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https://nerdist.com/article/my-lady-jane-prime-video-fantasy-series-characters-history-storylines-and-more-london-set-visit/

Are you looking to fill that Bridgerton-sized hole in your hearts while you’re (impatiently) waiting for its next season? If so, Prime Video has the perfect historical series to deliver all the fantasy, romance, adventure, drama, clever satire, and absolutely stunning visuals that your heart desires. My Lady Jane, based on the YA novel series by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows, completely changes real-life royal history surrounding Lady Jane Grey, Edward Tudor, and others with a feminist framing. Oh, and did we mention that there are shapeshifters in the mix?!

Nerdist took a visit out to My Lady Jane’s set to give you all the information about this universe’s main characters, big storylines, how it reshapes the past, and why you’ll want to jump into its action. 

What Is My Lady Jane About and How Does It Connect to Actual English History?

My Lady Jane is a satirical dramedy that reimagines the actual story of Lady Jane Grey. Who is that? Stick with us for a short history lesson that will bring this series into clearer focus. 

The (Brief) Real-Life History of Lady Jane Grey

In 1553, Lady Jane Grey (a.k.a. Lady Jane Dudley following her marriage to Lord Guilford Dudley) became the Queen of England for only nine days in a very interesting manner. Her marriage to Lord Dudley, son of King Edward VI’s chief minister, put her close to the crowd. King Edward VI’s will nominated Jane and her male heirs as successors to the throne due to her being Protestant and her commitment to his reformed Church of England. The will bumped out his two half-sisters, specifically Mary, who was Catholic. The Privy Council of England (a body of advisors to the Kingdom) and other notable people honor his wishes initially. 

Needless to say, a stir happened among supporters with many believing Mary is the rightful Queen. Lady Jane Grey became the Queen of England on July 10; however, the Privy Council got rid of her on July 19. She was then held prisoner in the Tower of England, convicted of treason, and, after her father got into a rebellious mix against Queen Mary, executed via beheading alongside her husband at only 16 or 17 years old. What a terrible ending to a short life. 

My Lady Jane’s Take on Her Life and Legacy 

This series literally gives two middle fingers up to Lady Jane Grey’s awful ending. The series imagines a world where Jane actually gets to save herself in an alt-fantasy Tudor era world. Here’s a quick synopsis for My Lady Jane: 

Inspired by the best-selling book, My Lady Jane is a radical retelling of English royal history, in which King Henry VIII’s son Edward does not die of tuberculosis, Lady Jane Grey is not beheaded, and neither is her rascal of a husband Guildford. At the center of this rollicking new series is the brilliant and headstrong Jane who is unexpectedly crowned queen overnight and finds herself the target of nefarious villains coming for the crown (and her head)… My Lady Jane is an epic tale of true love and high adventure, where the damsel in distress saves herself, her true love, and then the Kingdom. 

My Lady Jane’s behind-the-scenes team runs on women power, including the show’s creator, showrunner, and co-executive producer Gemma Burgess, fellow showrunner Meredith Glynn, and director Jamie Babbit. During our set visit, which took place in London, UK in December 2022 in the midst of active filming, the trio spoke with us on an elaborate hot set depicting an event that Lady Jane Grey wasn’t afforded during short life and even shorter reign: a coronation celebration.

“She was never coronated, which is why she doesn’t always appear on [royal history] lists,” Burgess reveals. “So it’s kind of our equivalent of a coronation ball and everything’s about to fall apart. So we wanted to make the ball as beautiful and excessive as possible and then destroy it!” Burgess says moments like these and the series as a whole will depict Lady Jane Grey as a fully-realized young woman and less of a little-known and murky historical figure. 

My Lady Jane will still hit some important historical points, like the ongoing contention between Protestants and Catholics. However, even that aspect is getting its own fantasy leaning. In this world, it is ethians (shapeshifters who are frowned upon by the current regime) versus verities (normal people who cannot turn into animals). 

“The Protestant/Catholic thing that was going on way back when was really about otherism,” Glynn tells us. “In [today’s times], there is so much otherism. The ethians and the verities are our two groups and the ethians are the others [who are] persecuted. There’s laws passed against them. And for me as a queer person, I really related to the themes of what’s going on in our show with the ethians as kind of a metaphor for a lot of queer people and any other people who are persecuted.”  

You can certainly expect a crossing between these two social lines and a rebellion on the rise in the midst of romance (more on the latter later). 

Who Are the Main Characters in My Lady Jane? 

Like many historical series, there are a ton of people in the cast. Here are a few of the main players you should know: 

Lady Jane Grey

Obviously, Lady Jane is the primary character in this story. Newcomer Emily Bader calls her character “one of the dumbest smart people you’ll ever meet.” Bader elaborates, “She knows everything about people and the world, but she knows very little about what it means to be a person and to be a part of the world… she’s dealing with finding her identity and her power as a woman at a time, even when you were the Queen of England, that power was constantly being either taken from you or you had to fight for it. And so I think she’s figuring out how to keep her power while also discovering what it’s like to be a woman with love and femininity and all those things that sometimes don’t go hand in hand.”

Bader applauds both the novel writers as well as the show’s creators for giving Jane a second chance, in a sense. “She was a young girl that was forced into a position because of her position, her station and intelligence, and then killed for it. I think this is giving Jane, who never really had any chance to have a life or make any decisions of her own, power and identity.” 

Surprisingly, Emily Bader is a California native who does an English accent very well. Her secret? Watching Pride & Prejudice (2005) on a loop with her family and mimicking Keira Knightley. That’s not a bad strategy at all! Jane’s persona, as Bader describes it, is a little Elizabeth Bennet and Blondie, the rock singer. 

Guilford Dudley

Opposite of Bader is Edward Bluemel as Guilford Dudley, a young man who is grappling with his own secrets. While the book version of Guilford exhibits a poetic side, Bluemel says his version of the character is more about banter and a brilliance that he keeps under wraps.

“There’s definitely an intelligence to him and he definitely loves reading and he is very clever, but that’s another thing that’s sort of been hidden away,” says Bluemel. “It’s not part of the persona that he is portraying to the public at all, but you get glimmers of it. We learn very, very early on that he speaks Latin and then there’s a couple of other moments when suddenly there’s sort of a flash of intelligence that reveals exactly who he really is.” 

He says Guilford draws some inspiration from characters like Mr. Darcy and even unexpected real-life sources. “Interestingly, the description of my character when I got it said a Tudor Harry Styles… basically they basically amalgamated sort of the hottest people they could imagine and sort of put them together and then were like, do it… And I got there and they were like, “you’re going to be wearing head-to-toe leather 95% of the time and the other 5% I wear velvet.” 

We won’t give away additional details about Jane and Guilford’s arranged marriage and how their love blossoms, but they will find themselves guarding secrets, dealing with the challenges of power, and trying to keep the country together while also keeping the crown on Jane’s head. 

King Edward 

Jordan Peters is King Edward, who is actually older than he was in real life considering he died at just 15 years old. (Yes, all of these folks were super young.) “He’s representing the whole country but he hasn’t had the opportunity to live a normal life and fall in love like other people… people see him as a weak King. He’s finding himself and becoming the man that he wants to be and he goes on this whole adventure to discover who he is not only as a King but as a human being.” 

Apparently, this version of King Edward isn’t feeling too well. Is there something sinister afoot? Perhaps. 

Lord Dudley 

Guilford’s father appears to be wealthy and well-off… but that may not be the case. That is perhaps why he’s down for his son to link up with Jane. He’s a man keeping secrets close to the chest. Actor Rob Brydon tells us more about his character’s calculating ways. “I think at face he’s a good person but he’s a schemer. He’s had to scheme to keep his place in the court. It’s very cutthroat in the court.” 

Brydon says Lord Dudley and Lord Seymour have “beef” with each other that adds to the overall tension. (Yes, we did laugh at his choice of words.)  

Archer, Leader of the Ethians 

While we can assume some of our seemingly verity characters are probably hiding a shapeshifting secret, Archer is absolutely ethian. In fact, he’s the leader—or, as Michael Workeye says, King—of the ethian group. Archer will lead the charge of an eventual uprising of the ethian population. 

“He’s essentially all of the anti-establishment rolled into one,” says Workeye. “He is anti the Kingdom, anti the monarchy, and anti the way of life in England. He was born into nobility and lived a trauma free life. Great childhood.” 

Archer later becomes an ethian and leaves home. He returns home years later and see the oppression of ethians. Now, he aims to change that… by any means necessary.  

Lord Seymour 

We know that Lord Seymour, played by Dominic Cooper, is up to some sort of shenanigans. He’s certainly not a fan of Lady Jane Grey nor anyone who supports her reign. But we have yet to discover his true motivations and desires. The show’s mix of Tudor era and comedy gave Cooper the perfect challenge of how to portray his villainous character.

“In these costumes, you’re used to having a certain posture and selling a sort of “Tudory manner.” It’s still really important, I think, to play that for real. You have a tendency to sort of play up and be a bit hammy to sell the joke… it is comedy and you have to be very exact.”

Cooper says Lord Seymour (and others) don’t perceive Jane as a threat… until she is. 

Mary Tudor 

Hello Jane’s archnemesis and Edward’s younger sister. Mary Tudor, played by Kate O’Flynn (pictured above beside Lord Seymour), hints that while her character is “evil,” that no one is quite who they seem. “…[She] really wants to be Queen and is looking forward to it. She may be plotting a few things to make that happen. Maybe.”

She says Mary and Lord Seymour are in cahoots to some degree to sway things in both of their favor. How? You’ll have to watch and find out. 

The remainder of the cast is as follows: 

Why Will Historical Romance Fans Love Prime Video’s My Lady Jane Series? 

My Lady Jane draws inspiration from beloved films like The Princess Bride and A Knight’s Tale to craft its narrative. There’s a little something for everyone. Fans of history can compare notes and perhaps point out Easter eggs that nod to that time period. Romance fans will appreciate the burning romance between Jane and Guilford as they fall in love. In fact, Emily Bader says it is “surprisingly sexy and spicy.” 

Costume fanatics will absolutely rave over the show’s intricate looks, perhaps even aiming to recreate them. Those who like satire and drama will get a healthy dose of both. And, the cast boasts some diversity too, similar to Bridgerton. 

Meredith Glynn hopes viewers will come to the end of season one and say that it is fun, refreshing, and worthy of a second season.

What Is the Release Date for My Lady Jane on Prime Video?

My Lady Jane hits Prime Video on June 27 with all eight episodes streaming.

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https://nerdist.com/article/house-of-the-dragon-season-two-episode-one-botched-blood-and-cheese/

House of the Dragon‘s season two premiere ended with a violent scene readers of George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood have desperately waited to see. It was the iconic, infamous event known as “Blood and Cheese,” arguably the single most shocking, cruel, and heartbreaking moment in the history of Westeros. And House of the Dragon completely botched it by needlessly delivering a vastly inferior version.

I love every single book and short story George R.R. Martin has written about Westeros. Yet I also know books are not TV shows and TV shows are not books. Adaptations, even faithful ones, must make significant changes if they hope to succeed. The written word, no matter how good, simply does not always translate to the screen. In its first season, House of the Dragon made a lot of amazing changes, the majority of which I supported and celebrated. From the revelation of Aegon’s Dream to an infinitely more dynamic King Viserys, it provided so many fantastic new aspects to Martin’s story.

Of course, the show also made some terrible changes. It undercut the major figures’ storylines and created big spectacles free of logic. Those kinds of alterations are frustrating (to be polite), but it’s a part of the process. I get that. I really do.

But some scenes need zero changes because they’re not only perfect on the page, they’re already perfect for the screen. And—more than any other moment in all of Fire & Blood, and maybe in all of A Song of Ice and Fire—no scene was ever more TV ready than “Blood and Cheese.”

The murder of Prince Jaehaerys on House of the Dragon almost certainly shocked and bothered those who had no idea what was coming. The violent murder of a child, even in Westeros, is still inherently stunning. The problem is those who did know what was coming, the people most excited and invested in this scene, know this version is monumentally, infuriatingly worse. George R.R. Martin’s version is so much more powerful, creative, and awful than House of the Dragon‘s. It’s also more logical and far more meaningful to the story.

In Fire & Blood a scheming, angry, worried Alicent Hightower is the chief architect of Aegon usurping his half-sister’s throne. House of the Dragon took away some of her agency by making her believe Viserys had a deathbed change of heart about succession. Fortunately season two’s premiere gave some back to Alicent by showing she knows the only way forward now is violence. She accepts blood must be shed and she has played a role in that inevitability. That scene with her father (along with the rat catcher walking by her earlier in the episode) also seemed to be setting up the horror that awaited her at the end by having her naively believe a war for the Iron Throne would free of “wonton” violence. The series did a fantastic job foreshadowing the worst moment in Alicent’s life, one that would make her truly face the consequences of her choices.

Then it didn’t have her experience it.

In Fire & Blood, Daemon’s two hired assassins aren’t bumbling around without a plan. They are far more capable, focused, and diabolical. The rat catcher is chosen specifically because he knows how to get around the Red Keep’s secret tunnels (including where the royals live) in a way few others do. That includes even those who actually live there. Cheese, as he is eventually called, knows all the hidden passageways in and out of bedchambers and offices. His intimate knowledge is also partly why they targeted Haelena’s young son rather than Aegon or Aemond in the first place.

Book Alicent resides in an accessible part of the castle, the Tower of the Hand. The highly protected King and his family sleeps in Maegor’s Holdfast, which has no secret ways entrances. King Maegor had the Red Keep’s secret tunnels installed, but wisely didn’t want any where he lived and slept. The subtext of Martin’s story reveals no one in the royal court worried about where Alicent, Helaena, and the kids went anyway because they obviously weren’t targets. This is a war between Rhaenyra and Daemon against Aegon and Aemond. Even the murder of Lucerys Targaryen wouldn’t make someone think little Prince Jaehaerys was in danger. He’s a literal child. But that’s one of the major points of the entire scene, which is really not about Jaehaerys or Helaena at all. They’re just victims. The scene is really about Alicent and how she made her loved ones targets.

In Martin’s book, Blood and Cheese hide in Alicent’s bed chamber because that’s how they can get what Daemon wants, “a son for a son.” Spies let Daemon (not still on Dragonstone at this point) and Mysaria (still in King’s Landing and willingly involved in this scheme) know about the Queen’s activities. Every night Helaena takes her three kids— the twins Jaehaerys and Jaehara, aged six, and son Maelor, aged two—into their grandmother’s bedroom to say goodnight.

On that fateful evening, Blood and Cheese had already bound and gagged Alicent and strangled her bed maid. Then they waited, as a helpless and terrified Alicent looked on, not knowing exactly what they had planned. When Helaena walked in with the three kids holding Maelor’s hand, Blood “barred the door and slew the queen’s guardsman, whilst Cheese appeared to snatch up Maelor.” After promising to kill them all unless Helaena stayed calm and quiet, they also swore to only harm one son. Only, in one of the most horrific decisions ever faced by anyone in Westeros, Helaena would have to pick which son died.

The Queen pleaded with them to take her instead, but they threatened to assault her daughter if she didn’t choose. Finally, “on her knees, weeping, Helaena named her youngest, Maelor.” Why him? Some think because he was too young to understand, others because Jaehaerys was the King’s heir. Whatever drove her choice, it didn’t matter. Cheese whispered to little Maelor, who must have been so confused and scared, “You hear that, little boy? Your momma wants you dead.” Cheese then smiled at Blood, who instead struck Jaehaerys’ head off with a single blow.

Yeah. Yeah.

On the page this horrible, shocking, heartbreaking scene—a true testament to Martin’s gift as a writer—reads like a short play in a way few moments of Fire & Blood do. It’s all there. There’s no guessing at the action, tension, and dialogue. There’s no mystery to fill in. Nor is there any way to improve it. It’s perfect, as is the purpose it serves in this story about two women fighting over the Iron Thrones. That’s what really matters.

This is the moment where Alicent literally must face what she’s put in motion. For all her talk about protecting her family from Rhaenyra, she is the one who put them all in mortal danger. She started this war. Her anger and ambition helped make such a moment of evil possible.

And for all of the Greens’ arrogance about righteousness, they must now spend the rest of the war knowing none of them, not even the youngest and most innocent, are safe. This is a fight to the death no one will win even if they survive. Helaena, Alicent, Jaehaera, and Maelor all walk away from Blood and Cheese with their lives, yet each life is destroyed in its own way.

For indefensible, incomprehensible reasons, House of the Dragon decided not to have Alicent present for any of this. Neither does it make Helaena agonize over an impossible decision only to be left with a son who knows she named him for death. Instead Alicent only had to hear about what happened while Helaena instantly gave up her son. (Which itself was an illogical moment of non-tension. Blood and Cheese could have easily looked under the kids’ pajamas to identify Jaehaerys.)

Why did House of the Dragon take a scene this good and beloved, one of the most highly anticipated in all of Game of Thrones history, and make it inferior? Why did it lessen the emotional impact, horror, and meaning to the story? It’s not as though these changes were about lessening the violence. The show actually amped the physical brutality of the moment. The murder of little Jaehaerys was worse because Blood slowly sawed off his head rather than chopping it off in a single blow. Why amplify the physical awfulness but lessen the emotional aspect when that’s the entire reason for the scene in the first place?

Ultimately the show’s reasons doesn’t matter, at least not to book readers who know what they missed out on. The only thing that matters is that House of the Dragon blew a rare opportunity. It had the chance to adapt a book moment that was already perfect for the screen in every way.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings. (Or complaining about how House of the Dragon did the impossible and screwed up “Cheese and Blood.”)

The post HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Botched George R.R. Martin’s Most Shocking Moment appeared first on Nerdist.

https://blacknerdproblems.com/new-june-manga-series-available-on-azuki/

My favorite digital manga subscription service Azuki, home of my beloved My Dear Detective: Mitsuko’s Case Files and newer fave Our Aimless Nights, will be adding nine new additions to its catalog including Star Fruit Books’ highly anticipated indie horror manga The Horrors of Noroi Michiru and eight new series across a variety of genres from MediBang. These titles include Different Nation, Repeating Your End Together, Sinner, Flen in Black, If You Share A Kiss with Asakawa, Stories from the Shopping District, VESTIGE, and Makabe-sensei’s Perfect Plan, distributed by MediBang.

All nine titles are now available worldwide (except Japan) on the Azuki website and iOS and Android apps, with select free chapters available.

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The Horrors of Noroi Michiru by Noroi Michiru, published by Star Fruit Books: For the first time ever, the master of horror Noroi Michiru is available in English! This two-volume collection includes his one-shots, with each page rendered in exquisite detail to showcase his splendid artwork — each panel worthy of being framed. Noroi Michiru’s aesthetic is impressive in that it conforms to Western expectations, both amongst illustrated covers and also pages of narrative — focused, realistic anatomy, as opposed to more exaggerated, fanciful forms. His concepts, artwork, and narratives are as admirable as the efforts of Junji Ito, but his circulation, and consequently his fanbase, has mainly been exclusive to Japan.

Note: The Horrors of Noroi Michiru is an Azuki digital exclusive, meaning its digital release will be available only on Azuki. Star Fruit Books will release the series in print in two volumes. Volume 1 is 204 pages and goes on sale July 18, 2024.

This looks like it will appeal to fans of: horror via manga, indie manga, and heavily detailed illustrations

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Different Nation by Kakio Tsurukawa, distributed by MediBang: Since the aliens invaded Earth 20 years ago, they have co-existed with human beings in this country. ICPO, an institution with a mission to prevent violent crime happening in the invaded nation, is the main protagonist of this full-colored sci-fi human drama. Together with Roy, a former New York police officer, and a serious alien named Leonardo, Rika, a new Japanese investigator, confronts a crime organization in the bizarre but thrilling “Different Nation.”

Note: Kakio Tsurukawa also has two one-shots available from Star Fruit Books on Azuki: Sawanabe Zombie and Ikyoudo.

This looks like it will appeal to fans of: the sdic-fiction, drama and actions genres, and Shonen-like stories

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Repeating Your End Together by Seiju Natsumegu, distributed by MediBang: “Things I wanted to re-do seem to be endless…” An elite Office Lady, Komori, has a unique ability to do minimum time looping but the limit suddenly turned into 10 years when she got in an accident. The one who greets her in the high-school-past was that man, who had lived in Komori’s heart for a long time… sometimes remembered as a smiling nerd, sometimes as a lifeless body that Komori couldn’t save.

This looks like it will appeal to fans of: the drama, romance, and sci-fi genres

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VESTIGE by Cacoethic, distributed by MediBang: A survival thriller manga in full color! Keep your guard up and hunt everything you can because you never know when you’ll be hunted!

This looks like it will appeal to fans of: full colored stories, post-apocalyptic stories, and characters on the run

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Makabe-sensei’s Perfect Plan by Kosuke Tokimune, distributed by MediBang: The high school teacher Kanichi Makabe is what you might call a “perfectionist.” He does not compromise anything that might hinder his perfect routine! From fighting over seats in the train to protecting a corner of an eraser, every peaceful boring day is indeed a battlefield for him…

This looks like it will appeal to fans of: the comedy and slice-of-life genres, manga dealing with school life, and Seinen like stories

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Sinner by Kye, distributed by MediBang: Babies are scanned at birth, and their criminal probability is found. All is well if they’re not criminally inclined. However, if their numbers are too risky, they’re removed from society. This is heartbreaking for many, so a group of sinners is now fighting back for their right to try and not just be labeled at birth. Join us on their journey.

This looks like it will appeal to fans of: science fiction, angsty and tragic narratives

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Flen in Black by Keisuke Odagiri, distributed by MediBang: Chika grows medicinal herbs and sometimes helps treat her fellow villagers. One day, she notices someone dressed from head to toe in black standing in her herb garden. It turns out that person’s name is Flen, and she also seems to be extremely knowledgeable about medicines and herbs. Chika invites her in for a drink and asks her where she’s from. Flen replies with the mysterious answer “over the eastern mountain, and then as far as east goes.” However, it seems there is a secret behind Flen’s amazing medicinal knowledge. What could it be?

This looks like it will appeal to fans of: stories about medicine and healers, characters of mysterious origins

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Azuki is available on the web at www.azuki.co and in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. The app features 300 manga series, including international hits like Attack on Titan, Fire Force, and A Silent Voice. Azuki also publishes acclaimed new series like Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms, Natsume & Natsume, and My Dear Detective: Mitsuko’s Case Files, with weekly new chapters available exclusively via the Azuki app.

Manga fans can start reading for free with advertisements today, or upgrade to Premium and access the full Premium catalog featuring thousands of chapters for just $4.99 a month. A 14-day free trial and discounted annual plan are also available, and additional volumes outside the subscription can be purchased via direct volume sales. Premium members get 20% off all volumes. Most titles are available worldwide (except Japan). Stay up to date on the latest announcements by following Azuki at x.com/ReadAzuki, facebook.com/ReadAzuki, and instagram.com/readazuki.

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https://blackgirlnerds.com/house-of-the-dragon-recap-s2-episode-1-a-son-for-a-son/

Written by Angelica Monk and Jamie Broadnax

The ominous title for this episode for readers familiar with Fire and Blood informs us of the impending doom soon to come for the civil war between these families.  But for those not familiar, brace yourself, because this episode delivers a gut punch that you didn’t see coming.  Before we dive into the recap, there is a significant change from last season of House of the Dragon – the opening credits.  We shift from the stone model of old Valyria to a fabric tapestry that illustrates the events of the Targaryen era.  Once again, book readers will be familiar with the embroidery as the events stitch out characters depicted in blood, but those who have not read the book, will at least be learn to appreciate new nuggets of information each episode as they see these events play out and move forward that were previously shown in the opening credits.

We open in the North and get a nice little history lesson from Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor), who is the Lord of Winterfell. For those yearning for a dose of Game of Thrones nostalgia this was certainly a fan service moment for many of us, even with phrases harkening back to the series like “Winter Is Coming”. Summoned on behalf of Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) is her son Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett).  Who is now playing the role of a political player.  Seeing actor Harry Collett in his natural curly tendrils and out of that wig was certainly refreshing to see. We learn a bit of information about the ancestors of the Starks including Torrhen Stark, the King Who Knelt and the ancient duty of his people to defend the Seven Kingdoms from the dangers beyond the Wall. While  Jace doubts Torrhen Stark would ever bend the knee to Aegon the Conqueror unless he knew he could bring unity to the Seven Kingdoms, Jace seeks that same alliance with Cregan. As Cregan walks Jace over to the battlements and notes there’s a reason why his ancestors erected a 700-foot-high wall when King Jaehaerys visited, his dragons refused to go beyond the Wall. The Wall is meant to keep out Death. This shot is intentionally ominous which is a key to tell the viewer that this is a significant detail we need to remember.

Meanwhile at Dragonstone, Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) returns on the back of Melys after patrolling over 100 miles of open sea to hold the blockade of the Gullet. King Consort Daemon (Matt Smith) appears demanding she mounts Melys and flies with him to King’s Landing. Daemon intends to kill Vhagar and Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and knows he cannot face them alone but is certain Melys and Caraxes can take them down. 

Over at Driftmark, Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) has now fully recovered from his near-death experience at sea. He surveys the repairs of his ship, which was nearly destroyed at the Stepstones. He is greeted by Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim) a sailor in the Velaryon fleet who served in the Stepstones. Alyn reports to Corlys that repairs are going well on Sea Snake and seven more ships have been sent to fortify the blockade. Corlys wants his ship to be seaworthy ASAP and Alyn promises to speak to his brother about what reinforcements the shipwrights can muster. We learn that Alyn was the man that rescued him at sea and Corlys tell him that he is “in his debt”.

The next scene takes us to Kings Landing as Ser Arryk Cargyll of the Kingsguard (Luke Tittensor) climbs the battlements instructing his men to remain at their posts.He spots a dragon overhead and as  they prepare to arm the scorpion, Arryk orders them to hold as the dragon is Vhagar. Queen Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) is knitting an image of a dragon while her daughter, Princess Jaehaera plays with their maids in the Queen’s quarters. King Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) bursts in looking for his son, Prince Jaehaerys, he wants to bring him to the Small Council since he will be king one day. Helaena whispers, “What if he doesn’t want to be King?” Aegon demands to know where he is and  Helaena reluctantly tells him Aegon he’s in the library as is his custom. As Aegon walks to get his son, Helaena says she’s not afraid of the dragons but the rats. Aegon quips to the staff, “The Queen is an enduring mystery. Is she not?” 

As you recall from season one, Helaena has the gift of foresight and she sees things that others don’t.  So when the queen speaks, people should in fact listen.

We cut to the queen-who-once-was Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) getting cunnilingus from Ser Criston Cole, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard (Fabian Frankel).  As they get dressed to meet with the Small Council, Alicent tells Criston their coupling cannot happen again, Criston agrees and then asks Alicent to help him don his white cloak.   In the Small Council chambers, we see a rat catcher exit as Alicent and Criston enter. They are greeted by Ser Otto Hightower, Hand of the King (Rhys Ifans). The remaining Small Council now consists of Grand Maester Orwylle (Kurt Egyiawan), Ser Tyland Lannister the Master of Coin (Jefferson Hall) and Lord Jasper Wylde the Master of Laws (Paul Kennedy). Otto states the blockade has put a strain on King’s Landing and Aegon regrets they didn’t kill the Greens. Otto states they must deal with their cards they have been dealt and the Small Council agrees they must bolster their Navy.

Aemond, with a noticeable pimp walk, enters unannounced, Alicent insists he has no place, but Aegon insists his brother belongs with the Small Council. Aemond notes they must take hold of the Riverlands, Aegon thinks using the dragons to intimidate the Riverlands’ forces is best and if they do not bend the knee, they will simply burn them.

Outside the Small Council chambers, Alicent is met by Ser Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) who confirms he rooted out the potential spies of Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) in Alicent’s staff. He assures her that they no longer breathe the same air, and he has personally picked new attendants for her. That evening, as her maids attend to Alicent during her bath, she dismisses them, insisting on bathing herself.

On a shoreline near the Storm’s End, Rhaenyra pulls what’s left of Luke’s remains. She weeps and its a gut wrenching scene to watch the loss of a son in such a tragic way.

 Back in King’s Landing, Aegon enters the throne room, heralded by his friends as “Aegon the Magnanimous”. He sits the Iron Throne to hear his first petition as King. A sheep herder pleads for the return of the tenth of his sheep which were taken by the crown, Aegon eagerly agrees to return his sheep. However, Otto advises him that if provides this way for one man he will have to do this for all and Aegon reneges on his promise.Larys, who was watching Aegon earlier approaches him in the castle halls, flattering the King in his handling of the smallfolk. He takes Aegon to the side and suggests in an incredibly subtle way to consider a new Hand of the King. 

  Otto meets Alicent in her chambers, wishing to be allied with her father. She complains to him that he’s undercut her authority before the Small Council and her sons. She fears that Otto will undermine her voice and Aegon and Aemond will no longer look to her for council.  She has completely lost her power at this point as the now Dowager Queen.

 Near Dragonstone, a ship is stopped attempting to circumvent the blockade. Ser Erryk Cargyll of the Queensguard (Elliott Tittensor) finds a stowaway onboard, Mysaria, notes the last time they crossed paths, there were two of him.  Erryk vouches for Mysaria, he confirms she was not an agent of Hightowers. Erryk is confronted by Daemon, he admits he’s ashamed about abandoning the Kingsguard, and that his brother joined the Queensguard. Daemon counters why he didn’t kill Aegon and Erryk says he and his brother swore an oath to protect the royal family, what were they to do when they turned against each other?

 Daemon visits Mysaria in her cells and strikes a bargain. If she provides him with her knowledge of servants who have spied for her in the Red Keep, she will win her freedom.    Lady Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia) escorts Jace to his mother’s chambers. He bravely yet tearfully reports of his progress in the North and the Vale, when Rhaenyra stands and wraps her in his arms. They both grieve the loss of Luke. A funeral service begins for Luke and Lady Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell), Luke’s betrothed, watches the flames as tears stream down her face.

Daemon is smuggled into King’s Landing where he meets Blood (Sam C. Wilson), a member of the Gold Cloaks who hates the Hightowers. Daemon shakes a large bag of coins enticing him.  Blood escorts Daemon through the city and meets Cheese (Mark Stobart) a rat catcher who worked for Mysaria and is revealed to have large gambling debts.  Daemon describes Aemond’s appearance and offers to pay Cheese half now and half later once the deed is done. Cheese asks what they should do if they don’t find Aemond, Daemon doesn’t say anything.

 Cheese leads Blood through the watery tunnels beneath the Red Keep, ordering Blood to climb a ladder and bring his dog as they ascend. They pass the Throne Room as Aegon, and his friends drunkenly discuss his reign with his friends.

 Blood hears a noise and finds Cheese holding a knife to Helaena’s throat. Blood says the Queen isn’t a son, but Cheese tells him they can kill one of the children who are sleeping in their beds. One of them is the Prince and heir to the throne, they simply need to look for boy parts. Blood says the mother will know and they ask Helaena to point out her son. She offers her necklace of great value, but they snatch and threaten to kill all three of them if she doesn’t choose Helaena points to Jaehaerys and Blood doubts that she gave him up so easily, but Cheese insists she is telling the truth.

Cheese holds down Jaehaerys while Blood kills him. Helaena quickly grabs Jaehaera from her bed while the men are distracted and flees the room. The sick sound of blood and sawing can be heard as they decapitate the child’s body.

Helaena runs down the steps and bursts into her mother’s chambers, Queen Alicent, who is fornicating with Ser Criston Cole. Helaena tells Alicent what happened and the episode title confirms the worst of the worst has now happened.

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