House of the Dragondoes an excellent job of tracking the ups and downs of the Dance of the Dragons. The war has only recently escalated, but the Greens have maintained a consistent winning streak. Though their king will be on bed rest for a while, it’s been hard to watch the Blacks suffer one beating after another. Finally, as the series rockets towards its epic conclusion, “The Red Sowing” places Queen Rhaenyra in a position of power worthy of a final battle.
Director Loni Peristere is a newcomer toHouse of the Dragon. He started his career in the 1990s as a visual effects supervisor for movies and TV shows. His directorial debut came in the intense Cinemax crime thrillerBanshee. He worked on multipleseasons ofAmerican Horror Story. Most recently, he directed a few episodes of the third season ofThe Witcherfor Netflix. He’s an excellent addition to this season ofHouse of the Dragon.
Release Date
June 08, 2025
Fans have a lot of reasonable conversations about each week’s worst person in Westeros. “The Red Sowing” elevates a new candidate for the potential best of the cast.Addam of Hull is the proudnew owner of the mighty dragon Seasmoke. He had no intention of claiming a dragon, but he has perhaps the continent’s most reasonable response to the opportunity. Rhaenyra opens the episode by confronting the young shipwright to determine his intentions. Her suspicions are understandable, since he just won immense power through little more than random chance, but he quickly proves himself. Addam immediately proclaims himself an eager servant of Rhaenyra and the Blacks. He’s not going to use his dragon to shoot for the throne. He’s delighted to receive fifteen simultaneous promotions and become the movement’s new secret weapon.Corlys isn’t quite readyto address him as a son, but he’s a voice in his favor. Addam’s presence opens a new discussion that dominates most of the episode.
While Rhaenyra turns over half of her library to determine Addam’s parentage,Mysaria suggests a differenttactic. Some of the goons who sit at Rhaneyra’s high table are furious with the idea of someone who didn’t win the genetic lottery finding a place on their team. Rhaenyra isn’t thrilled with the idea, but Mysaria sells her on spinning the succession war into an uprising with a healthy dose of popular support. Jace hates the idea because he knows he isn’t 100% Old Valyrian stock, but Rhaenyra is quick to assure him that his claim to the throne is in no danger. Mysaria gets a message out to Rhaenyra’s handmaiden spy, launching her new scheme to recruit every distant Targaryen bastard in King’s Landing. Elevated side-characters Ulf White and Hugh Hammer hear the call and respond, along with a cadre of silver-haired small folk. Despite whining from the aristocracy and the dragon keeper,Rhaenyra prepares to arm herselfwith a fleet of new dragon riders.
How is Aegon’s recovery going?
Aegon’s burns will be a going concern for a while. The king lays in his big, fancybed with only maestersto keep him company. Orwyle helps him through some physical therapy, desperately struggling to rebuild his strength. He really strongly resembles his dad at this point, with his burned-out hair, terrible facial scarring, and inability to walk. He’s not doing well, but he’s still alive. Larys Strong is in his corner for all the wrong reasons, as usual. Strong warns Orwyle that Aegon will need to be back in the game sooner rather than later, but the results are unimpressive. Aemond doesn’t get a lot of screentime this week, but it’s clear that his leadership is becoming questionable. After he kicked Alicent off the small council, the Dowager Queen left the main plot for a camping trip with Rickard Thorne. Perhaps she hopes to wash away some of her guilt in the local lake. Her brief moments of serenity offer a compelling calm before an upcoming storm.
Can Daemon clean up his mess in the Riverlands?
The rogue king consort has wasted most of this season leading the worst hearts and minds campaign of the era. His efforts have pushed every petty lord in the Riverlands to despise him. However,old Grover Tully finallysuccumbed to his age, leaving his teen grandson, Oscar, in charge of one of the Seven Kingdoms. This puts the Blacks in a strange position. Oscar wants to stick to House Tully’s promise to support Rhaenyra’s claim, but he also joins his people in hating Daemon’s guts. So they’ve got one leader who’s too young to command grown men and another who recently turned himself into a cartoon villain. How do they make amends? They do it by immediately and aggressively apologizing and correctingDaemon’s previous behavioras a show of good faith from the king consort and dominance from the new Lord Paramount of the Riverlands.
Oscar turns out to be a very savvy adolescent warlord. He pleads his case to the assembled Riverlords, most of whom are not quick to forgive. When they ask how they could follow a teenager, he explains that he’s only making good on the promises his grandfather made. Oscar calls out Willem Blackwood’s atrocities against the Brackens, accurately assessing Blackwood’s cruelty as the natural side effect oftheir old grudge. Accepting the risk of losing House Blackwood, Oscar orders Willem’s execution. To put a bow on the exchange, he even makes Daemon do the deed. The Riverlords see a lionhearted young general with a commitment they can all get behind. It’s safe to say that Oscar picked up the pieces of Daemon’s failed plan, putting the Blacks close to claiming their first functioning land army.
How did the Dragonseed plan work out?
Meanwhile, Ulf White runs for his life, stumbles upon a hidden lair, and literally wakes a sleeping dragon. As perhaps the luckiest man in Westeros, Ulf immediately bonds with Silverwing. He takes his new best friend on an unsupervised flight, which immediately alerts King’s Landing. Aemond becomes enraged and takes tothe skies with Vhagar, rushing to Dragonstone to investigate. He’s forced to swerve, all his bluster stuffed firmly back into his pocket, as he notices Queen Rhaenyra standing alongside her mighty new dragons.
AsHouse of the Dragonapproaches its second season finale, the balance of power has shifted dramatically. Oscar Tully undid Daemon’s disastrous efforts in the Riverlands,granting the Blacks a real army. Rhaenyra’s willingness to work with non-nobles just gave their cause three new dragon riders. There’s an explosive conclusion coming up next week, but it’s nice to see the Blacks put a few points on the board.
