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

It is no mean feat convincingly portraying any relationship onscreen, let alone a vastly complicated political marriage of convenience, but it is safe to say that fans can rest easy following Emma D'Arcy and John Macmillan's performances as Rhaenyra and Laenor this week.

What is so impressive about the manner in which the pair depict their relationship on-screen is the fact that so many aspects of said relationship are evident in one short episode. The duo clearly have platonic affection for each other born of years of companionship, but both deeply resent the impositions their marriage has thrust upon them. While the royal couple are relatively young characters, they exude an unmistakable aura of cynical world-weariness.

Rhaenyra and Laenor's slow burning venom at such a situation is even more painfully obvious after Rhaenyra chastises a drunken Laenor for his debauched antics around the city and refuses him leave to travel to the Stepstones to "waggle his sword about"; it is hard to determine which character is more bitter at their circumstances at that particular moment in time as the darker side of Rhaenyra rears its head, emasculating her husband by literally commanding him to remain in King's Landing.

All of this would not be possible without stellar performances from the actors charged with breathing life into this complex relationship and both duly oblige, dispelling even the notion of first-episode jitters as they seamlessly take the reins from their younger counterparts. The episode ends with the family returning to Dragonstone and audiences eager to see the next twist in this captivating story.