aemond's dragon (I know the name I just can't spell.) is willing to fight all of the other's at the end. Like is she just crazy or is she so powerful she truly believes she can win? She knows some of these dragons so does she see them as traitors for being willing to fight her? Does she even care, or is she just willing to fight whoever is in front of her?
She could have gone out whenever she wanted, but I agree that she wasn't too choosey about riders. I think she would have taken the first person who came through the door.
@@benyoung9189 Oh my, is this gonna be the Rick & Morty dragon episode all over again? Not that I would mind, it's one of the best ones of that season, and Liam Cunningham voicing the "main dragon" is just chef's kiss!
can someone who's definitely an unquestioned, full blooded Targaryen still possibly get rejected by a dragon? like would some of the other dragons possibly not allow Rhaenyra, for instance, handle/ride them if for some reason she needed to?
@@kevinw712 Yes. Also, Rhaeneyra isn’t 100% Targ, her mom’s an Arryn. I have a feeling that dragon riders care a lot more about blood purity than dragons. I think it’s largely down to vibes.
Also, they named me Aegon, even though there is already an Aegon, so I just go by Hugh because when Aegon asked me my name I said "You" and he thought I said Hugh! Haha!
Pls keep showing lots of maps and banners and family trees too because it’s really the only way most of us have a reference as to where things are! Thanks
@@Ironcorgi2maybe it has more to do with the system of power being inherently flawed and the cause of suffering and death more than the offspring of sibling fucking aristocrats
@@Ironcorgi2that's a problem of Monarchy. Dragonlords didn't fight themselves in Valyria, only others, while marrying themselves. Hey guys, I think incest might be bad?
I love Maester Orwyle so much- dude is just a nerd who's just trying to ply his craft and stay out of any drama, while also trying not piss off the most powerful people in the realm. I bet a day does not go by where he wishes he was back at the citadel playing Magic the Gathering with the homies.
I loved him ever since early in season 1, Maester Mellos is painfully putting leeches on Viserys, then Orwyle as an assistant pipes up about his newly brewed herbal poultices. Mellos quickly dismisses him, but a few episodes later Orwyle is the Grand Maester and using healing herbs instead of the nasty leeches haha
I'm still not convinced Hugh is Saera's son. I'm pretty sure his mom was a bastard daughter of king Jahaerys and that's why she referred to Baelon as his brother. I really doubt a trueborn Targaryen would ever name her child "Hugh". If anything he would be called "Haegherys" or "Haeghon" or something like that.
@@jackieboo8146 It would be pretty obvious he is half Targaryen if his mom is Saera Targaryen, a famous Targaryen princess that runs the most profitable brothel in Volantis
I feel like the term "late wife" works better from Laena. "Ex-wife" implies a divorce/legal separation. Stupid little correction, but Daemon is a widower, not a divorcee
I believe Larys is capable but inexperienced. He can't go up against someone like Mysaria who has years of experience working in King's Landing and has developed a real network. Larys is not prepared to handle such a huge network as King's Landing. His inexperience showed when he impatiently suggested to Aemond that he should be the hand. He's pretty much just good at self advancement, digging up dirt on nobles, and kinslaying.
@@40X70N in fact is hilarious how Larys can know what the Queen Alicent is eating meanwhile he gives ZERO news about people screaming about dragons and Bastards Some say Larys powers works on the Red Keep, idontknow but is very obvious he did on purpose even his move would result in Aemond dying in the last episode
this. sure Larys is a skilled schemer but he's only really taken up official power on the small council in the last month and the majority of his previous scheming has been around either the red keep, where he has lived for decades or harrenhal, where he was born and raised. meanwhile Mysaria lived in King's Landing for decades and built up that enormous spy network a long time ago. there is 100% an aspect of Larys scheming against Aemond, but at the same time his network and reach is not even close to what Mysaria has to offer, since she's been at it alot longer and has alot more connections with the small folk. (plus the gold cloaks seem to be alot more loyal to Daemon than they are to the hightowers, since Daemon basically made them and most of the officers seem to be made up of people who started rising up the ranks during Daemon's time as their commander)
@@ncdtrollski6179 Ulf's a real one because he seized an eldritch being of indescribable power and his first thought was "I got to fly by the bar so the boys can see this lmao."
I feel like when Silverwing was knocking Ulf over she was being playful. She felt his carefree joker persona and it seemed to match with hers as she bumps him around casually and laughs about it.
I just want to say that I really appreciate that alt shwift x's editor has been helping turn out these videos. Embracing the humor with the lore is a perfect mix 👌
More proof that Seasmoke is nearsighted. Rahenyra asks if Addam can get him back to Dragonstone, not because Addam is an inexperienced rider but because she's not sure if Seasmoke can find the way back on his own. It's also why Cyrax flies so close to Seasmoke on the way back, like a seeing-eye-dragon
I have no idea if it was intended but I think there was one crucial thing both Hugh and Ulf had in common. While everyone was panicking and trying to run away from the dragon fire, it looked like both Hugh and even Ulf in the end calmed down and accepted their imminent death by dragon.
Rhaenyra revealing her new dragon squad just to spook Aemond feels tactically unwise. Hell, they even baited him into flying recklessly towards a perfect ambush scenario.
I will say though that it is in line with her plan of wanting to use her superior dragon power to force the greens into surrendering because they’re so outnumbered. Plus I got the vibe that Ulf Drunkenly flew silverwijg over kings landing on his own accord and Rhaenyra whipped out her dragon squad when she saw Vhagar coming.
Funny, that in the show Jacaerys's worries and logic make perfect sense, while in the books it was Jace himself who proposed the Sowing of Dragonseeds, while Rhaenyra was still brooding for the loss of Luke and Rhaenys. (It was also Jace who sent away his little half-brothers for safety.)
Or maybe History believes that the men should make the decisions while women cry and grieve. The sources we have are all extremely biased. So I'm starting to think they downplayed Rhaenyra.
"some of you may die, but that is a sacrifice I'm willing to make" -most with power in HotD Super excited for this video, what a great first birthday gift!!
Emotional touch? Not sure I would put it like that. Saera was not a good person. Jaehaerys didn’t disown her lightly. It would be more fitting to describe it as an ironic twist of fate, one that would make Jaehaerys roll in his grave.
@@Ironcorgi2 Fun fact, in the books, Jaeharys, on his death bed, actually mistook Alicent for Saera, thinking she returned from Essos (Alicent was his caretaker). Pretty sure this inspired the whole Viserys thinking Alicent was Rhaenyra thing on his death bed.
@@garnix5427 I mean as far as we know, there are no significant characters that have the surname Pyke. So it's safe to say the Greyjoys do not sow their bastards lol
@@_vin520 1 - This is Cotter Pyke erasure, and I will not stand for it 2 - We know they do. We see Theon, Euron, and Victarion all take "salt wives", a common Ironborn tradition
@@_vin520 As I understand it, the Greyjoy's motto refers to the fact that they dont sow crops (they might not be able to due to their location) but instead raid the villages on the mainland to provide food. They don't sow, they only harvest. Might be missing something tho
Dell the goat seems like a direct reference to the Black Goat of Qohor, which is a religion from Old Valyria. Considering Daemon’s respect of Valyrian tradition, it makes sense that he would see a Valyrian deity in his visions. It also suggests that the pantheons of Essos and Westeros are connected.
Addam's response makes alot of sense with the context that a) he's lowborn. He may have vague knowledge of the politics but staking your life on two people being friends who you hope are so is a big risk and b) he doesnt know how bastards will be treated. Look at how his father acts to him. For all he knows he may be burned on the spot. The dragon is his only grounding.
@@JustAnotherAccount8 The whole second season has been disappointing, TBH. It all just feels like stalling for season three, rather than telling a compelling story with the eight episodes they've had, they seem to be doing a lot of filler, with the usual small hooks to keep you invested. I do like the show but it is severely flawed, I think in part because they are having to make up a story that would pale in comparison if it was GRRM's writing. All those time jumps and they still find time for filler in the second season.
@@WeirwoodNet That isn't really an excuse. Characters like Tyrion, Tywin, Jon, hell even Viserys (in HOTD) stayed in the same place for an extended period of time, but they managed to make it interesting. There's SOOOO much political intrigue potential in the riverlands that they could've explored, the place is like the damn balkans, it takes no effort to make it interesting imo.
@@JustAnotherAccount8 Got books are bigger books and lot more to go off then Fire and blood hot D are working with small story point in few chapters of a book and about 4 major battles they are not going fit in 2 or 3 season to satisfy you.
@@WeirwoodNet I'm not really a big battle guy anyways. I'm more interested in the dialogue and intrigue which frankly this should have. Besides iirc this is going to be a 5 season show, there is plenty of time to explore everything.
I mean idk if the books ever say it, but it feel like just Valyrian heritage rather than just Targaryen would be needed to ride a dragon, cause it’s not like there weren’t other dragon lords in old Valyria.
Many others make videos right after the episode but Alt Shift X takes his time to make a good, very well thought video. You are the best of all ASX. No one comes near close to the quality of your insights. You don’t need any fluff either. Straight to the commentary. Kuddos to you man. I have been a subscriber for years.
“In the Riverlands, Daemon spent four episodes Tripping Balls and Doing War Crimes….” Holy Sh**… the dead pan delivery was too perfect. I had to press pause and just laugh my ass off for a few minutes. Whew!, @AltShiftX you got me crying real tears over here! Thank You for all the great content!
We need an alt swift x and glidus video with Quinn the GM and Fantasy Haven. It would be incredible. We need a full review of HOD with future predictions. Please man. Give me the dream collab. Maybe if I could be so lucky, a dream of spring prediction content too. Love your content man. Keep it up
I'd say Rhaenyra looked more vengeful. That's the dragon that killed her son, the brother who killed her son, and another brother who sits her throne in an act of treason! Emma did great capturing all that baggage into that final look, but I hope this time Rhaenyra actually follows it up with something badass (perhaps even reckless!).
You know, I think with the whole Jace and Rhaenyra scene, one could draw parallels to how Jaehaerys was with his daughters. How like Jaehaerys, Rhaenyra put war and being queen over her son and failed to see the long term consequences of her actions before her sons were born. Also like how Jaehaerys was more concerned with being a good king rather than a good father.
@11:00 The quote refers to Dragonseeds as "happy bastards" because the smallfolk of Dragonstone and Driftmark viewed the Targaryens and Velaryons as being divine people or demigods, so to bear the child of one of them was to be blessed..... and not just blessed in a magical way, but also blessed with gifts of money and land to the mother and her family by the father of her bastard child. This further increased smallfolk maidens' willingness to lay with nobles of Valyrian families, regardless of if they were attracted to the nobles, simply as a matter of practicality. When you grow up a peasant, the idea of "if you bear a Targaryen or Velaryon bastard, you are not only the mother to a semi-divine child, but you and your family are rewarded generously and are able to live a bit more comfortably (or more than a bit, depending on the person giving the gifts,) and it ISN'T considered a stain on your honor that affects your ability to find a husband (like how in most of Westeros, bearing a bastard child is a HUGE faux-pas,)" it seems like a pretty good deal, and this meant Dragonseeds were plentiful on both islands
Fr. I enjoyed him getting smacked around by ancient magic and his bad decisions in the past but it's getting tiresome now. For someone who was hyped as the renegade bad boy, he's not being doing a lot this season
@@shrineguard2778 Because he litertally does nothing in the book during his time at Harrenhall. So they´re using it to explore his character. Something the book doesnt do.
@16:46 This is ANOTHER problem that can be traced-back to Daemon. Without his influence, Rhaenyra might have just married Harwin, since as the heir to an ancient and storied noble house, he would have been a perfectly-acceptable consort for a royal. But because Daemon caused a scandal with Rhaenyra to try to get Viserys to betroth her to him, Viserys insisted she marry Laenor, since it was the best political match, and because Daemon convinced her "Targaryens can do whatever they want," she kept Harwin as a paramour, and thus the whole drama with the Greens about Jace, Luke, and Joffrey not looking like Laenor
I love that you brought up Dr. Strangelove what a classic movie i literally thought the same thing when I re-watched the episode on Monday afternoon thinking about slim pickens riding the bomb down when ulf was going for his joy ride 😅
The problem is the visions are working ONLY in the last episodes They could make Daemon to act like stages of mourning Anger fear denial negociation blablabla OR EVEN BETTER waste the screentime in talking with the Riverlords every episode until the 6 or 5
This episode was great but highlights a real issue with HOTD, it’s inefficiency and lack of characterization. Characters move so quickly from place to place and scene to scene. The show could do so much more with some smaller intermittent scenes that connect the main moments. For an example, I truly feel like Alicent’s scenes could’ve been completely skipped and saved for another episode, and in their place the show could’ve gave us a scene where the Dragonseed Bastards were interacting on the boat to Dragonstone. A scene like that would’ve gave some insight in their lives and brought more emotion to when they were all burnt to crisp. Connecting the Dragonseed to each other and the world would’ve also provided some characterization for the show’s main Bastards like Ulf, Hugh, and Alyx. It feel like the writers could’ve focused more on individual episode storytelling like they did for episode 1 and it would work so much better.
I know it doesn't really make sense but I like to think that Silverwing was just like: "Awww, aren't you a handsome little man! What's that little guy? You wanna ride me? Well, I guess it has been a while since I got out and stretched the old wings, and you seem like a sweet boy! Hop on!"
