House of the Dragon The Green Council Review: A Civil War is brewing in more ways than one

All of the previous episodes of House of The Dragon have featured some type of a time jump. The Green Council takes place imminently following the death of King Viserys. The entire penultimate episode takes place in King’s Landing and is the first episode not to feature Rhaenyra in any capacity.

Otto tries to steal the show and Rhys Ifans is terrific. However, it’s a pair of powerful women who rise to the top. The Green Council is Olvia Cooke‘s episode throughout. Alicent is trying to fulfill her husband’s best wishes, secure her son’s seat on the throne and fill the moral standing her late husband provided the kingdom. Alicent’s revulsion when Otto immediately puts plans in motion to kill their opponents is palpable.

Eve Best also shines as Rhaenys in the scene’s most breathtaking scene. I’m not talking about the dragon escape, which is great. It’s the confrontation between Rhaenys and Alicent that stands out. Rhaenys using a similar tone she held with Rhaenyra back in the 2nd episode goads Alicent for not contemplating taking the throne for herself.

With Alicent and her father Otto running the show in Westeros, they quickly make plans to sit Aegon on the Iron Throne. After Viserys’s deathbed confession, Alicent is convinced Aegon is the key to maintaining Targaryon control over the seven kingdoms.

The Green Council excels at showing there’s more than one civil war potentially brewing. There’s a divide between the Hightowers and the two brothers. The cat-and-mouse game between Alicent and Otto features terrific political maneuvering on both parts with Alicent emerging victorious. Alicent’s confrontation with her father about all of his machinations is a terrific scene for Cooke and Ifans.

There’s a similar amount of strife between Aemond and Aegon. Aemond, the younger more capable brother is clearly a better candidate for the throne. Meanwhile, Aegon himself has no desire to be king.

The only issue with this episode comes at the expense of Alicent’s intelligence. Aegon himself points out there is no way Viserys wanted him to be king. If Viserys wanted his son to inherit the throne, then the king had two decades to say something. He never did. It’s a rare weakness for Alicent.

With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into the elements that stood in The Green Council. There may be some minor spoilers. House of the Dragon is available to stream on HBO Max.

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A heinous plot revealed in The Green Council

The Green Council begins with Alicent being informed of Viserys’s death. She immediately tells her father Otto, about Viserys’s deathbed confession.

An atypical small council session is arranged. Otto immediately begins putting plans in place. Alicent is simply taking all the information in until Rhaenyra is mentioned. Alicent knows Rhaenyra will never bend the knee. Otto’s solution is to kill anyone who would oppose Aegon’s claim to the throne.

He doesn’t outright say kill, but everyone including Alicent interprets Otto’s words the same way. Lord Breesbury stands up for Rhaenyra’s claim and also calls into question how Viserys died. Ser Criston Cole doesn’t like how Breesbury’s words could implicate Alicent and swiftly kills Breesbury.

Meanwhile, Otto orders Rhaenys to remain in King’s Landing. she isn’t allowed to leave her chambers or the city until she agrees to support Aegon.

Perhaps for the first time, Alicent gets a full picture of who her father is as a scheming man willing to do anything to have ties to power. She waits to confront Otto until later in the episode.

Father vs Daughter

The eventful small council meeting turns into a game of cat and mouse between father and daughter. Aegon is missing. Otto sends out twin brothers Arryk and Erryk to find Aegon. Alicent sends Criston and Aemon. Criston, Aemond and ultimately Alicent end up the victors.

Meanwhile, Alicent pays Rhaenys a visit. She delivers the news of Viserys death. Keep in mind Rhaenys is Viserys’s older sister. Alicent tries to woo Rhaenys to her side. Rhaenys doesn’t buckle. Alicent claims women aren’t meant to rule. In turn, Rhaenys compares Alicent’s situation to that of a prison with a window in it.

It’s impossible to overstate how important this conversation is to Alicent. After Aegon is returned to her, Alicent confronts Otto. Alicent makes it clear she doesn’t want Rhaenyra to die.

First, Otto patronizes Alicent. He congratulates her on winning the game. Alicent points out it isn’t a game. Essentially, by referring to their struggle as a game, he’s passing it off as meager. She also uses this private meeting to unload on how her father has used her to acquire power.

Alicent also makes it clear Rhaenyra doesn’t have to bend the knee in person but she must remain in Dragonstone. Otto tries to soften the tension by bringing up Alicent’s resemblance to her mother. The kind remark is met with an incredible eye role by Alicent.

Alicent’s ability to navigate these waters is remarkable. She out-maneuvers her father. Later, she uses Larys’s disgusting foot fetish to obtain more information about the spies in her midst.

Brother vs Brother

Aegon and Aemond couldn’t be more different as brothers. Aegon runs, while Aemond is always present. Aemond is willing and able to lead, Aegon shrinks from any responsibility.

The scenes between Criston and Aemon do a great job of fleshing out Aemond. He’s furious at his brother and his family. While his brother is nowhere to be found, Aemond will ensure everyone knows his present whereabouts.

Aegon is evil, but at least he has more sense than Joffrey. His depravity has led to a number of bastard children that he watches fight in a pit. On the way to his coronation, he scoffs at his mother’s assertion that his father wanted him to rule. After all, if Viserys wanted Aegon to rule, he had 2 decades worth of time to have that conversation. Viserys’s support never wavered from Rhaenyra.

Aegon goes through with his coronation, which goes off without a hitch. Meanwhile, Rhaenys escapes with some help. She finds her dragons. An explosion comes from below and Rhaenys appears atop her dragon. She could have killed Alicent and her whole family. In one scene, Rhaenys shows power and mercy. These are qualities Alicent strives to reach, but like a prisoner looking out a window, she’s will never reach that level of power and freedom.

The Green Council Final Thoughts

The Green Council is terrific television that doesn’t quite reach the heights of last week’s episode, but comes awfully close. Cooke, Ifans and Best turn in their best performances of the series, while leaving room for Alicent’s children to shine.

Since this was entirely about the Hightowers, it will be interesting to see if the season finale next week is wholly devoted to Rhaenyra’s reaction. The preview for the finale doesn’t show Alicent. If this is Cook’s last performance of the season, it’s an incredible end to Alicent’s journey.

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