Welcome to House of the DragonMVP, our series highlighting each episode's Most Valuable Player in the game before the Game of Thrones.
The game of thrones as played in House of the Dragonis basically dragon tennis. The smaller daily battles that recruit allies, collect secrets, and establish perceived dominance are the games. The big moments that pit those created factions against each other are the sets. And if a player is very, very lucky and good at what they do, those collected victories add up to winning the match and getting a prize: the Iron Throne.
That’s what makes naming a Most Valuable Player each week for House of the Dragonso fun. Every episode of Season 1 is a different game, and it wasn’t until episode 7 "Driftmark" that those games culminated with a set-ending showdown in favor of this week's MVP, Princess Rhaenyra, played by Emma D’Arcy.
The last time Rhaenyra won MVPshe was played by Milly Alcock and it was for knocking her uncle Prince Daemon down a peg and retrieving a dragon egg. She's grown so much since then, and the stakes for her are substantially higher going into Laena Velaryon's funeral on Driftmark. Daemon is newly widowed, Rhaenyra's children's rivalry with their princely uncles is heating up (literally), and her father King Viserys' failing health raises the question of succession once more, despite her unofficial royal motto of "we don’t talk about Harwin."
SEE ALSO:'House of the Dragon' episode 7: We need to talk about that WTF endingMeanwhile, Queen Alicent is at her wit's end with the constant gaslighting, especially since the acceptance of Rhaenyra's bastard sons puts her own childrens' lives in danger. Resolving the issues between Rhaenyra and Alicent should fall to King Viserys, but the king was, is, and will probably be forever uninterested in managing the consequences of his actions. Instead of doing what it takes to actually suture his family together, he lives under the enforced delusion that everything is fine.
Then a bunch of children get into a knife fight over a dragon and little Lucerys takes a blade to his uncle Aemond’s eye. Which is to say, everything is not fine.
The incident with Aemond's eye shatters the thin peace that King Viserys cultivated instead of fighting for an honest and united family. It's Rhaenyra who steps up to finally course correct on her father’s behalf. She charges Alicent's sons with treason for daring to question her children’s parentage, forcing Alicent to put up or shut up with her correct, but destabilizing accusations.
It's a risky gambit that pays off, as the court witnesses the lie morph into a legal and dangerous "truth" before their eyes. That Alicent runs at Rhaenyra with a knife and ruins her credibility in front of everyone important in her life is just icing on the cake. The set point goes to Rhaenyra and she wastes no time getting ready for the next game.
Bait taken.Credit: Ollie Upton / HBOThis time, Laenor is out and Daemon is in, and Rhaenyra accomplishes this with a charmingly merciful exit for Laenor (why bury your gays when you can put them on a boat?) and a bloody Valyrian wedding ceremony witnessed by her close family. It’s a solid opening serve from the Blacks. Now the Greens have only to respond.
New House of the Dragonepisodes are available every Sunday on HBO and HBO Max.
TopicsGame Of ThronesHBOHouse of the Dragon
(责任编辑：娛樂)
Pole vaulter claims his penis is not to blameA NASA probe saw a double eclipse of the sun from spaceGovernment asks for pause in construction of part of North Dakota pipeline amid protestsBeyoncé turned 35, so she can officially run for presidentXiaomi accused of copying again, this time by JawboneDressage horse dancing to 'Smooth' by Santana wins gold for chillest horse
Okay forget everyone else -- this horse named Lorenzo is our favorite Olympic athlete now. 。Lorenzo,
...[详细]This isn't a spaceship, it's a Maserati
The old adage "live fast, die young" just got an update. Because now, thanks to an Italian coach-bui
...[详细]This alarm clock wants to wake you up with an orgasm
Here's an idea: Instead of waking up the regular way, why not let an orgasm rouse you from peaceful
...[详细]Facebook changes Like buttons to celebrate Star Trek's 50th anniversary
Facebook has a gift for。 Star Trek 。 fans. 。 For the series' 50th anniversary, Facebook users who've l
...[详细]Tyler, the Creator helped Frank Ocean celebrate 'Blonde' release in a delicious way
The release of Frank Ocean's。 Blonde 。is a cause for celebration to the fans who waited four years fo
...[详细]4 Paralympic athletes clock faster race time than Olympic gold medalist
At the Rio Olympics, Matthew Centrowitz Jr. took home gold in the 1,500-meter final with a time of 3
...[详细]Magical pothole in Scotland bears remarkable resemblance to Australia
LONDON -- The phenomenon of perceiving intricate images in the natural world is not an uncommon occu
...[详细]High School pays beautiful tribute to cheerleader diagnosed with leukemia
If you think。 The Bachelor 。 has given roses a bad rap, consider the flower's good name restored.
。Whe
...[详细]Tyler, the Creator helped Frank Ocean celebrate 'Blonde' release in a delicious way
The release of Frank Ocean's 。 Blonde 。is a cause for celebration to the fans who waited four years fo
...[详细]River turns red in Russia just like in your worst Biblical nightmare
A Russian river near the Arctic Circle seems to have turned blood red, with locals claiming the wast
...[详细]Slack goes down again, prompting anxiety everywhere
Girl instantly regrets putting on that charcoal face peel
SEE ALSO:'House of the Dragon' episode 7: We need to talk about that WTF ending