House of the Dragon season 1 episode 6 recap: The Princess & The Queen

This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1 episode 6.

Jumping ahead a decade, the relationship between Rhaenyra and Alicent continues to be aggravated in this week’s episode of House of the Dragon season 1.

Catch up here on everything from the last episode!

The sixth episode begins immediately with a time jump forward of ten years. Princess Rhaenyra, now in her late 20s, is giving birth to her third child, who turns out to be a boy.

Immediately after giving birth, a servant enters the room and informs the heir to the Iron Throne that Queen Alicent would like to see the baby now. Because the Princess knows the game the Queen is playing, Rhaenyra, minutes after giving birth, walks through the Red Keep and up to the Queen’s chambers.

Laenor Velaryon is around to offer a crutch but is clearly unaware of his wife’s excruciating pain and exhaustion.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 6: Rhaenyra introduces her newborn

Once the couple arrives, Ser Criston allows them into Alicent’s chambers with a coldness that shows he is still not over Rhaenyra’s offer a decade ago. The Queen offers faux sympathy for Rhaenyra for walking all this way.

That is quickly passed over once King Viserys arrives to meet his newest grandson.

When Alicent asks for the baby’s name, Laenor quickly states his name is Joffrey, something Rhaenyra clearly did not agree to beforehand. After the queen takes a glance at the pale newborn, she leaves and remarks to Laenor that one day he will have a child that looks more like him.

The Princess and Laenor return to their living chambers where Ser Harwin “Breakbones” Strong and their two older sons, with brown hair, are waiting. The sons, Jacaerys “Jace” and Lucerys “Luke” Velaryon, have chosen an egg for their baby brother Joffrey and plan to take it to the dragon pit where their dragons reside.

Ser Harwin is going to accompany them since he is the Commander of the City Watch, but also because he is clearly the biological father of Rhaenyra’s three sons. This is all but confirmed when Harwin and Rhaenyra get some alone time and share playful and romantic looks.

Down in the dragon pit, Jace is trying to command his dragon but struggling a bit. The dragon tamer does his best to explain to Jace how he must believe his control over the dragon, like his slightly older uncle, Aegon.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 6: Alicent must keep her sons in line

After the sons have completed their practice today, Aegon, along with his nephews, prepares to give his little brother Aemond his “dragon” since he does not have one. This “dragon” turns out to be a pig with fake wings.

This was all just a prank since Aemond is the only boy without a dragon. Longing for a dragon of his own, Aemond travels deep into the dragon cellar to end up almost getting burned by the adult dragons.

In her chambers, Alicent is teaching her daughter, Helaena, when a Kingsguard brings in the dusty and dirty Aemond. Her son explains what happened with the pig and Alicent has pity for him.

She then takes this information to her husband where the conversation shifts from their children to Rhaenyra’s. Alicent brings up the fact that all three of Rhaenyra’s sons are clearly not Laenor’s.

She calls out Viserys’ daughter for insulting the crown and their house. The king ignores this accusation since if it were true, it would rip apart the realm.

Walking about the castle, Alicent talks with Ser Criston about this dilemma since they are some of the only people who will talk openly about it. The kingsguard knight expresses his displeasure with this situation and his hatred of Rhaenyra while Alicent believes her path of honor will prevail.

The queen then goes to scold her eldest son about the pig and demands Aegon protects his brother since they are one family. She then strongly reinforces that Aegon is the true heir by being the king’s firstborn son, and he must prepare to challenge the Iron Throne.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 6: Daemon’s contentment is challenged

Across the Narrow Sea in Pentos, Daemon, and his wife, Lady Laena Velaryon, are showing off their dragons to the Prince of Pentos, Reggio, and some other folks from the Free Cities. That night the platinum-haired couple and their two daughters share a feast hosted by Reggio.

The prince then gives a toast to Aegon the Conqueror since he was able to work with the Free Cities a century ago to aid them. This flows into his offer for Daemon, which is a lordship in Pentos, in return for aid against Lys, Dorne, and the reemerging Triarchy.

Laena begins graciously declining, but Daemon stops her and tells the Pentos prince they will consider it.

Privately in their chambers, Laena explains how this is not their home or where their birthright is so considering the offer is foolish. She adds how she wants to die a Dragonriders death and not as a gluttonous lord.

Returning to King’s Landing and the Red Keep, the sons of Alicent and Rhaenyra are practicing their sword work while being instructed by Ser Criston. The Kingsguard knight focuses his teachings on Aegon and Aemond and basically ignores Jace and Luke.

Looking on, Ser Harwin speaks up for his secret sons which Criston uses to have Aegon beat up Jace. When he sees enough, Harwin pulls Aegon off of Jace which leads to Ser Criston jabbing at Harwin with the truthful rumors of Jace’s true paternity.

In response to this, Harwin beats up Criston, much to the Kingsguard’s delight, before some other knights pull Breakbones off.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 6: Rhaenyra and Laenor must do damage control

After she is informed of this incident, Rhaenyra goes walking through the Red Keep until she overhears Lyonel Strong talking and yelling at Harwin. The King’s Hand is mad at his son for opening House Strong to embarrassment with these rumors.

Now, unlike the king, Lyonel explains he is done turning a blind eye to Harwin and Rhaenyra’s relationship. Once she hears enough, Rhaenyra returns to her chambers where she is given a warm wet rag to help with her swollen breasts.

After drunkenly singing throughout the castle, Laenor and Ser Qarl enter to the annoyance of the princess. Laenor does not read the room, so Rhaenyra clears the room, so that is can be only the two of them.

Laenor begins talking about the brewing war down in the Stepstones and expresses his delight that he will have a purpose again. Once Laenor is done gushing about the war, Rhaenyra bursts his bubble when she brings up how the rumors of their son’s true parentage are getting louder.

She is upset that her husband dismisses this update from his wife. She tells him to not give up his post when the storm lashes.

Laenor explains that a smart sailor will flee the stormy waters before they become too unbearable. Rhaenyra commands her husband to stay by her side.

Over in Pentos, Laena is comforting her daughter, Rhaena, since her dragon egg never hatched, and her father is not around for much help. Laena then goes to talk with her husband on the roof of their Pentosi residence.

She remarks about missing Westeros, a belief Daemon does not share since he has no political or royal responsibilities here in Pentos. Laena constructively calls out her husband for being more than just a lord who sits around and watches his days pass.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 6: Rhaenyra tries to keep the peace

Returning to Westeros and King’s Landing, court is being held by the small council with Alicent taking lead. When Rhaenyra undermines her queen’s orders, some tension builds that Lyonel tries to diminish by giving Ser Tyland Lannister the chance to speak.

He decidedly brings up the Stepstones. Rhaenyra states this could have been handled long ago if the crown was not so lax.

Alicent takes offense to this and begins to leave. Rhaenyra brings her back with a marriage proposal between Jacaerys and Helaena along with Aemond getting the next egg from Syrax.

Embarrassment washes over the princess when her breasts begin lactating, so she sits down. Alicent and Viserys leave for their chambers with Alicent mocking the marriage proposal as a last-ditch effort to keep the peace of the realm rather than giving up her lineage.

In his chambers, King Viserys is greeted by Lyonel Strong who wishes to step down as Hand to the King because of Harwin’s outburst and the dark shadow over his house. When Lyonel does not explain the shadow plainly, Viserys does not accept his resignation.

Lyonel then requests a leave so he can take Harwin to Harrenhal where he may assume his lordship there. Viserys agrees.

Disgusted by her husband’s choice to decline Lyonel’s resignation, Alicent goes to have dinner with Lord Larys Strong. She catches him up with his father and brother’s actions explaining they are leaving.

She states how she wishes her father was still Hand since he would be on her side.

Larys hears this and decides to go to the cells to offer prisoners freedom if they do something for him and partake in penance. This penance Larys alludes to ends up being the removals of their tongues.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 6: The curse of Harrenhal strikes

Finally ready to give birth, Lady Laena is having difficulties. The man in charge explains how they could remove the babe from the mother, just like Viserys was offered in the pilot episode.

Laena recognizes this and chooses the death of a dragon rider by having her dragon, Vhegar, ignite his rider. Before he leaves for Harrenhal, Ser Harwin says his goodbyes to his biological children and their mother without being able to properly say goodbye due to their secret.

Proving he is no fool himself, Jace asks his mother if Harwin was his true father. Rhaenyra assures him that he is a Targaryen and that is all that matters.

With no personal ties to King’s Landing anymore, Rhaenyra informs Laenor that they are going to Dragonstone so they can escape the horrors of this city. She also informs her husband that he is more than welcome to bring Qarl since they need all the swords they can get.

The episode ends with Lyonel and Harwin Strong returning to Harrenhal as Rhaenyra, Laenor and their sons travel to Dragonstone. A fire lights up their Harrenhal that ends up killing both Lyonel and Harwin.

The prisoners that Larys unleashed are surveilling the wreckage once the fires are out, proving that he is responsible. This is confirmed when Larys tells his Queen that he did this for her so Otto Hightower could be reinstated as Hand of the King.

He adds he did this so he would be owed a favor he will call in when the time is right.

How do you think Rhaenyra and Daemon will bounce back after losing their beloveds? How formidable do you think Larys Strong will be in his mischievous pursuits?   

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!