House Of The Dragon Season 2 Episode 5’s Gross Game Of Thrones Callback Explained

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As a longtime fan of both “Game of Thrones” and its prequel “House of the Dragon,” I was absolutely heartbroken when Rhaenys Targaryen and her dragon Meleys met their untimely ends in Season 2, Episode 5. The way the scene was handled brought me back to an earlier moment in the original series that left a deep mark on me: Robb Stark’s direwolf Grey Wind being killed and displayed as a trophy.

Contains spoilers for “House of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 5

In the climax of “House of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 4, titled “The Red Dragon and the Gold,” I watched as the ominous red dragon plummeted to the ground during the pivotal Battle of Rook’s Rest. The incompetent boy king Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) and his formidable enemy, his aunt Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best), squared off against each other on their dragons. Unbeknownst to both combatants, Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) with his colossal dragon Vhagar was lurking in the surrounding woods, poised for an unexpected ambush.

It’s painful enough to witness Rhaenys and Meleys meet their ends. The next episode adds salt to the wound when Meleys’ severed head is displayed in King’s Landing, following Aegon’s soldiers triumphantly presenting it as a “traitor” dragon’s head. This scene resonates deeply as we are reminded of an analogous incident from “Game of Thrones.” In this case, Robb Stark (Richard Madden) in the North faced a similar humiliation. After his tragic death along with his mother, wife, and unborn child at the Red Wedding, enemy soldiers went on to slaughter Robb’s loyal direwolf Grey Wind. They decapitated the wolf and attached its head to Robb’s corpse as a grisly trophy.

Dragons and direwolves are both closely bonded to their humans in Westeros — making these scenes much more gutting

As a gamer in this fantasy world, I can’t help but feel uneasy after defeating my foe, especially when their loyal companion, be it a direwolf or dragon, falls before me. It’s a disturbing sensation to then display their head as if it were a trophy on a parade float. Although this may not be a frequent occurrence, in the realm of Westeros, such actions carry an added layer of malice. The bond between these creatures and their human counterparts is deeply intertwined, making this act all the more despicable.

As a dedicated fan of “Game of Thrones,” I’ve been captivated by the intricate relationships between characters and their loyal companions, particularly Robb Stark and his direwolf Grey Wind. Allow me to share my perspective on their bond, drawing from my extensive knowledge of the show.

The Targaryens share a deep connection with the dragons they mount, such as Rhaenys who rode Meleys for an extended period before “House of the Dragon” starts. While airborne, they become almost inseparable, forming a single entity. Witnessing Meleys’ demise left Rhaenys devastated, her gaze filled with profound sadness. Displaying the decapitated heads of Grey Wind and Meleys afterward adds an extra layer of disgust, as these creatures symbolize their loyal companions who have perished.

Team Green might have made a major misstep by displaying Meleys’ head in King’s Landing

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but ponder over the actions of Team Green, headed by Aegon, Aemond, and their mother Alicent Hightower, portrayed brilliantly by Olivia Cooke. Their triumphant display of a dragon head as a trophy leaves me with an uneasy feeling. It seems they might have overlooked the profound consequences of this gruesome gesture.

Team Green aims to weaken Team Black by displaying Meleys’ dragon head, which Rhaenys (representing Team Black in the Battle at Rook’s Rest for Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen) brought down for Queen Rhaenyra. However, this action raises doubts about the capabilities of their own dragons. A resident of King’s Landing comments on witnessing the dragon head, “Dragons aren’t invincible beings”; they can be defeated just like Meleys was. This revelation exposes a vulnerability for both sides and highlights that neither King Aegon nor Queen Rhaenyra are infallible, potentially weakening their subjects’ faith in their power.

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2024-07-15 05:29