Welcome to Socially Distanced’s fourth installment of the House of the Acolyte review series — where we review both the latest Star Wars series, The Acolyte and the second season of HBO’s House of the Dragon.
This episode is hosted by Amanda Rivas (for The Acolyte section) and special guest host Alex Marcus (for The House of the Dragon section), tagging in for Bill Bodkin (sorry friends, I was out on family business) this week. They are joined by The Pop Break’s White Knight and Commander of our Hearts — Ben Murchison.
Our small council begins their journey to Brendok and Westeros with a pregame discussion of the trailers for Agatha All Along and Gladiator 2.
In the first half of the podcast, they return to Brendok with Master Indara, her padawan Torbin, Master Sol, and wookie Jedi Kelnacca, and learn the fateful events that led to the present day events the show covers in Episode 7 of The Acolyte:”Choices.”They discuss Carrie Ann Moss’s performance, her decision to withhold the events of Brendok from the Jedi Council, the epicness of a Wookie Jedi possessed by Space Witches, and the weak-willed Torbin’s struggle to accept the consequences of his actions that night. They also discuss Master Sol’s string of poor choices, intense need for connection, and how his unhinged behavior pretty much led to Mae being thrown under the bus for what happened on Brendok. Plus they clearly had to revisit the thirst for Qimir and why they all are Sith now.
In the second half of the podcast, our small council takes part in a massive dragon battle as they discuss Episode 4 of House of the Dragon: “The Red Dragon and the Gold.” They discuss whether Daemon via his dream sequences in Harrenhall has given up on his ambition to rule or whether he will eventually challenge Rhaeynra, this episode’s lack of Rhaenyra in the first half, Alicent’s motivation for digging into her late husband’s historical texts (although her motivation for taking moon tea is quite clear), and whether Criston Cole is toast after what happens to Aegon in this battle. Plus, they dive into the heated rivalry between Aemond and Aegon, collectively mourn the late great Rhaenys and her dragon Meleys, and discuss so much more.
