House Of The Dragon Episode 5 Review: Point Of No Return, An Uncertain Future Of War
Cast: Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint
Director: Clare Kilner
Streaming Platform: HBO Max
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 4.5/5 (four and half a star) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Now at the halfway point and mid-season, House of the Dragon confirms with great strength that it no longer needs any introduction (and this is also demonstrated by the impressive numbers of House of Dragon). The spin-off of Game of Thrones has managed during the episodes shown so far to bring back the style that had made the fortunes of the flagship series while elevating its spirit and concreteness in the staging. With the latest episodes almost upon us and a narrative crescendo that shows no signs of stopping, it is not at all reckless to consider the show by Ryan Condal and George RR Martin an absolute success.
As mentioned in our review of House of the Dragon 1X04, the series aired on HBO Max is offering GOT fans everything they could wish for: intrigues, betrayals, dragons and battles are the spectacular side dish to a work thought in every detail, from sets to scripts. Cast and crew are giving their best to offer viewers a product so ambitious that it can be distinguished in all respects from its television ancestor, and so far, every choice is paying or even exceeding expectations. Let’s analyze the fifth episode together.
House Of The Dragon Episode 5 Review: The Story
Resuming the narrative at a very short distance from the events that occurred in the last, enveloping episode, the show seems to come together and put order where previously the chaos had spilled. King Viserys (Paddy Considine) now seems vexed by his health conditions and can no longer offer clear guarantees regarding his government: therefore, securing his descendants becomes an absolute priority and Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) can only accept his destiny as heir to the throne. Although the ruler is adamant about his decision, making every effort to ensure that his will can be fulfilled, the view of many does not agree with the perspective of a queen on the Iron Throne. Bringing together two important houses of ancient Valyria, therefore, seems to be the only strong decision to consider.
Rhaenyra will marry Laenor (Theo Nate), son of Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint), and together they will rule the Seven Kingdoms ensuring a bright future for all of Westeros. The princess’s decisions, however, have so far created more than a few headaches for the crown, to the point of leading to the removal of Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) from the position of Hand of the Knight. As Queen consort Alicent (Emily Carey) finds herself dealing with the pressures of her father and with far more disconcerting revelations than her, more than an invisible hand moves around her throne.
Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes) and his house win the King’s main favors at the most critical moment of the crown, amidst the turmoil caused by Daemon and the secrets of Rhaenyra. After what happened in the last episode it seems clear that the princess intends to preserve her relationship with Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), while the latter would be ready to make far more drastic decisions. The conflict of the protector of Rhaenyra will be central to the whole episode and will mark one of the most important turning points that will lead to the infamous Dance of the Dragons.
House Of The Dragon Episode 5 Review and analysis
If the last episode had given space in a particularly intriguing way to a crazy sequence of scandalous events, the fifth episode of House of the Dragon takes the intensity to surprising heights both in terms of rhythm and in narrative terms. Here, the show no longer seems to leave itself to winks and charm, but directly affects those who observe scene after scene: taking full advantage of an exceptional setting, thanks to a splendid photograph and breathtaking scenery, the director’s gaze lingers on the key moments, emphasizing every instant of the drama. The development of the plot turns towards dark corners and dead-end spirals, but it is here that Martin and his associates find fertile ground to weave their web and let the viewer sink into an abyss of machinations full of pathos.
In this sense, all the dialogues take on extreme facets in their dynamics, leaving ample room for the emotions of the interpreters. Thanks to a sensational soundtrack, especially in some situations, this episode offers at least a couple of goosebumps moments – on a par, if not even slightly higher, than the apex moments of Game of Thrones. As already mentioned on several occasions, the quality of writing and the versatility of the cast are configured as the main strengths of a series that still intends to amaze. At this juncture, almost everyone manages to exalt themselves in favor of greater spectacularity for each action or reaction: Frankel is central to his inner conflict, while Carey is exalted in the highlights of the episode in one of the most memorable moments of the entire series.
Matt Smith and Milly Alcock again steal the show with their explosive alchemy, helping to ensure a perfect dramatization of the events awaiting what is to come. Their relationship is perhaps one of the most intriguing elements of the show, and the idea of an upcoming recast for many of the young performers leaves more than a few sighs for Alcock’s excellent work – hoping Emma D’Arcy can do justice to a fan-favorite character.
By optimizing the time available, there does not seem to be a single line of dialogue that does not appear functional to the events or the presence of known characters. The rhythm remains constant and tight while the events alternate on the screen, leaving space on several occasions to focus on a particular point of view or the dynamics of the court that most allude to mysteries and deceptions. While tracing some of the typical elements of GoT, even those not exactly innovative, each element presented performs a specific function and acts as a preparation for the following scenes.
At the risk of being redundant, it is increasingly evident that HBO is putting all its energy into offering a memorable product to viewers of the franchise. With the arrival of the mid-season, it is time to prepare for the much-feared changes that are now on the horizon. The umpteenth time jump that awaits us will most likely mark the definitive passage to the time when one of the bloodiest internal wars has forever changed the fate of the Targaryens and the Iron Throne.
While not reaching the extreme charm of the last episode, the intensity of this fifth episode of House of the Dragon remains in a similar position and some situations superior, warming the spirits given the conflict with an exemplary summa of all the elements that have made the fortune of Game of Thrones and its unmistakable style. With such intriguing and well-thought-out work, the work of Condal, Martin and Sapochnik makes the wait for the weeks ahead more and more anxious.
House Of The Dragon Episode 5 Review: The Last Words
Pressing the accelerator with great cunning, the work of Condal and Martin never ceases to amaze and appears more and more convincing. Supported by unparalleled compactness and balance between the various parts of the production, the project inspired by Fuoco e Sangue is now consolidated and intends to further raise the bar in the second half of the season. Let’s get ready for important changes, in the hope that the work will keep the good shown so far.
