In this episode, we start to see some of the consequences of the actions taken in episodes 1 and 2. King Viserys (now two fingers down because he didn't want to lose any finger) has his teen bride Alicent, his male heir Aegon Taegyren and a bun in the oven.
The war at the stepstones is still raging on without the King's consent and the King's punishment (as suggested by the ever advice-y Hand of the King) is to ignore the Stepstones while he drinks wine and frets over his alive male heir.
House of the Dragon is hugely dedicated to shocking us with the age of consent, marrying age and betrothal age. Just last week, the king had a very awkward walk with an eight-year-old-looking twelve-year-old who he was to wed for the good of the kingdom and now in episode 3, the Hand of the King recommends that Rhaenyra, heir to the throne, marries her two-year-old brother.
The idea is so ludicrous that the teen-marrying, teen-bedding, incest-positive king laughs.
Help needed in the Stepstones. King says NOT TODAY SATAN
While the King is fretting over his child and preparing for the hunt for a hart which will bless his son's nameday, news comes from the Stepstones. It's bad. King Viserys does not want to hear about it - in fact, he never wants to hear about what's going on in his realm and looks downright uncomfortable with any form of lobbying or politicking.
A king so ridiculously oblivious, he truly believes everyone giving him advice has his best interest; and so utterly bad at his job that he and his daughter/heir of the throne have a very public disagreement in the midst of all the important houses. Now I'm no fantasy or real-life royal but Power 101 says always fake a united front. Always.
After Queen Alicent pats the King's head and explains to him why sending aid to the Stepstones is a good look, the King eventually does.
Man & Crabs vs Man & Dragons - the dragons are losing.
It's a little shocking that the skirmish in the stepstones is still raging on - I mean they have dragons, a man confidently dubbed 'Sea Snake' and Daemon who was very eager to cut off limbs in episode 1. Apparently, they're losing because the Crabfeeder and his men have holed up in a cave and have no reason to come out. Laenor Velaryon, Rhaenyra's recommended betroth suggests that someone smoke them out of the cave and then the dragon does its dracarys.
Someone just had the idea to smoke them out, an entire two fricking years later? What have the great minds of war been doing around the round table all this time? Drinking? Complaining? Gallantly riding around on dragons?
Refusing the King's help, Daemon smokes them out by faking surrender, showing us how Rickon Stark might have evaded a lone arrow, and killing all who come out to fight him. And perhaps, just perhaps, a better option for the Crabfeeder would have been to stop. sending. more. men. But nope. He keeps sending out more men until they're all wiped out. This is the foe it took 2 years to defeat?
Daemon eventually walks into the cave and walks out with the Crab's dead body in what we might call a little anticlimatic? The Crabfeeder has been an ever-present thorn in the flesh since episode 1 and while the Crab might have been arguably cowardly and weak, showing Daemon knock the sword out of his hand and skewer him with a random sword would have helped. The choice to not show the fight has left some fans to believe that the Crabfeeder is still alive somewhere and that was a random disfigured man.
Where in the seven hells is Rhaenyra?
Listening to her favourite song on repeat - played live by a bard who for a hot second, looked a lot like Jaskier. She's also preparing to be the chosen, prophesied, writers-approved and gods-approved heir if the white hart sashaying to her presence is to be taken to heart.
Doesn't matter how many gifts fate hands Rhaenyra on a diamond-plated platter, she's currently not looking good as future ruler. All we ever see her do is whine, complain about the lot she's been given and brood. After running from the feast, she complains to Ser Criston about how she has no real power and he quickly reminds her that she single handedly changed his family's trajectory by appointing him. Rhaenyra says she understands that the king has to remarry for the good of the realm but as heir to the Iron Throne, she doesn't want to marry? Make it make sense.
Alicent currently looks like a better fit as ruler as she understands her place as well as what is expected of her. Alicent also happens to be an active part of the royal circle which means if need be, she could somewhat easily garner favour from the great houses while Rhaenyra skulks around and throws insults.
While House of the Dragon draws parallels between Viserys and Rhaenyra's fitness to rule with the animal-killing scene, there's nothing brave, empowering or awe-inspiring about repeatedly stabbing an already skewered boar - no matter how bloody it looks.
Quote of the episode
"I came here to hunt not to be suffocated by all this fucking politicking"
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