Reviews of TRoP (The Rings of Power) Episode 5 and HoTD (House of The Dragon) Episode 6.

 

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Random blog day boo yah. As you should know Fridays is random blog day were we talk anything and everything and pretty much run with it. Today's blog is on my notes for Episode 5 of The Rings of Power and Episode 6 of House of the Dragon. Usually these would be YouTube episodes however due to the fact I still haven't completely shifted the cold I've got I felt it best to post the notes on here.

THE RINGS OF POWER.

Episode 5

I get the fact that people are shitting on this series and yeah it's not word for word of the books and has been twisted a bit more to be a streamlined version of the books, I personally consider this an alternative timeline type thing. 

- Highly happy to see the half foots/hobbits again as they migrate to another place. The song is awesome and a good transitory thing. 

- the people in white are kinda scary. And have found where the stranger has landed. We still don't know who he is and I still think he's Tom Bombadill.

- In a mirroring of Numenor Bronwyn tells her fellow people the truth and asks who and wishes to stay however one of the other villagers convinces the crowd against her.

- back in Numenor Elendil and Isuildur argue over Isuildur not being part of any guild and Elendil refuses to send him out.

- Earion attempts to talk to the queen's councillor but ends up talking with his son and tells him to speak to his dad and not send out the fleet.

- Halbrand now free from the cells proves himself capable of forging swords. However he's pulled into a meeting with Galadriel and the queen. The power shift between Galadriel and Halbrand is tasty.

- seeing the hobbits travel through the woods. Slowly catching up to their fellow hobbits makes me feel better they'll survive however seeing the wargs chase them and the stranger help the hobbits further by scaring the wargs off shows how much power he has.....if they end up making him Gandalf rather than Bombadill imma gonna be upset. 

- Watching Galadriel weird a sword against the numenorians in training is pretty sweet. Especially since she teaches them as she does it. One of the trainees catches the cloth on her arm proving he's listening somewhat.

- Pharazon and his son talk privately to which Pharazon argues with his son over the coming fight. Pharazon tells his son if they help raise a king on middle earth they could effectively be on equal footing with the elves. Which is a pretty good power move attempt one however if you know the books ain't gonna end well. 

- the I'll king worries his daughter the queen regent with his rants about the coming darkness. Which I think will add to numenors downfall. 

- I can see Nori's worry over the stranger due to being hurt as he heals himself, in which he partially connects to evil. Nori scurries away as the trees creak I think the trees may be some of the earlier ents. 

- I giggled at Durin asking about the table and wondering if the dwarves can have it. And I think Gil-Galad and Elrond are talking about Glorfindel in his fight against the Balrog. In this talk Elrond fights against himself to reveal the mithril in his care. Especially on his kings plea. I can see the worry on his face as he ponders what to do. I wouldn't know in this moment.

- Elrond talks about the mithril over to Celebrimbor and is told of its use. Which adds to Elrond's anguish more 

• Seeing the boats being tampered with and blown up made me sad but seeing Isuildur save the guy who set it off made me feel hope Isuildur gets on the boat to middle earth.

- the people walk into the orcs camp and bow.....to which my mind screeches NOOOOOO!!!!!!!.

- Galadriel shares part of herself with Halbrand and tells him that her centuries of fighting in her brother's name have several of her kind send her away due to her quest and points out he's not gonna find his in Numenor like she hasn't found it in battle

- I like the moment between Arondir and Theo about how Arondir kept an eye on them and how half the people left. Arondir tells him that keeping an eye out showed him who was who. 

- I also appreciated the fact that this had Theo comfortable enough to share with him the sword piece. This piece has Arondir and Bronwyn have a very truthful conversation. One I think is needed especially as the orcs are on their boarder.

- I appreciate the bander between Durin and Elrond. Especially over the table. I love the phrase "give me the meat and give it to me raw" I'm tempted to use it. Elrond also ends up being truthful to Durin and tells him the elven race is in his hands to which Durin has his moment of glee and decides to be helpful. Their friendship triumphing over the lies.

- Halbrand is yet again summoned to the Queen and is set up as as part of the fleet who leaves for middle earth. Earion worries for her brother whose also in the party. I also appreciate Isuildur is treated as part of the group instead of being favoured by his dad....made me giggle. I also appreciate seeing Galadriel in armour again.

Episode 5 will be the last TRoP episode i will review as Im struggling to keep up reviewing these particular episodes due to timing. 

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON.

Episode 6

The ten year jump definitely adds to the show and along with it a range of new actors which adds to the change needed. We see more added to the introduction which is good.

- We're introduced to the adult Rhaenyra (and new actress D'Arcy) as she gives birth to her third son. Showing she's grown up since the last we've seen her.

- I love the quick change in atmosphere as Rhaenyra is told Alicent wants to see the baby immediately whilst she's still in partial labour (in need to deliver the placenta) which she finishes as she dresses.

- I quite like the fact that Laenor arrives in time to help her get to the queen happy to hear both she and the baby are ok. I appreciate he is properly annoyed for her that Alicent wants to see the baby immediately.

- I love the fact that we see the pair of them mutter angrily amongst themselves as they climb the stairs with the princess in obvious pain. With the court pretty much doing next to nothing around them.

- I feel this sets up more of the battleground between the future blacks and greens especially since Alicent sees that the boy is definitely not Laenors and is someone else's. Viserys is definitely blind to it.

- the slight quarrel between Rhaenyra and Laenor about jofferys name shows the pair are a little prickly despite being in the same side. And it was nice having the elder sons wait for the three of them With a dragon egg to which Rhaenyra thanks them for it. As well as having Harwen strong there with them showing that yeah he's their proper dad in reality and is introduced to the youngest in this moment.

- seeing the princes, Jace, Luke Aegon and Aemond in the dragon pit learning to bond with dragons seams like a great tool to learn as a group despite Aemond not having a dragon. I appreciate the fact that Aemond feels out of place for not having a dragon and the fact he's mistreated for it by the others by having a prank of a pig given to him. The fact this pushes Aemond to go further into the dragon pit and look for a dragon himself and scares him off. I think this sets him up for being a maniac further down the road.

- I love that Alicent is spending time with Helena her daughter and is trying to understand her obsession with the creatures she is looking over but clearly doesn't really care. When Aemond is brought to her she freaks out and tells her son off even though he tells her what happened. I appreciate the fact that Helena adds he'll have to close an eye after Alicent tells him he'll eventually have a dragon as almost a foresight....if you've read the books you'll know how spot on this is. 

- I love the fact that Alicent goes to Viserys and tries woefully and badly to get the grand kids in trouble, with Viserys being very aware of how their own sons act Alicent tries to point out again that. She doesn't believe Rhaenyras children are laenors and aren't fit to be Targaryon either. 

- I appreciate the fact that ser Christian has switched sides since Alicent helped him in his hour of woe, and I believe we see Christians true nature/side as he speakers badly of Rhaenyra. 

- we are treated with a shot of Aegon wanking out of the window naked.....not entirely sure it's needed but it definately adds to Aegons character. He's definitely the one to come up with the pig idea and thrust it onto his nephews when questioned by his mother as he tries to hide his erection. 

- I like how Alicent has a go at her son like most mothers do when catching their kids in a lie and puts the throne in his head like she's done before and her father told her too ten years earlier. Before telling him to get dressed again. 

- I love the fact we're taken to see where Daemon is and how he's happy and married to Laena with two daughters and a child on the way over in Essos. Being courted by many people but having no permanent base. 

- I love the dynamic between Daemon and Laena the pair balance each other out. Especially since they disagree over an offer of a foreign prince rather than go back home like Laena wants to do. Laena wants to die a Dragonrider not that of a country lord a bit of foretelling for this episode.

- I like seeing ser Christian training the princes both generations and showing how much they need to learn. And I also appreciate ser Harwen offering advice making Christian angry and provoking Harwen to attack him in return. I love that this hints to the possibility that the children of Rhaenyra are Harwen Strongs rather than laenors as hinted earlier in the episode. 

- I love the reuse of the hidden passages by Rhaenyra as she goes in search of strong and comes across father and son arguing over the rumors and the possibility their true, the worry on Rhaenyra's face shows how badly things can/could go if the truth is revealed. 

- Rhaenyra is in a bad mood when Laenor turns up with his new paramour and asks Set Quarl to leave whilst the pair chat. Laenor reveals she stepstones are at war again. Though Laenor is drunk and tells her what he's been told. Rhaenyra tells him about the rumors in anger and we finally shown the cracks in their marriage. 

- we see a moment between mother and daughter as Laena tells her daughter that to be a dragon rider you have to both earn and want it. As her egg hasn't hatched yet. I quite like the moment because it shows how good a mother she is to her children

- it's a good moment to watch that Daemon and Laena have on the roof about Rhaenyras and Laenors sons baring a resemblance elsewhere is another moment as it shows the pair miss home and family despite daemon lying. Laena proves she is smarter than she looks and knows daemons eye is still elsewhere despite their marriage.

- I think everyone agrees seeing both Rhaenyra and Alicent on the privy council is a strange one, however their dynamic is definately needed and Rhaenyras attempt at damage control over her children by offering a marriage proposal between Helena and Jace as well as giving Aemond first choice of her own dragons future clutch of eggs is both a good idea and a good power play. One Alicent pretends to consider whilst Viserys thinks it's a great idea especially to soothe the tensions around him.

- lord strong attempting to resign over his son's stupidity definately adds fuel to aliments fire although Viserys has none of it. Shows how deep his "blindness" goes. Alicent is definitely furious over the alternative offer lord strong has. Her talk with lord strongs second son larys and what he does afterwards shows her words told in anger makes waves. And wrongly has two people killed setting up future endeavours.

- the fact that Larys strong uses three prisoners with tongues cut from their mouths is quite a devious move.

- seeing Laena struggle to give birth is both sad and painful, definitely a repeat almost of Queen Aemma in the first episode. Laena overhearing the conversation between Daemon and the surgeon as they try to decide what to do has her go to her dragon and have him torch her shows she both chooses her way out and earns her way out as a dragon rider. Even though vhagar doesn't want to. It hurts to watch especially since Daemon watches her die. Daemon having to tell his children is also sad.

- seeing Harwen say goodbye to Rhaenyra and the boys also hurts. But she knows what must be done and this move since Jace questions his parentage. Tis move is to go to Dragonstone and when Laenor questions it she repeats a quote he said earlier in the episode and him covertly tells him bring lord Quarl. Which I think is a good thing. 

- it's sad to see both lord strong and Harwen die via fire and having it mixed with seeing Rhaenyra and crew arrive on Dragonstone with Larys speaking over stating children are weaknesses adds a creepiness to the episode especially combined with Alicent's reaction to the news of the Strong's death.

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