The Burning Mill

Lore & Background

The episode opens with a verbal conflict between the Riverland houses Bracken and Blackwood, long-time rivals who support Aegon and Rhaenyra respectively, escalating into the Battle of the Burning Mill, resulting in ruination and many casualties. Daemon arrives at Harrenhal on Caraxes and secures the support of its castellan Ser Simon Strong, who denounces his grand-nephew Larys. Daemon later experiences a vision of a young Rhaenyra sewing Jaehaerys' head back onto his body, and a cloaked woman tells him he will die there.

In King's Landing, Helaena forgives Alicent, and Criston proposes a plan to take Harrenhal. Ser Gwayne Hightower unexpectedly joins Criston's detachment. Aegon appoints Larys as his Master of Whisperers. In a brothel, a man named Ulf claims to be a Dragonseed and half-brother of Viserys and Daemon. Aegon and his retinue encounter a naked Aemond with Sylvi, leading to mockery and Aemond storming off.

Rhaenyra sends her youngest sons away to the Eyrie, and entrusts four dragon eggs to Rhaena. Baela, patrolling on Moondancer, spots Criston's men and reports to Rhaenyra's council. Rhaenyra, disguised as a septa, sneaks into King's Landing and meets Alicent in a sept. Rhaenyra realizes Alicent misunderstood Viserys' dying words about the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy, mistaking her son for Aegon the Conqueror. Alicent dismisses Rhaenyra, claiming the war can no longer be avoided.

Reader's Guide

"The Burning Mill" marks the first armed conflict of the war between the Greens and the Blacks, setting a tone of inevitable catastrophe. The episode introduces several new cast members, including Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers, and Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong. It also features the final appearances of Elliott Tittensor and Luke Tittensor as Erryk and Arryk Cargyll, whose corpses appear after their deaths in the previous episode. Milly Alcock guest-stars as young Rhaenyra in Daemon's vision.

The episode received highly positive reviews, with critics praising the direction, character development, the reunion of Alicent and Rhaenyra, the brothel scene between Aemond and Aegon, and the performances of Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke. The chemistry between Cooke and D'Arcy was regarded as a highlight. The episode achieved a viewership of 1.1 million on linear television in the United States, a 10.7% decrease from the previous episode. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 91% approval rating based on 22 reviews.

Did You Know?

• The episode was written by David Hancock, marking his first writing credit for the series.
• The name 'The Burning Mill' refers to the Battle of the Burning Mill, the first armed conflict of the war between the Greens and the Blacks.
• The episode introduced Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers, and Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong.
• Milly Alcock guest-starred to reprise her role as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in Daemon's vision.

The First Blood of the Dance

The episode opens with what begins as a long-standing verbal feud between the Riverland houses of Bracken and Blackwood, loyalists on opposite sides of the succession dispute. That tension detonates into the Battle of the Burning Mill, the first armed engagement of the war between the Greens and the Blacks, leaving behind widespread ruin and heavy casualties. The episode's very title references this skirmish, underscoring how a small territorial dispute ignites a much larger conflict. Meanwhile, Prince Daemon Targaryen rides his dragon Caraxes to Harrenhal and claims the castle for Rhaenyra. The castle's castellan, Ser Simon Strong, immediately pledges his loyalty to her, denouncing his own grand-nephew Larys Strong in the process. On the Green side, Ser Criston Cole devises a bold military plan to seize Harrenhal as a strategic base, and Alicent's brother Ser Gwayne Hightower unexpectedly joins the campaign. The episode also marks the final on-screen appearances of the Cargyll twins, Erryk and Arryk, who are buried together at Dragonstone following their fatal duel.

A Queen in Disguise

Amid the escalating war, Rhaenyra makes a daring decision to infiltrate King's Landing under cover. Disguised as a septa, she slips past guards and approaches Alicent while the Queen Dowager is at prayer inside a sept. Their reunion becomes the emotional centerpiece of the episode. During their tense conversation, Rhaenyra reveals a critical misreading: Alicent has been interpreting King Viserys's dying words about the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy as referring to her own son, when in fact they pointed to Aegon the Conqueror. The revelation devastates Alicent, yet she remains resolute, declaring that the war can no longer be avoided and dismissing Rhaenyra. The episode also shows how this mission was facilitated: after Baela's aerial patrol spotted Green soldiers near a village, Rhaenyra's councilors urged the use of dragons in the conflict. In exchange for her earlier warning about Arryk Cargyll, Rhaenyra rewards the spy Mysaria with a position at court, and it is Mysaria who advises Rhaenyra on how to locate Alicent within the capital.

The Weirwood's Warning

After claiming Harrenhal, Daemon is drawn that night by an unseen force to a weirwood tree deep within the castle grounds. There he experiences a harrowing vision: a young Rhaenyra, played by Milly Alcock in her return to the series, is shown sewing the severed head of Prince Jaehaerys back onto his decapitated body. The vision shatters, and Daemon awakens before a cloaked woman who delivers a chilling prophecy — he will die at Harrenhal. The episode also deepens the Strong family's internal fractures. Ser Simon Strong, newly introduced by actor Simon Russell Beale, pledges his allegiance to Rhaenyra and publicly denounces his grand-nephew Larys, accusing him of orchestrating the deaths of his own father, Lord Lyonel, and his brother, Ser Harwin, in the fire that destroyed Harrenhal. This betrayal within the Strong household adds a personal, familial dimension to the broader political conflict, showing how the war tears apart even those bound by blood.

Craft, Casting, and Critical Acclaim

Written by David Hancock in his first stint as a writer for the series and directed by Geeta Vasant Patel in her second credit, the episode was a showcase of both new faces and returning talent. Freddie Fox, Gayle Rankin, and Simon Russell Beale made their first appearances as Ser Gwayne Hightower, Alys Rivers, and Ser Simon Strong respectively, with their casting announced back in April 2023. Production designer Jim Clay built elaborate new sets, including Harrenhal and the Driftmark harbour, the latter described by showrunner Condal as the largest set Clay had ever constructed. The episode drew 1.1 million viewers on linear television in the United States during its premiere night on June 30, 2024. Critics responded with strong praise, singling out the direction, the emotional weight of Alicent and Rhaenyra's reunion, the provocative brothel scene between Aemond and Aegon, and the standout performances of Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke.

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