What happens in Season Two, Episode Six – ‘Smallfolk’?
WARNING: Major spoilers for Season Two, Episode Six – ‘Smallfolk’ ahead.
The Lannister’s army arrives at Castle Redfort in the Vale of Arryn, and while the army bends the knee for the Greens, Jason Lannister sends a raven to King’s Landing, demanding Prince Aemond join them with Vhagar before they advance to take Harrenhal.
His summons infuriates Aemond, who has wasted no time in making the most of his new power as Prince Regent. He commands Ser Tyland to make an alliance with the Triarchy, despite apprehensions that they are not to be trusted, so they can get a better footing at sea against the Blacks.
He also commands Ser Criston to go to Harrenhal to begin the siege, promising to meet him when the time is right as fighting Daemon is a “challenge he welcomes”. Finally, he excuses Alicent from her position on the Small Council, telling her she is no longer needed and to “return to more domestic pursuits”.
Lord Larys later makes a play for position as Hand of the King, but is dismissed, with Aemond asking for the return of Otto Hightower.
When the Grand Maester announces King Aegon is awake, Aemond goes to him to check how much he remembers. Aegon denies knowing anything, but is clearly terrified of his brother. Larys later offers him words of comfort, telling him he will be underestimated but he can use it to his advantage. Aegon begs for his help as his life hangs in the balance.
Before the knights head to Harrenhal, Alicent speaks with her brother, Ser Gwayne, asking him about her son, Daeron, whom she sent away as a child. He’s now 16, and is told he is smart and good looking.
At Dragonstone, Lord Corlys assumes the position of Hand of the Queen at the Black Council. Rhaenyra calls upon Ser Steffon Darklyn, one of her most loyal fighters, to try and claim a dragon because he has a very loose blood connection in the Targaryen family.
Unfortunately, while he is willing and honoured she’d think of him, it backfires spectacularly, and his attempt to sire Seasmoke results in the dragon burning him alive before flying off.
Frustrated at her inability to do anything, Rhaenyra grows closer to Mysaria, with the couple sharing a kiss as the Queen grows more reliant on her.
In order to win over the smallfolk of King’s Landing, Rhaenyra and Mysaria send a gift of food to the starving people that Prince Aemond has chosen to ignore for his luxuries. It immediately earns their favour and causes an uprising – with Alicent and Heleana being caught in the riot that ensues.
Over at Harrenhal, Daemon’s latest ghost is that of his brother, King Viserys. He takes his anger and confusion at the constant visions on Ser Simon Strong, believing he is poisoning him, and even holds him at knifepoint.
When he tries to leave Harrenhal, he is stopped by Alys, who tells him to stop running from his problems and face there are things in this world he would not understand. She adds that his anger blinds him, and perhaps those who strive for the crown are those not suited to wear it, adding: “It is not a prize to be won, but a burden to bear”.
He admits he needs her counsel, and she suggests reaching out to the Tullys, saying the rivermen won’t unite without their backing, but notes “in three days time, the winds will shift”. True to her words, Lord Grover Tully dies in that timespan – with the suggestion Alys had something to do with it.
When his next vision arrives, he opts to embrace Viserys with kindness. Later, he weeps.
In the Vale, Princess Rhaena discovers remnants of a dragon feast, and realises there’s an unclaimed wild dragon roaming free.
Lord Corlys prepares to set sail to challenge the blockade, and commands Alyn to join aboard as his first mate - but he’s hesitant. His brother Addam is angered by his hesitance, believing that, as Corlys’s bastard children, they deserve the recognition even if he won’t claim them as his children.
But Addam gets more than he bargained for later that day, when he is cornered by Seasmoke who chases him through the woods.
Hours later, a message is sent to Dragonstone that Seasmoke now has a rider. Assuming it’s a member of the Greens, a furious Rhaenyra rides off on her dragon, Syrax, seeking to find Seasmoke herself.
Aemond’s new role
Now he’s Prince Regent, Aemond has the power over Westeros he’s always craved, and is already functioning in a much different way to his brother.
Episode director Andrij Parekh explained: “I find Aemond to be one of the most interesting characters. He's driven by a very cold rationality. Aegon makes choices out of fear or anger, whereas Aemond’s revenge will always be served cold.”
Ewan Mitchell, who plays Aemond, said: “So long as he's seen as this indestructible, horror icon-esque, Terminator-like figure, he'll be forever all powerful.”
One of Aemond’s biggest targets on the Blacks is his uncle, Daemon, with whom he is often compared to.
Showrunner Ryan Condal said: “I think Aemond is obsessed with Daemon in a way. I think he grew up in Daemon's shadow, and hearing about the mystique of him, Aemond has spun Daemon up into being this rival to his and also somebody that he wants to emulate and then probably kill one day.”
But his most cold-hearted move to date comes with the dismissal of his mother, Alicent, from the council, disregarding her and believing she doesn’t serve a purpose.
Ryan added: “Aemond sees the world in a very black and white way. We've always talked about Aemond as being the ultimate pragmatist, so he is not banishing his mother from the council out of cruelty. It's very simply like, ‘I'm sorry, what is it that you do here and what's your role?’”
Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent, added: “I think Aemond genuinely sees Alicent as no more than his mother and a woman. So why would she be on the small council?
“She tries to penetrate whatever heart he has left, but it’s to no avail.”
But Mitchell believes there’s more to it, believing her a chink in the armour of his moral code.
He added to the show’s official podcast: “I think [for] Aemond, she is the kryptonite to that code. She challenges that, and so it's that thing of, like, ‘I can't function when you're in the room with me, so you've got to go’. Like, I can't let my emotions get the better of me in this moment, this code has to remain in place for me to do my job. So you've got to go.”
However, while he focuses on his revenge mission, Aemond is somewhat shortsighted, not paying attention to the uprising right in front of him with the smallfolk of King’s Landing.
Speaking on the podcast, Mitchell added: “Something interesting about the Cyclops in Greek mythology as well, [is] the idea that he only has one perspective on something.
“He only takes his own actions into account and his own beliefs into account, and he doesn't necessarily consider the bigger picture. And maybe, maybe Aemond is a little bit like that.”
The Power of the Smallfolk
One of the major themes of this week’s episode is how the smallfolk of Westeros should not be underestimated – particularly with the uprising of King’s Landing, and the acquisition of a dragon.
Understanding this has provided Rhaenyra an advantage over the people, as Aemond continues to ignore them.
Ryan Condal explained: “It’s getting pretty restless in the streets of King's Landing, and I think all the sympathy that they gained after Jaehaerys’ death, a lot of that has been spent.
“You have people who are scared and sick and hungry, and when the masses get restless, they point at the person in the highest levels of power and they blame them.”
Kieran Bew, who plays blacksmith Hugh on the show, explained of the uprising: “I think the people of King's Landing have learned by now the people in charge are only going to give them what they have to.
“I don't think they're stupid, and I think that's what happens. I think the aristocracy undermines people as a collective. Whoever's going to supply them and save them from the famine is the person they're going to choose to be in charge.”
Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent, added: “There’s a blockade, there’s no food. The small folk are starving, and so there's no wonder that they see the Royals come in their cart and all their finery, and it's such a slap in the face. Then it's very ‘Marie Antoinette, Let Them Eat Cake’. It's cause for revolt.”
Who is Daeron, the missing Targaryen?
Episode six reintroduces the fourth child of Alicent and Viserys Targaryen – Daeron, who was sent away from King’s Landing to grow up under the eyes of traditional Hightower values.
We are told that he has fallen out of touch with his mother, but is regardless kind-natured and smart, with Ser Gwayne joking he may have a thing for the ladies.
While we are yet to see him on screen, the 16-year-old will later become a player in the Dance of Dragons.
Watch this space.
Where is Otto Hightower?
Otto Hightower was, at one point at least, one of the most powerful men in the Seven Kingdoms.
He has served as Hand of the King to multiple monarchs, but at the beginning of the season, a furious King Aegon removed him from his position, giving the title to Ser Criston instead.
It is currently not known where he is, with several members of the Greens – including Alicent and Larys – failing to find him.
But like Ser Gwayne notes, he is someone who is clever and resourceful. So it seems only a matter of time before we see him again.
Mysaria - power player or confidante?
Mysaria has a tragic backstory and an understanding of the world of smallfolk that royalty seem to ignore.
She has also undeniably bonded with Rhaenyra becoming a true confidante to her in her time of need for female friendship – though the latest episode suggests something more.
However, while Mysaria is a good strategist and someone Rhaenyra relies upon, there continues to be an element of her that seems to be out for her own gain.
It’s still not clear if she has her own game at play, or if she is actually loyal to the Black Queen.
Sonoya Mizuno, who plays Mysaria, said: “Their relationship has found a dynamic which is not dissimilar to how they first met, which was this kind of open frankness and honesty and really taking each other at face value.”
Emma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra, said: “It’s been such an interesting part of this series for me, understanding that relationship. You watch two people who are deeply suspicious of one another develop a form of trust.”
“Within a patriarchal structure, they underestimate both of us really,” they add. “And to what extent is there a degree of threat in watching two women begin to guide the path to war.”
Ryan Condal added: “I think Mysaria’s power increases in Rhaenys’s absence, because I think Rhaenyra is desperate in looking for that sympathetic female voice in our life.”