Episode 9 of House of the Dragon, “The Green Council,” is probably essentially the most explosive episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel collection but. The traditional 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 suppose you’re seeing double. But don’t contact that dial or put down your Negroni sbagliato; these two good-looking bearded males are twin brothers. Both are members of the Kingsguard, and each have sick facial hair and a normal air of “having it together.” And they’re twins who’re named Arryk and Erryk.

Really.

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

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

The two brothers spend a very good chunk of the episode making an attempt to trace down Aegon, who has disappeared into the underbelly of 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 maintain monitor of the younger King-to-be due to how the teen flaunts his energy to create excuses to flee. When 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.

But one thing very attention-grabbing occurs within the meantime: While 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 occurring after King Viserys’ dying, he sneaks Rhaenys Targaryen out of the fort, resulting in the episode’s explosive finale.

It’s pretty, for a lot of causes. First of all, twins are categorically enjoyable in cinema: They’re a staple of the direct-to-video motion motion pictures 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’s additionally thematically poignant. The complete 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 damage within the course of). What higher instance for that than twin brothers, torn aside by an impending battle? It was a stunning machine in one in all my favourite fantasy novels, Ken Liu’s The Grace of Kings, and I’m excited to see the place House of the Dragon takes it as nicely.

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

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

Alicent: “Whatever it is, Ser Arryk, it’ll need to wait.”

Erryk: “I’m Erryk, Your Grace.”

I’d prefer to shortly direct this subsequent portion of the put up to the dad and mom of Arryk and Erryk. Cargylls – what on Earth have been you considering??? (George R.R. Martin, I already know the naming shenanigans you’re as much as.) How on this planet did you yell at one and never the opposite, or reward one and never the opposite? Why did you place your self on this bind???

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

While I can see some great benefits of summoning two twins by yelling one vaguely related title from the opposite aspect of the fort, it is a intelligent failure for anybody else coping with these goofs. Real “who’s on first” shit.

Ser Arryk and Erryk Cargyll, I salute you. But perhaps take into consideration a nickname.