IR TV Review: HOUSE OF THE DRAGON - EPISODE 3 [HBO]
The essence of expectation rides within an ideal of where the journey should lead. With the 3rd episode of “House Of The Dragon”, the parallels of life come into play. Whereas the 2nd episode showed an essence of complacency, it was simply a build to this episode which is the best by far since it understands the balance between set pieces and mythic. Milly Alcock as the teenage princess is showing the aspects of her strength and hubris while fighting against the gender structure that plagues her station as first born heir. She can both be a queen and a fighter but it is walking this line and understanding duty that is the real test. Alcock plays this with a regalness but also a brewing fire that will benefit the outlay of the character immensely.
Her father, the King, having taken a new bride, one that will indefinitely become a wall of regret, is much more contemplative here. The political game is still afoot but that takes a backseat to family dynamics which is what makes this episode shine. There are many different ways the princess could act and the decisions she makes. While during a feast to celebrate a different kingdom achievement, the way she instinctively rebels in a way both with proposals, a hunt, prophecy and its reaction seem organic and not forced. Two points with a interaction with animals and a return to camp bring this to bear. And then the episode retreads back to Daemon in an interesting subtle and yet overt progression on the battlefield which brings the three major angles of the crown together and apart without saying a thing. This leads to a intense and beautifully brutal action sequence to close the episode with reflects intent but also defiance. A
By Tim Wassberg
