Game Of Thrones' Most Jaw-Dropping Scene Looms Large Over House Of The Dragon Episode 5
Spoilers for Episode 5 of "House of the Dragon" to follow.
Remember the Red Wedding from "Game of Thrones?" Well, "House of the Dragon" just made a very, very similar move.
Though George R.R. Martin wrote the Red Wedding decades before it aired on HBO in the original book series, "A Song of Ice and Fire," longtime fans and newcomers alike were shocked when, during the third season of "Game of Thrones," an on-screen slaughter took place at what was supposed to be a joyful occasion. From that moment on, the Red Wedding, which saw nearly half of a powerful family get slaughtered at a wedding with apparent allies, became one of the most infamous scenes not just on "Game of Thrones," but in television history.
Now, the prequel and spin-off to "Game of Thrones," which focuses on the Targaryen family and their insular battle for the Iron Throne, has a bloody wedding of its own to match the original series. Here's why one of the most jaw-dropping "Game of Thrones" scenes of all time will come to mind when you watch "We Light the Way," the fifth episode of "House of the Dragon."
Rhaenyra and Laenor's wedding sure takes a familiar turn
After King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) aligns the house of Targaryen with the equally established House Velaryon by betrothing his daughter and named heir Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) to Laenor Velaryon (Theo Nate), everyone seems pleased, and Viserys throws an entirely over-the-top wedding to celebrate the union. In true Westerosi fashion, though, this definitely does not go as planned.
During the pilot of "Game of Thrones," Targaryen descendant Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) is told that a Dothraki wedding without at least one murder is considered a "dull affair." Apparently, her ancestors adopted some Dothraki customs themselves — or at least, their guests do. After being confronted by Laenor's secret lover Ser Joffrey Lonmouth (Solly McLeod), Rhaenyra's own secret lover Ser Criston Cole (Fabian Frankel) savagely beats the other night to death, pummeling him until he doesn't have a face anymore. The ensuing brawl that happens amongst the guests definitely has big Red Wedding energy; though it's not quite as pointed as the Red Wedding, it's still a joyful ceremony gone horribly wrong. To make matters worse, Viserys ends up collapsing and potentially succumbing to his many illnesses as soon as Rhaenyra and Laenor are officially married, which likely leaves the throne open for the taking.
The Red Wedding, re-explained
In case you forgot what actually happened during the Red Wedding, here's a refresher. In the wake of Ned Stark's (Sean Bean) execution at the hands of sadistic incest baby King Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson), King in the North Robb Stark (Richard Madden) needs to make a strategic marriage to grow his army for the oncoming war. Though he's promised to one of the many, many daughters of important ally Walder Frey (David Bradley), Robb strays off the path set for him by his mother Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) and marries Talisa (Oona Chaplin), with whom he falls in love.
Walder Frey puts on a brave face about the whole thing and accepts Edmure Tully (Tobias Menzies) for one of his daughters instead, but secretly, he aligns himself with the Lannisters and Boltons to wipe out the Starks. As Edmure and his bride are taken to their wedding bed, Walder Frey locks the doors behind Robb, Catelyn and Talisa as they're brutally murdered (notably, Talisa is pregnant, and is killed as assassins stab her belly repeatedly).
The scene in "House of the Dragon" isn't quite as dramatically bloody as the Red Wedding, but there's a distinct similarity that can't be overlooked. Just as Walder Frey settles for Edmure, Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Touissant) and his wife Rhaenys (Eve Best) originally want to marry their daughter to Viserys, but settle for their son becoming king consort to the presumed future queen instead. Clearly, bad things happen when people don't get their first choice.
"House of the Dragon" airs every Sunday at 9PM on HBO and HBO Max, and if you're a masochist who wants to relive the original Red Wedding, all of "Game of Thrones" is streaming now on HBO Max.