House of the Dragon vs Rings of Power, Episode 4: Who won the week?

Both The House of the Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explore relationships in their fourth episodes. Let’s look at “The King of the Narrow Sea” and “The Great Wave.”

With The Rings of Power already at the midway point of its first season, you’d expect the show would have to get things moving faster than House of the Dragon, which has 10 episodes to play with. But there’s no sense of rushing the issue in “The Great Wave.”

House of the Dragon, Episode 4: “King of the Narrow Sea”

Prince Daemon returns to King’s Landing to offer the Crabfeeder’s weapon and a new crown to King Viserys; though wary at first, Viserys is thrilled at his brother’s victorious return. Alicent and Rhaenyra manage something of a reconciliation, as well. Unfortunately, this period of quiet will prove far too brief.

Thematically, “King of the Narrow Sea” concentrates on the traditional roles of women in Westeros. Swamped with suitors, Rhaenyra wants to be free to adventure but the duties and expectations of her House demand otherwise. Alicent is Queen, but she’s also ensconced in a tower as the King’s baby-making machine, a job that kills many women, including Rhaenyra’s mother.

While Alicent quietly tries to come to terms with her situation, Rhaenyra escapes the Red Keep with Daemon, who takes her on an eye-opening tour of the Street of Silk. The secret passage Rhaenyra uses to flee the castle is a good symbol for her journey in this episode; the only she can escape her responsibilities is through subterfuge.

As young female royals, both Alicent and Rhaenyra are largely powerless in the patriarchal system; they are both pawns in the political game played by their fathers, who seek more advantageous family connections. Making royal babies is the woman’s job, as was explained by Queen Aemma Arryn before her untimely death in childbirth.

“King of the Narrow Sea” also highlights the unfairness of gender roles in Westerosi culture, both in terms of appearances and the balance of duty and pleasure. While men can father all the bastards they can manage with no dent to their reputations, no suitor wants anything but an untouched woman.

This theme of duty vs. pleasure is omnipresent; the episode contrasts Alicent doing her wifely duty with Viserys while Rhaenyra and Daemon take in the lively and lascivious atmosphere of the Street of Silk. Daemon, the pinnacle of self-absorbed hedonism, leads Rhaenyra into his world of pleasure houses, though he is reluctant to take her all the way. Seeking pleasure, Rhaenyra turns to Criston Cole for satisfaction.

The idea of the princess being amorous with her uncle in a brothel is scandalous. Since her right to her own pleasure is forbidden, Rhaenyra hides her affair with Cole. A quiet chaos ensues, with the infuriated Viserys banishing Daemon to the Vale and demoting Otto Hightower for placing his own interests above those of his King.

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Episode 4: “The Great Wave”

Queen Regent Miriel of Numenor is plagued by visions of her city being annihilated by a great ocean wave and fears that Galadriel and the Elves may have something to do with it. Although Galadriel proposes an alliance between Linden and Numenor, Miriel declines.

“The Great Wave” digs into the relationship between Elrond and his Dwarf buddy Durin; this bond may well be tested if the ancient animosity between Elf and Dwarf ignites once again in the future. Durin also features in a heartwarming scene with his father, King Durin III.

The other important relationship evolving in “The Great Wave” is the building trust between the thoughtful Miriel and the determined Galadriel. Both honorable women share the “wave” vision and come to understand one another, although there are still problems with the large anti-Elf contingent on Numenor.

The reveal of Adar as a bad-guy Elf surely is fascinating; he commands Sauron’s orc horde and has plans to “remake” the world. We’ll likely see a lot of Adar as the series proceeds.

“The Great Wave” moves the plot forward at a fast but easy clip, keeping the newcomer family of Captain Elendil, his daughter Earien and his ex-Sea Guard sailor son Isildur at the center of the unfolding Numenor storyline. Halbrand is mostly sidelined in a jail cell, but he will surely move to the forefront later on. The Harfoots do not appear in this episode.

Sent back to the Elven watchtower with a message from Adar, Arondir saves Theo from orcs along the way: Theo doesn’t seem to have enough sense to realize that his Sauron-marked, bloodsucking, fire-spitting broken sword is drowning him in bad karma. Arondir delivers Adar’s message: surrender their land and swear fealty. Not gonna happen.

With the earth rumbling in Numenor and Khazad-Dum, the world trembles before the power of the oncoming darkness. Galadriel has done her best to prepare Middle-earth; the support of Numenor is vital, but it isn’t enough to stop what’s coming without a lot more help.

Who Wins Week 4?

“The King of the Narrow Sea” and The Great Wave” are both highly entertaining offerings, but the depth and timeliness of House of the Dragon‘s exploration of female empowerment amidst political gamesmanship wins the prize for the week.

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