‘House of the Dragon’ S2 E4 Recap: Stop Dragon My Heart Around

Wings and fire clash in the sky as the Targaryen civil war moves into a bloody section of the noble family’s history. After being outmaneuvered in an attempt for a surprise attack, Rhaenyra Targaryen has suffered a major loss in both her support system and dragons. The fourth episode of House of the Dragon, titled “The Red Dragon and the Gold” sees the internet’s favorite silver-haired family engaging in all-out war and finally gives its audience what they’ve been waiting for since Game of Thrones: fighting dragons! (The Night King taking over Viserion does not count).

In Dragonstone, Rhaenys Targaryen isn’t being respected as suits her status, a specific stupidity that seems to befall everyone (men) that comes into contact with her. She’s the Queen Who Never Was, only passed over to the throne from misogyny! She also crashed through the floor of Aegon’s coronation last season, so it would seem denizens of Westeros would probably know by this point she’s not one to trifle with. Men of noble houses, however, seem to labor under the delusion they can speak to Rhaenys however they choose. 

Ser Criston Cole is traipsing around Westeros with his little army, petitioning houses to raise their banners for Aegon, as his newly appointed position as Hand of the King positions him to do. Aegon’s small council infuriates him, namely his brother Aemond, after being told of Cole’s new plan to march on Rook’s Rest. Fair! No one ever tells Aegon anything. He’s confused why they would waste time on such a small keep instead of marching on bigger investments and no one is in the business of supplying him with answers. Aemond, presumably fresh from seeing the hairstylist to the stars of Westeros, stares daggers across the table towards his brother as he slips into High Valyrian to mock him. Aegon hilariously complains to Alicent about his perceived mistreatment, clearly not understanding she isn’t one to listen to nonsense anymore. The only person Alicent wants to speak to is Rhaenyra, who already shot her shot last week to no avail, and the only thing she wants to hear is “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan. 

Aegon’s conversation with Alicent is fascinating specifically because there are things about Aegon that are opposite of Rhaenyra that sometimes it must be wondered if she’s possibly considering what it would be like living under Rhaenyra’s crown, which is how I assume she spends most of her time. She tells Aegon that he’s best help for the moment is to simply do nothing, to do what is needed of him while his council steers the war in their favor. He looks surprised by this, the shock evident on his face while shame keeps him silent. I don’t think Alicent is forgetful of her children’s feelings, she’s reciprocating the treatment she receives from those around her. Alicent knows that the woman that stirs her soul would sit on the Iron Throne more gracefully than her own child, and now that she knows her mistake in misinterpreting Viserys’ last words, she surely envisions what would be different had she initially listened to Rhaenyra. Aegon asking Alicent for advice only to immediately disregard it is one of the funniest outcomes that could have happened from this conversation. 

Now that Rhaenyra is back in Dragonstone and not making Alicent stutter in King’s Landing, she has the time to meet with her council and discuss strategy.  She’s surprised to hear that Cole is marching on Rook’s Rest (as was Aegon when Aemond informed him). Certain there isn’t a different path to the crown and with a support system behind her ready to fight, Rhaenyra allows her council to persuade her that they should send a dragon to meet Ser Criston Cole in the battlefield as he marches on Rook’s Rest. After Jacaerys makes an attempt to join the battle and is shot down, Rhaenys steps forward and says it must be her to meet Cole, evoking a sense of hope in everyone (me) that this would be the last time we see this man.  Jace wanting to join is admirable but I couldn’t help but wonder what he thought he was capable of doing, even if he thought that, for some reason, there would be no other dragon presence at Rook’s Rest upon his arrival. Rhaenyra shares Aegon’s Dream with Jace, enunciating clearly because the last time someone was told about this, someone lost their throne. Fitting for Rhaenys to ride into such a battle, as the episode originally aired on July 7, The Queen Who Never Was’ birthday, cited in Fire & Blood as the “7th day of the 7th moon.”

When she flies into battle upon Meleys, she is unknowingly flying into a trap set by Criston Cole and Aemond Targaryen, the latter waiting in a closeby forest on Vhagar. Before Aemond can join, Aegon rides in upon Sunfyre, surely an attempt at legitimizing himself as both a warrior and leader to his people. It backfires, as he’s inexperienced and Sunfyre’s size doesn’t compare to his opponent’s. Meleys digs into Sunfyre’s chest with her claws before Vhagar takes flight, Aegon elated that assistance is coming before Aemond commands his dragon to everything in front of them, causing Sunfyre and Aegon to fall out of the sky. Fighting the larger dragon alone, Meleys gives herself a fighting chance to escape before finding her neck caught by the jaws of Vhagar, taking her and her rider hundreds of feet above the ground before dropping them to their deaths. Aemond the Kinslayer accepts another victim as Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen Who Never Was, lies dead with her dragon surrounded by rubble and ash. It’s a massive loss to Rhaenyra’s cause to lose her wisest counsel and the most battle-proven dragon on her side (RIP to Meleys who popped her Melussy severely in the most dire of times). 

Moving across a battlefield covered in fire and blood, Ser Criston Cole looks for Aegon, finding him and Sunfyre lying together with burns presumably covering most of his body. Cole drops to his knees, but it is Alicent Hightower who will suffer the most here. If only she had Rhaenyra close to console her.