1 comment on “House Of The Dragon: 2.07 – The Red Sowing | Recap & Reaction”

1. Lia says:

   August 4, 2024 at 10:14 pm

   I just rewatched this episode in preparation of the finale dropping in a few hours, and wanted to leave some comments about your corresponding podcast episode, which I listened to a few days ago (I don’t miss any!)

   First, I think what we’re seeing here is the show beginning to pivot from asking “Don’t you think you should be on Team Black?” to asking “Are you suuuuuure you should be on Team Black?” We’re witnessing Rhaenyra beginning to believe that her work with the dragons is divine work; that it is “proof” SHE must win the war to carry out the Ice and Fire prophecy.

   1. In the opening scene, Addam asks Rhaenyra “If the gods call me to greater things, who am I to refuse them?” The camera immediately cuts to Rhaenyra’s face and you can see that she is thinking, wheels are turning. His words meant something to her. The idea that the gods have plans for greater things has been planted in her brain.

   2. When talking to Mysaria, Rhaenyra wonders whether Addam’s claiming of Seasmoke was “lucky… or somehow ordained?” Great choice of words.

   3. When talking to Jace, Rhaenyra says that she will search for seeds despite Jace’s objections because “I cannot gainsay that which the gods have lain before me.”

   4. When talking to the Dragonkeepers, she says that the lowborn seeds are there because “the gods have set them before us.”

   5. At the end of her speech to the seeds, she says “may the gods bless you.” Sure, it’s an expected thing to say to a bunch of people about to be sacrificed — but I think she means it quite literally. She is hoping that two of them WILL be “blessed by the gods” — chosen to be dragonriders.

   6. That look on Rhaenyra’s face when she touches Vermithor’s snout? It’s ecstasy, it’s fervor, it’s hope, it’s power, it’s communion, it’s the beginnings of zealotry.

   7. She finishes talking to the seeds with “It must be the dragon who speaks.” In other words — the gods.

   When Vermithor FIRST starts roasting everybody and her guard urges her away from the balcony, she refuses. She’s convinced that the gods’ wills are playing out here, and she will be unharmed. She is divinely protected.

   A few seconds later it’s even worse, and we cut back to Rhaenyra for quite a long time. It’s nearly 30 seconds just on Emma D’Arcy’s face, which is a very long time during an action scene. We are watching Rhaenyra go through the emotions of questioning herself — what have I done? — then deciding to stick to her resolve and see this through. She can’t do anything, anyway, so I think she’s thinking, “This is hard, but I knew the price would be high. I am sticking to my belief; the gods are not finished yet, and I will stay on this balcony not getting roasted because the gods are calling me to greater things.”

   So… yeah. I think this whole episode is laying the groundwork for Rhaenyra — who heretofore has been set up as the “good” queen; not perfect, but good — to change. They are avoiding the writing mistake that was made with Daenerys, who seemed to suddenly go crazy and started burning King’s Landing with very little groundwork laid for that drastic change to happen.

   Two other small things…

   1. Willem Blackwood only swears once, lol. It must have really stood out to Mary, but I personally don’t see why. It’s only once, and it’s almost muttered, not shouted or anything strong or obvious. I know what it’s like to get stuck on something, though! Maybe if Mary watches the scene again she’ll be released from being bothered by it. 🙂

   2. Tumbleton isn’t attractive to Kat because it’s Disneyland, but because that’s where Kat’s brother lives. She’s said a couple of times that she wants them to go there because her brother would help them. She questions why they are starving in KL when they could just go to Tumbleton — but when Hugh finally gives in, the gates are closed.

   Finally, my opinion on Alicent’s bird…

   I think the bird reminds her of a dragon. When I first watched the episode, I thought it was a dragon flying by, so maybe Alicent thought of dragons, too… and reminded her that Helaena, the only person who really needs her anymore, still has a dragon! Not sure what, specifically, she’s thinking… maybe she’ll try to get Helaena out of the city? Maybe both of them, maybe on dragonback? Maybe they’ll just go camping together or maybe they’ll go to Dragonstone to try to talk to Rhaenyra, who knows?

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