Well. This plot with Daemon hallucinating got VERY upsetting VERY quickly and I would like it to stop now, please and thank you.
I also did not at all appreciate seeing Melys' head paraded through the streets :/ But at least the common people had the same reaction I did. I don't know why Criston thought that was a good idea, other than he continues to be terminally stupid.
Sometimes this show does these beats with Aemond where I don't know if he's supposed to look conflicted or not, because he doesn't, lol, but the dialogue seems to hint that he should. Like Helaena confronting him in the throne room. When she asked if he was worth the price, I half-expected him to KanyeShrug. But this has happened before, when he didn't really express any remorse over Luke at first and then later acknowledged he forked up to the madame.
Also, it's super obvious when Olivia and Ewan are in scenes together how close they are in age, lol. Poor Olivia.
I felt for Corlys, but I also thought Baela had a point. Rhaenyra didn't do this to Rhaenys. Rhaenys made her own choice.
The show always does a good job juxtaposing Rhaenyra and Alicent as mothers - Alicent, who cannot remain beside her possibly dying son and therefore missed him asking for her, while Rhaenyra clearly has a strong emotional bond with Jace even when they're arguing and she listens to him and respects him.
And finally, speaking of Alicent...does it really suck to be completely undermined and dismissed just because you're a woman? Does it really? Huh. Interesting. Imagine how Rhaenyra's felt all this time.
Okay. I will put book spoilers in comments.