What happens in episode nine, The Green Council?
WARNING: Spoilers for The Green Council ahead.
Following the death of King Viserys and under the impression he had a deathbed change of heart, Queen Alicent is spurred on by believing her eldest son, Aegon, is now king.
Hiding news from the realm, the Small Council quickly puts a coronation in place, revealing to Alicent it was their plan all along.
When Otto proposes Rhaenyra and Daemon be killed, she refuses, telling them that a peace treaty must be made instead.
However, Alicent and Otto’s long-laid plans to appoint Aegon as King screeches to a halt when the would-be King goes missing from the castle.
Otto sends out Erryk and Arryk Cargyll, and Alicent sends out his brother Aemond and Ser Criston, to drag him back to King’s Landing whether he wants to or not.
With a quickly arranged coronation, the residents of King’s Landing are herded into the throne room to see the auspicious moment.
Rhaenys finds a surprise ally in Erryk Cargyll, who defects from his position of the Kingsguard to release her after the Hightowers lock her up to prevent word getting back to Rhaenyra.
Bursting through the floorboards of the castle and into the coronation, Rhaenys makes her feelings known but spares Alicent and Aegon’s lives before flying on dragon-back to tell Rhaenyra the news.
What are Queen Alicent’s true motivations?
Throughout the episode, Alicent is seen grappling with what is to come as some truths come to light about those around her.
Showrunner Ryan Condal explained: “Alicent's horrified because she realises not only as her husband dead, and she has to process that, but secretly her counsel has been plotting for this very day to come so that they can overthrow Rhaenyra and install Aegon, her son, on the throne, which is the thing that she's wanted, but she didn't want to do it through dastardly deeds.”
The same feeling is met when her father, Otto, suggests getting rid of the other side of the Targaryen family for good.
Writer Sara Hess said: “Otto Hightower decided they needed to murder Rhaenyra and Daemon and their whole family so as not to have an opposition. Alicent refuses to let that happen, and it sets off this race for both of them to find Aegon, because each of them wants to influence him.”
Who is the true heir to the throne?
At the beginning of the series, after King Viserys’ first wife Aemma dies in childbirth, Viserys declares Rhaenyra as the heir to the Iron Throne.
In theory, it should be her to ascend – however there has never been a woman on the throne, with Viserys himself only assuming the role over his older sister Princess Rhaenys after a Great Council vote held by King Jaehaerys before he died.
While King Viserys went to his death bed claiming Rhaenyra as his heir, others frequently disagreed with him and had made plans behind his back to usurp her.
Viserys’ last-minute ramblings to Alicent about the “Prince That Was Promised” further ignites her desire to put Aegon in place.
Does Aegon want to be King?
Despite it being his birthright, Aegon has made no secret of having no desire to take the Iron Throne, with the responsibility thrust upon him by those around him.
This is made even more bitter considering his brother Aemond not only wants it, but seems to have the natural ability for it.
Tom Glynn-Carey, who plays the reluctant royal Aegon, said: “There's a lot of bitterness from Aemond's side. He is built to be the King.
“He wants the responsibility. He thinks he'd be good at it, and Aegon being the eldest son, it falls to him to do it.”
What is going on with Heleana Targaryen?
As the sole daughter of Alicent and Viserys, Heleana has been kept somewhat in the background, often seen as strange due to her ramblings and affinity for playing with bugs.
However, it seems like she could be someone with a prophetic ability, with two of her “ramblings” actually coming true.
First she warned brother Aemond he would “have to close an eye” in order to get a dragon, with the spiteful teen losing his eye in a fight after acquiring Vhagar from the Velaryons.
The second warned of a “beast beneath the floorboards”, which later came true in this episode as Rhaenys burst through the floor on dragon-back to stop the coronation.
Married to her brother, the now King Aegon II, Heleana is overlooked by her brothers.