House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 4 Review: Lord Ormund Must Die

House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 4, “Tumbleton,” gives viewers a better look at who Lord Ormund is, understanding why he will not be a fan-favorite. Unless you are one of those people who love to hate a good villain, then he is the character for you.

Even though Alicent believes the best thing she has done as a mother was give Daeron to her cousin, the episode reveals that might not be true. If she wanted him raised as a Hightower, then she must not realize that her family is just as bad as the family she was protecting her son from.

No one is a saint in this world, and Lord Ormund is making sure Daeron won’t grow up to be one either.

While Daeron has his ears filled with words from his uncle about the kind of king he should be and how he should betray his brothers, Rhaenyra is taking advice from Orwyle and Mysaria.

Rhaenyra’s paranoia has grown to the point that she can trust few people. Orwyle and Mysaria have proven to be those people, as the only two who show up for her council and continue to advise her on what’s best to do.

Mysaria’s idea to bring in a Master of Coin is a smart one. The people are demanding answers and resources, and if Rhaenyra doesn’t want to look like a failure, she needs someone to blame. A Master of Coin is the perfect decoy.

This is particularly true when we reconfirm that Rhaenyra is heavily focused on what the people may be saying about her. When Ulf tells her what’s been written in the town and how some people talk about her, she is deeply affected by it. Rhaenyra needs to be liked to feel accepted.

Ever since her children were born, Rhaenyra has been accused of having bastards. This is something that clearly still affects her because she denies Corlys the right to claim his illegitimate children.

However, we must note that when the streets call her “Queen of Bastards,” they’re no longer only talking about her sons. Rhaenyra has become the Queen of Bastards because she went on a hunt to recruit bastards as dragonriders.

Rhaenyra unlocked centuries of cheating and betrayal by allowing “commoners” to claim dragons and join her forces. The title has expanded from her children to those she commands, yet she won’t allow Corlys to claim his own “bastards.”

Truthfully, the “commoners” would have more respect for her if she claimed the title of Queen of Bastards and changed its purpose. After all, there’s nothing better for the haters than claiming what they thought was an insult and using it to your advantage.

One thing that stands out on House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 4, “Tumbleton,” is Daemon finally being a father to Rhaena. Throughout the years, it was clear that Daemon had a favorite child, one who had claimed a dragon and could fly by his side.

Rhaena has always been aware of this, but this episode proves that in his own manner, Daemon has always loved his daughter.

While Caraxes is the one to lead Daemon straight to his daughter and Sheepstealer, he is the one who has to decide what to do with this. There is a conflict between protecting his daughter and honoring his wife and her requests.

Surprisingly, the paternal instinct wins, and Daemon decides to keep Rhaena’s location a secret, bringing Rhaenyra a poor civilian’s head. It is the biggest act of loyalty we have seen Daemon commit, and probably the most treasonous act against Rhaenyra.

 

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House of the Dragon airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO MAX.

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