House of the Dragon 1x9 Reaction: The Hosts Call 'The Green Council' a Wild but Not a Favorite Episode

The two hosts sat down to react to House of the Dragon season 1 episode 9, "The Green Council," and their verdict was that it was a genuinely wild hour, though not their favorite of the season.

For fans following along, this episode covers the aftermath of King Viserys's death, Alicent and Otto Hightower moving quickly to crown Aegon, Ser Harrold Westerling quitting the Kingsguard, and Rhaenys Targaryen's dragon crashing through the throne room floor, so there was a lot for the two hosts to unpack in real time.

The Hosts Say Episode 9 Felt Like a Denouement Setting Up the Next Big Thing

Looking back on the episode as a whole, the hosts agreed they enjoyed it but ranked it below the run of episodes 2 through 8. They described "The Green Council" as feeling like a denouement after Viserys's death that is mainly there to set up what comes next and let viewers see, as they put it, where the chips are falling.

Alicent's Love for Viserys Still Shines Through, Even as She Crowns Her Son

One of the moments that stood out most was Alicent refusing to let Aemond or Otto harm Rhaenyra and her family. The hosts called it heartwarming that even while pushing her son onto the throne, Alicent held onto her feelings for her husband, saying of her reaction to his death and her insistence that "No, he wouldn't want us to harm or kill his daughter and her family."

Criston Cole's Sudden Violence Left the Hosts Rattled

Criston Cole's transformation from loyal knight to someone willing to kill without hesitation got a strong reaction, with the admission, "He's so unhinged. I'm scared of him."

The Larys Strong Foot Scene Got an Uncomfortable but Understanding Reaction

The scene between Alicent and Larys Strong, where he seems to be motivated by a foot fetish rather than pure political ambition, drew a mix of disgust and dark humor. After debating what exactly he wanted from Alicent, the hosts landed on, "It's just feet, right? I mean, like it could be worse."

The Hosts Loved Seeing the "Beast Beneath the Boards" Prophecy Pay Off

When Rhaenys's dragon Meleys bursts up through the floor during the coronation, the hosts connected it directly to the earlier prophecy line about a beast beneath the boards, saying it sucks for the innocent people caught in the chaos but adding, "I love when a prophecy comes true."

They Are Torn on Rhaenys Sparing Alicent and Aegon

The decision by Rhaenys to destroy the throne room but not kill Alicent, Aegon, or Otto sparked real debate, with the hosts questioning why she did not finish them off when they were all right in front of her, and separately criticizing the moment someone orders the gate closed with the royal family still trapped inside, joking, "Someone's getting fired." That led into a broader point about the show's body count: "Call me old-fashioned. I just wish people didn't have to be killed."

Do you think Rhaenys made the right call by sparing Alicent and Aegon instead of ending the war on the spot?