House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6 Recap
In House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6, Rhaenyra and Jace put their plan into action, but will these dragon seeds succeed?
Season 2 Episode 5 ends on a hopeful note. Rhaenyra may not have the largest army at her disposal, but Jace’s plan to recruit more dragonriders could give them an advantage. Even as their greatest asset, Daemon, is still rotting away at Harrenhal.
Elsewhere, the Green Company is still reeling from Aegon’s near-death experience. While Aemond takes power in a decidedly evil way, Alicent must reap what she sowed and face the fact that her campaign against Rhaenyra could affect her as well.
Here’s everything that happened in House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6, with major spoilers ahead.
Alicent is despised on the Small Council
Team Green is in full attack mode, forming an alliance with the Lannister army, who are preparing to invade Harrenhal. However, they will not advance without Aemond and Vhagar by their side, especially since Riverrun is dragon-centric.
However, Aemond is angry that they have requested his presence. Indeed, the Prince Regent is fantasizing about being a dictator these days.
He told the Small Council that he wanted to form an alliance with the Triarchy, which they tried to persuade him to abandon. They told him that they were nothing more than pirates. But he wanted an advantage before Harrenhal, so he sent Criston Cole out to finish the job.
Throughout the meeting, Alicent was ignored and talked over. Eventually, Aemond detained her and dismissed her from her seat on the council. (So that she could concentrate on “domestic affairs,” he told her bitterly.) This clearly hurt the queen mother, who had served on the Small Council since her husband, King Viserys, had become too ill to do so.
Rhaenyra presents her plan
At Dragonstone, Corlys arrives to assume his new position as Hand of the Queen. As the Small Council begins its meeting, Rhaenyra finally presents her and Jace’s plan to find dragonriders through forgotten family lines.
One such candidate is Ser Steffon Darklyn. As it turns out, his grandmother was born a Targaryen princess. Clearly, if anyone can do it, he can. Right? Right?!
The Council naturally rejects the idea, but Steffon is willing to die to try. He sees the request as a great honor, and plans to have him try to bond with one of the dragons in need of a rider.
Read Dragon House: Who is Aeriana Targaryen?
Daemon is losing his mind
Spooky music? A dark, ruined castle? The possibility of incest in the air? It’s time for Daemon’s weekly Harrenhal adventure!
Clearly, the dreams and visions are starting to take their toll on him. In a vision set in the throne room of the Red Keep, Daemon meets his brother Viserys (again played by Paddy Considine). He sees Viserys recounting his disappointment in him, as he has done before.
As he breaks down in tears, Daemon runs to the door, but it won’t open. After a frantic attempt to escape, fan-favorite singer Simon Strong pulled it off and brought Daemon back to the real world.
Daemon goes berserk, accusing Strong of being behind all his strange hallucinations. He calls himself “king” once more, and feels as though he is being taunted and coerced into control.
He went outside Caraxes and found Alys Rivers standing by the weirwood tree. He tells her of his anguish, and she accuses him of running away from everything. He then begs her for help, and after hinting that the Rivermen will never unite, she tells him to do nothing for now. “In three days, the winds will change,” she tells him.
Steffon Darklyn is roasted
It is time for Steffon Darklyn to try to make a connection with Seasmoke, Laenor’s elder dragon. In the lair beneath Dragonstone, Rhaenyra and Jace watch as he approaches the dragon.
At first, it seems like Seasmoke really wants to subdue him, much to everyone’s surprise. However, he changes his mind and quickly kills Steffon with dragon fire. Rhaenyra and Jace run from the room, distraught by what they have just witnessed.
At the Gullet, Corlys recruits Alyn of Hull to join him on the next ship as First Mate. Alyn initially tries to refuse, but soon makes up his mind. Meanwhile, Addam watches on with interest.
Things are not so cheerful in King’s Landing. At a tavern, Ulf the White is lamenting the poor quality of food and the even worse quality of life. A random woman (maybe not so random) strikes up a conversation about how they lack resources while the royal family lives on feasting and entertainment.
Clearly, she has won Ulf’s heart. She planted the seed that Rhaenyra had been pushed aside in favor of Aegon, and that she might actually be the queen they needed. And with that, she left.
The people of King’s Landing turn against Aemond
Rhaenyra is informed by a member of her Small Council that Seasmoke has fled Dragonstone after his violent incident with Steffon. He forgets his place, harasses her, and speaks to her contemptuously until she turns around and slaps him across the face.
She told him, “I think it’s my fault that you forgot to be afraid of me.” As she retreats to her chambers and practices with her sword, Lady Mysaria enters and tells her that they have sown the seeds of hatred in King’s Landing. She also makes it clear that she supports Rhaenyra in her dragon seed plans.
In the capital, Hugh Hammer’s wife is desperate for food. But the people are running out, and the sight of a wagonload of sheep being escorted to the Red Keep angers them. How can royalty feed their dragons, but not their people?
Larys informed Aemond of the growing unrest in the city, but the prince regent did not seem too concerned. Following the news, Larys attempted to sneak in to serve as the new Hand of the King, but Aemond was not so foolish.
Instead, he instructed Larys to find Otto Hightower, who would be his Hand. Just then, the Grand Maester entered and informed them that Aegon had awoken, despite all odds.
Aemond then visited Aegon, who was in great pain. Upon seeing his brother, Aegon cowered in fear. He tried to convince Aemond that he did not remember what had happened at Rook’s Rest, but Aemond insisted (and painfully) that he had tried to attack Meyles, which was why he was injured.
Rhaenyra’s Sons on the Move
In the Eyrie, Rhaena is still caring for Rhaenyra’s young sons. But during a walk with Joffrey, she discovers a large area of land scorched by dragonfire, as well as the carcasses of sheep.
When she returns, Jeyne Arryn informs her that Prince Reggio of Pentos has taken charge of their care, and they will be escorted aboard the Gay Abandon. (The Battle of the Gullet is coming, whether you like it or not!)
Rhaena confronts Lady Arryn, who had previously said that the Eyrie has no dragons. Arryn informs her that there are rumors of a dragon roaming the land since the war, venturing far and wide in search of food. However, it is wild and untamed.
In the Gullet, Alyn is shaving off his white hair, hoping to keep his identity hidden. Addam chides him, saying that he should act to side with Corlys, since he might gain something from it. Alyn remains unconcerned.
On Dragonstone, Jace compliments Rhaenyra for trying to carry out their plan. But when he tries to convince her that they will not win the war without Daemon, she becomes angry. They are interrupted by Mysaria, who gives Rhaenyra the mysterious message, “Our gift has been sent.”
What could that gift mean? Yes, on the shores of King’s Landing, a man saw an abandoned rowboat floating on the sand. It bears Rhaenyra’s banner, and is filled with fresh fruit and other supplies. As he looks up, more boats loaded with goods arrive.
The Attack on King’s Landing
Alicent catches up with her brother Gwayne before he goes off to battle again with Criston (a prospect that leaves him truly traumatized). She asks about her son Daeron, who has been missing from the show so far. Gwayne tells her that Daeron is smart, good with a sword, and admired by the ladies. But most importantly, he is kind.
She then calls Helaena, telling her to come along and light candles for Aegon at the Sept. But in the streets, chaos breaks out when Hugh Hammer and others discover food sent by Rhaenyra. They fight and flee with their goods.
At the Sept, Alicent and Helaena are told to leave immediately, as a crowd has gathered outside. As they leave, they are booed and food thrown at them. Things soon turn ugly when a man grabs Alicent’s arm and one of the Golden Cloaks cuts off the villain’s arm.
Olivia Cooke as Alicent in House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6
The mob attacks. Alicent and Helanea are lucky to escape, but their guards are not so lucky. As the queens leave, the mob tears their guards apart, shouting, “Long live Queen Rhaenyra!”
In Aegon’s chambers, Larys tries to convince him not to drink any more milk of the poppy. With a body like this, he needs to keep his mind clear, Larys advises. He then shares the story of his deformed foot, telling Aegon that people will forever and always underestimate him from now on. He also warns him that his life could still be in danger.
At Harrenhal, Daemon receives news that Lord Grover Tully has died, and that his nephew, Oscar, is now Lord Paramount of the Riverlands. When Daemon asks why he died, Simon Strong says he was sick. He also adds (with a mischievous grin) that Alys Rivers cared for the Lord, but even she could not help him.
Seasmoke finds a rider
At the Gullet, Addam is on the beach when a dragon (Seasmoke) approaches from above. When Seasmoke turns and heads towards him, Addam runs. He dashes into the woods, but even the trees cannot hide him after he falls.
Seasmoke swoops down on him, and Addam is horrified. However, the dragon does not hurt him. In fact, it seems attracted to him.
Rhaenyra returns to Dragonstone, still doubting herself. Mysaria tries to comfort her, telling her, “You have me,” and shares the story of how she was impregnated by her own father. She tells her that there are few steadfast people, but she believes that Rhaenyra is one of them.
Rhaenyra hugs her. But as she pulls back, something else appears in the air, and the two quickly embrace in a passionate kiss. They are quickly interrupted by Rhaenyra’s Queensguard, who tells her that Seasmoke has been spotted flying over Spicetown with a rider on his back.
Determined to see for herself, Rhaenyra mounts Syrax and takes to the skies, aiming to find this new rider.
It’s House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6! For more information, check out our guide to the House of the Dragon Season 2 release schedule. You can also check out our breakdown of all the dragons in House of the Dragon. Or, find out which books the show is based on.
