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fallingskiesandrisingseas · 1 year

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I rewatched the last Agni Kai between Azula and Zuko yesterday and then read the discourse and there are a few things that I feel need to be said here.

First of all, Azula wins that fight 100% if she's mentally balanced. Yes, Zuko has incorporated other styles into his bending, yes, he's more surefooted now, yes, he's outclassing her the entire fight and isn't even out of breath while his sister is panting. Even with all that, Azula is able to use fire in a much more instinctive way. She has shown feats unmatched by other firebenders when not under the comet, like flying with fire. She also has insane command over lightning, outdrawing Zuko and even Iroh. And her fire is blue, burning a hotter temperature then regular fire. A prodigy indeed.

Second, it is interesting that Azula cheats because she can't beat Zuko with lightning. We are told that lightning is a powerful firebending form only the royal family knows, and Azula does it better ( and earlier ) than most. But doesn't it require inner peace? What if, in that exact moment, lightning would no longer come to her, her talent failing her? What if that was the end? Would have made a for powerful breakdown of Azula as well. But she conjures lightning.

And I was wondering what the lightning was even for, conceptually. It shows us that Zuko now has full mastery of the hardest technique, and Azula knows -she knows, goddamn- that he can redirect. So why use it? And then it hit me. She uses it because a) she's been outclassed in every other fire bending attack, burning through her stamina while Zuko hasn't even moved, and b) she sees it as her best ability, something Zuko cannot emulate. She wants to hurt him.

Here we see Azula's tactical brilliance and cruelty. She decides in a split second to aim her lighting at Katara, a waterbender with no way of defending herself against this deadly force. This forces Zuko to make the sacrifice play, taking one of the pieces off the board. I don't believe she truly thinks that Zuko will make it, by the way. She expects him to let her die, which will make him angry, unhinged. More of a match. And even if he doesn't, she wins by taking Zuko out. Azula's strategy of divide and conquer indeed.

But this all comes from Zuko's provocation. This provocation is a mistake.

Because what is Zuko going to do when he redirects it? Kill her with it? Aang chose to spare Ozai, and in a world where Zuko keeps his cool and doesn't provoke it like that, she'll still use it, and he'll have no choice but to kill her. There could be no other outcome in an Agni Kai, not since Sozin. If Zuko wants to win, he will have to kill her. There is no way he can subdue her with fire, and she won't quit, we know that.

The provocation is not only a tactical error on Zuko's part, but it gives the writers a way out of having one of the siblings murder the other. . It is a fight that only has losers, a fight Zuko knows needs to happen but doesn't want to have. Azula also seems to care for her brother in some way still, telling Katara that she'd much rather "have him looked after by the family physician."

The fandom also moves past the fact that Katara is able to beat the strongest firebender of their generation with wits and sewer water. You know how insane that is? Sure, Azula isn't all there, but she is still an incredibly skilled opponent. And Katara outsmarts her. One of the best minds in the fire nation beaten by a water bender.

Which brings me to my next, and most important point. Azula can breathe fire. She is no more helpless in the ice than Zuko or Iroh is, both of whom have shown to be capable of escaping from ice. And yet she lets Katara chain her to the floor without a fight.

She shouldn't go down that easily. Not if she is all there. And I think this beautifully illustrates what happens in this fight, just as much as the crying after: Azula, the prodigy, the favourite child, the heir to the throne, cannot conceive being beaten.

She's been told she was special since the day she was born, she has witnessed the scarring of her brother, she has been emotionally abused by her family. She's all alone, in the end, no friends, no allies, and she's beaten when her bending is at her most powerful ( SHOULD BE at her most powerful, more accurately ). Beaten by a puny waterbender from the Southern Watertribe.

Now we understand why she doesn't act, merely moving her eyes as Katara chains her. At the most important moment, she fails, and suddenly none of the abuse she endured, the friends she has lost, the people she has used, is worth it.

No wonder she is crying.

#the last agni kai #atla #atla katara #prince zuko #zuko #atla zuko #katara #azula #atla azula #avatar the last airbender #scene breakdown #character analysis #fire hazard #fire hazards

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lemonhemlock · 1 year

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Rhaenys Storming Through the Dragonpit

One of the most controversial scenes in Season 1, this was an addition from the part of the show-runners. It has received quite a lot of criticism already for being bombastic (in a bad way), useless and illogical. Personally speaking, I was torn, so this is an attempt to make (some) sense of it.

Spoilers for upcoming events.

Context

I intend to analyse this scene by giving as much grace and benefit-of-the-doubt to the writers and producers as I can - it's only fair.

Adapting any book series is not easy. There will always be changes performed to the written text, even when trying as hardly as possible to stick to the source material. Sometimes what reads well translates badly on screen. Different mediums require different storytelling techniques. It's not necessarily a bad thing, just different.

Sets, CGI and dragons are expensive. It's not just about money, but about time as well. Graphic artists need to be given enough time to do their jobs properly. You can't just decide to drop 10 dragons out of thin air and expect them to meet your deadlines, unless you plan on making them work in sweatshop conditions.

Logistically speaking, sometimes the scripts need to be changed because there is no time left to film them with their original (maybe better?) ideas. Things can easily get cut or simplified. So I will try to keep my suggestions down to earth and achievable.

Remember we only have 10 episodes. Of course, if we had twice as many, the discussion would be completely different, but that is not feasible. While I feel like the season would have benefited greatly from an additional 2-3 episodes, I do not have access to HBO's cost-benefit analysis and their finances.

Bear in mind that this is the first ASOIAF show to premiere after the disastrous and critically-panned final Game of Thrones season, so perhaps they really did not want to stray from the tried-and-true successful format of 10 episodes per season, with episode 9 the usual stand-out.

Pros

It provides an unexpected, shocking, show-stopping moment. It looks cool on screen; that's undeniable. It gives Rhaenys a girlboss moment that the casual viewer will love (again, casual viewers are the ones who bring the big bucks in). It swiftly communicates the following information about Rhaenys: she is resourceful and brave enough to face the dragonkeepers on her own (probably unarmed), she has a temper (she doesn't appreciate having been locked in her room), she is careless about ordinary people's lives, she has excellent control of her dragon (pointed comparison to Aemond & Vhagar) and she can control her temper tantrum enough to think a little before she acts.

It provides a character-defining situation for both Alicent and Aegon. IMO this was one of the most powerful moments of the season, so I understand why they prioritized it over basically anything else.

I think these are two very strong points and, in all honesty, opportunities too irresistible to pass over.

Cons

Rhaenys commits a terrorist act and her murders are swept under the rug by the narrative.

How do Rhaenys and Meleys manage to fly through the floor of the Dragonpit without either of them getting hurt? Considering the later Storming of the Dragonpit, this is illogical and defies the laws of physics.

It is not immediately apparent why Rhaenys doesn't burn the Greens and be done with it. A common complaint was that her actions didn't make any sense.

No Sunfyre. The most beautiful dragon in the known world and his relationship with Aegon is unparalleled. In the texts, after his coronation, Aegon flies around King's Landing, giving him an opportunity to show off his splendid dragon. Leaving Sunfyre out diminishes Aegon's character when he is in desperate need of rehabilitation.

Changes I agree with

I would argue that con#2 is the most egregious. If I would have been in the writers' / producers' shoes, I would strive to change that. The rest I would keep. IMO it's good visual storytelling.

Rhaenys will probably be the first to die next season. Developing her character is imperative, otherwise her death will feel hollow. Rhaenys is a proper dragonrider in her own right - one of the best. I do insist that showing the viewers that is very important. Rhaenys is played by a middle-aged woman and she gets a cool action scene in a medium where actresses are valued for youth and attractiveness. As viewers, we expect the 9th episode of a Game of Thrones season to be bonkers in some way. Putting her in THE prime-time spot of the season gives her the opportunity to become a memorable character. Yes, I would totally keep Rhaenys in this scene.

Sunfyre is a good boy and his absence has been felt, but he will have many an occasion to stand out before the end of the series. Meanwhile, Meleys will die soon and there hasn't been a proper opportunity to show her off. If her first scene next season is the same as her death scene, I don't think the impact would be as big. Yes, Arrax only got one segment as well, but he was a small dragon, whereas Meleys is one of the important ones. I can, therefore, understand and accept the prioritization of Meleys over Sunfyre in this scenario.

If possible, would I also have included Sunfyre in this scene? I am going to be controversial and answer no. Sunfyre's presence turns this event into a weird showdown between Rhaenys and Aegon (since Aegon is the only one who can control Sunfyre).

What beef would Rhaenys even have with Aegon at this point? She is pissed that the Greens were holding her hostage and forcing her to pick a side. I have already criticized the scene between her and Alicent and, while I believe the show could have done a better job at highlighting Rhaenys' hypocrisy and projection, I think it makes sense for Alicent to try to woo Rhaenys to the green side by appealing to her in some way. It also provides Rhaenys with an opportunity to appraise Alicent's character, so it makes more sense for this last scene of the episode to be a rehashing of that earlier appeal.

In similar vein, I also understand why the crowning of Helaena was cut. It is a sweet mother-daughter moment in the text, but had she been standing next to Aegon, Alicent would have had to protect them both by placing herself in front. We already know Alicent loves Helaena; this is not new information for the viewer. Alicent and Helaena will have their own gut-wrenching scenes together soon enough.

No, the question for the audience (and for Aegon) is whether Alicent loves Aegon. By performing this one act of bravery, we finally have our answer and cannot dispute whether or not Alicent took this stand just because Helaena was near her as well. When faced with the possibility of death, she carries out this one last act of care, even if its only consequence would be that Aegon won't have to spend his last moments on this earth alone.

So, yes, the focus of this scene should remain on Alicent and Aegon and Alicent's silent plea to Rhaenys. We begin the Dance with Alicent & Aegon and we should finish it with them as well. "My first son and my last" etc. It's too meaty of a concept to give up.

Why doesn't Rhaenys just burn the Greens and be done with it?

If I had executive power, I would have Rhaenys explain her reasoning to Daemon in more depth next episode. She kind of does, but the fandom at large was left unsatisfied, whereas I really do feel that burning everyone on the podium would have been a catastrophic decision, for the following reasons:

Kinslaying is a terrible crime in-universe, literally considered one of the worst things you could possibly do. People tend to be generally horrified by it. Rhaenys would be reducing Aegon, Aemond and Helaena to ash. It is really not highlighted how much of a big deal this would be. Of course, they will all end up killing each other later, but at least that would be during the course of the war, whereas this would be an unprovoked attack against defenseless non-combatants. In addition, it's not just that Rhaenys would be judged by society, but it's so taboo that it's very likely she just couldn't bring herself to do it, at least not at this particular stage. It's a very heavy decision!

Apart from killing three (3!) family members, Rhaenys would also be killing other state officials like the Dowager Queen, the Hand of the King, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and other members of the government like Tyland Lannister. All important people, generally coming from important and powerful noble families. That's a lot of potential allies to piss off.

Rhaenys would be killing the High Septon, literally the Westerosi equivalent to the Pope, thus ensuring an uprising of the Faith against Rhaenyra.

This would not end the succession crisis in any way. Aegon's children are in the Red Keep. His son Jaehaerys would become the next king. Alicent and Otto definitely have her own loyalists that could smuggle the children away to Oldtown, if necessary.

Even without the children, Daeron is still in Oldtown. Lord Ormund Hightower could simply crown him and wage war against Rhaenyra, who, by no will of her own, now has the Faith against her and a population outraged by this incredible act of cruelty.

Ultimately, what Rhaenys said was right: the decision to start the war wasn't hers to make, nor was the decision to escalate hostilities to such an appalling level. She was never willing to do that for her own claim. She never tried to take the throne by conquest after the decision of the Great Council in 101. So why would she possibly do something like this for Rhaenyra?

It's not even fair to Rhaenyra. She isn't consulted at all in this matter. Perhaps she doesn't want to kill her own family members. However, the consequences of this act would be pinned on her no matter what. She'd have to execute Rhaenys or something drastic like that to punish her for the heinous crime she committed.

Yes, you could still keep the mother-to-mother bond element between Rhaenys and Alicent. Rhaenys can still be moved by Alicent's determination to stand by and do the best for her children.

Fix-It

These are the tweaks I would perform to preserve the impactful quality of the scene without sacrificing logic:

First of all, I will point out that Rhaenys stayed overnight in order for Vaemond's body be prepared for the journey back to Driftmark. Rhaenyra leaving KL so soon after dinner was an impromptu decision; even she probably intended to stay a little longer in the capital. I'd give Baela a line mentioning how she wants to spend a little time with Rhaena or something, so as to explain her separation from Rhaenys.

I would highlight Rhaenys' dissatisfaction. Rightly or wrongly, she is insulted at having been locked inside her room. She is a proud woman and wants to be in charge of her own destiny, instead of being forced (yet again) down a path against her will. She wants to leave and make up her own mind. And, most importantly, she wants to get back to her granddaughters ASAP. She can tell Ser Erryk all this when he comes to free her. Throw them a couple more lines of dialogue to emphasize their motivations.

Rhaenys' goal should therefore be to get out of King's Landing. She gets separated from Ser Erryk and witnesses the coronation. She can sneak through the tunnels like in the show.

However, I cannot have Rhaenys bursting through the floor like in Looney Tunes, that part needs to GO. This means I will have to change the trajectory of Rhaenys' flight.

Now, the coronation takes place in the Dragonpit, like in the source material. In the show, it looked similar to the Colosseum, but with a dome on top, at least the part that we saw. It's supposed the be this immense structure with plenty of caverns to house the dragons.

The characters stand on some sort of podium at the far end of the ground floor. I can't tell if it has been especially erected for the coronation, but it looks too elaborate for it to be some makeshift structure. There is a sort of canopy (?) above, from which they hung Aegon's banners: a golden dragon on black. I'm not sure what Jaehaerys I's chair is doing there, though, so perhaps I would get rid of it. Aegon won't get to sit on it and it's kind of in my way.

Behind the banners, I would simply invent an entryway to some tunnel deeper inside caverns and have Rhaenys enter from that side. The doors should be opposite.

It can begin with the ground trembling a little, following by ominous sounds getting closer until Meleys rips Aegon's banners up and Rhaenys is revealed. Perhaps destroy the pillar holding up the canopy so that there is nothing else to serve as cover. In this scenario, Rhaenys has no choice but to face the Greens, because they are literally standing in her way.

Everything else mostly proceeds as usual. The characters were facing the smallfolk. At Rhaenys' approach, everyone turns towards her. The camera moves to face the characters on the podium, with the smallfolk (and the exit) now behind them.

Alicent redirects Ser Criston to Helaena and puts herself in front of Aegon. They have their last stand.

Meleys roars and Rhaenys stops to think.

She decides not to commit mass murder, sees the exist and takes flight. She's had her little outburst, she's given her warning and now she returns to her objective, which is to get the hell out of King's Landing.

The crowd actually witnesses the Queen stepping in front of a dragon for her son. Perfect propaganda material.

Smallfolk don't matter

Obviously that was a disappointing consideration from the part of the show-runners. If anyone were to get killed during Rhaenys' escape, I would emphasize it and use it later and as an anti-Black argument to fan the flames when Rhaenyra gets kicked out of King's Landing. But by having Rhaenys enter the scene from the back, the number of possible victims would be much lower.

If it is imperative to have someone killed, perhaps it can be implied in season 2 that Meleys burnt some dragonkeepers while Rhaenys was trying to mount her. This should be shown as a great loss, as dragonkeepers are brave, smart and valuable individuals, who perform an essential job for the safety of the entire city.

Potential for future scenes

Maybe have Aegon and/or Helaena forced to come to the Dragonpit themselves to feed Sunfyre and Dreamfyre because the workforce has taken a literal hit and they are still working on training new "employees". This could allow Aegon and Helaena to interact over a shared interest and would give Helaena screen time with Dreamfyre.

I'm not including Vhagar because she is too big for the Dragonpit and probably makes her lair somewhere outside King's Landing. Maybe show Aemond involving himself with selecting and training new dragonkeepers. This way you give all three siblings something to do and show them collaborating towards a shared goal.

Aegon shoveling Sunfyre's droppings during the opening episode would provide comedic relief and a great opportunity to showcase the bond between dragon and rider, as well an unusual way to introduce Sunfyre and put Aegon to work. :)

All things considered, I think this was a symbolically-charged moment that was ruined by some shoddy scenery placement, a careless disregard for the systemic violence against the general populace and a lack of properly laying out character motivations. Adding several more minutes of dialogue and re-imagining the geography of the Dragonpit a litle could have integrated this moment better within the larger narrative.

#rhaenys targaryen #meleys #aegon ii targaryen #alicent hightower #house of the dragon #asoiaf #sunfyre #helaena targaryen #dreamfyre #hotd meta #scene breakdown #storytelling #hotd critical [storytelling]

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pbmoth · 2 years

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Breakdown showing Rough animation / Tie-Downs / Shadow pass / Final Animation for the last post

#2d animation #animation #hand drawn #frame by frame #2d animator #artists on tumblr #contact juggling #drawing hands #glass ball #digital art #anim #scene breakdown #rough animation #line art #tie down #process

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mehlsbells · 3 months

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Back on my bullshit* again

*talking about Willow in minute detail

#Willow 2022 #cinematography #perspective tricks #scene breakdown #Warwick Davis #I can't stop watching every little thing this show does #which only leads to wanting a second season and writing these posts #so I guess more posts it is #save Willow

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dwarfman403-blog · 8 months

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This scene in “The Courier” movie, 2021 is really important to me

In it Greville (left) and Oleg (right) are at a ballet (couldn’t say which one but the music is familiar. Perhaps Swan Lake?)

And Greville is clearly riveted and moved by what he’s seeing, and I’d wager that Oleg is or has been moved by this performance now or before as well, seeing as swan lake originated in Russia and during the Cold War only government approved music could be publicly played (I assume) (but I digress)

As the performance concludes, and a standing ovation is given, Oleg finds himself looking to who has become a dear friend and comrade to him. A man who holds the fate of Oleg’s family in his hands. You see, Greville is in Russia one last time under the guise of closing Russian business accounts, but is really getting Oleg out of the country.

In seeing the emotional reaction that Greville is having to the art and culture that is beloved to Oleg, I can’t help but wonder if this look:

Is one of love for his country that he is now fleeing. To see an outsider be moved by the art of his home and culture, mayhaps fills him with a sense of pride, that his homeland and their legacy won’t be of just violence, but of art, and love and comradery and stuff.

I think this statement is further punctuated in contrast by the crestfallen look on Oleg’s face that ends the scene.

As a reminder that he is leaving this behind, and the danger ahead.

#Merab Ninidze #film #scene breakdown #benedict cumberbatch #the courier #movies

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it-me-sannore · 9 months

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Benedict and Tessa in the studio, at the Royal Academy of Art. From Season 2 Episode 5 - "An Unthinkable Fate".

As much I don't want to think about Benedict with anyone other than Sophie, I love this scene on so many different levels:

Story & dialogue: The introduction of Tessa is so smooth. The way they meet flows so naturally and is immediately electric. No lengthy exposition or barrage of details thrown in your face. Excellent acting and story telling.

Music: The playful seduction picks up through the music playing in the background - the gentle plucking of string instruments gives it such a fun, bouncy atmosphere.

Lighting: The contrast of hard and soft lights in the room, enhancing the mood. Particularly this shot where the hard light highlights and creates shadows on Benedict's face, creating that emotional connection to the moment, ugh! So good!

How they managed to fit so much goodness into a 2 minute scene is mind-blowing!

Side-note: And yes, I liked it so much that I've used it for my new avatar :)

#bridgerton #benedict bridgerton #tessa #scene breakdown #an unthinkable fate #s02e05 #shot composition #luke thompson #shondaland #i love this show so much #bridgerton cast and crew are amazing

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marvelousgeeks · 2 years

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Stranger Things’ Season 4 finale, “The Piggyback,” is an emotionally packed episode for many reasons, but particularly for how it portrays the fears and heartaches that follow grief. “I kept it open. I kept the door open three inches,” Eleven says, crying in the hands of the father she didn’t expect to see ever again.

It’s heartfelt and poignant, allowing Millie Bobby Brown to bring some of her best performances to our screens, but it’s also what it exhibits for those of us who’ve lost someone. I imagine that those who’ve lost have similar things they’d like to say to their loved ones who’ve passed. Whether they’ve told us to do something specific or, like me, your father inspired you to be the writer that you are, we all hope for reunions in Heaven, don’t we? Or, perhaps it’s a simple yet achingly profound “I miss you”—or even an “I love you.” Whatever those words, they’re personal and matter tremendously just as much as Eleven’s does.

#stranger things #jim hopper #eleven #hopper and el #scene breakdown

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vrihedd · 3 months

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Animation backstage ✨

Apps: Photoshop, Spine, After Effects

#scene breakdown #2d animation #vfx animation

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farieads · 2 years

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Each day goes by and each night I cry

Somebody saw you with her last night </3

-reckless by Madison beer

#love poem #lovecore #heartbreak #kingdom hearts #breakthrough #scene breakdown #dark and moody #dark academia

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averyauthorship · 2 years

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I finally mapped out all of the scenes for my book. I might add more as I go if I see a need but, as of right now, this is it.

(I know people advise having 60 index cards but I'm bad at this and half of them are, like, two scenes combined and I'm too lazy to write out new cards.)

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lemonhemlock · 1 year

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I think the scenes with Aemond & Ser Criston looking for Aegon in King's Landing are quite telling for their characters. I may be wrong, of course, but here are my takes on it. Warning: this gets long.

This side plot begins with Ser Criston casually entering a room in the Red Keep. I used to think this is Helaena's room or at least a part of Helaena and Aegon's shared quarters, since it looks exactly like the room in the previous scene when Alicent and Otto interact with Helaena. But, if so, where is Helaena? Did she and the children just move to another place and relinquish this space to Alicent and Aemond? Aemond is just looking pensively into the fire and Alicent is walking around. Do they do this often? Just randomly chill in Helaena's apartments, with or without her there? Alicent's room has a similar layout, I believe, have they moved there? Maybe the true reason is because they didn't bother to build another set and just needed a random family room to film this private encounter.

Ser Criston doesn't even knock, he just opens the door and immediately starts talking. It's like he expects it to be filled with people in whose presence he can speak freely. That probably means Alicent, but he is not fazed to see Aemond there, nor does he guard his tongue around him. He tells Alicent that Otto has sent Ser Erryk into the city to find Aegon. Alicent is frustrated that her father has a head start and points out his advantage: Ser Erryk knows Aegon. He'll be able to find him.

Aemond seems bothered by this. He immediately turns his head. Why? Alicent is telling the truth. Ser Erryk is Aegon's sworn sword. He should know of Aegon's habits and hidey-holes. Is he bothered that Kingsguard knight knows more about his brother than he does? Is he vexed that Otto is in pole-position in this stupid race? Is he irked because he feels useless? In any case, he doesn't look pleased and it's like he's gritting teeth when he turns his face back to the fireplace.

Alicent and Criston have their little exchange. Alicole shippers have already talked at length about this and I tend to agree. They seem very close, Alicent is entrusting him to carry out her plan. She impresses upon him that it's A Really Important Thing.

Aemond immediately insinuates himself and declares he is to come along. Alicent doesn't want this, she says "if anything has happened....." and leaves it up in the air. Happened to whom? To Aegon? What then? Why should Aemond stay put? I would wager this is the first time someone is implying that Aemond is next in line after Aegon. I might be reaching, but why does she grab him arm looking alarmed? She definitely wants the heir to the throne within her grasp to carry out the succession plot, so if that heir is not Aegon, does she imply it's Aemond? If Aegon is dead in a ditch, isn't Jaehaerys next in line? We just saw the twins, so we know Aegon and Helaena have children. Why doesn't Alicent finish her sentence? Does she just want Aemond around to hold his hand while she mourns his brother, if the worst happens?

Aemond comforts her by grabbing her arm in return and declaring "Cole needs ME". Does he? Can he really be of any help? Or is he just itching to get out of the castle and do something instead of looking sadly at flames all day? He calls Criston by his last name, which I found a little off. The proper way to address him would be "Ser Criston". He knows that, because his next sentence is "Ser Erryk isn't the only one who knows Aegon's doings." I doubt he is closer to "Ser Erryk" than he is to "Cole", who's trained him in sword-fighting all his life. He's an edgy teenager, out there calling people by their last names. Is he ticked at Ser Criston for some reason? Criston doesn't have a problem with him tagging along.

Now let's see what Aemond's "insight" truly amounts to. He did just brag to his mother about it. In the next scene, he immediately starts telling Criston how Aegon took him to the Street of Silk on his 13th birthday to make sure he lost his virginity. And he takes Criston to the very same brothel! That escalated quickly. My initial reaction was to think that he's being cold with Ser Criston for some reason, but you don't just trauma dump on some random person if you have beef with them. He's recounting his sexual assault and taking him to the scene of the crime.

Of course, he doesn't frame it in this language, he presents it as Aegon's "gift" to him, or at least communicates that it was supposed to be a gift from Aegon's perspective. But he doesn't recount it with any kind of joy or fondness; this seems to be something unwanted and uncomfortable for him.

Criston says his famous line "Every woman is an image of the Mother, to be spoken of with reverence." This has been used as proof of Criston's hypocrisy, because he called Rhaenyra a spoiled cunt in a previous episode. But is it? They are talking about literal sex workers here, not metaphorical ones, and Criston hasn't said one bad word about them. When Aemond presents Aegon's philosophy that it's normal and desirable to fuck whores and lose your virginity to them as soon as possible, since it's the "manly" thing to do, Criston doesn't engage. I'm not expecting two privileged men as them to have a woke, liberal view on sex workers, but Criston does indirectly tell Aemond it's not really okay to treat women in this manner.

Not that Aemond necessarily needs convincing. He doesn't say a bad word about these women either. Criston is the one to talk to the lady in charge and he is super polite actually. He doesn't even have a condescending tone and speaks to her like a normal person. He doesn't threaten her in any way and leaves her alone when she decides she's done with the conversation.

Aemond is very shy when talking to this lady, implying she is the one charged with carrying out his birthday gift. He doesn't look at her with anger or contempt, he just seems to be really uncomfortable with the whole situation. He's quite fidgety and looks down a lot, like he's ashamed. If this lady keeps interacting with him any longer, he's going to disintegrate.

The next scene is a very short exchange.

Ser Criston: It seems you were mistaken as to Aegon's habits.

Yeah, no shit. Aemond somehow thought that Aegon would keep coming to the very same brothel where he lost his virginity at 13. The madame even told them he hasn't been seen there "for some years". Why would Aemond think Aegon doesn't visit more than one brothel? Did he bring Criston there because it's literally the only whorehouse he knows in the city? Why did he insist he knows how to find Aegon when he is clearly clueless? What gives?

Aemond: He could be in the hands of mercenaries, on a ship to Yi Ti. He could be dead.

Interesting. One theory is that he deliberately wanted to lead Criston astray so as to not find Aegon because he covets his brother's crown. Sure, he's jealous. But he has no way of knowing whether Aegon is genuinely trying to escape at this very moment (and Aemond is thus buying time for him) or if he's just lying unconscious somewhere / sleeping off his hangover and just planning on returning later. If the twins find him, there goes Aemond's crown and Mother will be sad because Grandfather beat her at hide and seek. If Aegon is dead, isn't it better to just find his corpse and just get it over with? It doesn't really add up.

Aemond has no fucking clue where to look for Aegon and is basically a liability for Ser Criston at this moment. They lost precious time following his dumbass idea. So what exactly is Aemond playing at here? If he were sure Aegon planned on leaving Westeros, sure. But he had no way of knowing that, it's not like his brother confided in him with anything. And the Cargylle twins are still after him. He's not exactly helping Aegon's theoretical escape plans.

In the next snippet, Aemond does the following things:

He complains Aegon is a wastrel who's not interested in his birthright - fine, true enough.

He complains that he possesses all the qualities Aegon lacks - um okay, but who asked?

He confesses doubts at ever finding him, because "[Ser Criston is] a decent man with no taste for depravity" - further proof that Criston doesn't have a problem with all women, he just has a problem with Rhaenyra. Aemond implies here he hasn't seen him act in a sexist fashion in front of him.

and then!!! he drops the bombshell!!!

4. I'm next in line to the throne. Should they come looking for me, I intend to be found.

Are you?? He doesn't say "I'm going to be regent until Jaehaerys comes of age". He says he's going to be the next King. Excuse me? Is this some kind of oversight from the writers' part? Did they just want to give Aemond a snappy line that kinda, sorta gets the point across that he's ambitious and he's getting political power if Aegon disappears? Aemond murdering three children for the throne is an insane escalation at this point; he has no reason to do that to his sister or his mother. Criston is completely unfazed by this, he doesn't correct him or raise his eyebrow at him, it doesn't ring any alarm bells. He just goes with it. When he absolutely would NOT be down with a deranged plot to commit multiple infanticide. Even if this was Aemond's intention, why would he be villain-monologuing to Criston of all people??

This is where the Helaemond shippers do have a point, because if the children are actually Aemond's, then that would be a very interesting upset in the presumed succession line. I know there are those saying it would be hypocritical for Aemond to father bastards, since he hates them so much. Everyone is allowed their own interpretation, but the texts (such as they are, written in the form of pseudo-history books) do reveal he interacts later on with the issue of bastardy. In any case, I will say this - Helaena's children being his would be less of an insane plot twist than him just alluding to baby-murder.

Anyway, this is a separate discussion and this post is already way too long, so I'm disregarding this as shit-talking from his part.

Question is: what exactly was he aiming for here? Is he just processing his father's death and wants someone to shoot the shit with, so tags alongside Criston? Strolling aimlessly around the city, while Aemond gets to complain what a complete tool Aegon is and how his depravity even went so far as to affect him directly? In the light of Aegon's future coronation, does he just want to clear his thoughts about what an unworthy heir his brother is? If he chose Alicent as his confidant, it would probably only upset her further - is that why he chose Criston? Aemond actually runs his mouth a lot this episode and the things he says are very revealing and personal, whereas Criston is the reserved one. He's just minding his own business, while Aemond is chatting shit like an emo teenager with My Chemical Romance playing in the background.

Anyway, the Cargyll twins find Aegon, because they were the ones actually on a competent trail, and Aemond and Criston somehow appear out of nowhere outside the Sept, ambushing the three. It's never made clear how exactly they knew how to find them. Perhaps the explanation had to be cut for time? Or to make it appear like a true gotcha moment?

Regardless, Aegon and Aemond have their little scuffle, but it's not a true fight, more like brothers bickering. Aegon is even giggling at one point. Although it's funny to note that Aegon doesn't have that big bruise on the left side of his face when Erryk and Arryk find him, but he has it after his fight with Aemond. So Aemond must have at least thrown a memorable punch in for good measure lmao.

Now, if Aemond was so pressed about becoming King himself, he could have easily let Aegon go. Criston is out there on the steps fighting Arryk, he has no clue what's going on below. Aemond could reasonably claim Aegon weaseled himself away and he could not find him. But he doeesn't. He holds onto him, even though he is specifically seen to be pondering this possibility, but it's too late because now a wild Criston appears to take them back to mummy.

Judging by the size of this post, there's definitely a lot to be said about this sideplot. The main question is, obviously, the "next in line to the throne" comment. It's hard to say whether the writers "just forgot" about Helaena's three children or whether Aemond is just talking shit like the edgelord he is. The children are shown in the episode and, in the intro sequence, Aegon & Helaena's blood lines branch off into three little rivulets signifying their children, so we know they're there. It is definitely possible I'm just reading way too much into this and the writers are just using that line as shorthand for Aemond's jealousy and ambition and because it sounds cool, it's quotable and looks good in gifsets.

#aemond targaryen #criston cole #house of the dragon #aegon ii targaryen #asoiaf #the green council #i need to get these hotd takes out of my head bc i'm going insane #feels good to have a space to rant #without exasperating real world people 😂#hotd meta #scene breakdown #The Room diskorse

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