The 10-Year Time Jump of HOTD Ep 6 Explained: Alliances, Schemes, and Deaths

House of the Dragon Ep 6 takes a huge time jump of ten years, during which a lot of things go down. Princes get married, illegitimate children are born, fathers are murdered, and new schemes are hatched—all for the mighty Iron Throne.

Many have complained that the pacing of the episode was a little too fast, especially if one hasn’t read Fire & Blood. If you resonate with that feeling, read on for a detailed recap of everything that happened during the ten-year time jump.

1. Alliances

I. Daemon and Laena

Last we saw Daemon and Laena together, they were flirting at Rhaenyra’s wedding feast. Although Laena was betrothed to a Braavosi lord, Daemon fights him to the death to be able to marry Laena.

Not only did the show skip past this iconic duel, but also didn’t depict Daemon and Laena’s courtship, their wedding, or how they landed in Essos. Currently, they’re guests to the Prince of Pentos, who has plans of his own.

Essos faces the threat of the Triarchy that has once again taken over Stepstones. The prince hopes that by offering Daemon and his family a permanent stay in Essos, the dragon riders will aid them in their war against the Triarchy.

Daemon and Laena don’t agree over this and it’s sad to see their marriage deteriorate into a stiff but convenient companionship. Perhaps this is only setting the stage up for Daemon’s next and final marriage.

II. Rhaenyra and Harwin

In the ten years gone by, Rhaenyra has seemingly developed a relationship with Ser Harwin Strong. Remember that guy who stepped into last episode’s fight and carried Rhaenyra out of it? Yes, him.

The show makes a heavy implication that all of Rhaenyra’s kids (who stand to be heirs after her) are actually fathered by Harwin. But like the books, the show does not reveal whether this is actually true or not.

Instead, we get the couple exchanging piercing stares, Harwin acting like more of a father than Laenor does, and Lyonel Strong trying to shoulder the punishment for his son’s alleged misdeeds.

A special mention here is that no one seems to bat their eyes about Laenor’s romantic/sexual exploits. He’s indicated to have had a stream of lovers in the last ten years as well, and a current new one on his arm.

2. Schemes

I. Criston Cole Is Alicent’s Sworn Protector

We’re yet to learn how Criston Cole got away with murder, but it won’t be too hard to guess that Alicent had a role to play in it.

Ten years later, he now serves as Alicent’s Sworn Protector and is ever so bitter about Rhaenyra rejecting him. While he thinks he has morals and agency of his own, right now he is little more than Alicent’s lap dog who takes out his frustration on Rhaenyra’s kids.

II. Alicent Reminds Aegon II of His Role

As a young teen, Aegon II has no interest in being the next king. He doesn’t seek to compete with Rhaenyra and gets along with his nephews Jacaerys and Lucerys way better than his own siblings.

But just like how Otto planted a seed of fear and hatred in Alicent’s heart, Alicent does the same to Aegon II. She reminds him that he can’t be faffing around or being antagonistic towards his own brother in favor of Rhaenyra’s kids.

Alicent’s message to Aegon II is clear: If he does not become king, Rhaenyra will kill him and his family just for existing. Viewers have drawn a parallel between Aegon II and Joffrey Baratheon, and unfortunately, due to Alicent’s grooming, they won’t be too wrong.

III. Larys Becomes Alicent’s Ally 

Don’t let his surname fool you, Larys Strong is nothing like his father and elder brother. Having made a debut in HOTD Ep 3, Larys’ motives are now clear.

He enjoys being the Master of Whispers and the power that comes with it. But to establish himself more and have a hand in shaping the course of history, he’s going to play dirty. For this, he kills off his father and brother, so that Alicent can intercede for Otto Hightower to be made Hand of the King again.

This proves that Larys is one of the Greens, believing that Aegon II should be the next ruler instead of Rhaenyra. While he has been whispering advice to Alicent for the past ten years, he’s just proved his loyalty to her by murdering his own family members.

3. Deaths

I. Laena Velaryon

The first casualty in House of the Dragon Ep 6 is a pregnant Laena. The show foreshadows this when early in the episode, Laena remarked that she’d like to die a dragon rider’s death.

Already dispirited by Daemon’s decision to continue living as guests in Essos, Laena breaks down when she is unable to give birth to her child. Daemon faces the same dilemma that Viserys did in Ep 1—to get the child delivered by cutting open Laena’s womb. Unlike his brother, he chooses not to.

Feeling like she’s further driven into a corner, Laena makes her own decision and pleads to her mount Vhagar to finish her off with the command, “Dracarys.” Vhagar hesitates but finally gives in after feeling Laena’s anguish.

In the novel, Laena dies a few days after giving birth to a child who dies within an hour. Sadly, it was common for a lot of women in the GOT universe to die during or due to childbirth. So, the show switching it up and giving Laena a death that was worthy of her personality and ambitions is commendable.

II. Lyonel Strong

Lyonel Strong may remind you just a little of Ned Stark, especially since they shared a similar set of values and served as Hand of the King. (Notably, Lyonel had a little more tact and wit, I’d say!)

Their similarities are also what ultimately take them both to their graves. In HOTD Ep 6, Lyonel is ashamed over the fact that his son Harwin has fathered Rhaenyra’s children, which is a rumor he knows to be true.

While he’d like to resign as Hand as a way to resolve the matter, Viserys refuses and only allows him to escort Harwin back home to Harrenhal.

When Alicent expresses her longing to have her father back at her side, Larys devices a murder plot that will dispose of his father and brother. He hires convicts to commit arson in Harrenhal, which results in the deaths of Lyonel and Harwin.

With Lyonel dead, Alicent can bring back Otto as Hand. Larys feels no remorse for his actions and instead is filled with glee over being “owed” by Alicent.

III. Harwin Strong

Ser Harwin Strong’s most popular name is “Breakbones,” but sadly we bid him farewell without ever seeing him live up to that name. As depicted in Episode 6, Harwin is the first victim of the fire, as it appears to be lit in his chambers.

Although Larys had more of a reason to kill his father, Lyonel, he knew that keeping a stray Harwin alive would be dangerous. He was utterly loyal to Rhaenyra and would sniff out the culprit of his father’s death.

Thus, it was easier to burn Harrenhal down, Lyonel, Harwin, and several household members with it. It seems like the curse of Harrenhal is more human than supernatural.

4. About House Of The Dragon

House of the Dragon is the prequel series to HBO’s blockbuster Game of Thrones based on George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.

Set three hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will show Westeros under the Targaryen family’s rule before the dragons went extinct. It will follow the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war between siblings Aegon II and Rhaenyra, who fought for the throne after the death of their father, Viserys I.

Directed by Ryan Condall and Miguel Sapochnik, the show stars Paddy Considine as Viserys I Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Tom Glynn-Craney as Aegon II Targaryen, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Rhaenys Velaryon, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole, and Graham McTavish.