An sudden battle in ‘Home of the Dragon’ results in a brand new breakout meme

Warning: This text accommodates spoilers for Home of the Dragon episode 4, “King of the Narrow Sea.”

For all the politics and drama that the primary gamers of Home of the Dragon (and Recreation of Thrones earlier than it) convey to the collection, a few of its extra memorable characters are the scene stealers who may solely ever be background or minor characters. (Howdy, Ser Pounce.) Within the newest episode, an early contender for the season’s most obscure, scene-stealing MVP has emerged, and so have the memes celebrating him.

Early in “King of the Narrow Sea,” Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) is located at Storm’s Finish—the seat of Home Baratheon—to hearken to the assorted lords of Westeros give their pitch on why they might be the very best particular person for her to marry. We’re launched to 2 of these suitors, which illustrate the ends of the spectrum of males vying for her hand: Lord Dondarrion, a person older than her father who as soon as met her great-grandmother Alysanne; and Willem Blackwood (Alfie Todd), a boy that Rhaenyra calls “a child.”

Willem Blackwood’s nerves are seen as he stutters via what Home Blackwood, an historical home whose historical past goes all the way in which again to the Age of Heroes, may provide her. However as he does so, an older suitor (although nonetheless on the youthful aspect) named Jerrel Bracken (Gabriel Scott) retains taunting Blackwood like he’s a heckler at Blackwood’s comedy present.

“‘Protection’?” Bracken jeers. “The Princess has a dragon, you dumb cunt.”

Rhaenyra is mildly amused by your complete factor however requires the subsequent suitor to step ahead. However these plans go awry till Bracken calls Blackwood “craven,” main Blackwood to take out a sword and battle Bracken. Moments later, the battle ends not with Blackwood’s loss of life—which, given Blackwood’s stature, looks as if the extra probably consequence—however with Bracken’s as an alternative; Rhaenyra glimpses Blackwood pulling the sword out of Bracken’s intestine earlier than he struggles to not vomit from the sight of the homicide he simply dedicated.

Rhaenyra won’t have been impressed at Blackwood’s strikes (and finally her tour of paraded suitors involves nothing), however viewers actually have been entertained.

And other people additionally love a very good set of subverted expectations.

Jerrel Bracken and Willem Blackwood don’t exist in Fireplace & Blood as characters, however they do have guide counterparts. Amos Bracken and Samwell Blackwood equally dueled to win Rhaenyra’s favor, however that matchup had a really completely different consequence: Amos Bracken received, and no person died. (Their fates, like so many different characters in Fireplace & Blood and HOTD, shall be tied up within the Dance of the Dragons.)

But it surely’s additionally one thing of an Easter egg for guide followers, who could pay attention to the longstanding feud between Home Blackwood and Home Bracken, whose ancestors have been each as soon as kings within the Riverlands; every home argues the opposite was solely petty lords. It’s the type of rivalry that, with hundreds of years to fester and develop, would simply flip into violent outbursts between two younger lords. 

We’d not see younger Willem Blackwood once more, however whether or not he’s a stand-in for Samwell (whose identify they might’ve modified after a bard had the identical identify in episode 3) or a brand new character solely, it’s not the final time Home Blackwood will come up: Samwell’s son and sister, who could effectively present up in future episodes or seasons of HOTD, each have a job to play.

We crawl the net so that you don’t should.

Join the STYO e-newsletter to get the very best and worst of the web in your inbox on daily basis.