It looks like Rod Wave’s recent arrest for battery didn’t cool off his musical hot streak as his latest album, Beautiful Mind, becomes his second to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The Florida crooner last topped the list with his 2021 album, SoulFly. Even more impressively, he’s done all this without the benefit of algorithm-boosting features; the album’s only two guest appearances come from Jack Harlow and December Joy. He racked up 115,000 equivalent album units with 113,000 from streaming.
Meanwhile, Megan Thee Stallion’s new album, Traumazine, bows at No. 4, marking her fifth consecutive top-ten debut and pretty much perfectly highlighting the whole “misogyny in hip-hop” problem (the guy accused of strangling his girlfriend in front of their children outsells one of rap’s most outspoken survivors of domestic violence? You couldn’t write it in a prestige drama on HBO). She accumulated 63,000 equivalent album units with 54,000 streaming units and 8,000 album sales.
Also in the top ten are Bad Bunny, whose Un Verano Sin Ti was finally dethroned (again) after eight weeks at No. 1, although his equivalent album units earned only dropped less than 1%. Beyonce’s Renaissance is No. 3, down 29%. No. 5 is YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s The Last Slimeto (there’s another guy whose treatment of women hasn’t deterred him from success). Morgan Wallen, Harry Styles, The Weeknd, Future, and Olivia Rodrigo round out the top 10.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
It has been exactly three weeks since the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s golf club and private residence in Palm Beach, Florida. And in the weeks since, we’ve heard a litany of bad, sad, pathetic, and plain laughable excuses for what prompted federal investigators to search the home of a former president for the first time in our country’s history. While many versions of these stories have come from Trump directly, Ohio congressman Mike Turner has now joined in the fun — and might just have come up with the most inane reason for Trump to be in possession of highly classified documents.
CBS: What use could a former POTUS have for classified information once he’s left office? Why bring it home to Florida?
REP. MIKE TURNER: You’d have to ask him, but certainly we all know that every former POTUS has access to their documents. It’s how they write their memoirs. pic.twitter.com/ZwOiKcCnqj
On Sunday, Turner appeared on Face the Nation, where he chatted with Ed O’Keefe. While discussing Trump’s tricky situation, O’Keefe asked Turner — who Newsweek notes is “also the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee” — what possible reason a former president might have for keeping top-secret documents when he’s no longer in office, and for bringing them to his home in Florida. Turner’s response?
“Well, I don’t know. I mean, you have to ask him. But certainly, we all know that every former president has access to their documents. It’s how they write their memoirs. They don’t have… great recall of everything that’s occurred in their administration.”
Which only begs the question: Why would Trump be writing about top-secret details of his presidency in a memoir? But we’ll save that answer for another day.
These revelations all come via an upcoming book, journalist Andrew Kirtzman’s Giuliani: The Rise and Tragic Fall of America’s Mayor, which is due out in mid-September. In it, Kirtzman shares that Giuliani associate Maria Ryan penned a letter to Trump stating that, “As you know, [Rudy] lost his job and income and more defending you during the Russia hoax investigation and then the impeachment pro bono.” As a result, the unofficial Four Seasons Total Landscaping spokesman was asking for $2.5 million for himself, and $45,000 for Ryan, plus a couple of other major perks — because why stop at millions of dollars?
“Mr. Giuliani rarely asks for anything for himself,” Ryan wrote. “He is praying you present him with [a Presidential Medal of Freedom] on Friday, January 15 or Monday the 19.”
But Rudy “I Rarely Ask For Anything For Myself” Giuliani was not done. Ryan also requested a general pardon for the president’s former personal attorney, despite the fact that he swears he did nothing wrong in helping Trump to attempt to overturn a totally legitimate presidential election.
According to Vanity Fair, one of Giuliani’s advisers managed to get his hands on the letter before it ever made its way to Trump. According to Giuliani’s legal team, Rudy wasn’t even aware of the requests, and would have put the kibosh on the letter himself as “he never asked for a pardon and told President Trump that if he was offered a pardon, he would decline it because he didn’t do anything wrong.”
Not everyone would necessarily agree with the last part of that statement. Though he is currently the subject of a criminal investigation in Fulton County, Georgia, where he was forced to appear last week in order to answer a series of questions about his presumed involvement in helping Trump try to push The Big Lie.
This is, of course, all separate (but semi-related) from the matter of Giuliani being sued for $1.3 billion from Dominion Voting Systems for his frequent assertions that the machines were hacked, while offering no evidence to back up the claim.
Keeping up with new music can be exhausting, even impossible. From the weekly album releases to standalone singles dropping on a daily basis, the amount of music is so vast it’s easy for something to slip through the cracks. Even following along with the Uproxx recommendations on a daily basis can be a lot to ask, so every Monday we’re offering up this rundown of the best new music this week.
This week saw the first Blackpink in a good while and Red Hot Chili Peppers similarly kicking off a new era. Yeah, it was a great week for new music. Check out the highlights below.
It had been two years without a new Blackpink single but that changed last week with “Pink Venom,” the first look at Born Pink. The tune has a lot going on, a hip-hop-heavy tune with a rhythmic, engaging, sitar-driven instrumental on which the group members deliver lyrics in both English and Korean.
Offset — “54321”
As the future of Migos continues to remain uncertain, the trio’s members are out here doing their own thing. Last week, Offset flexed some solo muscle with “54321,” which includes some possible allusions to the group drama, including lyrics seemingly referencing Takeoff and being in a group.
Nicki Minaj — “Super Freaky Girl (Roman Remix)”
Minaj’s alter ego Roman Zolanski pops up every now and again, and made a fresh appearance last week on the “Roman Remix” of “Super Freaky Girl.” Uproxx’s Aaron Williams notes of the rework, “While the Rick James-sampling beat remains the same and she uses the same pre-chorus, she restructures the song to add a third rapid-fire verse that sees her continue the spelling exercise from the hook and boast about her career longevity.”
Maren Morris and Zedd — “Make You Say”
Maren Morris and Zedd had one of 2018’s defining hits with “The Middle,” and now the duo has reunited on another collaboration, “Make You Say.” This one is ready for summer, starting with a warm and simple instrumental before the energy picks up and leads into a radio-ready hook.
Red Hot Chili Peppers — “Tippa My Tongue”
RHCP has been on a roll since guitarist John Frusciante returned to the group; They dropped Unlimited Love earlier this year and they recently announced yet another 2022 double album, Return Of The Dream Canteen. They offered the first look at the LP a few days ago with “Tippa My Tongue,” a characteristically funky tune that shows the near-40-year-old group still operating at a high level.
Jean Dawson — “Three Heads”
Dawson isn’t an artist who’s easily placed in a single box when it comes to genre, so new music from him could sound like just about anything. In the case of his latest single, “Three Heads,” Dawson sings and raps over a mostly guitar-driven, alternative rock-inspired instrumental.
Milli and Jackson Wang — “Mind Games”
88rising continues to establish itself as an important force in the modern music landscape, and a couple of the label’s artists continued that track record of excellence on a new collaboration, “Mind Games.” Uproxx’s Armon Sadler notes of the tune, “Labelmates Milli and Jackson Wang have no interest in the complications of love, singing their hearts out in full rejection of anything that doesn’t bring them pleasure in the track written by Gallant and produced by Monsters & Strangers.”
Demi Lovato — “Eat Me” Feat. Royal & The Serpent
Last week was relatively slow in terms of new albums, but the most recognizable figure to drop a new LP was Demi Lovato. She returned with Holy Fvck, a highlight of which is the Royal & The Serpent-featuring “Eat Me,” a heavy and guitar-driven tune that’s emblematic of the rock/alternative focus Lovato had while crafting her new material.
Hit-Boy — “Fire Proof”
Hit-Boy is best known for his many collaborations on which he’s played the role of producer, but last week, he put on his rapper hat for “Fire Proof.” Over the course of two minutes, he more than holds his own on the exemplary sort of beat with which he’s built his empire.
JID — “2007”
It’s been a minute since 2018’s DiCaprio 2, but now JID is finally returning with a new album, The Forever Story. That’ll be out in just a few days now, but he previewed the effort last week with “2007,” a 7-minute story-telling tune on which JID is joined by J. Cole, J. Cole, Dreamville president Ibrahim Hamad, and even his dad.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
If you’re in mourning today, the first Monday without Better Call Saul, maybe this will help: the New Yorker published a lengthy interview with creator Vince Gilligan. In it, he discusses alternate endings, growing up in the south, and Kim’s normie “yup” boyfriend.
The whole thing is worth a read, but one particular back and forth caught my eye. Gilligan was asked about whether he thinks Jimmy McGill had a “triumphant” ending on Better Call Saul, which is how he once described the end of Walter White’s journey on Breaking Bad. “I’d like to believe that, unlike Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul has a somewhat happy ending. I think Jimmy rediscovers himself and gets back to his roots,” he said, adding, “There’s a bit of Dickens’s Christmas Carol in it — there’s redemption, of a sort. I don’t think you see that with Walter White.” You sure don’t.
As Gilligan has moved further away from Breaking Bad, he has “less sympathy” for Walter, and more empathy for Skyler, especially after all the “extreme sexism” from toxic fans that actress Anna Gunn had to deal with. “Back when the show first aired, Skyler was roundly disliked. I think that always troubled Anna Gunn. And I can tell you it always troubled me, because Skyler, the character, did nothing to deserve that. And Anna certainly did nothing to deserve that,” he said. Gilligan continued:
She played the part beautifully. I realize in hindsight that the show was rigged, in the sense that the storytelling was solely through Walt’s eyes, even in scenes he wasn’t present for. Even Gus, his archenemy, didn’t suffer the animosity Skyler received. It’s a weird thing. I’m still thinking about it all these years later.
Gunn has said that all the hate for Skyler “shook me. As an actor, my job is not to always play characters who make everybody happy. That’s not interesting. In fact, characters that are more difficult in a way are more interesting. But when you are on a show that has become that big and people are identifying you so much with somebody that they dislike, you can’t help but feel like you get folded into it.” At least her performance wasn’t ignored by the Emmys: she won Outstanding Supporting Actress twice… which is half as many times as Bryan Cranston won Outstanding Lead Actor. Still more than Kim Wexler!
Despite weeks of chaos at HBO Max and its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, a new sizzle reel shows sure makes it seem like the HBO brand is as strong as ever. After naturally leading with House of the Dragon, a prequel to the network’s juggernaut Game of Thrones series, the promotional video confirmed the return of a whole slew of shows and surprisingly unveiled the first look at The Last of Us.
Based on the short clip, it’s clear that the adaptation of the hit Sony video game series is being primed as the next big HBO Original coming down the pipe. Starring Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie, The Last of Us will take the characters on a post-apocalyptic journey where they’ll have to not only contend with zombie “clickers” but questionable survivalists like Nick Offerman‘s Bill.
The Last of Us sneak peak should go over well with gaming fans, due to the attention of detail:
The Last of Us takes place in a post-apocalyptic United States, 20 years after a fungal plague decimated humankind. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle a 14-year-old girl, Ellie, out of their militarized quarantine zone under suspicious circumstances. This seemingly simple task spirals into a dangerous odyssey across a crumbling America filled with cutthroat factions and zombified mutants.
On top of debuting the first look at The Last of Us, the sizzle reel also confirmed the return of Hacks. The Jean Smart series will apparently be surviving whatever the heck is happening behind the scenes at HBO Max. For now.
The House of the Dragon series premiere had sex, violence, and dragons. It’s good to have Game of Thrones back. But while the episode was entertaining, one scene was hard to watch. In “The Heirs of the Dragon,” we learn that King Viserys and Queen Aemma have been trying to have a male heir for years, but after multiple miscarriages and stillbirths, they remain without a son. The king is certain this time it will happen, however, so much so that he orders the maester to perform a C-section on his wife, who dies in the process. So, too does, the child, Baelon, the so-called “Heir for a Day.”
In an interview with Vanity Fair, House of the Dragon co-creator George R.R. Martin compared the scene to an iconic Game of Thrones moment. “That scene is… you don’t want to use the word ‘enjoyable’ for a scene like that, but it’s incredibly powerful,” he said. “It’s visceral and it’ll rip your heart out and throw it on the floor. It has the kind of impact that the Red Wedding had. It’s a beautifully done scene of something horrible.”
I don’t necessarily agree with Martin that Queen Aemma’s death in “The Heirs of the Dragon” has the same “impact” as the betrayal committed in “The Rains of Castamere,” arguably the best episode of Game of Thrones. But the two moments do share one thing: moms who deserved better.
HBO has a lot riding on those dragon riders of House of the Dragon‘s contenders and pretenders. Plenty of people felt dubious about whether the prequel could help make up for the lingering string of Game of Thrones‘ eighth season, but the good news is HotD is actually quite good. Not only that, but there was already some literal “HotD” in the form of Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen already getting sort-of randy. He has issues! Alright, he’s a damn mess, but more to our current point, people tuned into the premiere.
Oh boy, did they. As it turns out HBO Max servers weren’t prepared for the live streaming onslaught, which is both surprising (considering the franchise’s blockbuster viewership for the flagship series) but inevitable. More people are likely streaming three years later rather than tuning in on premium cable TV, and yup, it was Crash City up in there. This should be good news, even if it frustrated people, because that means that the audience is there, clamoring for more Westeros tales.
And let’s just say that HBO Max will want to beef up their streaming servers, so that people can tune in for more “Dracarys” and watch all dominoes line up as the Targaryens start to firm up the lineage. And when that Jon Snow spinoff finally arrives, we’ll all know nothing (just like him) other than we’ll wanna stream this one live. All of that’s thinking well ahead in the future, but in the meantime, let’s check in on how everyone responded to HBO Max crashing halfway through the premiere episode.
About 25 minutes in to trying to watch #HouseoftheDragon only to have my HBO Max repeatedly crash after showing me the promo about all the “groundbreaking new originals”they have coming. Not really a great sales pitch.
Multiple times per week, our TV and film experts will list the most important ten streaming selections for you to pop into your queues. We’re not strictly operating upon reviews or accrued streaming clicks (although yes, we’ve scoured the streaming site charts) but, instead, upon those selections that are really worth noticing amid the churning sea of content. There’s a lot out there, after all, and your time is valuable.
Let’s do this one last time for the top 10-ish because Carmy and his fellow Chefs are so entertaining and intense that they’re worth watching twice. Speaking of which, if you’re a holdout, it’s time to give up the fight. Surrender to this story if an authentic portrayal of kitchen-based drama, for people who put their all into delivering the delicious goods. Beyond that, Carmy’s dealing with some hefty family drama that’s left him with some horrific demons. Cameos from Joel McHale and Jon Bernthal will enthrall you, and Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach deserve more credit than they’ve been receiving amid all of the speculation of whether Carmy will get down in Season 2.
Let’s hope this one survives the reported impending Warner Bros. Discovery slice and dice that’s coming for some of your favorite shows. Fingers are still crossed over here for Doom Patrol as well, but for now, he’s enjoy this story of the ultimate supervillainess keeping hold of her own power and leading an assortment of Gotham henchman. Together, they will continue to rule over those other goons, and the ongoing story of Harley and Ivy proves that this show can give the fans what they want without sacrificing substance. Also, this show ain’t gritty, which is refreshing as hell in the current DC landscape.
9. Power Book III: Raising Kanan (Starz series also streaming on Hulu)
50 Cent’s been shopping future seasons of this hit drama round, so that adds to the drama of where these stories will go. For now, this season picks up with the family ties that bind, and everything is growing ever more intricate and winding with personal lives, an expanding drug operation, and family business woes all adding up. Inner dynamics are complicated beyond belief, and that’s to the audience’s benefit.
This chaotic ride through the short life and enduring career of Elvis Presley is streaming up a storm after theater release, and even though Tom Hanks is always great, Hanx is not so great here, on purpose. He’s not the major reason to watch this movie. Rather, it’s Baz Lurhmann’s own wonderfully ridiculous retelling in biopic format that’s worth watching for the way that Austin Butler lights up the screen. His truly transformative performance takes you through all of the King’s phases, and yes, you’ll be all shook up by the end of this movie.
This down and dirty franchise edition is worth your while, and never forget that even a total badass female protagonist must use her wits in addition to her brawn to defend her people. It’s also worth noting that this female Comanche warrior is not only fighting a hostile alien creature (who’s hunting humans for sport, not survival) but also those who are attempting to colonize her tribe. This franchise is not only refreshed as a result, but it’s never been better.
You love to see it. By “it,” I mean the successful resurrection of a totally mindless pair who prove that the best things in life aren’t worth changing. Settle in for their ridiculously banal perspective on life and music videos and remember how much you missed Mike Judge’s buttmunches. Remember, they also brought us Daria and Cornholio, who’s still probably looking for TP for his bunghole. Not everything has to be serious, alright?
This is a short list, unfortunately, or it would also include the recently concluded Only Murders In The Building, where Selena holds her own alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short. Here, she’s been quietly notching several pleasantly enjoyable seasons of this cooking show. Mind you, Selena is not a chef, but she enlists a lot of chefs to help her make the magic happen. She also deals with some occasional infernos, but no one’s been hurt yet. All that can be found her is some tasty food and the realization that Selena’s kitchen voyages are one of HBO Max’s most successful hits so far, proving (once again) that she’s an underappreciated force on TV.
Slipping Jimmy’s about to slip on out of this universe in this season finale, which means that there are only a few more moments to tell Cinnabon jokes before you slip into the finale. This ends the Breaking Bad universe, but if you’re interested in some spinoff ideas, then Brian Grubb’s got them, but first, do check in on where Jimmy/Saul/Gene end up and where Kim Wexler’s life ends up going, too. This season also gave us some Jesse Pinkman and Heisenberg along with some eventful (but inevitable) deaths as the timelines began to collide. And this was a remarkable instance of a prequel actually being better than a flagship show. Cinnabons for everyone!
The Ally McBeal of the MCU is already off to a roaring start with Orphan Black‘s Tatiana Maslany Hulking out with better CGI than expected. There’s a wonderful Steve Rogers reference, and Mark Ruffalo’s along for the ride as Bruce Banner. Since Jennifer Walters serves superheroes everywhere, this show fuels an enormous amount of cameos, so it should tie things together nicely, even if the current MCU state feels a little bit sporadic.
As with Better Call Saul, this prequel not only lives up (so far) to its predecessor but hits a better groove right out of the gate. We’ve obviously got lots (17 to be precise) of fire breathers, each with their own personalities while they serve their dragon-riding dynasty. This prequel (starring Matt Smith, Paddy Considine, and Emma D’arcy) takes place a little over a century before the birth of Daenerys, who was the last of the Targaryen bunch (unless one counts bastard Jon Snow). And he will get his own show (where he probably still knows nothing), but the great news is that this show — based upon George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood — is a rager. This takes us through the reign of Targaryen kings before the house fell, and seeing King’s Landing standing again is quite the sight.
Thanks to a bonus episode (featuring the “Calliope” story) that Netflix decided to drop, this show get another week at the top, and for excellent reason. This series bring’s Neil Gaiman’s legendary and lugubrious comic book series to life in stunning glory. Tom Sturridge pulls off the most fitting representation of the aloof, angular Morpheus, who must repair his kingdom after being imprisoned for a century. We’ve also got Patton Oswalt as a raven and Gwendoline Christie as the most regel-yet-bored ruler of Hell in all of eternity. “The Sound Of Her Wings” turned out to be the most beautiful TV episode in recent memory, and Kirby Howell-Baptiste’s Death is a different take on the iconic character but fully worth the three-decade wait.
It’s been three years since Game of Thronesaired its uneven and divisive final season. For some, the hiatus from Westeros – with its bloodshed and ice zombies and unfulfilling character arcs – could’ve lasted a bit longer. But time, and a multinational tech company in need of a hit after unloading a roster of original streaming series for undisclosed financial reasons, waits for no one. So, here we are. Back in a still-standing King’s Landing, nearly 200 years before Daenerys Targaryen will burn it to the ground.
So yes, this show is like Succession with dragons. I don’t care how HBO wants to spin it, that’s the vibe. And because the goal is to sit atop a sword-clad that regularly sticks you with its pointy ends — just ask Paddy Considine — we’re going to do a weekly heat-check of where the major players rank in terms of inheritance. We’ve categorized them as Contenders and Pretenders and they can switch labels as quickly as they switch allegiances at court. As a bonus, we’re also holding a weekly (or semi-weekly) Wound Watch devoted to King Viserys because, well, you’ll see why!
Here’s where everyone sits after the show’s first episode.
The Pretenders
HBO
Corlys Velaryon aka The Sea Snake
Corlys Velaryon has a lot going for him. A recognizable hairdo. An iconic moniker. Vaults-full of gold. A fleet of ships that would make a Greyjoy bend the knee in respect. But Corlys wants more. He wants the Iron Throne, if not for himself and his wife then for his children, and he’s too aggressive in his campaign style to be taken seriously by anyone. He spends most of the episode b*tching about shipping lanes being clogged by pirates and supporting Prince Daemon Targaryen’s public limb-ripping tantrums simply to spite the King and his Hand, Otto Hightower. He’s wound so tightly that he even refuses free booze at council meetings. This is a man who cannot be trusted.
King Viserys
Is Viserys Targaryen the Kendall Roy of Westeros? Yes, yes he is. Despite being named king, it’s hard to view this guy as a leader. He was chosen by a High Council because the thought of a woman ruling the realm made a bunch of lords’ cajones shrivel up in fear. He spends most of the show’s first episode pathetically whining for his wife to birth him a male heir, despite having a dragon-riding daughter filling his royal cup. And his biggest accomplishment isn’t staving off the Free Cities – who are invading the Step Stones and feeding men to the crabs – but planning a name-day tourney that ends in violence and the death of his wife. In other words, he is, as the capitalist industrial complex would say, “quiet quitting.”
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
Known as The Queen Who Never Was – which, rude – Princess Rhaenys was the former king’s eldest living heir but her gender meant that her cousin Viserys was chosen over her to rule. And she is not bitter about that. At all … jk, Rhaenys is quietly fuming throughout the episode and cackling with glee into her wine glass anytime someone who references her rejected claim is unhorsed in front of the commonfolk of King’s Landing. She’ll likely never wear a crown, but she’ll enjoy watching her family burn itself to the damn ground to decide who should.
Alicent Hightower
Westeros’ resident “pick-me” girl, Alicent Hightower is the best friend of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and the only daughter of Otto Hightower. She’s young and eager to please, but she’s smart too – someone capable of playing the game for the throne should she decide to. Unfortunately, her father seems to make that decision for her, quite literally pimping the girl out to his best friend after the death of the Queen in childbirth. So, in case you were wondering, yeah, this show is just as “ick” as GoT was.
Prince Baelon Targaryen
Look, I don’t wish to speak ill of a dead baby, but Baelon really f*cked things up for his House. He was “king for a day” and he managed to drive a wedge between his father and his uncle, muddle the line of succession, paint the Targaryen line as weak, thrust his sister in an unenviable position of scrutiny, and cost the crown a ton of money for a name-day tourney that all felt a bit pointless in the end. We won’t be seeing him again and, honestly, that might be for the best.
The Contenders
HBO
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen
The parallels between Rhaenyra and Daenerys Targaryen are obvious. Glaringly so. Like, should we even bother liking this girl if she’s just going to grow up to be a murderous Mad Queen who gets knifed by her limp biscuit of a lover, obvious? It’s too soon to know for sure, but Rhaenyra has some things going for her that Daenerys didn’t. Familial support. A nearly full-grown dragon she’s tamed to behave like an overgrown house cat. Experience navigating the complexities of court life. A non-existent savior complex. Rhaenyra seems less interested in ruling than in simply earning her father’s approval but that ambition is likely lurking deep beneath the surface so we’ll see how long it takes for her to torch her enemies with a bit of dragon fire.
Prince Daemon Targaryen
Matt Smith is doing his best Lord of the Rings cosplay in House of the Dragon. That’s a compliment, truly. Prince Daemon Targaryen is his brother’s apparent heir, but he’s just hot-headed and impulsive enough to cause the king’s council to doubt his ability to lead. (And Daemon doesn’t help matters by calling Otto Hightower a c*nt every chance he gets.) He’s a rascal. A scoundrel. A maker of mischief. And he’s so desperate to prove himself of worth to his king that he cloaks his army in gold and castrates criminals and piles their body parts in horse-drawn carts to instill fear in his subjects. At one point, he shows up to a council meeting after a night of butchering with blood staining his face. This guy is pure chaos. We almost want to see him end up on the throne, just for the hell of it.
Otto Hightower, The Hand of the King
No Hand of the King can really be trusted – unless they’re named Eddard Stark – but Otto Hightower puts even Tywin Lannister to shame with his political maneuvering in House of the Dragon’s premiere. He’s got a personal vendetta against the prince, he views Viserys’ daughter unworthy of sitting on the Iron Throne, he silences the concerns of the king’s most powerful allies, and he pressures his friend to remarry the same day he torches the corpses of his dead wife and child. He’s a real piece of work. But, he’s got a young and beautiful daughter to wield against a weak-minded, grief-stricken ruler so the chance that he’ll amass even more power than he already has looks good. Too good.
Wound Watch
*Alexa, play Sheryl Crow’s ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’*
For as long as King Viserys reigns, we’ll be keeping inventory of the many cuts he accumulates while sitting on the Iron Throne. It’s a metaphor, you see. A sign that even an inorganic object made of sharp steel can sense he’s not fit to perch his ass upon it. But it’s also just a fun reminder that human beings really suffered before the age of modern medicine. In this episode, Viserys must attend to two separate injuries. The first, a puncture wound to his back that’s festered and become infected. Leeches haven’t worked so, naturally, he ops to cauterize the wound. The second, a tiny slice to his pinky while casting his brother Daemon out of King’s Landing ends with the King submersing his hand in a bowl full of maggots. You can decide which is less stomach-churning.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
(@VandaYacht) 
(@trekkiebill) 
(@ConnieBV) 
