Cinepals - HOUSE OF THE DRAGON 2x5 Reaction & Review!

Episode Date: July 15, 2024

House of the Dragon has come back!  House Of The Dragon is the prequel to Game of Thrones. The story follows the House of Targaryen 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. Starring Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Emma D'arcy, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint and Eve Best. You can watch the cut down reaction to this movie (and many others) on our YouTube channel https://www.YouTube.com/@Cinepals and the full length reaction is available on our Patreon page https://www.Patreon.com/JabyKoay   SOCIAL MEDIA:  ~CINEPALS~ YouTube: @CinePals Insta: https://instagram.com/TheCinePals Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCinePals   ~ACHARA~ Twitter & Instagram: @Acharakirk YouTube: @Achara

Sinha. Pals. We're continuing forward with House of the Dragon season two, episode five. Here we go. It's a mad sword. Madness is what we need right now. Yeah, what choice do you have? Dang, look at all the scrolls. Research time.

Yep. Like, what else are you going to do? You were stuck in the castle. The moment he started talking about that idea, I was like, What about the dude at the bar? I feel like he's got to come back. Yeah, he's got to come back, right? Unless that was just a misdirect.

No, I don't think there are any misdirects in this show. I mean, whether or not it's paid off in this season or in another season, surely he wouldn't have appeared if he's not significant in the story. Yeah. How did you feel about this episode overall? Well, I think, like, it felt, you know, a little bit slower than some of the other episodes. But I think it's really interesting because we're seeing. like the ripple effect of everything that's happening, you know, and the fear, the frustration, it was actually really frustrating to me to watch how her counsel was treating Reneira.

It's like, take her seriously, do you know what I mean? But like, no, they're not because even though they say that she's their queen, they keep making excuses as to like why she's not good enough. It's like, oh, yeah, but you only know times of peace. don't know anything about war and it's like you do do any of us at this point and so yeah it's just really frustrating to watch her have to deal with that and like people just going off behind her back and everything and like her son making decisions for himself which I was surprised that she wasn't mad about it because I guess ultimately she saw that what he did was actually a good

move but still it's like how can you be a queen when people are just just going around and doing things behind your back. Yeah. I suppose we needed an episode like this in the season. It's done such a good job at feeling like it's moving at a clip. Without it, feeling like it's leaving anything out. You know what I mean? Because, okay, one of my big complaints that I've been saying for a while is with Marvel shows on Disney Plus,

it feels like cliff notes of a show. Right. Whereas this definitely doesn't. I feel like I'm getting a full story in each episode. and it moves and it doesn't slow down until this episode. This is the first episode where I'm like, if I was to ever revisit House of the Dragon, I'd probably skip this episode.

You know what I mean? Like, I enjoyed it. But it's definitely like a bridge point between exciting stuff. Yeah, I mean, I think it's setting up a lot of cool ideas. Like, I love watching Misaria kind of step up in her relationship with Reneira as well. Like I suspected would happen. because she is a really strong asset and I love that she is bringing another perspective to Reneira

and I feel like Reneira really needs someone on her side like that now, especially now that she's lost Rhenice, you know. I feel for her as she's standing in front of the council and now she's a lone woman, you know, whereas before she had the support of her aunt, right? she was wise and she was respected and it gave her that extra edge and then now it's like she's all alone and so I like that Misaria's there kind of giving her other ideas about like well you know sure you're kind of trapped in a way because you're the sovereign but also and

a woman obviously but also there are other things that you can use to your advice And so I'm interested to see how they kind of position the small folk in the story to potentially help her ascend. I want to come back to that. I just want to finish the thought of like, so the last few episodes just felt like they were bounding. You know what I mean? Yeah. And then this is the first one where it felt like we're taking a few steps as opposed to bounding forward. We're taking a breath.

Yeah. Sometimes you have to take a breath before you like go for a run. Sure. You know what I mean? All the things that were done in here, like as far as the. director and actors and everyone involved, they executed the material they were handed beautifully. Like, it was well done.

It's just, in terms of the momentum, it just felt like it's really slowed down. Because when you go, you know, one episode a week, you know what I mean? So it's like, I don't want to come to this. I'll crunch this up and keep doing what you've been doing. But I understand that sometimes we need that in order to appreciate the exciting stuff. It's all about balance. They were still moving forward. wasn't like as it was it wasn't bounding forward like well yeah i think you know a lot of the

characters have to make some emotional choices as well right there was a lot of grieving as well yeah over the loss of renees and so i i totally get that you know and we have a her asking for uh renees's husband corlis uh yes thank you yeah it's a lot of names so uh to be the hand and it's like understandably he's like he's grieving he's going through his stuff and he he's He just wants to sail out to see and basically get lost. Well, he's lost so much as well. Like, he's lost his children to House Targaryen. Now he's lost his wife.

And, like, they did such a great job of building up the romance between them. Because there were so many marriages in this show that are just, you know, a marriage of being an alliance. But they were actually in love. And so you can understand the hurt. maybe just the frustration and anger and ill feeling that he has towards this family because it's like all I've done is give to you all I've done is support you and what do I have to show for it my my home my my house is empty now and it's just full of death and ghosts yeah and he's left all alone and so you know I feel for him but I do feel that Reneera needs him by her

side. I'm quite excited to see what Amon does. I mean, even though he's a villain, like, it's just, he's such an intriguing character. It's like to see him ascend to the throne so quickly, I'm like, what are you going to do with that power and what are you going to do when you're confronted by your brother? Because he woke up. Yeah. But he's in the days, you know, who knows what he remembers. Yeah, like maybe he's got amnesia and that's going to buy him some time. But I mean, I kind of feel like probably Amund would be a better king. At least he's like, He has more strategy. He's more strategy.

He's decisive. He doesn't come across as a complete imbecile like his brother does. Well, because he's smart. He's smart, yeah, and that's scary. And it's also interesting as well that, like, I mean, I really liked how, I think her name's Alice Rivers, the kind of witchy lady in Harenhall, where, you know, Damon's all like, yeah, well, he would be nice to you, and then he would turn around and kill you. And she's like, oh, yeah, wouldn't you do that?

the same. Right. And it's like, it's so... The pot call on the kettle block. Yeah, exactly, because they're so similar. They're also like the second brother, you know, and there's a kind of chip on their shoulder where they feel like they ought to be king, but because of rules and whatnot, they're not allowed to be. But Amon was able to do what Damon couldn't. That's right. Yeah. And so it's interesting that he kind of doesn't see that himself, even though other people are like, but you're so similar. Yeah. You know?

I guess there's a part of me that wants to see more happen with Damon. It's just like it feels like we kind of are retreading ground. And so there's just not a lot of movement there, you know? I'm like, why is he stuck in this castle? He's so stubborn though. It's like, okay, maybe they're both stubborn, right? Like both him and Reneera. Because yes, there is a sort of layer of it being like, well, he's out there trying to get

an army for her, right? But on the other hand, it's also complicated because they've had a marital spat, and that's come into it. And neither of them are really going to, you know, take a step forward. I mean, I guess Reneira... It's his fault, though. It is his fault. Yeah.

But he's never going to see that. He's never going to relent. And now he's fully admitted to, like, I'm going to be king. You know how in Game of Thrones Jamie Lannister He started off as a character He basically hate Yeah

For what he did And by the end He kind of becomes a hero in the story Yeah Kind of I'm wondering if we're seeing The early signs of that With Damon

Because while he's on the side of what I would You consider the protagonist In the story He's still, you know Kind of villainous in his own way It's interesting The dynamic that's happening

Between him and the Witch Lady Because she obviously Want something Right And so I'm asking myself, like, what does she want from him as the character? Like, what is her goal here? And it seems to me that her goal is to affect change in him, in his heart, to make him a better person. Or, because, like, she has her grievances with how things have been.

She wants things to be different. Right. And so there's a possibility that she must see where it could be different through him, if she can change him. That's what I'm getting from that. Good luck, lady. But, I mean, what else? What is the point of? messing with his head, if not that.

Maybe. I mean, he's been making some terrible choices. Okay, but then what's your, what's your take on it? Because, like, what's the point of all those scenes? What's the point of her stirring up all this weirdness in his mind, like him making love to his mom? Like, she's doing all of this to him, to what end? Is she just trying to trap him here and kill him? That just seems so simple and boring.

Yeah, I honestly, I can't tell you right now. Like, I just, I don't know what her. endgame is, but I do think that she's very interesting. The fact that she called it out and was like, would you do any different than Aman, to me says that she has some kind of, I don't know, we've been spending a lot of time with her in this

show. It's like, it's often her and Damon. So it's like, okay, where's that going? Because like, my mind is trying to like pick up on where this is headed, right? And so at one point, they're very close. I'm like, is this supposed to be like a pseudo-romantic thing? That can't be it. Like, not to repeat myself, but like my guess is that she wants to change things

or make things better somehow. And maybe there's a way through him. Yeah, I guess we'll have to wait and see. That's an interesting notion, an interesting prediction. I mean, his move, obviously. Everything he's done so far has backfired. So he's getting surely he's getting

humbled. Like, at this point. Yeah, I mean, he's just so stubborn. Stubborn self-absorbed. Like the, he believes in the superiority of his Targaryen bloodline, right?

Like he thinks that people should just bow down to him because they are the rightful heirs to the kingdom. They are the rightful rulers in that. And yeah, it's just he didn't have the foresight to see how allowing someone who has a feud with those people that you're trying to get on side would do something that would just mess things up so much. And while perhaps coercing the, the brackens into joining his army by kidnapping their wives and children or whatever might work in the short term, he also ended up pissing off all the other nobles in the Riverlands. And so now they're all like, you suck. And also, we're a really stubborn people. And we are not going to, you know, be on your. side now and he's just screwed everything yeah so where does his character go from here does this

character just stay stubborn and continue to make the same mistakes you know what i mean that would that would be boring that would be boring you'd have to figure it out so because like one of the things they sort of uh talked about early in the episode like right near the beginning is him realizing what kind of people he needs right that's why he went on this whole thing of like doing this shitty thing of yeah but you're not you're not gonna get people like that who were like i would rather die by dragon fire than bend my knee to you you're not going to get those people on side by like forcing them right no i mean right i agree with you yeah no totally but he hasn't realized how to kind of rule with empathy right so my whole thing is it's going to come back to that witch

lady somehow it's just gotta somehow i i i I don't know exactly how, but she's going to show him the way. Well, yeah, and I think there's been a little bit more of a shift in focus from, like, noble families to also showing the small folk in the show. Yeah, that's interesting. Yeah, and so they're just showing how the decisions of these royal families or whatever is having major repercussions with the people, right? And Alice Rivers was saying, you guys do your stuff and everything just always affects the women and the women and the people. children. Like we have to deal with the aftermath of everything. And so I think somehow that's going to come in to play. The thing with the common folk is so fascinating to watch. I had genuine

fear that it was going to break out in crazy violence like a riot when they were trying to flee and the guards were keeping them trapped. I'm just like, oh God, how is this going to play out? But finally to come back around to Misaria. That whole thing about like being a savior to the people and all that. Like, I'm having a hard time seeing the three-dimensional picture of how that works. Well. Because, like, I understand in concept of, like, what the goal is and how you want to affect possibility in your favor. But, like, how? What?

Like, how did you do that? Well, like, I think back to Gandhi, right? In, in that moment. Okay. Because. I got to hear this. Gandhi. Gandhi.

Okay. I'm all ears. I don't know if I'm just being crazy. But. Just the thought of like, a people who have been oppressed for so long don't realize that they actually have power in their numbers. So Misari is like there are... How does Renair a benefit from that?

Right. So if you get the small folk on side and they believe that you are the true queen, the true savior for the people, then perhaps they riot. And their number, their sheer number is larger than the army or whatever that they have there. Is it just through rumors and word of mouth? Like maybe I'm over like analyzing this. I just don't understand like, okay, why would they shift their focus and think she's the savior now? Do you understand my confusion?

Yes, yes, yes. I have to think about this for a second because like while I was watching it, it was quite apparent. And now you're asking me questions. And I'm like, aye, aye, yay. That was my confusion in the middle of the episode. I'm like, okay, I get the goal. I just don't understand how you execute that. I would imagine it has something to do with word of mouth.

Well, yeah, it is word of mouth, right? Because Misaria is Rayneera's version of Laris Strong. Like the spy master. I thought you were going to say Little Finger. Well, yes, little finger. Or what's his name? The eunuch. I forget his name now.

But yeah. And so. Who's got birds everywhere? Yes, yes, yes. The sparrow. Yeah. Right? No, the sparrow is the.

the other guy we all know what we're talking about yes sort of okay go ahead yeah I think she can help to build a story build a legend you know and bolster Rainera in the people's eyes because right now they're starving and they see an ill omen in a dragon they're superstitious they're simple people but also I think when you see the dragon it's like shit war is truly coming yeah yeah and so And the people are being taxed. Yeah. You know, they're being asked for this and that, for a war that they don't probably want to participate in to begin with. Okay, it's making sense to me.

Yeah. It's starting to make sense to me. It's just like, in the moment I was like, I have so many questions and the show's not answering it. So, but I suppose enough was there for you to sort of extract. And I just was being dimwitted for the moment. Yeah, but also it's like in that moment, if you're feeling so oppressed and poor and your family suffering and your suffering, Sometimes it might look like a better choice to go with the other person. Yeah.

You know? Yeah. Well, it's all very contingent on what the story is that is told to them, I suppose, that they, if they buy into it. Right. Yeah. I wasn't seeing that. I was being dense. So, because I'm like, what do you do?

How's that work? You know, I want to know. Never underestimate the power of rumors and storytelling. Yeah. You know? And I think that's such an interesting. interesting angle as well because traditionally all the men are all like oh we're going to fight a war we're going to go and like take our dragons and they're going to fight each other and like violence and

whatever and it's like okay but also you can do wage war with words with diplomacy yeah and all of that stuff which is very much in the realm of women yeah i'll take you down with a rumor yeah no i mean you I kind of, I kind of, you know, joked about it. But, like, there was a video I watched. I think I watched it with Steph about ninjas and, like, the last living, true living ninja. Mm-hmm. And, you know, he was, he was talking about what ninjas were useful for back in the day.

And one of them, one of the things was spreading rumors. And I, like, it's just sounded so juvenile to me. It sounds stupid, but it's very valuable. Right. It's like, through the modern lens, it just sounds juvenile. vinyl just like spreading rumors you know what stacey did you know it sounds like that but i understand like politically so far as social media sure still doing that sure i mean politically yeah spreading rumors can be quite damaging i get it i just needed that moment spelled out a little bit for me that's all

okay well i hope i now and now i get it but and then we're next we're going to find out we're totally off yeah yeah totally yeah everyone who's read the book it's like guys you're so wrong what's fascinating to me is how far we're into this and George R. Martin still hasn't finished Game of Thrones. The books. Right, but this is the precursor. So this story, he already

knew. You know, this is history. I understand. I'm just saying. It's like, dang, we're this far into how many seasons of Game of Thrones just in general, all together. And he still hasn't finished his book. There's too much pressure

now. Do you know what I mean? And now everybody's probably looking to him and being like, how many years ago? You have to make this end better than what they did, better than what HBO did. How many years ago did this show end? How many years have been? Yeah, it's been a while.

It was before pandemic. Like, it's been so long. And he still doesn't finish the book. And he's got like two left, right? I don't know. I forget. I don't know, man. Anyway, it's just hilarious to me.

I was like, because there's always that thing that every time an episode starts, it's a thought that crosses my mind. I'm like, because I'm so invested, I'm like, and he still hasn't finished that book. God damn it, George. Not that I'm reading it. It's just hilarious to me, the notion. So anyways, you guys, thanks so much for hanging. I'm Jabby Koi.

This is Achara Kirk. Peace out.