House of the Dragon: Episode 9

Episode 9 of HBO's Game of Thrones prequel lets Queen Alicent shine. We also learn some unsavory things about Larys Strong.

It's easy to see Alicent's attempts at civility to be spat back at her by Rhaenyra and Daemon who, rightfully, will feel burned by the whole "Aegon is the new king" thing. She pushes Aegon for king, as she believes Viserys to have wanted, but her resolve to safeguard the princess in the process is admirable. She managed to sneak off during the ceremony, head to the dragon pit and retrieve Meleys, her dragon. Aegon is introduced, and led through a procession of knights onto the stage. Alicent pleads with Aegon to reject her father, that Rhaenyra is Aegon's sister and needs to be treated with civility. The queen shouts that reluctance to murder is not a weakness. To stop the espionage, they need to take out the Queen Bee, something he's capable of if the queen wishes it. He reprimands her for treating the succession like a game, and says they need to stay unified. You desire not to be free, but to make a window in the wall of your prison. "The former heir cannot of course be allowed to remain free and draw support to her claim … While Rhaenyra and Daemon sailed back to Dragonstone after the events of last episode, Princess Rhaenys is still in King's Landing. The Green Council is the penultimate episode of House of the Dragon's first season.