All 10 House of the Dragon episodes ranked from worst to best

10. House of the Dragon episode 9: “The Green Council”

The titular episode of House of the Dragon season 1 is the only episode I truly dislike. I might be biased because I’m Team Black and this episode is all about the Greens, but that’s not the only reason it’s disappointing. It’s a huge misstep at a pivotal moment in the season.

At the start of the episode, we get confirmation that Viserys is dead. Alicent is very careful with her messaging here, wanting her son Aegon to take the Throne instead of Rhaenyra, the rightful heir. The night before Viserys’ death, he tries to tell Alicent about Aegon I’s dream, but she doesn’t understand. He’s completely out of it and probably thinks she’s Rhaenrya, but Alicent interprets it as he wants their son Aegon to be the king. This is what happens when Targaryens keep naming their kids Aegon!

This is a great setup, but the episode just doesn’t follow through. Alicent and Otto discuss their options in an awkwardly-put together scene with weak dialogue, and Lord Beesbury’s death just feels out of place. The pacing throughout the episode isn’t great, and the decision to add in the chase scene between Criston, the Cargylls, Aemond, and Aegon is so strange. I don’t get it. Why are they wasting so much time here?

The ending of the episode which sees Rhaenys bursting through the floorboards riding on Meleys to interrupt Aegon’s coronation is such a letdown. What’s the point of it? It’s so cheesy.

House of the Dragon totally wastes its penultimate episode with what almost feels like a filler.