‘House of the Dragon’ Episode 9: The King is Dead, Long Live… Oh No You Don’t!

House of The Dragon Episode 9 deals with the death of the king.

In last week’s nearly-perfect episode we said goodbye to King Viserys. This week the capital and the Greens there have to do the same. Not only do they have to say goodbye to the king, but they must decide who follows him on the throne.

***BEWARE, HERE BE SPOILERS***

The Green Council

House of The Dragon Episode 9 starts off with the Red Keep finding out that King Viserys has died. The small council quickly works to keep his death a secret. Alicent also tells her father Otto that Viserys’ last wish was for Aegon to be king. Alicent seems to believe this is what he meant, but it’s not clear if anyone else believes her.

A small council meeting is quickly called. Alicent announces there that King wished for Aegon to take the throne. The majority of the council is totally down with this. In fact, they’ve been planning with Otto for this all along. Alicent is horrified by these and realizes she’s really just a pawn. The council isn’t all for it. Lord Beesbury objects and dies. Lord Commander Westerling also quits the Kingsguard in protest. However the decision isn’t in doubt, Aegon will be crowned.

To Catch a King

There is only one real issue. No one can find Aegon, he’s snuck out. House of The Dragon Episode 9 shifts to a tight and tense internal struggle between the Greens. In particular, it’s between Alicent and Otto who can find Aegon first – and thus control him. Otto sends the Cargyll twins (both of the Kingsguard) to find him. Alicent sends Criston Cole and Aemond.

Searching for him both pairs take a trip down Aegon’s debauchery. We visit whore houses, but these are too nice for him.  He now prefers fighting bits, where small children are forced to fight to the death. Along with this we also see some of his bastards. Aegon himself doesn’t want to be king. Meanwhile, his brother Aemond does want it and is clearly better suited. In the end, the White Worm has stashed the king away, and she sells him to Otto and the Cargylls, but Cole and Aemond intercept them and grab Aegon.

House of The Dragon Episode 9 Shows What People Will Do For Power

As this is happening, the power plays are going down at the Red Keep. Otto forces the lords and ladies there to swear to Aegon. Some refuse, leading to deaths and imprisonments. Rhaenys. after coming to Kings Landing last episode is locked up and Alicent tries to get her to join them. After getting Aegon, Alicent establishes some dominance over Otto and gets Cole named Lord Commander. She also treats Lary’s Strong and feeds his foot fetish. In return, he moved to take out the White Worm’s spy network, which has been helping Otto.

Long Live the King

With Aegon in hand, Alicent moves to have him crowned. He’d rather leave the country and just party, but his mother is able to partially convince him that this is what his dad wanted. Meanwhile, Erryk Cargyll, having decided that Aegon sucks, frees Rhaenys and escapes. The two get separated by the crowds heading towards the dragon pit. There Aegon is crowned king. He seems to drink in the cheers of the crowd. It might be one of the first times people have really openly praised him.

The moment is cut short, however. In the confusion, Rhaenys snuck down to her dragon. Together they burst up out of the bottom of the dragon pit. As the crowd flees, Rhaenys and her dragon face down Aegon and the Greens. However rather than kill them, Rhaenys (according to the writers) decides to spare them out of a shared feeling of motherhood with Alicent. Instead, she flies off to warn Rhanerya, ending House of The Dragon Episode 9.

The Ending Kind of Sucked?

So like, I guess we call agree everything is now Rhaenys’ fault? She has a 100% chance to end the whole conflict and prevent a war right there. Even the writers agree she does. And then… she just doesn’t. Because of… motherhood? This was dumb. Rhaneys knows what the Greens are doing. She’s seen the bodies. She knows, with Aegon crowned there can be no peace now. And she just… doesn’t end it. There is really no good reason for it.

Moreover… she just killed hundreds if not thousands of innocent small folk when busting out of the Dragonpit. Rhaenys has apparently 0 qualms over mass murder, but preventing war and righting a major wrong… is a bridge too far? Maybe there is a way they could have made it work, but it didn’t. It took a really amazing episode and made it fall flat.

Some Thoughts on House of The Dragon Episode 9

Cole seems to have a thing for Alicent. I would love it if they are also sleeping together. This would really make Alicent the ultimate hypocrite.

Was Otto’s quiet “As you wish” a Princess Bride reference?

Another amazing score for this whole episode. I also like the internal conflict between Aegon not wanting to be king and Aemond wanting it but not getting it. The Greens are not all of one mind.

I saw a small glimpse of the sexy tapestries when they were preparing the Kings body. He may be dead, but they live on!

Author: Abe Apfel

Abe is that rare thing, an Austin local born and raised here. Though he keeps on moving around, DC, Japan, ETC., he always seems to find his way back eventually. Abe has decades of experience with a wide range of tabletop and RPG games, from historicals, to Star Wars to D&D and 40K. He has been contributing to BOLS since almost the start, back when he worked at and then owned a local gaming store. He used to be big into the competitive Warhammer tournament scene but age has mellowed him and he now appreciates a good casual match. He currently covers 40K tactics and lore, as well as all things Star Wars, with occasional dabbling in other topics. Abe remains in mourning over the loss of WFB to this day.