House of the Dragon’s twins have names nearly as identical as their appearances

Episode 9 of Home of the Dragon, “The Inexperienced Council,” is probably essentially the most explosive episode of HBO’s Recreation of Thrones prequel collection but. The same old courtroom intrigue the present has made its bones on has continued, however after the dramatic occasions of episode 8, “The Lord of the Tides,” the drama in Westeros is unfurling at a quickening tempo.

You may additionally assume you’re seeing double. However don’t contact that dial or put down your Negroni sbagliato; these two good-looking bearded males are twin brothers. Each are members of the Kingsguard, and each have sick facial hair and a normal air of “having it collectively.” And they’re twins who’re named Arryk and Erryk.

Actually.

[Ed. note: This post contains spoilers for episode 9 of House of the Dragon.]

Picture: Ollie Upton/HBO

The 2 brothers spend a great chunk of the episode making an attempt to trace down Aegon, who has disappeared into the underbelly of the town simply when his household wants him most — when he must get off his spoiled butt and be anointed king. Ser Erryk, the sworn defend of the then-Prince and now-King Aegon, complains to Ser Otto Hightower that he can’t hold monitor of the younger King-to-be due to how the teenager flaunts his energy to create excuses to flee. Once they lastly discover Aegon, they drag him out, solely to be thwarted by Ser Criston Cole and Aegon’s brother Aemond, who take Aegon away to seize credit score for the discover.

However one thing very fascinating occurs within the meantime: Whereas Ser Arryk duels Ser Criston (and loses), his brother Ser Erryk merely… watches after which nopes out of the entire continuing. Disgusted by the political machinations happening after King Viserys’ demise, he sneaks Rhaenys Targaryen out of the fortress, resulting in the episode’s explosive finale.

It’s pretty, for a lot of causes. To begin with, twins are categorically enjoyable in cinema: They’re a staple of the direct-to-video motion films I like, and these two guys (performed by real-life twins Elliott and Luke Tittensor, finest identified for his or her twin position as Carl Gallagher within the U.Okay.’s Shameless) could be an ideal match buying and selling kicks with the likes of Scott Adkins.

But it surely’s additionally thematically poignant. The entire episode focuses on a splintering kingdom and the disconnect between the ruling class and the individuals they purport to look after, and the fractures that come up when energy vacuums seem (and who will get harm within the course of). What higher instance for that than twin brothers, torn aside by an impending struggle? It was a stunning system in one in every of my favourite fantasy novels, Ken Liu’s The Grace of Kings, and I’m excited to see the place Home of the Dragon takes it as effectively.

Picture: Ollie Upton/HBO

It’s additionally an enormous improve for a personality whose Thrones Wiki entry was led by, on the time of this writing, the next trade:

Alicent: “No matter it’s, Ser Arryk, it’ll want to attend.”

Erryk: “I’m Erryk, Your Grace.”

I’d wish to rapidly direct this subsequent portion of the publish to the dad and mom of Arryk and Erryk. Cargylls – what on Earth had been you considering??? (George R.R. Martin, I already know the naming shenanigans you’re as much as.) How on the earth did you yell at one and never the opposite, or reward one and never the opposite? Why did you set your self on this bind???

I reached out to Polygon’s official mother or father of two, Matt Patches, for remark:

Whereas I can see some great benefits of summoning two twins by yelling one vaguely comparable title from the opposite facet of the fortress, this can be a intelligent failure for anybody else coping with these goofs. Actual “who’s on first” shit.

Ser Arryk and Erryk Cargyll, I salute you. However possibly take into consideration a nickname.