‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2, episode 6 recap: The one where everyone has an identity crisis

In another cerebral episode heavy on the plotting and planning, everyone’s identity crises are taking center stage.

In another cerebral episode of “House of the Dragon” heavy on the plotting and planning, Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) is having a bit of an identity crisis as she continues to find her way forward without her uncle/husband Daemon (Matt Smith) and with a depleted stock of dragonriders. After the loss of Rhaenys (Eve Best) and the dragon Meleys, the priority for Rhaenyra is to find another dragonrider to add to her team. Among the unclaimed are Seasmoke – Rhaenyra’s late husband Laenor Velaryon’s (John Macmillan) dragon – plus Silverwing and Vermithor, among others. Jacaerys (Harry Collett) and Rhaenyra’s seemingly genius plan to deep dive into the Targaryen family tree to find a suitable dragonrider to claim the unclaimed dragons turns into a fatal disaster. They determine that Ser Steffon Darklyn (Anthony Flanagan) is their best bet and he takes on the dangerous task with pride, but it turns out that Steffon and Seasmoke are not a match – made clear by the gray-shaded dragon when it barbecues Steffon instead of serving him. Seasmoke does eventually find its rider this week, though, with Corlys Velaryon’s (Steven Toussaint) illegitimate son Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) being the chosen one. Speaking of Corlys, the Sea Snake accepts Rhaeynra’s offer to be her Hand, a pairing that seems like it’ll be favorable for Team Black. He’s the first to show up to her small council meeting, donning his new hardware, and appears ready to serve.