5 burning questions for House Of The Dragon episode 6

As the show's big time jump approaches, we're puzzling out Damon's desires, Viserys' health and the deeper meaning behind that green dress

TV Features House
5 burning questions for House Of The Dragon episode 6
Matt Smith and Milly Alcock Image: Ollie Upton/HBO

Here it comes, the big time jump we’ve all been anticipating. House Of The Dragon episode six takes us so far into the future that it required recasting some of the major roles, including Rhaenyra (played to this point by Milly Alcock) and Alicent (portrayed so far by Emily Carey). This episode will kick off the second half of the season (difficult to believe we’re halfway through already) with a major reset, so it’s hard to know what questions to even ask other than how far we’re going and what the characters will be up to when we get there. Those are pretty broad topics, so we’ve narrowed our questions down to specific things we’re wondering about following the end of episode five. There were a few hints dropped about what’s to come, so let’s follow those breadcrumbs and see where they lead.

previous arrow1. Is King Viserys dead? next arrow
1. Is King Viserys dead?
Paddy Considine Image Ollie Upton/HBO AP

There wasn’t a single scene in “We Light The Way” where Viserys looked well. The Iron Throne has been literally poisoning him with each little cut and scrape. His fingers are falling off, his arm is covered in something very gross, and the maester’s preferred treatment of leeches doesn’t seem to be doing much to stop the decay. He stumbles around like a feeble old man, using a sword for a cane. Not exactly the visage of someone who demands fear or respect at court.We get that it’s a metaphor—as his body withers away so does his power—the question is how long for this world is he? Will he stubbornly stay alive just to spite the circling vultures awaiting his demise? The show seems to enjoy torturing the audience just as much, with fake-outs that make it seem as though he’s finally done for, only to bring him back in the next scene, carrying out his kingly duties. His collapse at the end of episode five seemed like the culmination of his ongoing health crisis, but you never know with this guy. He’s still a Targaryen, and as stubborn as they come.

15 Comments

  • noisetanknick-av says:

    6) Do they have slideshows in Westeros? Or is that a secret magicks only known to the shadowbenders of Asshai?

  • badkuchikopi-av says:

    I saw the promo photos and can’t believe how much time they’re skipping. It’s gotta be fifteen years. Characters who weren’t even together this past episode have children old enough to talk in the next. I don’t want to judge it prematurely but I suspect they should have coughed up the money for at least one more episode. Like I don’t know is it a spoiler to answer question five? I guess technically but it’s going to be clear the moment he appears on screen. 

    • captain-splendid-av says:

      IIRC, the next time skip is supposed to be 10 years.

    • mark-t-man-av says:

      The timeskip makes sense considering what this show is based on. Originally, before they were collected in a novel, GRR wrote two stories about this era. The Rogue Prince is what the first episodes are based on, and it focuses on the relationship between Daemon and Viserys. The Princess and the Queen came next and it focuses on…well, you can guess from the title.Not a lot happens between these two stories, hence the timeskip.

      • badkuchikopi-av says:

        I wanted to see Daemon provoke the sealords son into challenging him to a duel! His attempt to claim Runestone could have been depicted. Plus the fallout with Cole and the start of the affair with Harwin. It seems like a lot to skip over to me. I’m sure they made it work though

  • horshu2-av says:

    Is the show going to have something more interesting than the occasional dragon appearance and family arguments?  I hate to say it, but Rings of Power holds my interest more simply by having more fantasy elements.  Without ice zombies, I’m just not feeling much interest in the show 5 eps in.

  • necgray-av says:

    I have been holding off on this but my parents have been watching. They haven’t read the stories that this is based on and neither are readers of pop culture sites. So they were very confused about the recasting. Maybe for viewers like them there should have been a title card actually STATING “10 years later”?

  • zorrocat310-av says:

    Midway into episode 6, I was trying my best…….

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share Tweet Submit Pin