House of the Dragon season 1 episode 5 recap: We Light the Way

This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1 episode 5.

While King Viserys’ health declines, the marriage between Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon is proposed in this week’s episode of House of the Dragon season 1.

Catch up here on everything from the last episode!

The fifth episode begins with a prologue taking place at The Vale. Rhea Royce and her cousin, Gerold Royce, are riding and hunting when Rhea goes off on her own.

She finds a man in a dark cloak that turns out to be her husband, Daemon Targaryen. The prince upsets the horse which leads to the animal throwing Rhea off.

The horse lands on her, injuring the Lady of Runestone in the process. Daemon begins walking away when she calls her absent husband a craven, leading to Daemon taking a rock to her head.

While her husband and best friend depart for Driftmark, Queen Alicent talks to her father before Otto Hightower is sent back to Oldtown. She begs her dad to see what she sees in Rhaenrya and that the heir to the Iron Throne was honest.

However, Otto stands strong telling his daughter that her son, Aegon, needs to be the heir for the betterment of the realm.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 5: A Voyage to Driftmark

Now that King Viserys has decided Rheanyra will wed Ser Laenor Velaryon, they lead an expedition to High Tide castle. Lord Corlys Velaryon is not there to greet his king, as is Westerosi tradition, but rather his offspring, Ser Laenor, and Lady Laena.

This exemplifies how Corlys has the upper hand in this arrangement, and not the king. Back at the godswood in the Red Keep, Alicent is greeted by Lord Larys Strong, both being offspring of the last and current Hand of the King.

Larys plants the seed in Alicent’s mind that Rhaenyra is lying when he brings up the tea that Master Mellos brought to the princess in the last episode. After a long and exhaustive walk through the castle, King Viserys and Lord Lyonel Strong arrive at Lord Corlys with the monarch being out of breath and coughing.

After Corlys informs his king of the death of Rhea Royce, the two begin talking about their children’s marriage. King Viserys brings it up to Lord Corlys and uses similar verbiage that Corlys used when he proposed the marriage of Viserys with Lady Laena all those years ago.

Corlys wants to ensure his family name is being represented and tries to make it so Velaryon’s will be the name on the Iron Throne. But Viserys says once Rhaenyra’s offspring claim the throne, they will do as Targaryens.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 5: Rheanyra and Laenor open up

Walking on the shore, Princess Rhaenyra and Ser Laenor Velaryon are discussing their upcoming and forced nuptials. Because the princess knows Laenor is gay, Rhaenyra proposes a special arrangement that they perform their duty for the realm, while also keeping their marriage open to pursue their own interests.

Privately, Laenor’s parents speak about how they know of their son’s true nature and discuss how they are putting him in danger. Down on the shore, Laenor is being comforted by his boo, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, and they revel in the best-case scenario they have found themselves in.

Sailing back to King’s Landing, Ser Criston Cole goes to talk to Rheanrya. He proposes they leave for the Free Cities to be just that, free of the crown, and live in love.

Rhaenyra declines since she knows now her duties. The princess informs Ser Criston of her understanding with Ser Laenor but Criston is offended by his position as her sidepiece.

The expedition to Driftmark returns to the capital where Queen Alicent summons Ser Criston to her chambers. She begins questioning about the night Daemon returns (alluding to Rheanyra and Daemon’s coupling) but the Kingsguard knight admits to his own breaking of vows and reveals Rheanyra did lie to Alicent.

Since he fell when he returned to King’s Landing, Viserys is being treated by leeches once again where audiences discover how the king’s whole left arm has become infected. He is reflecting on his time as king and how he has not done anything to sing songs about in 500 years.

This is something Lord Lyonel remarks are not a bad thing since that has meant peace in the realm.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 5: A Beautiful Westerosi wedding…

The guests are arriving for the days-long wedding feast, and all pay their respects to the king and future queen of Westeros. Ser Gerold Royce begins talking with his king but is interrupted once the Velaryons arrive and the feast can begin.

Shortly after Velaryons grand entrance, Prince Daemon comes meandering in, even though he was kicked out of King’s Landing, and takes a seat at the royal’s table. Viserys begins giving his opening speech when someone catches his eye and he ceases.

At the entranceway, Queen Alicent arrives and makes her way to her seat, interrupting the entire event. Lord Larys remarks that she is wearing green (after wearing Targaryen red and black since becoming queen) the same color House Hightower uses to call their bannermen for war.

Once the king finally completes his speech and everyone dines, there is dancing and celebrations that begin with Rhaenyra and Laenor looking adorable. During this time, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth discovers that the paramour the princess is hiding is actually Ser Criston Cole.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 5: …ends like most Westerosi weddings

As the festivities continue, Ser Gerold Royce goes to talk to Daemon and accuses him of killing Lady Rhea. Daemon ignores any of these claims and talks about how he intends to fly down to The Vale after the wedding to inherit all of Runestone.

Being a little too comfortable sharing his information, Ser Joffrey goes to talk to Ser Criston and discusses how he knows the secret he has with the princess. As this goes on, Daemon and Rhaenyra talk about the political and lusting sides of marriage.

King Viserys sees this from afar but before the king can act, chaos breaks out.

Screaming is heard as pushing and shoving occur all throughout the dance floor. Ser Criston has begun beating Ser Joffrey’s face and kills Ser Laenor’s paramour.

The Kingsguard goes to the godswood to make a permanent solution to his emotions when Queen Alicent arrives and stops him before any irreversible decisions are made. The episode ends with the rushed wedding of Princess Rhaenyra to Ser Laenor.

This takes place minutes after the chaos has ended and Laenor is still devastated about his love being murdered. After the vows are exchanged and the royal lineage receives some stabilization, King Viserys passes out and collapses.

With the next episode looking to take a big jump next week, what changes do you think will occur during this time? Will it be possible for Alicent to trust Rhaenrya ever again?

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!