House Of The Dragon Episode Five Review - 8 Ups & 2 Downs

While everybody's least favorite person in Westeros only featured briefly this week, viewers got a further intriguing look at Otto's more ruthless side when he bids Alicent farewell, as he prepares to depart the city following his dismissal.

Otto's sycophantic facade has dissolved in earnest this week; the bitter anger in the former Hand's voice is clear to hear as he berates his daughter for "choosing" Rhaenyra over himself. The terse edge in Ifan's delivery lends Otto an iron nature that has not been seen to date, underlining the nature of his character as a political chameleon as he brutally regales his daughter with stories of how her friend will put her children to the sword should she ascend to the throne.

Viewers hoping that Otto's dismissal would rein in his lust for power were sorely mistaken. The devious Hightower is more desperate than ever to see his grandson on the throne as he lays down what is essentially an ultimatum to his daughter; her family or Rhaenyra. The bullying, condescending manner in which Otto attempts to persuade his daughter is hard to watch and further lays the foundations upon which Ifans is steadily building his Machiavellian villain.

Indeed, the only downside of Otto this week was that audiences didn't get to see more of his usual devious ways in action; rest assured, the former Hand of the King is not going anywhere.