House of the Dragon trailer breakdown: Episode 4, “King of the Narrow Sea”
By Daniel Roman
Gossip of a vile sort
Otto Hightower has “discomforting news” for the king. Again note the Valyria model in the background; that thing is great for placing scenes.
It’s always best to take trailer cross-cutting with a grain of salt…but it looks like the discomforting news Otto mentions has something to do with Rhaenyra. She appears to be in the Godswood here, clearly upset over some “vile accusation.”
And right as she says the words “vile accusation,” the camera cuts to a hand pressed against a wall, with another larger hand covering it.
We won’t get into Fire & Blood spoilers here, but suffice it to say that there are some very sordid rumors about Rhaenyra going around. The worst of these rumors has to do with her uncle Daemon, though there are also plenty about Ser Criston Cole. We’re willing to bet the gossip has to do with Rhaenyra’s love life.
You may need to turn up your brightness for this next shot, but it shows a hooded figure pushing their way through a crowd. Pretty much impossible to make out the details, although it is worth noting that we see Daemon wearing a hood later on in the trailer.
Viserys wants to know who’s responsible for the gossip, threatening to “take their eyes.” Even in this trailer, Paddy Considine’s acting is giving me chills. In Fire & Blood, Viserys tends to react extremely harshly to hearsay about Rhaenyra’s virtue. As in cutting-peoples’-tongues-out harsh.
The king sure appears to be passing some judgment here. He’s handling the Valyrian steel sword Blackfyre, which we’ve so far only really seen him wield when he’s holding court on the Iron Throne. Based on the fact that Ser Harrold Westerling (Graham McTavish) has drawn his sword, this seems to line up with that earlier scene of Daemon approaching the throne with his driftwood crown.
“It is not in Rhaenyra’s nature to be deceitful. I cannot say the same for your brother.” says Alicent Hightower, giving off some serious Cersei Lannister vibes here as she ships her wine and sows doubts about Daemon to his brother Viserys.
Why ever would Alicent think Daemon’s untrustworthy? Just look at that face!
The next several shots are so dark that it’s hard to make them out. There’s one shot of someone with fire bursting from their hands, almost like fireworks; then a very brief glimpse of someone in peasant’s clothing and cap running through a crowd at night. Again, it’s hard to make out, but it looks like it could be Rhaenyra to me.
Next we’re back to throne room, where Daemon is relaying his new title as King of the Narrow Sea. It appears to be going well.
Finishing things off, Caraxes soars over an ornate Targaryen ship while Ser Criston Cole shouts for Rhaenyra and the sailors to take cover. Leave it to Daemon to rock the boat. From the looks of things, the drama is going to get juicy in “King of the Narrow Sea.”
House of the Dragon premieres new episodes Sundays on HBO and HBO Max at 9:00 p.m. EST.
Next. House of the Dragon, Episode 3: “Second of His Name” is a moody treat. dark
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