Aemond sitting at the head seat during a small council meeting in House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 5 | Agents of Fandom

‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2, Episode 5 Recap & Review: The False King Aemond

Alicent is weary of her son’s uncanny ascension to the Iron Throne in the latest episode.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 5.


The follow-up to one of the most brutal and stunning episodes in Game of Thrones franchise history is finally here. House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 5 is now streaming on Max and shows both Teams Green and Black dealing with the consequences of Episode 4, “The Red Dragon and the Gold.”

With Rhaenys (Eve Best) dead and Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) severely wounded, both sides have been dealt great blows. Like all other episodes this season, the fifth installment is packed with important details — make sure you didn’t miss any of them with our House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 5 recap.

Criston Cole Parades Meleys Through the Streets in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2, Episode 5

Criston Cole and Gwayne Hightower parading the head of Meleys through the street | Agents of Fandom
The King’s Guard proclaims that Aegon was the one to slay Meleys and Rhaenys, but Sers Criston Cole and Gwayne Hightower know the truth. Image Credit: HBO/Warner Bros.

The episode opens with both Corlys (Steve Toussaint) and Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) grieving the loss of Rhaenys. We then shift to King’s Landing, where the King’s Guard parades Meleys’ head through the streets, claiming that Aegon was the one to kill her. High above the street, both Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and her son Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) watch on as the guards deliver Aegon’s body into the Red Keep. They then remove him from the box and place him on the bed to show him burned and disfigured, but alive.

The Maesters begin work on Aegon in hopes he’ll make a full recovery, and Aemond reminds them that someone will need to rule in his stead. Alicent then questions Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) about what happened, but he won’t tell her anything. Back at Dragonstone, Rhaenyra reminds her council members of their place as they urge her to strike back while Vhagar is weak and recovering from battle.

Jace (Harry Collett) then tells Baela (Bethany Antonia) that he’s going to Harrenhal to treat with Daemon (Matt Smith) and push the Freys for support. Back at Harrenhal, Daemon threatens the Brackens but doesn’t follow through and actually burn them, and instead sends a Blackwood to do his bidding. Baela’s sister Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) then haggles with a woman from the Eyrie who tells her she wants live dragons to protect her lands, not useless dragon eggs.

Rhaenyra Plans Her Next Move Carefully

Rhaenyra standing in front of a table at Dragonstone looking over her left shoulder in House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 5 | Agents of Fandom
After losing one of her most valuable team members in Rhaenys, Rhaenyra is beginning to understand that patience is no longer an option. Image Credit: HBO/Warner Bros.

House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 5 continues back on Dragonstone where Rhaenyra talks to Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) and realizes she can no longer rely on Daemon. Mysaria reminds her there is more than one way to fight a war, and Rhaenyra then tells Baela the story of Rhaenys claiming Meleys. Over at Harrenhal, Daemon has more visions while at dinner with the Strongs. They ask him to ask Rhaenyra for money, but he says he doesn’t need the Queen, and can get it himself.

Back in King’s Landing, Grand Maester Orwyle (Kurt Egyiawan) reveals that King Aegon is brutally injured with severe burns and broken bones. The small council agrees that Aemond must take over as King until Aegon recovers, but Alicent is not on board. The city guard then heads out to cut down the rat catchers that Aegon had hung in the city, and Alicent calls out Ser Criston for his shifting loyalties. Cole is traumatized from what he saw happen on the battlefield with the dragons.

Meanwhile, citizens try to flee King’s Landing as the city is in chaos, but the guards won’t let them. Jace then visits the Riverrun crossing and offers them his protection. They ask for Harrenhal in exchange but Jace says his mother will need them to bend the knee to make that happen. Back at Harrenhal, Daemon hears a woman screaming and Alys (Gayle Rankin) approaches him and bandages his wound. Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale) then brings Daemon a message that House Bracken has pledged to him.

The Sea Snake Is Drowning in Grief in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2, Episode 5

A side shot of Lord Corlys in House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 5 | Agents of Fandom
Almost no one has lost more in House of the Dragon than Lord Corlys, who has witnessed the death of his grandchildren, children, siblings, and now spouse. Image Credit: HBO/Warner Bros.

Baela then visits Lord Corlys who is grieving further following the loss of his wife. She tells him that Rhaenyra wants him to be her Hand, but he turns it down because he is still grieving. Baela says she will help Rhaenyra but Corlys can do as he wishes, so he tries to name Baela heir to Driftmark, but she says she’s built of fire and blood, not salt and sea. Rhaenyra then sends Ser Alfred (Jamie Kenna) to Harrenhal to see if Daemon is acting in his interest, or hers.

Simon Strong then tells Daemon the Riverlords have come and demand an audience with him in the middle of the night. He has a vision of his former wife Laena (Nanna Blondell) and the Lords call him out for his lies and tell him they won’t raise their banners for a tyrant. Meanwhile, Corlys sits on the Driftwood throne and stares at the Hand pin. Aemond is about to take his place on the Iron Throne and Helaena (Phia Saban) asks him if it was worth the price.

Alicent then sits with Aegon before walking out, and he calls to her, but she doesn’t hear it. Jace returns to Dragonstone to fill his mother in on all he’s accomplished, but she’s frustrated about Vhagar and that she isn’t allowed to fight. Jace has an idea to put less prominent Targaryens on dragons such as Vermithor and Silverwing to help battle Vhagar. They then agree to search for lower Targaryens to enlist in the fight to even the odds.

Team Black Will Look To Lower Houses for Help in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2, Episode 5

A close up still of Jace in House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 5 | Agents of Fandom
Jace has largely been a supporting character in Season 2, but his big idea might change the tide of the war. Image Credit: HBO/Warner Bros.

When Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) said in Season 1 that having Vhagar on their side was the biggest prize of all, it turned out he was right. As of now, Team Black has nothing to stand against a dragon of such colossal size and strength as Vhagar, but that may be about to change. House of the Dragon Season 2 is soaring high as the final stretch of the last three episodes approaches.

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'House of the Dragon' Season 2, Episode 5 Review

'House of the Dragon' Season 2, Episode 5 Review
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4/5
Total Score

The Good

  • The performances from the cast remain outstanding.
  • Both sides losing a valued member is expanded on well.
  • The set design is immaculate bringing different locations to life.

The Bad

  • The pacing falls off a cliff in comparison to the last episode.
  • The episode struggles to balance multiple storylines.
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