Say the words "episode 9" to a Game of Thrones fan and you'll likely get a worried reaction.
For years, the number nine was either a harbinger of major character deaths or of epic battles (which often included major character deaths). The ninth episode of Game of Thrones seasons brought us such hits as Ned Stark's execution, the Red Wedding, and Shireen Baratheon's death at the hands of her own father. However, they also gave us the Battle of the Blackwater, the Battle of Castle Black, and the Battle of the Bastards, as well as Daenerys's first ever ride on Drogon.
Even in the shorter Season 7 and 8, penultimate episodes proved to be game changers. "Beyond the Wall," the seventh episode of Season 7, saw Daenerys and Jon face off against the Night King together and ended with the tragic death of the dragon Viserion. Then there's the highly controversial "The Bells," the second-to-last episode of the entire series. Love it or hate it, "The Bells" gave us a lot to process: Daenerys's descent into madness, the massacre at King's Landing, Cleganebowl, and Cersei and Jaime's deaths.
Game of Thrones clearly has a proud history of wrecking fans with its ninth episodes, but what about its prequel series, House of the Dragon? Does its first-ever entry into the "episode 9" club measure up?
"The Green Council," episode 9 of House of the Dragon's first season, certainly ends on a dramatic note, as the crowning of Aegon Targaryen will have massive consequences for the entirety of Westeros. However, the episode is mostly an examination of the political tension through King's Landing after the death of King Viserys. This more contained approach makes for a different kind of episode 9 than we may be accustomed to, although it still certainly shares similarities with its Game of Thrones predecessors.
Let's break it down.
Are there any major character deaths in House of the Dragon episode 9?
To put it simply, no. Your faves are safe for now — unless your fave is Master of Coin Lyman Beesbury, in which case my sincere condolences. Beesbury is the first official casualty in what will become the Dance of the Dragons. In the Green Council, he pushes back against Alicent and Otto's claim that Viserys wanted Aegon to be crowned. Unfortunately, his championing of Rhaenyra earns him a heavy push by Ser Criston Cole... one that slams his head right into one of the stone balls Small Council members use to mark their attendance. Ouch. The episode also implies that Mysaria is dead, burned in a fire set by Larys Strong. However, until we see the body, I'm of the firm belief that the White Worm is still out there.
Overall though, "The Green Council" sees no onscreen deaths on the level of Ned, Robb, or Catelyn Stark's. However, the entire episode deals with the fallout of House of the Dragon's biggest loss so far: that of King Viserys. His death may have occurred at the end of episode 8, but it hangs over every single moment of episode 9. There's even a shot of his eyeless corpse to remind us of the dearly departed ruler.
What about battles? Are there any fights in House of the Dragon episode 9?
Don't go into "The Green Council" expecting action on the level of the Battle of the Bastards. Yes, Criston and Aemond do have a quick fight with the Cargyll twins, and yes, we do get a quick flash of a brawl between street urchins. But most of the fighting in "The Green Council" comes in the form of sneaky political maneuvers and backroom deals.
The hunt for Aegon pits Otto against Alicent in a surprising showdown. Whoever finds him first ostensibly gets to decide how the coronation will proceed — and what will happen with Rhaenyra. Alicent doesn't want to have her childhood best friend murdered, while Otto has no such qualms. Tension lingers between them by the end of the episode, suggesting rough times ahead.
Structurally, "The Green Council" does have quite a bit in common with battle-centric episode 9s like "Blackwater," "The Watchers on the Wall," and "Battle of the Bastards." Like those three episodes, "The Green Council" focuses on one specific location in Westeros, with no cuts to other storylines like Rhaenyra's and Daemon's. This choice keeps us locked in to the very turbulent goings-on in King's Landing in the lead-up to the coronation. It also builds anticipation for the Season 1 finale. How will Rhaenyra and Daemon retaliate once they find out about Viserys's death and Aegon's crowning?
Are there any episode 9-level set pieces in "The Green Council"?
Most definitely. "The Green Council" may not be a particularly battle action-heavy episode, but in its last few minutes, all hell breaks loose.
Princess Rhaenys and her dragon Meleys burst through the floor of the dragon pit where the coronation is taking place, taking a big old bite out of the sham proceedings. However, if you thought we were going to have another Red Wedding-style massacre on our hands, think again! Rhaenys spares Alicent and her whole family. Instead, she flies away from King's Landing, presumably to tell Rhaenyra everything that's happened.
It's an undeniably badass moment, and one that wasn't even in George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood! It's also reminiscent of Daenerys's flight on Drogon in Season 5, episode 9, "The Dance of Dragons." Dramatic escapes on dragonback? It's a Targaryen thing.
While "The Green Council" might not have the level of death and bloodshed we've come to expect from penultimate episodes of Game of Thrones seasons, it's certainly full of twists, turns, and disturbing moments. But House of the Dragon is also fairly different from Game of Thrones, centering on one family's political drama instead of the many, many families of Game of Thrones. In centering on the political ramifications of Viserys' death, House of the Dragon stays true to its main Targaryen focus, all while setting up what will likely be a spectacular finale. Bring on the Dance!
New House of the Dragon episodes are available every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.
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