“‘What are children, but a weakness?’- Larys Strong”
Rumors are spread in the Red Keep which lead to dark acts and hatred between familie. A last attempt at peace is shown the hand and fire spreads through the houses of Westeros.
House of the Dragon sees a casting change in this week’s episode as we say goodbye to Milly Alcock and Emily Carey who have starred in the first half of the season as Young Rhaenyra Targaryen and Young Alicent Hightower.
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Warning: Spoilers Ahead (If you haven’t watched episode six yet, we recommend doing so before reading on.)
Season 01 Episode 06 - The Princess and The Queen (68 mins)
Ten years have passed, and episode six starts off as Princess Rhaenyra gives birth to her third child. Another son is born to the princess, but she will not have rest yet, as Queen Alicent demands to see the child and Rhaenyra takes the baby to the queen herself.
After the visit to the king and queen, Rhaenyra goes to her other children to introduce them to their new brother. After which we are transported to the dragonpit and are introduced to Vermax, young Prince Jace’s dragon, during training.
We learn that Alicent’s youngest son, Aemond, does not have a dragon, as his egg never hatched. Though the boy wishes to have one so much that he takes a chance and wanders down into the warren, where the dragons are kept. Soon after running from the fiery breath of one of the dragons.
Next we see Prince Daemon, now married to Lady Laena Valeryon, showcasing their dragon riding skills in Pentos, where they are guests. They have two daughters of their own and Leana is carrying a third child.
Their second daughter also has an unhatched dragon egg, and Leana explains that there are other ways to become a dragon rider. We learn here that Leana found the famed Vhagar, largest of all dragons, and bonded with her at the age of fifteen.
The episode then takes a darker turn and the screen is filled with smoke, fire, and deaths as plots are revealed to us. Lastly we see Rhaenyra, Leanor, their children, and house guard arrive at Dragonstone, leaving the Red Keep behind.
“We are the blood of old Valeria!”
House Of The Dragon Filming Location: Spain (Part I)
Filming for House of the Dragon took place in Spain around October of 2021. During that time cast and crews were seen in Cáceres, Trujillo, La Calahorra and Lloret de Mar.
Cáceres, Lloret de Mar, and Trujillo have been seen by fans before, as they played large parts in the filming of Game of Thrones. Though La Calahorra is a new site for GOT fans.
A later article in our House of the Dragon article series will give more information on Trujillo and Lloret de Mar, for now we will take a look at Cáceres and La Calahorra.
“To have one child like that is a mistake, to have three is an insult.”
Cáceres, Extremadura
Situated in the Extremadura region of Spain, and the capital city of the region, Cáceres is a city split in two parts. The newer modern city of Cáceres, and the Medieval Spanish Old Town which has been declared a UNESCO heritage site.
Looking up at Old Town Cáceres it is easy to see why the site was used in both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. With high stone walls and watchtowers surrounding the quiet city, pictures of King’s Landing come to mind.
Old Town Cáceres is built mostly with Roman architecture as the city was taken by the Norba Caesarina in the twelfth century. The evidence of this is the Tower of Bujaco, still standing as a focal symbol for the city.
“A father compromised by the acts of a son.”
La Calahorra, Andalucía
La Calahorra is a historical village in the Andalucía region of Spain, situated on the Sierra Nevada’s foothills near the Marquesado plateau. The village is home to many monuments with rich cultural history.
To name a few there are the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora, the Chapel of San Gregoria, and the Castillo de La Calahorra, which was used as a filming location for House of the Dragon.
The consequences of an allegation like the one you tore at would be dire”
Castillo de La Calahorra, La Calahorra, Andalucía
The Castillo de La Calahorra overlooks the village of La Calahorra from its hilltop position. The Renaissance style fortress was built in the sixteenth century, one of the first to be built beyond the Italian border and the first in the Andalucía region.
Historically the castle was granted to Cardinal Mendoza, by the Catholic Monarchs, as an award for his part in the Christian conquest. Mendoza later gifted the castle to his unrecognized son, the Marquis of Zenete.
Castillo de La Calahorra is a mostly square construct, with towers on each corner topped with rounded roofs. The exterior of the fortress does not have many features for the architect’s eye, but the interior is a stunning compilation of Renaissance beauty.
With the courtyard of marble,it is no surprise that the interior of the castle was used to film scenes of the Red Keep, in House of the Dragon.
“‘You will be our king’ – Alicent Hightower”
Tensions rise high as whispers spread, the queen and princess stand against each other with only the king keeping the peace. What were your favorite moments of House of the Dragon Episode Six: The Princess and The Queen?
References
- Elio, “The ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ Domain News,” Westeros, 29 June 2021. [Accessed 21/09/2022] Online source.
- Gumm, M., “Secret Spain: Cáceres,” Condé Nast Traveller, 21 September 2012. [Accessed 21/09/2022] Online source.
- IMDb, “House of the Dragon: Filming & Production,” IMDb, 2022. [Accessed 21/09/2022] Online source:
- IMDb, “House of the Dragon: Full Cast & Crew,” IMDb, 2022. [Accessed 21/09/2022] Online source.
- Senanayake, N., “Visit These Real-Life Filming Locations from ‘House of the Dragon’,” People, 28 August 2022. [Accessed 21/09/2022] Online source.
- Unknown, “From Cáceres to Lloret de Mar: the Spanish locations of ‘The House of the Dragon’,” The Limited Times, 24 August 2022. [Accessed 21/09/2022] Online source.
- Unknown, “La Calahorra,” Andalucia, n/a. [Accessed 21/09/2022] Online source.
- Vacationer Staff, “Where Fans Can Visit the Real ‘House of the Dragon’ Filming Locations,” Vacationer, 24 August 2022. [Accessed 21/09/2022] Online source.
Video References
- House of the Dragon: The Princess and The Queen. HBO Max. [Accessed 26/09/2022]
Citations
a – Season 1 Episode 6 Preview | House of the Dragon (HBO), YouTube. [Accessed 21/09/2022]
