House of the Dragon season 1 episode 4 recap: King of the Narrow Sea

This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1 episode 4.

Prince Daemon returns to King’s Landing and makes an attempt to use Rhaenyra as a political pawn in this week’s episode of House of the Dragon season 1.

Catch up here on everything from the last episode!

The fourth episode takes place a few months after with Daemon Targaryen slaying the Crabfeeder and begins with a pageant on Storm’s End. Princess Rhaenyra presides over this line of men since they all ask for her hand in marriage.

None of the men suit her desires and the Princess ends up leaving abruptly as a boy suitor retaliates against a man mocking him by killing the adult with his blade. On the ship’s ride back to King’s Landing, Rhaenyra Targaryen confides in Ser Criston as they talk about her father’s reaction to her ending the tour three months early.

The two are interrupted when Caraxes comes swooping over their ship, meaning Prince Daemon has returned to the capital city as well.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 4: The prodigal brother returns

In the throne room of the Red Keep, King Viserys Targaryen and everyone around the castle are awaiting Dameon’s entrance. As he waits, Viserys notices his daughter is also home much earlier than expected and disappointment overcomers his royal face.

Daemon struts in wearing his driftwood crown and places the Crabfeeder’s weapon at his brother’s feet so it can be added to the Iron Throne. He refers to himself as the ‘King of the Narrow Sea’ but bends the knee and pledges his loyalty to his grace, Viserys. As they embrace and the crowd applauds, Rhaenyra looks relieved to have her uncle back home.

At the feast to celebrate Daemon’s return, Rhaenyra walks over to Daemon, Alicent, and her father to congratulate her uncle. Her presence clearly frustrates the king and even when Alicent tries to ease the tension, Viserys is too annoyed to even bother being kind.

Rhaenyra walks away which leads to Alicent going to check on her old friend. The princess vents to her Queen about how she does not want to be stuck in the castle pushing out heirs. Considering this is exactly what Alicent does now, they use this to start rebuilding their friendship that became tainted with Alicent’s marriage to Rhaenyra’s father.

While at the godswood, Daemon is greeted by Rhaenyra who asks her uncle why he left Dragonstone. Daemon explains he wanted the comforts of this home. Since she finds no comfort here, Rhaenyra talks about the unfulfilling future ahead of her, but her uncle advises her to remember to have fun in between doing her duty.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 4: Rhaenyra receives freedom from duty

During a small council meeting, Lord Corlys Velaryon was the only thing discussed since the council believes the Sea Snake is retaliating against the throne since Viserys did not wed his Lady Laena all those years ago.

Ser Otto then shares he has heard Corlys is planning on wedding his daughter to a Lord of Braavos. This means the best chance to secure Corlys’ support, a political marriage must be made on their part, alluding to Rhaenyra having to marry Laenor Velaryon.

The evening draws close and when Rhaenyra goes to her quarters for the night she notices a strange bag. She empties it out to find smelly street clothes and a map that leads to the dragon cellar. The princess puts on the disguise and follows the map until she finds Daemon.

This King of the Narrow Sea takes his niece through the streets of the city, giving her drinks and showing her a misogynistic and dramatized performance about Rhaenyra, Daemon, and little baby Aegon all having claims to the throne. The princess does not care what the people think but Daemon reminds her the common folk’s influence should not be underestimated.

Back at the Red Keep, Alicent is looking after her husband as she excuses the servants so the two can have alone time. Following this, Alicent goes to bed but is eventually awoken by a servant who informs the queen the king requested her presence in his chambers.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 4: Daemon’s true scheme is revealed

Eventually, Daemon leads Rhaenyra through a brothel. Here, the princess’s eyes light up with seeing the pleasure side of sex and as opposed to the royal responsibility purposes she is not looking forward to and the same ones that killed her mother.

In the bowels of this brothel and after spending his time back in King’s Landing cozying up and manipulating his 18-year-old niece, Daemon makes a move and kisses Rhaenrya. This passionate moment for Rhaenyra is interwoven with Alicent fulfilling her duty as child-bearer by just laying there in bed while Viserys does all the work with no passion from the queen.

Daemon tries to make a move beyond kissing but has some impotency issues when he realizes Rhaenyra lusts after him when he was just trying to manipulate her to get to his brother. This results in Daemon leaving Rhaenyra in the middle of the brothel, half-naked, and very confused.

The princess flees the brothel but not without a little street child noticing her.

When Rhaenyra returns to her quarters in the Red Keep, and still energized from this evening, the princess makes a move against her sworn protector in Ser Criston Cole. The Kingsguard knight, who is sworn to celibacy in his position, tries to fight his obvious lust for the princess before embracing it and making love with Rhaenyra.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 4: Ser Otto receives unsettling news

Just inside the castle’s walls, Ser Otto is greeted by the same street kid who shares what he saw. The child receives payment from the King’s Hand and takes it back to their boss, Mysaria. This woman is looking after a hungover Prince Daemon but as a business owner and not as a harlot.

Ser Otto Hightower then makes the unfortunate walk to his king’s chambers early in the morning to tell Viserys. While delaying as much as he can, Otto eventually comes clean and shares he received word from a trusted source about Rhaenyra and Daemon’s exploits the night before.

Viserys at first does not believe his Hand before realizing his Hand was the one who spied on the princess in the first place. The king is angered with his advisor since he clearly had Rhaenyra spied on so that his grandson, Aegon, can supersede the princess.

When the Queen calls for Rhaenyra to the godswood, she accuses the princess of sleeping with Daemon last night after explaining she overheard their fathers talking this morning. On the defensive, Rhaenyra twists the truth and lies about the events last night to her longtime friend.

Alicent states she believes her and will try to help the heir to the Iron Throne do damage control about these allegations.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 4: The Dragon King comes out

When Viserys confronts Daemon, however, the mood is different. King Viserys Targaryen unleashes the dragon on his brother since he defiled his daughter and made it so no Lord will wed her in this condition.

Daemon suggests he wed Rhaenyra and this is when Viserys realizes he was only using Rhaenyra to try and take the throne for himself. The king banishes his brother (again) to The Vale and demands that Daemon returns to his lawful wife at once.

Privately in the king’s chambers, Alicent talks with Viserys about what each of them discovered in their talks. The queen is believing Rhaenyra and proves this by saying Daemon is the more deceitful one so it is more likely he is lying to discredit and tarnish her husband’s image.

Later in the day, Viserys calls for Rhaenyra so the two may talk. Viserys reminds his daughter of the responsibility she has with Aegon’s promise of The Prince That Was Promised. The king does not ask Rhaenyra about her side of the story since only perception matters and not the truth.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 4: Viserys and Rhaenyra do their duty

Because of her acting out, Viserys states that her courtship is at an end. Rhaenrya is told she will marry Laenor Velaryon to unite the country and increase their strength. Understanding this is how the game is played, Rhaenyra agrees to do her duty and wed Ser Laenor but only after her father does his duty and rids his council of the self-interested advisor.

With his daughter’s words guiding him to the correct action, King Viserys calls Ser Otto to the small council chambers to call out his Hand for indulging his self-interests. Viserys explains the anger and pain he feels because of Otto using Alicent to manipulate him following Aemma’s unfortunate death.

As a result, Ser Otto is thanked for her service and stripped of his title of Hand of the King.

The episode ends with Maester Mellos arriving at Rhaenyra’s chambers late that night. When he arrives he presents the princess with a drink that is an abortifacient and is explained to Rhaenyra by taking away any unwanted consequences of her pleasure-indulging actions.

How do you think Rhaenyra will act now that King Viserys is making her wed? Is it possible for Daemon to go lower than trying to manipulate his niece to try and get the Iron Throne?

Let us know your answers and opinions in the comments below!

Watch the new episode of House of the Dragon season 1 next Sunday, only on HBO!