House Of The Dragon Episode Seven Review - 7 Ups & 3 Downs
4. Up - Rhaenyra's children
It's funny how times change. When House of the Dragon began, Rhaenyra was lying with her head in Alicent's lap in the sunshine; fast forward to Driftmark and Alicent is charging at Rhaenyra's son to relieve him of one of his eyes.
Following Alicent's complete descent into unhinged paranoia, it is hardly surprising that her children have turned out to be as unpleasant as their mother. While audiences were already familiar with the petulantly disgusting Aegon and the unsettlingly creepy aura of Helaena, they got a sharp shock with Aemond's abrupt - and rather unexplained - U-turn to complete villain of the highest order.
Following all of this, it is surprising that Rhaenyra's sons are actually a breath of fresh air in in the sea of evil that apparently also extends to adolescents; the boys appear to be wholly good characters - shown as they gently comfort the grieving Velaryon girls - although they do possess an iron streak. Said streak is on full display in the fight with the newly wicked Aemond; Rhaenyra's sons might be noble, principled boys but don't think for a second that they won't slash your eye out to defend one another.
As House of the Dragon devotes an increasing amount of screen time to setting up Alicent's children as the future villains of piece, it is reassuring to see the same is being done for Rhaenyra's sons as their more sympathetic counterparts.