House of the Dragon' Episode 7

2022 - 10 - 3

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Image courtesy of "esquire.com"

'House of the Dragon' Episode 7 Recap: Ruling Westeros? Child's ... (esquire.com)

The first truly great episode of HBO's prequel was also its grimmest.

House of the Dragon is able to barrel through these storylines mostly thanks to its shrewd pick of actors. The final twist – that Laenor survived the attack – provides House of the Dragon with its first, proper heart-thumping moment. Inevitably, it leads to a rupture among the adults, with Alicent demanding Lucerys’ eye is cut out too. Aemond, fed up of not being able to command a dragon, takes a midnight joyride on Vhagar (Laena’s dragon, snoozing mournfully on a beach), thereby taming the beast. While the adults like to deal with their frustrations with shady backroom deals – or, as in last week’s episode, ‘The Princess and The Queen’, by burning down an entire building – the children favour a direct approach. Which leads us to House of the Dragon’s seventh episode, ‘Driftmark’, where a child viciously slashes another child’s face and cuts his eye out.

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Image courtesy of "Polygon"

House of the Dragon episode 7 review: Three funerals and a creepy ... (Polygon)

In a House of the Dragon episode with Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent's (Olivia Cooke) coming Dance of the Dragons, and exploring how Laenor ...

[the royal children](https://www.polygon.com/23368925/house-of-the-dragon-kids-who-rhaenyra-alicent-daemon-jace-joffrey-aegon) that goes from bad to worse in — ahem — the blink of an eye. It’s enough to make [Viserys’ (Paddy Considine)](https://www.polygon.com/23328660/house-dragon-viserys-iron-throne-cut) plea for a return to the family’s status quo seem almost comically out of touch, a referee trying to stop World War II with a whistle. Again the episode chooses a ritual — the most elementally basic, the literally Biblical tradition of an eye for an eye — as the focus of its conflict. Through the ritualistic demand we get a glimpse of the real Alicent, a confused and frightened woman left in a permanent state of panic by her father’s abuse. Rhaenyra’s secret marriage to her [uncle Daemon (Matt Smith)](https://www.polygon.com/e/23144854) serves to inflate her reputation as a ruthless power player, and sir Laenor’s duel with his lover Qarl (Arty Froushan) provides cover for their bittersweet escape from the bloody power games of the royal court. The scene is lit and shot like something out of Neil Marshall’s [The Descent](https://www.polygon.com/hulu/2020/4/18/21224924/best-horror-movies-on-hulu), torchlight flickering over the faces of the young heirs to the Targaryen dynasty as their childish squabble rapidly turns bloody, fists and feet giving way to rocks and knives. While [House of the Dragon](https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516586&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbomax.com%2Fseries%2Fhouse-of-the-dragon%3Foffer_id%3D5%26transaction_id%3D102c87c7%255B%25E2%2580%25A6%255D4ed39326beedc6012ca%26utm_source%3DVox%2BMedia%26utm_medium%3Daffiliate&referrer=polygon.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.polygon.com%2F23383650%2Fhouse-dragon-episode-7-review-laenor)’s seventh episode does a great deal to show Westeros sliding uncontrollably toward what will surely prove a calamitously bloody war, its own body count is comparatively modest by [the series](https://www.polygon.com/house-of-the-dragon)’ standards. From the somber but politically charged opening funeral scene to the darkly majestic and disturbing claiming of [the dragon Vhagar](https://www.polygon.com/e/23145224) by the young prince Aemond (Leo Ashton), “Driftmark” moves at an effortless clip. [Miguel Sapochnik](https://www.polygon.com/23331775/house-of-the-dragon-miguel-sapochnik-leaving-showrunner-alan-taylor) and writer Sara Hess pull it off with aplomb. His delight at her evident unwellness is perhaps the episode’s most sickening sight, a further deception concealed behind his somber façade and the arcane traditions of the royal court. [fake Ser Laenor’s (John Macmillan) death](https://www.polygon.com/e/23144583), is a case study in the episode’s preoccupation with social rituals as a means of concealing and revealing truth. Laena’s funeral provides her uncle with a chance to launch a veiled barb at Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) over the parentage of her sons.

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Image courtesy of "BT TV"

House of the Dragon episode 7 review: An eye for an eye, a fake ... (BT TV)

But for now, Viserys limps on. Instead, it was Lady Laena's funeral which brought together all the key players of Westeros. Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and her ...

The burnt corpse was unrecognisable but Corlys mistakenly believes it to be the body of his son. - Daemon and Rhaenyra need each other if they’re going to keep power (and alive) in Westeros. Later, Ser Qarl started a sword fight with Laenor in front of witnesses and when left alone, they used placed Daemon’s victim over a fire. Rhaenyra and Laenor's marriage of convenience had become a farce. “Exhausting wasn’t it, hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness,” seethes a bloodied Rhaenyra. Luce retaliates and slashes Aemond in the eye. The increasingly vile Ser Criston put up little fight at the offer to cut open one of Rhaenyra’s sons – has a man ever been more bitter about being turned down? Young Leo Ashton gave a brilliant performance as the unpleasant and cocky Aemond. Aemond claiming the dragon infuriated Laena’s children Baela and Rhaena. Firstly, he was placed in charge of ‘comforting’ Laenor as he grieved for his sister. Ever since Queen Alicent put on that green dress for the Rhaenyra’s wedding to Laenor, the battle lines between the Greens and Blacks were clearly drawn. The fallout from Lady Laena’s death is more chaos and violence in Driftmark.

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Image courtesy of "Vulture"

Why Did Last Night's House of the Dragon Look So Bad? (Vulture)

Kathryn VanArendonk is a critic who writes about TV and comedy. She gets mad when people say TV is a ten-hour movie. The night scenes in “Driftmark” were shot ...

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Image courtesy of "W Magazine"

The Next Generation Stepped Up on This Week's 'House of the ... (W Magazine)

It was the kids' time to shine in the latest episode of 'House of the Dragon' and it's clear familial conflict and drama has already taken hold of this ...

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Image courtesy of "Economic Times"

House of the Dragon' Episode 7: Fans complain it to be too dark ... (Economic Times)

Fans complain that some scenes in the 'House of the Dragon' are too dark to watch, but HBO has defended the lighting by calling it an 'intentional creative ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

House of the Dragon recap: episode seven – behold, the ultimate ... (The Guardian)

After gasp-inducing violence and an unearthly consummation, there's now a dangerous union you really don't want to mess with. This mean all-out war.

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Image courtesy of "CNET"

'House of the Dragon' Episode 7 Recap: Say Uncle (CNET)

Taking place after a 10-year time jump, it saw the first blood of the inevitable Targaryen civil war spilled. That was thanks to Larys Strong, who in a mix of ...

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Image courtesy of "Radio Times"

Beyond the Dragon: House of the Dragon episode 7 review and ... (Radio Times)

The RadioTimes.com team talk all things Driftmark. Olivia Cooke as Queen Alicent Hightower, Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower and Paddy Considine. HBO.

House of the Dragon war explained](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-dragon-dance-dragons-war-explained/) [Where was House of the Dragon filmed?](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-dragon-filming-locations-sets/) [What book is House of the Dragon based on? Fire and Blood book changes](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-dragon-fire-blood-book-changes/) [What is Aegon’s Dream and the Prince That Was Promised in House of the Dragon?](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-dragon-aegon-dream-song-ice-fire-explained/) [What is Old Valyria, the Doom and High Valyrian in House of the Dragon?](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/old-valyria-doom-valyrian-house-dragon-explained/) [Game of Thrones books in order](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/game-of-thrones-books-order/) [subscribe now](http://radiotimes.com/magazine-subscription?utm_term=evergreen-article) and get the next 12 issues for only £1. [NOW](https://www.nowtv.com/) – find out more about [how to sign up for Sky TV](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?id=489797&clickref=radiotimes-1715436&awinmid=11005&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sky.com%2Ftv). Game of Thrones timeline explained](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/game-of-thrones-timeline-house-of-dragon/) [What is the Dance of the Dragons? [House of the Dragon](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-of-the-dragon-review/) – Driftmark – picks up shortly after the shocking events of last week, as the Targaryen family mourn a great loss while continuing to scheme behind one another's backs. Check out more of our [Fantasy](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/) coverage or visit our [TV Guide](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/) to see what's on tonight. [How to watch House of the Dragon - where can you stream?](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/how-watch-house-dragon-stream/) [Matt Smith says "daunting" Doctor Who prepared him for House of the Dragon](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/matt-smith-doctor-who-prepared-house-dragon-exclusive-newsupdate/) [House of the Dragon planned to last three or four seasons](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-of-the-dragon-three-four-seasons-newsupdate/) [Meet the cast of House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones prequel series](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-of-the-dragon-cast/) [When is House of the Dragon set? [terms and conditions](https://www.immediate.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/) and [privacy policy](https://policies.immediate.co.uk/privacy/). [Otto Hightower](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/otto-hightower-house-dragon-explained/) reclaims his position as Hand of the King, while daughter [Alicent](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/alicent-hightower-house-dragon-explained/) (Olivia Cooke) becomes even more extreme about protecting her children after a gruesome attack. [learn more](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/commercial-links-on-radiotimes-com/)) [RadioTimes.com](https://radiotimes.com/)'s Drama Editor Abby Robinson is once again unpacking the latest developments in companion show Beyond the Dragon, this time joined by Trends Editor and fellow [House of the Dragon](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-dragon-release-schedule-episodes/) super fan Lewis Knight.

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Image courtesy of "digitalspy.com"

House of the Dragon episode 7 commits the cardinal Game of ... (digitalspy.com)

Elsewhere, the key moment where Aemond Targaryen claimed Vhagar and took flight above Driftmark had us squinting into the darkness. If not for the moment where ...

[HBO](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=127X991730&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbomax.com%2F&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.digitalspy.com%2Ftv%2Fustv%2Fa41509092%2Fhouse-of-dragon-dark-lighting-episode-7%2F), and on Mondays in the UK on [Sky Atlantic](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=127X991730&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fskyatlantic.sky.com%2Fshows%2Fgame-of-thrones&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.digitalspy.com%2Ftv%2Fustv%2Fa41509092%2Fhouse-of-dragon-dark-lighting-episode-7%2F) and NOW. Game of Thrones [seasons 1-8](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Game-Thrones-Seasons-1-8-Complete/dp/B07TD6BQHR/) are available on DVD and Blu-ray. It’s just a shame both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon have had to defend themselves over these apparently deliberate choices. [Vulture](https://www.vulture.com/2016/08/tv-dramas-are-literally-too-dark.html) posted an op-ed about shows that are too dark — comparing Mr Robot’s dim lighting to the jolly Jane the Virgin. [rewrote the history](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a41497786/house-of-the-dragon-laenor-death/) of George RR Martin’s Fire & Blood with its shock finale, it could have been missed by some. Is it any coincidence that both 'The Long Night' and 'Driftmark' were directed by the Emmy-winning Miguel Sapochnik? Then again, at least this dark and rainy aesthetic was a consistent part of Gotham City. As this gives Euphoria its unique look, at least it felt like a purposeful decision where you could still see what’s going on. 'The Long Night' goes down in history as arguably the biggest Game of Thrones episode. Elsewhere, the key moment where Aemond Targaryen claimed Vhagar and took flight above Driftmark had us squinting into the darkness. Despite fan complaints, it was a decision that was backed by episode cinematographer Fabian Wagner, who told Sadly, 'Driftmark' just committed the ultimate Game of Thrones sin.

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