now i know what you're thinking. "there's been no ThoughtD: Thoughts on HotD for the past two weeks, surely it won't come back." i had stuff going on. we're here now, season 3, episode 5, lots going on
the scene between Alicent and Helaena where they argue about the abortion is incredible. HotD has a lot of flaws but scenes like this it gets so fucking right
and now we know what's going on with Aemond. he's having a Bad Time, as is to be expected
it's interesting that Vhagar is acting on her own. in the book, Aemond is riding Vhagar and sporadically burning the riverlands, but i suppose historians would have no reason to think Vhagar was riderless
a very interesting discussion of the Dornish resistance during the conquest
our first (as far as i remember) look at what is clearly meant to be cyvasse, interesting pattern on the board. the timeline doesn't make sense: in ASOIAF cyvasse is a game from the free cities that is just now arriving in Dorne and doesn't seem to be present in the rest of the seven kingdoms, so it shouldn't really show up here. but i like it
also, intrigued by the fact that the dragon piece seems to fit into little holes on the board and only some pieces have those holes, implying there are restrictions as to where you can move your dragon. i desperately want to know more about how this game works
on a more thematic note, it's interesting that Ormund gives his whole monologue about outsmarting your enemies when they rely on brute strength and then Daeron wins the game by using his dragon
*knocks the pieces aside* "never apologize for winning" i think you might be sending mixed messages
and to answer his question about the coin "do you think it's a good likeness" not particularly
Lord Manderly and Lady Frey whispering in the corner like the catty bitches they are
love the parallel scenes of Aemond and Aegon talking about their brother issues
and then Larys reads Aegon for absolute filth. which is deserved, but like. "you're a horrible man" you're not exactly stellar yourself, Larys
i knew from the book that Tyland should still be alive. and yet. how the hell is he still alive? he fell into the sea while wearing armor
there's a real theme emerging about violence and power. Rhaenyra has to kill Otto before she sits the iron throne, Daeron has to kill Hugh's brother-in-law in the scene where Ormund names him king, and now Aegon stabs a guy while reclaiming his identity as king
"my whole life has been defined by oaths, and i have held to them faithfully" i laughed out loud when he said this
also, i really thought cole was going to die this episode. very disappointed
the murdered goldcloaks have been arranged to look like the Last Supper, a bit of symbolism that every westerosi is surely familiar with
and i guess Alicent and Helaena are trapped in the fucking walls now? what? huh? how are they going to deal with that?
