View source for King of the Narrow Sea (TV)

{{Infobox HOTD episode
 | season   = 1
 | episode  = 4
 | image    = King of the Narrow Sea HOTD.jpg
 | caption  = 
 | airdate  = September 11, 2022
 | length   = 63 minutes
 | director = [[w:Clare Kilner|Clare Kilner]]
 | writer   = Ira Parker
}}

"'''King of the Narrow Sea'''" is the fourth episode of the [[w:HBO|HBO]] [[w:medieval fantasy|medieval fantasy]] television series ''[[House of the Dragon]]''. The runtime is 63 minutes. It is written by Ira Parker, and directed by [[w:Clare Kilner|Clare Kilner]]. Music was composed by [[w:Ramin Djawadi|Ramin Djawadi]]. 

==Official synopsis==
After [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] cuts short her [[Royal progress|tour]] of [[Westeros]], [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]] introduces the princess to the [[Street of Silk]] after dark.<ref>HBO.com: [https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/season-1 House of the Dragon Season 1]</ref>

==Plot==
{{See also|Differences between Fire & Blood and House of the Dragon}}
This episode takes place one year after the great hunt ([[Second of His Name|episode 3]]), as [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]] is now referred to as a "princeling of three" and Daemon reflects on Rhaenyra growing up since the last time they saw each other four years ago ([[The Rogue Prince (TV)|episode 2]]).

===Storm's End===
Princess [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]] tours the [[Seven Kingdoms|realm]], as organized by King [[Viserys I Targaryen]] and Queen [[Alicent Hightower]], to meet suitors and select a spouse for herself. Rhaenyra is hosted by Lord [[Boremund Baratheon]] at [[Storm's End]] where she meets with several candidates for her hand: Beric Dondarrion, Willem Blackwood, Jerrel Bracken and members from Houses [[House Frey|Frey]], [[House Mallister|Mallister]], [[House Mooton|Mooton]], [[House Mudd|Mudd]], [[House Strong|Strong]], and [[House Swann|Swann]]. Rhaenyra is not impressed by her suitors, refusing Beric for being too old and Willem for being too young. When Bracken and Blackwood start a duel and Willem kills Jerrel, Rhaenyra prematurely leaves [[Storm's End]] for the harbor to go back to [[King's Landing]], despite the tour being planned to last another two months.

===King's Landing===
When Rhaenyra approaches the capital, her uncle [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]] flies over them on [[Caraxes]], rocking the ship. Everyone at court gathers in the throne room to see Daemon's return. He enters the room with the [[Crabfeeder]]'s hammer in hand and a makeshift [[crown]] on his head. Tension grows in the room as everyone wonders what the Rogue Prince will do. In the end, Daemon gives both the hammer and the crown to Viserys and bends the knee to his brother. Viserys welcomes him back and hugs him. A welcome party is organized in the [[godswood]], where Viserys is pleased to spend time with Daemon and drink. He is colder towards Alicent, whom he rebuffs, and towards Rhaenyra, as he is frustrated with her decision to cut her tour short. The two young woman bond on the side and rekindle their friendship. In the aftermath of the party, Daemon and Rhaenyra discuss marriage and the pleasures of life.

On the small council, Ser [[Otto Hightower]] brings the news that Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] has started negotiations with the [[Sealord of Braavos]] to wed his daughter, [[Laena Velaryon|Laena]], to the Sealord's son. This worries Otto as it would force the Crown to seek an alliance with a [[Free Cities]] to counter balance the growing power of [[House Velaryon]].

That night, Rhaenyra finds a strange bag in her room. She empties it on a table to find a boy's set of clothes and instructions written in [[High Valyrian]] on how to escape her room through [[Red Keep#Secret Passages|Maegor's secret passages]]. After putting on the clothes and following the instruction, she finds Daemon waiting for her. He takes her through the streets of the city to show her the pleasures he alluded to earlier. They watch a street play depicting the issue of succession for the [[Iron Throne]], they drink, they stop at a vendor, and finally they enter a [[brothel]]. Daemon leads Rhaenyra into the basement of the establishment, where they end up flirting and kissing. Daemon leaves before they can have sex, however. He continues his night on his own, drinking, while Rhaenyra returns home where she seduces Ser Criston and has sex with him instead. A spy working for [[Mysaria]] relays what he saw at the brothel to Otto.

The next morning, Otto goes to Viserys to expose Rhaenyra and Daemon while Alicent is listening in the background. Alicent decides to warn Rhaenyra and seek the truth directly from her. Rhaenyra convinces her that she did not have sex with Daemon but leaves out what happened with Ser Criston. When Daemon returns to the Red Keep still heavily hungover, the [[Kingsguard]]s bring him to the throne room where Viserys confronts him. Daemon does not deny the accusation and proposes that the now "sullied" Rhaenyra should marry him. Viserys banishes him from court. When Viserys later confronts Rhaenyra, he is angry and does not want to know the truth as only perceptions and reputations are important at court. He is done with trying to find a match for her and commands her to marry Ser [[Laenor Velaryon]]. Rhaenyra accepts to do her duty and marry Laenor on the condition that Viserys fires Otto from his office of [[Hand of the King]]. She points out to her father that Otto will do everything he can to undermine her position of heir to the throne to replace her with his grandson, Prince [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]]. Realizing how self serving Otto has been of late, Viserys agrees. At night, Grand Maester [[Mellos]] brings [[moon tea]] from the king to Rhaenyra to get rid of "unwanted consequences".

==Cast==
===Starring===
{{Columns|2|
*[[w:Paddy Considine|Paddy Considine]] as King [[Viserys I Targaryen]]
*[[w:Matt Smith (actor)|Matt Smith]] as Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]]
*[[w:Rhys Ifans|Rhys Ifans]] as Ser [[Otto Hightower]]
*[[w:Fabien Frankel|Fabien Frankel]] as Ser [[Criston Cole]]
*[[w:Sonoya Mizuno|Sonoya Mizuno]] as [[Mysaria]]
*[[w:Milly Alcock|Milly Alcock]] as Young [[Rhaenyra Targaryen]]
*[[w:Emily Carey|Emily Carey]] as Young [[Alicent Hightower]]
*[[w:Graham McTavish|Graham McTavish]] as Ser [[Harrold Westerling]]
*[[w:Jefferson Hall (actor)|Jefferson Hall]] as Ser [[Tyland Lannister]]
}}

===Guest===
{{Columns|2|
*Gavin Spokes as Lord [[Lyonel Strong]]
*[[w:David Horovitch|David Horovitch]] as Grand Maester [[Mellos]]
*[[w:Bill Paterson (actor)|Bill Paterson]] as Lord [[Lyman Beesbury]]
*[[w:Ryan Corr|Ryan Corr]] as Ser [[Harwin Strong]]
*Chris David Storer as Lord [[Humfrey Bracken]]
*Gabriel Scott as [[List of characters created for House of the Dragon#Episode 4: King of the Narrow Sea|Jerrel Bracken]]
*Alfie Todd as [[List of characters created for House of the Dragon#Episode 4: King of the Narrow Sea|Willem Blackwood]]
*Toby Dixon as Mysaria's messenger
*Minnie Marx as Woman in black
*Jonathan Jaynes as Theatre player
*Samuel Sargeant as Vendor
*Clea Martin as Royal handmaiden
*Paul Leonard as Lord [[List of characters created for House of the Dragon#Episode 4: King of the Narrow Sea|Beric Dondarrion]]
*Ben Dilloway as Ser [[List of characters created for House of the Dragon#Episode 4: King of the Narrow Sea|Soren]]
*Philip Young as Silk Street drunkard
*[[w:Julian Lewis Jones|Julian Lewis Jones]] as Lord [[Boremund Baratheon]]
}}

==Reception==
The viewership of this episode went up 5% from the last episode who had lower ratings than the first two episodes due to airing during Labor Day weekend.<ref>Variety: [https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/house-of-the-dragon-episode-4-ratings-viewers-1235371398/ House of the Dragon Viewership Up 5% With Episode 4] (September 13, 2022)</ref>

==External links==
* [https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon/season-1/4-king-of-the-narrow-sea "King of the Narrow Sea"] at [https://www.hbo.com/ HBO]
* [https://gameofthrones.fandom.com/wiki/King_of_the_Narrow_Sea_(episode) "King of the Narrow Sea"] at the [https://gameofthrones.fandom.com/wiki/Game_of_Thrones_Wiki Game of Thrones & House of the Dragon Wiki]
* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11198340/ "King of the Narrow Sea"] at the [https://www.imdb.com Internet Movie Database]
* [[w:King of the Narrow Sea|"King of the Narrow Sea"]] on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page Wikipedia]

==References==
{{References}}

{{HOTD}}

[[Category:House of the Dragon]]

[[es:Rey del Mar Angosto]]
[[fr:Épisode 4 - Le roi du Détroit]]
[[pt:King of the Narrow Sea]]