House Targaryen has grown substantially between episodes 5 and 6. Here's what happened during House of the Dragon season 1's 10-year time jump.
WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 6!
House of the Dragon episode 6 picks up after a 10-year time jump, revealing substantial changes to the characters and political landscape over the past decade. House of the Dragon season 1 has already seen several big time jumps, but 10 years is by far the longest, with such a gap even leading to a few major characters being recast. Following the time jump, adult Rhaenyra Targaryen is now played by Emma D’Arcy and adult Alicent Hightower is portrayed by Olivia Cooke.
Considering House of the Dragon episode 5’s ending left off on several major twists at Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding, the characters being so different after 10 years isn’t surprising. Motherhood, a worsening feud, and changing political dynamics have had notable effects on Rhaenyra and Alicent, who have now settled into their respective roles in King’s Landing. Rhaenyra is now the mother of three sons whose parentage is subject to controversy, while Alicent manipulates her children into loathing their nephews and preparing to take the throne from their half-sister.
While King Viserys has turned a blind eye to Rhaenyra’s affairs and Alicent’s plots, House of the Dragon’s 10-year time jump reveals the animosity between the greens and blacks runs far deeper than just the Princess and Queen. Even Daemon had to escape such severe political turmoil by fleeing to Pentos with his wife and daughters. As a result of the tension that has built up between House of the Dragon episodes 5 and 6, Rhaenyra and her family are now headed to Dragonstone, where she’ll continue preparing to ascend the Iron Throne.
Rhaenyra Began An Affair With Harwin Strong
Ryan Corr as Harwin Strong in HOTD episode 6
Following Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding, the Princess began a love affair with Ser Harwin Strong, who became the Commander of the City Watch. It’s unclear how long after the wedding their romance began, but House of the Dragon has been subtly setting up their union since episode 3. Since Laenor is gay and their sons have the brown hair and physical features of House Strong, Rhaenyra and Harwin’s affair is widely known but forbidden to be acknowledged. However, since Harwin died in the fire at Harrenhal in House of the Dragon episode 6’s ending, Rhaenyra has lost her lover yet again.
Rhaenyra's Sons Jacaerys & Lucerys Velaryon Were Born
Young Lucerys and Jacaerys Velaryon in HOTD episode 6
House of the Dragon episode 6 opens with Rhaenyra giving birth to her third son Joffrey (named after Laenor's lover that Criston Cole killed), later revealing she already has two children. Jacaerys is her eldest son, with Lucerys being her slightly younger middle child. It’s unclear exactly how old they are, but Jacaerys seems to be about 9 years old while Lucerys is about 7 or 8. Just like Joffrey, both Jacaerys and Lucerys are truly fathered by Harwin Strong, but Laenor Velaryon dutifully claims them as his trueborn sons.
King Viserys’ Health Has Continued To Worsen
House Of The Dragon Episode 6 King Viserys I Targaryen Paddy Considine
The quickly declining health of King Viserys I Targaryen has been a significant focal point in House of the Dragon season 1. Actor Paddy Considine revealed that King Viserys is suffering from leprosy, which has taken a severe physical toll on the character over the past 10 years. At Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding, Viserys had already lost 2 fingers, was covered in sores, had sudden nosebleeds, and collapsed after the ceremony. It’s shocking that Viserys survived the 10-year time jump, as the King has now lost almost all of his hair, is missing a forearm, and appears far older than his years. With his health still worsening, it won’t be long before King Viserys dies in House of the Dragon.
Alicent & Viserys’ Son Aemond Targaryen Was Born
Leo Ashton as Young Prince Aemond Targaryen in House Of The Dragon Episode 6
Alicent and Viserys already had Aegon and Helaena before House of the Dragon’s 10-year time jump, with episode 6 revealing the couple’s second son Aemond. This character was several years older than Jacaerys and Lucerys in Fire & Blood, but seems to be slightly younger than Jace in House of the Dragon. If House of the Dragon adheres to Fire & Blood, then Alicent and Viserys will have one more son, Daeron, before season 1 is over.
Daemon & Laena Got Married & Moved To Pentos
Daemon Targaryen and Laena Velaryon in House Of The Dragon episode 6
After killing his wife Rhea Royce, Daemon Targaryen was free to marry again in House of the Dragon. Since Rhaenyra and Laenor’s hasty ceremony meant he couldn’t steal her away, Daemon decided to marry into a strong political match with House Velaryon. Corlys and Rhaenys’ daughter Laena had already flirted with Daemon at Rhaenyra’s wedding, thus setting up their romance shortly before the 10-year time jump. It seems Daemon and Laena married quickly after the wedding, as they now have two daughters who seem to be around 9 years old. The show suggests they moved to Pentos to avoid political strife, but the book explains that they fled after marrying without Viserys’ consent. House of the Dragon episode 6 also indicates that Baela and Rhaena have lived in Pentos all their lives, but will finally move to Westeros after Laena’s death.
Criston Cole Became Alicent’s Sworn Protector
Olivia Cooke as Alicent and Fabien Frankel as Criston in HOTD episode 6
While the Kingsguard knight was once pledged to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, Criston is now Queen Alicent Hightower’s personal shield. After breaking his vows by sleeping with Rhaenyra, Criston killed Joffrey Lonmouth and prepared to take his own life due to his shame and guilt. Criston found a renewed purpose in life after Alicent saved him in the godswood, which seems to simply be a bitter (and wrongful) vengeance on Rhaenyra. House of the Dragon episode 6 reveals that Criston has spent the past 10 years protecting Alicent and her children, ignoring or being cruel toward Rhaenyra’s children, and being especially harsh toward Rhaenyra herself.
New episodes of House of the Dragon release Sundays on HBO/HBO Max.
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