House of the Dragon has a new MVP, and a new biggest loser
As a devoted fan of “House of the Dragon,” I cannot help but be utterly captivated by the unexpected and poignant performance of young Oscar Tully, brilliantly portrayed by Archie Barnes, in episode 7, “The Red Sowing.” While the season has been filled with the looming threat of impending war and the power struggles for the Iron Throne, it is this scene that left me utterly spellbound, with little to do with dragons and involving none of the major players for the throne.
In season 2 of “House of the Dragon,” it appears that devastating war is imminent with each passing step, as different factions prepare for battle by amassing allies and dragons in their quests for the coveted Iron Throne.
An unexpected scene that stood out as the finest of the current season didn’t revolve around dragons or prominent characters vying for the Throne. Instead, a child managed to humiliate Daemon Targaryen publicly, leaving the audience delighted and deeply moved by the unfolding events.
In the story, Oscar Tully (previously known as Archie Barnes) assumes the role of House Tully’s leader and lord of the Riverlands following the unexpected demise of Lord Grover Tully. While he is depicted as the son of Elmo and brother of Kermit in the books, his lineage extends to being the great-grandson of Grover in the television adaptation – an amusing reference to the Muppets’ extended family tree.
In our previous encounter, we came across the youthful Oscar in “The Red Dragon and the Gold,” which was the fourth installment of this current series. At Harrenhal, Daemon is taken aback when he discovers that Lord Grover is still alive but incapacitated, making it impossible for the king consort to mobilize the military forces of House Tully and the Riverlands. In an attempt to persuade Oscar to eliminate his grandfather, Daemon’s actions disgust the young heir, pushing Daemon further down a sinister path. Later on, Daemon manages to convince Ser Willem Blackwood to have his faction carry out brutal acts against House Bracken in order to intimidate them into surrender.
In Episode 7, titled “The Red Reckoning,” the consequences of Daemon’s past actions come back to haunt him. The elder Lord Tully, Grover, has met his demise following a visit from Alys Rivers. The new young Lord Tully, despite his family’s pledge to Viserys (and consequently Rhaenyra), expresses his dislike for Daemon clearly.
Oscar stands out among other characters by firmly holding Daemon accountable for his past atrocities, carried out under the queen’s authority. As the new Lord Tully of Riverlands, Oscar bears not only the responsibility for the welfare of his own household but also for those feuding houses, Blackwood and Bracken. Consequently, the heinous actions inflicted by House Blackwood upon House Bracken at Daemon’s behest must be addressed.
I dealt with Daemon’s manipulation attempts once more, trying to convince young Lord Tully to back his bid for the throne instead of Rhaenyra. However, when faced with my new vassals, I put Daemon on the spot and called him out. I made it clear that no House, including his, had pledged allegiance to me yet.
“I don’t have a fondness for Daemon Targaryen. His actions here have disgraced himself and the crown,” Oscar tells the audience. But he manages to gain their favor by being modest, acknowledging his inexperience, and referring to his grandfather’s promise to Viserys and now Rhaenyra as his guiding principle, “despite how distasteful I find [Daemon’s] stand-in, the prince.”
Daemon, provoked, swiftly retorts, “King. Watch your attitude, lad,” eliciting hushed reactions from the audience. However, this comment doesn’t faze Oscar in the slightest. He casually approaches Daemon, eye-to-eye, and reminds the king consort of his reason for being there – he requires the army of the Riverlands. Then, with a firm tone, Oscar reaffirms, “Ultimately, I am a man of the river, and the decree of my family remains, despite those who fail to uphold it.”
Barnes impressively portrays Oscar’s character with unwavering determination, despite being surrounded by more seasoned and imposing figures. He effectively conveys Oscar’s steadfast morals and inexperience, making for an intriguing contrast as he faces off against Smith, a prominent performer in the series. The development of the young Tully character adds an inspiring layer to a show that explores power dynamics, demonstrating how even the least assumed heroes can stand up for what’s right and not be deterred by a powerful adversary with an intimidating presence.
In the end, Oscar presses for a decisive action from Daemon. He insists that Daemon not only confess to his wrongdoings but also immediately executes Ser Blackwood in front of everyone. Shockingly, Daemon complies without hesitation, beheading Blackwood on the spot, disregarding his desperate pleas that he was just following Daemon’s instructions.
In simpler terms, Daemon’s unfortunate storyline at Harrenhal continues with a new disappointing development – he must now yield to a child’s authority. Previously known for his ambitious nature, Daemon is now frequently forced to back down. Given his past actions, this pattern of leadership failure comes as no shock. Consequently, when Daemon experiences yet another vision of Viserys, the worn-out and aged version of his late older brother questions whether Daemon still wants to be king. In this moment, Daemon appears uncertain and unresponsive.
One possibility could be: Daemon might have harbored desires for the Iron Throne at some point, yet it’s unmistakable now that he isn’t cut out for it. In contrast, Oscar Tully seems perfectly suited for the task. My friend, Oscar.
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2024-07-29 17:19