House of the Dragon 203 – “The Burning Mill” Analysis
How the cycle of violence theme is explored through David Hancock’s meticulous writing, cleverly directed by Geeta Vasant Patel and mainly portrayed by Emma D’arcy and Olivia Cooke. Â
The episode opens with a scene regarding a recurring quarrel between House Blackwood and House Bracken, great families from the riverlands that historically have a feud so ancient that every person in the realm knows about but does not know how it started and does not seem to care. The former declared for Rhaenyra and the latter for Aegon II, which became another reason for them to fight about and the bickering led to what would be known as The Battle of the Burning Mill. The aftermath scene tells us everything we need to know without showing actual violence: hundreds of corpses in the field and the mill on fire, leaving only the trail of devastation.
Later in the episode, again mentioning this feud, Ser Simon – castellan of Harrenhal – tells Daemon the cause of that hatred is long lost in time, “Sin begets sin begets sin.”
Right at the beginning of the conversation while they discuss the event that led to the death of twin brothers and white cloaks Erryk and Arryk, Rhaenys says “Hotter blood has prevailed, I think. The young men have taken the bit in their teeth. They wish to punish, to avenge. Soon they will not even remember what it was that began the war in the first place.” Rhaenyra replies, “That is easy enough. They usurped my throne.” To which Rhaenys counters with a different line of thought, “That is one answer. Or was it when the child was beheaded? Or when Aemond killed Luke… or when Luke took Aemond’s eye? We teeter now at the point where none of it will matter. And the desire to kill and burn takes hold and reason is forgotten.”Â
Rhaenys then invites Rhaenyra to think about reaching some kind of reason with Alicent, saying Alicent knows war is coming, “It is not her but the men around her that seek bloodshed.” In fact, both Rhaenyra and Alicent mirror each other in regards to their respective councils, often being underestimated and their opinions undervalued by men. Eventually, Rhaenyra follows her aunt/counsin’s guidance.
Reunion at the Great Sept
At the end of the episode, Rhaenyra makes the effort to go to King’s Landing and speak with Alicent in a place that once held significance to them, a peaceful refuge for Alicent and for them to remember their mothers. Rhaenyra declares she came to see “if we may uncover some path towards peace", but Alicent reaffirms her late husband King Viserys’s wish to crown Aegon despite her believing Rhaenyra would make a fine queen. It is then that she discovers it was not her son the king was referring to but Aegon the Conqueror.
Her reaction to the “Song of Ice and Fire” told by Rhaenyra says it all. Even if there has been a mistake, there is absolutely nothing either of them could do that would change the course of anything. We might as well remember what happened when the king died and she realised it did not matter what he said, the Green Council was already moving to crown Aegon regardless of what she heard. Whilst Rhaenyra becomes briefly hopeful and nurtures the dream that she can still somehow avoid the war, Alicent has always known it’s inevitable. Her father Otto made sure of that ever since she was a girl. Alas, her hands are tied too.
Furthermore, the script reinforces this in Alicent’s conversation with Larys Strong, on episode 204 “The Red Dragon and the Gold”, when she declares to him, “Rhaenyra’s supporters will believe what they wish. And so will Aegon’s. The war will be fought, many will die. And the victor will eventually ascend the throne. The significance of Viserys’s intentions died with him.”
Ultimately, the name of the episode sums up its entire theme and content. Geeta then beautifully presents us an overhead shot of the Sept’s centerpiece with the lit candles, another circular element symbolizing the unending cycle of violence discussed by the characters and contrasting with the place they are in.Â
The price of war is a subject always present in the second series. Which leads to the question: is there real victory when both sides lose so much? It’s too late to know.
Paraphrasing Geeta, Alicent carries this burden and guilt around her entire life, collecting all this responsibility that she never chose. And at the end of it all, the one still standing will be herself, forever trapped in this very cycle.Â
“Your worst sin is that you have destroyed and betrayed yourself for nothing.”
― Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment
blakekathryn
germansingergirl
origamiaround
titsay
prguitarman
janainaart
vaporwave
