I managed to see the premiere and am recallng this from memory so please understand if I miss a few details, or put scenes out of order. Black scenes were generally shorter and I have a better memory of them. I will use “ “ to quote when possible. Text in brackets are things not explicitly in the scene but my interpretation of the meaning. Anything bold is what I think happened but I'm not certain, like I feel like there was a shot of Aegon and his sisters in the title sequence but I can’t picture it in my mind. Scenes are separated by paragraph. I’m 90% confident about the chronology of the black scenes but not about how the green scenes fit between them. I will comment on the consequences of scenes for events after EP1 so this is spoilers for all future HOTD content.
Overall it was fine, I would give it a 4 or 5 out of 10 (it’s average, not an episode to remember). IMO they botched B&C. I get that the studio may not have wanted something too distressing. The children are asleep for almost the whole thing so they basically aren’t involved. If they were awake and participating it would have been a lot more horrifying but perhaps they feared a backlash to have distressed screaming children. I thought that the books and the narrated history by Michelle Fairley were better. A shot of Halaena cradling the body but not being able to see what she sees as a pool of blood spreads around her would have been more powerful than what we got. Phia’s eyes looked shocked but her voice was very flat. I get that she’s special but I was expecting desperate confused panic as she agonises over what to do. Instead she’s fairly direct and rational about the whole thing. No mention of Maelor or Daeron. No Eyrie.
If I could change anything I would have started with Aemond returning home. In the episode a few days have passed so everyone already knows about Luke in KL. It was a missed opportunity for a great scene where Alicent could be despairing at Aemond, telling him he's killed them, Halaena, Daeron, the children. "How could you be so blind?" etc. Instead it's like a family after an argument, everyone's just chilly with one another.
Opening: Tapestry weaving events starting from the Doom of Valyria. Dragons fleeing west. Battle of the Redgrass Field. Torrhen Stark bends the knee. Aegon and his sisters. Aenys. Queen Elinor finds Maegor dead on throne. Jahaerys and Alysanne wed. Viserys. Rhaenyra and Alicent side by side, an open hand extends from below each of them with dragons flying out from them (Alicent’s side has more dragons which puzzled me)
Shot of a crow flying north towards Winterfell as Cregan narrates about house Stark and the Night’s Watch. We watch as men in Winterfell courtyard stand in a circle and draw white stones from a bag. A teenager draws a black stone and looks uneasy. We see him travelling north with the Watch as Cregan narrates that they send 1 in 10 men and it was "not a punishment, but an honour" (Cregan sees it that way but if they’re drawing stones that indicates that they don’t want to go, it could be that the boy was just nervous and they volunteer for the choosing. My interpretation is that if it was such a valued position, they'd just volunteer instead).
Cregan and Jace going up the wall on the elevator. Cregan is grateful that unlike when Aegon came, Jace didn’t threaten him with his dragon. Cregan is very polite, often calling Jace “my prince”. Jace comments on the weather and Cregan says it’s a light summer snow, that in winter everything would be covered. On top of the wall they discuss Torrhen Stark, who bent the knee to Aegon. Given his obligation to the wall, Jace thinks he wouldn’t have bent the knee unless he believed Aegon was a "uniter", Cregan agrees. Jace pushes his mother’s rightful claim and Cregan responds about Starks not forgetting their oaths. Cregan talks about the purpose of the wall, Jace is dismissive about keeping out savages and the weather but Cregan says that his own father welcomed Jahaerys and Alysanne to the wall and watched as the dragons (both Vermithor and SIlverwing) refused to fly across it. His ancestors did not build an enormous wall for savages and weather. “What does it protect against?” “Death”. Cregan offers 2000 greybeards as he must protect the wall and north with his men. Jace doesn’t like this and asks if they can fight (Cregan reassures him and he seems fine with the compromise). Messenger arrives with “an urgent message from Dragonstone”. Jace looks surprised at the messenger but then just smoulders in blue steel as Cregan silently reads. The scene was not well acted, especially the start in the elevator felt like a parody with the rigid acting and some poor dialogue. Not much chemistry and my CreganxJace dreams smashed to pieces. Harry was breathtakingly handsome.
Corlys looks over his ship being repaired. Talks to Alyn who commiserates at the death of his heir. Alyn mentions “my brother” Addam (but not by name) is off on some task I can’t remember . Not much happens in the scene. Corlys thanks Alyn for pulling him from the ocean. (get the feeling Alyn is dutiful and just doing his job, not expecting anything in return). There is only the slightest hint from Corlys in his expression that there’s a deeper relationship there. Neither mention that Alyn is related, you just have to work it out given his appearance.
Rhaenys returns from patrol. Dismounts looking exhausted. Daemon immediately tells her to get back on as they’re going to kill Vhagar together. She refuses, Meleys needs to eat and rest as she’s covered leagues for days to protect the blockade. They discuss Rhaenyra, who has been absent. Rhaenys reminds Daemon that when she got the message about Laena she was stuck and could not accept it until she saw her body. Rhaenyra needs that too. He commands her to help him “that’s an order” “-were you the king” as she walks away without looking back.
Rhaenyra looking for Luke. She sees a group gathering at the Shore, they spot the dragon and flee as she descends. She very quickly swings her leg over and slides down Syrax’s wing and runs over to the wing caught in a net. She starts pulling the net apart as Syrax approaches from behind and whines. You can’t see what she sees but she begins sobbing. (I don’t think she see’s body parts as it wouldn’t make sense for luke’s body to remain with the wing in the ocean for days, you can clearly see it’s a dragon wing without removing the net so it’s not clear what exactly makes her cry, maybe some small body parts were captured in the net too but I doubt it).
Erryk searches an arriving ship for stowaways. Draws his sword on Mysaria below deck.
Daemon enters a room Mysaria is held in. He’s very frustrated and grabs at her neck but she grabs his hand before he reaches it. He asks if she was always serving Otto, she confirms but says it was purely transactional, she has to work. He says she put Aegon on the throne, She counters that they would have found him eventually, she only profited from the event and Otto means nothing to her. Daemon walks out of room, tells Erryk who is standing guard that she should be treated as a traitor and kept in the dungeon. Erryk follows after, correcting Daemon, he was there and what she said was true (his honour compels him to speak the truth). Daemon criticises Erryk and his “traitor brother”. Erryk gives a speech on being raised to KG at 18, his oath to the family and what he was to do when they turned on one another. (LOVED Erryk in this scene).
Jace arrives home. Baela escorts him and touches his shoulder as she leaves. Jace stands up straight “your grace” (not “mother”) and reports that the Eyrie has agreed to support her, in return for 1 dragon as protection. The north offers 2k greybeards. His voice gets more fragile as he speaks as you can see him struggle (he’s trying to do his duty of reporting, trying to be a man and heir but you can see the pain he feels, it’s a much better scene from Harry, almost perfect. They should have lingered on his wavering for a bit longer as it was just reaching an emotional climax) Rhaenyra stands and holds him and they both sob. (Most memorable scene of the episode)
Luke’s funeral. Jace holds Joffrey. They each put an item on the pyre. Jace his red and black clothes, Rhaenyra some light blue linen ?clothes ?cloak (can’t remember Luke ever wearing it). Joffrey, a small toy (maybe a dragon, it looks light blue, ?Arrax). No visible body parts on the pyre. Shot of Rhaena looking especially sad. Funeral is intercut with shots of Alicent in the sept. She lights a candle for “Alerie Florent”, another for “Viserys”. She looks at a small unlit candle…. Lights it.. “Lucerys Velaryon”.
In Alicent’s room Cole has his head buried in her nether regions as she moans. They are mostly dressed. Cole has his armour removed, Alicent missing stockings and shoes. They get dressed casually (this is clearly not the first time, seems regular rather than spontaneous). He asks for assistance attaching his cloak.
Aegon visits Haleana and Jahaera. He’s got a skip in his step. Halaena is doing her crafts. Jahaera facing away at the end of the room. Aegon taps his daughter but she doesn’t respond (she’s special too). 3-4 maids stand around silently. Aegon is looking for Jahaerys, he wants him to join the council to prepare him for rule. Halaena says he might be in the library but “you can’t disturb his x” (??”customs”, something meaning hobby, act, or compulsion, like it’s a regular thing the boy does and he can’t be disturbed when he does it and it’s NOT studying) It’s not clear what it is the boy does. Aegon turns to go. Halaena: “I’m scared”, don’t worry about the dragons “not the dragons, the rats”. Aegon announces to the maids that “The queen is an enduring mystery”.
Aegon and Jahaerys attend council. Boy keeps fiddling with Tyland’s orb. Tyland keeps taking it back. Everyone else is discussing plans while Tyland fusses with the boy in the background. Aegon: “Is the heir bothering you Tyland?” you should play pony. Aegon’s expression holds on Tyland in a smiley (not sinister) way, but he’s completely serious. Tyland stands and is almost about to do it but Alicent interrupts that there are more pressing matters. Aegon is annoyed that the north and riverrun (or the Eyrie but I think it’s the tully’s) haven’t responded to them. Someone calls him “fat Lord Tully”. Riverlands are key to the war and Harrenhal is the key to the Riverlands. Tyland says his brother gathers forces at Golden Tooth. Last thing mentioned is the vacant master of ships position. “Offer the post to Lord Dalton Greyjoy”. At some point after Tyland’s pony thing Aemond joins the meeting, Alicent is clearly chilly with him. I think Alicent says he doesn't have a position on the council but Aegon insists that he wants him there. Ironrod and Orwyle say almost nothing the whole meeting
Aegon enters the throne room with his friends. Calls him “Aegon the Magnanimous”, Aegon leans towards him, whispers “Magnanimous??”. Friend shrugs (he is testing out titles, it’s a funny scene). Aegon hears petitions. He’s open handed and Otto keeps walking up to the throne to council against it. First man asks for sheep back as crown took 10% for the dragons. Aegon agrees. Otto councils him against it as if others find out he’ll be swamped with petitions. The funniest line of the episode is Aegon giving a face and saying “they won’t know”. Otto “When the king speaks the realm listens”. Hugh petitions for smiths to be paid in advance as Scorpions take weeks to build, Aegon agrees again (Hugh mentions his wife in his speech). Otto starts to walk up to Aegon but stops when Aegon stops short of agreeing with Hugh, I think Aegon just says "you will be paid appropriately" or something like that**.** Third and final petition is man saying salt is valuable given that winter is coming. Most salt is brought in from the east and the blockade is a disaster for them. Aegon reassures that it will only be a small delay as the blockade won’t last long. (interesting that Hugh is in KL and makes the scorpions, this might be important in the taking of KL, he might know their weaknesses, or where they aren’t posted, or their range).
Aegon walks up steps (Rhaenyra took them in ep.6) Larys asks for a private word. Larys says Viserys was known to be pliable, and that Aegon will be seen as the same and that Otto was his father’s hand too. (Encouraging Aegon to forge his own path, setting up the replacement of Otto).
Larys speaks to Alicent. He has questioned all staff and disposed of ones he suspects. Alicent asks what happened to them, “they no longer breathe our air” (RIP Talya). He has replaced the staff with his own hand-picked choices.
Alicent bathes, maids begin to scrub her hand. She flinches away and does it herself. “I can- I can do it myself”. Maids are dismissed. (Olivia’s delivery of the line wasn’t good. I interpreted the scene as her feeling like the maids are an extension of Larys and when they touch her it’s like him doing it and she’s repulsed.)
Rhaenyra returns to council. People offer up ideas. Rhaenyra speaks for the first time “I want Aemond Targaryen”.
Daemons visits Mysaria in the dungeon, she turns her back on him “go scheme with someone else”. She says she no longer feels anything for him. He asks about her friends in the city. If not for affection, how about help for “your freedom”.
Hooded Daemon gives gold to smuggler who deposits him in KL. He whistles from behind a gate to a gold cloak (blood). Drops another bag on the gate. Blood recognises him “Commander” “I heard you hate hightowers”. Blood agrees. Blood takes Daemon as his 'prisoner' to visit Cheese. Ask him about getting in to the keep and wanting a son for a son. Cheese knows the keep like the shape of his member. Daemon offers half now, half later for Aemond. “What if we can’t find Aemond?” Shot lingers on Daemon’s face but his face doesn’t move, he either starts a small smirk or he already has a small smirk and just keeps it. He doesn’t nod, nor say anything (I felt like they are taking the blame off of Daemon and the blacks. You can work out that Daemon is basically okay with them getting someone else but he doesn't say so explicitly).
Otto returns to his chambers late in the evening, Alicent has been waiting hours. Otto says petitions took a long time. Alicent complains to Otto “you cut off my legs” in front of the boys. If he undermines her, they will follow. He MUST support her. Otto says he tried to meet her in the morning but she was “indisposed” (not sure if this was in this scene, part of me feels like Larys said it but I’m leaning Otto). Alicent: “Victory means Aegon sits the throne and Rhaenyra surrenders peacefully”, Otto agrees. When Aegon tires of rule they can take over. Otto criticises Aemond. He stresses the need for words and allies, not rash action. Alicent hopes that’s the end of his “Juvenile capriciousness” but says she understands what Aemond went through that he wanted vengeance.
Aemond sits in his room with Criston, coins are spread out over a map on the table. They discuss plans. Criston wants a moving force to sweep across the Crownlands, guarded by a dragon. “From Stokeworth to Rosby” (setting up Rook’s Rest). Criston knows they will roll over when their army arrives and they can add their levies to their own. Aemond criticises Alicent’s love for Rhaenyra. Criston defends her, saying Rhaenyra is a spider and it’s not her fault for getting caught in her web. Door opens, Criston (out of caution, not out of threat) puts his hand on his sword. Otto enters. Criston stands but Aemond remains seated. Criston leaves. Otto says plans should be made with the king, not in private. “You and Vhagar are the single greatest power in the realm”.
Cheese picks up dog to wade through waterway, blood follows. They go up ladder leading to side entrance to throne room. (They were in knee high water but then dry in the next scene). Throne room has multiple guards, Aegon + friends. No one challenges them. B&C even say “that’s the king” IN THE THRONE ROOM and no one hears them. Aegon is joking with his friends. They are all putting in ideas for titles. “Aegon the Strong” “My nephews have taken that one I’m afraid” “Aegon the x” “YES, I like that one” (can’t remember the word but it’s just a general chivalrous or prodigious word, nothing special).
B&C arrive at a crossroads of passages. Royal apartments are up but Cheese doesn’t want to go as he doesn’t work up there so wouldn’t have an excuse. Blood lifts him by the neck “Where else are we going to find a royal other than the royal apartments” says he could kill him and take the gold for himself. He lets cheese go. Cheese kicks the dog and leads the way up.
B&C in Aemonds room, it’s empty. Blood sets a rat trap for appearances and takes the coins from the map. They separate. Blood encounters a shocked maid. He says “rats” and holds up the equipment. When he looks back at her she’s gone, he looks down the corridor and she’s not there (so she has run, rather than walked out). He gives up on the pretence, drops the equipment and pulls out a kukri knife. (Ramin was killing it with the score). Blood finds Cheese holding Halaena with a knife to her throat. Cheese is giddy. Blood doesn’t know her. “It’s the queen”. “He said a son for a son”. Cheese points to the veiled beds with the two kids in. They discuss checking as they look the same, Halaena starts unclasping her necklace “it’s very valuable”. Blood pulls it off her neck. “A necklace is not a son”. She points to the left bed. Blood thinks she’s lying. That she would protect the heir. Cheese says no, she’s telling the truth. (not explained how cheese knows this). They put a hand on Jahaerys’ mouth and he wakes up confused. Halaena picks up Jahaera and walks out of the room as you can hear (but not see) the cutting (the noises were gross). Halaena walks into Alicent’s room, who is naked, she is riding Criston and you can only see her back. She sits down on the floor at the end of the bed as the couple scramble to cover themselves. Criston has his head down the whole time. Alicent is looking at Halaena, confused why she came in. “They killed the boy”.
Так что ему и по-простому заходит, и с выкрутасами. У Эйгона это как с бухлом - пиво, вино, настойка на сколопендре (вообще-то это была заспиртованная сколопендра Хелейны, но Эйгон решил, что настойка), если налито, будет пить 
