House of the Dragon Episode 8 Recap and Reactions

Alicent gives an uncomfortable welcome to Rhaenyra and Daemon in Viserys’ home but neither silver-haired guest is pleased. She also notices the scar on Rhaenyra’s forearm, left from when she sliced her in a rage with a Valyrian metal blade. Rhaenyra and Daemon are so in sync listed here, their fed up electrical power is matched and they see by means of Alicent’s act. Their alternating remarks are in rhythm as they prod the queen about keeping electricity and introducing the Religion of the 7 whilst Viserys is weak in mattress. Alicent is unperturbed. She’ll have her say throughout the petition for Lucerys’ inheritance anyway.

As Jace (Jacaerys) and Luke (Lucerys, now played by Elliot Grihault) wander around the Crimson Preserve, Luke notices every person searching at them. He already is familiar with why. “No a single would problem my becoming heir to Driftmark if I seemed extra like Ser Laenor Velaryon than Ser Harwin Robust,” he suggests. In the lawn, they locate Ser Criston sparring with none other than Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), now sporting Legolas-like hair and an eyepatch over the eye Luke sliced out years back. Aemond’s preventing abilities have certainly enhanced due to the fact they had been boys in beat lessons together. Jace and Luke tremble when they identify him but Aemond has currently spotted them in the group. “Nephews,” he calls out to them. “Have you arrive to practice?”

Just before they can prepare a rematch, Vaemond Velaryon arrives in King’s landing. Throughout a quick assembly, Otto and Alicent Hightower take into account his proposition. The queen desires to act in the public’s greatest fascination, but the scheming Hand of the King can make a superior point: War is looming. When it arrives, do you genuinely want a kid leading the greatest fleet in Westeros?

Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower.

I just can’t feel this took place, but we get Rhaenyra, Rhaenys, and Rhaena—Daemon and Laena’s younger daughter—all alongside one another in the exact scene. (Will a Daemon, Aemond, and Vaemond collab occur following?) Rhaenyra methods Rhaenys at the Weirwood tree, understanding the latter is in this article to vouch for herself as the subsequent chief of Driftmark. Rhaenyra tends to make an give: If Rhaenys supports Luke as heir of Driftmark, they’ll betrothe Laena’s young children to Rhaenyra’s. That would make Baela (Bethany Antonia) queen of the 7 kingdoms if she marries Jace and Raena (Phoebe Campbell) a potential ruler of Driftmark alongside Lucerys. The Driftwood Throne would be inherited by her kids. Rhaenys seems intrigued, calling it “a generous offer…or a desperate just one.” But she chooses to act by yourself for now.

Rhaenyra visits her father’s bedside on a stormy night time, troubled. “The Music of Ice and Fire, do you imagine it to be legitimate?” she asks him, tears in her eyes. When she was a child, he told her about Aegon the Conqueror’s key prophecy, and that it was their responsibility to unite the realm in opposition to a frequent foe. But, “by naming me heir, you divided the realm,” she says. “I believed I preferred it,” Rhaenyra claims of the crown. But as the outdated adage suggests, major is the head that wears it. The princess is starting off to crumble under that fat. “If you wish me to bear it, then defend me and my young children,” she begs to her father. With everybody coming following her, she needs him on her side.

In the Good Hall, Vaemond would make his situation to inherit the seat of Driftmark while Otto presides around the accumulating. Rhaenyra comes following, but right before she can talk, King Viserys hobbles into the throne place dressed in his crown, cape, and all the regalia, aided with a cane and a ill golden Phantom of the Opera mask. The group is in shock no a single was anticipating him to present. “I will sit the throne right now,” Viserys insists, although it is a pitiful photograph as he heaves and struggles up the stairs to the Iron Throne. His crown even falls off—an apparent metaphor—but Daemon picks it up, helps his brother up the ways, and places the crown again on his head. Viserys reiterates that the make a difference of Driftmark’s successor has now been settled. Even Rhaenys voices her assist for Luke as heir and confirms that Laena’s young children will marry Rhaenyra’s. Viserys is delighted.

But Vaemond is not. Even as the king of the 7 Kingdoms, Viserys is in no position to convey to him who can inherit his family’s ancestral throne and dwelling. Dwelling Velaryon survived the Doom it can not come to be extinct around this. Wil Johnson offers his all here, breathing hearth into Vaemond’s impassioned, poignant speech. He’s not simply preventing for legacy like his brother Corlys he’s fighting for his family’s survival. Vaemond finishes his piece contacting Rhaenyra’s sons bastards and the princess a whore. The corridor gasps. Viserys gets up. Daemon slices Vaemond’s encounter clean in 50 percent with his sword. It is a sudden and shocking demise, and I’m nearly still left wishing we could’ve observed a lot more of Vaemond. Immediately after trying to keep to the background in past episodes, this was the a single exactly where he shone the most, but also the place he satisfied his untimely conclusion. (Alas, the character is also beheaded in George R. R. Martin’s books after he attempts to assert the Driftwood Throne and thoughts Rhaenyra’s youngsters.)

Wil Johnson as Vaemond.

Regardless of the bloodshed, the Targaryen and Hightower people however obtain for evening meal jointly at the king’s behest, and he’s the only 1 who appears to be to be content about it. Right here, Viserys would make a desperate ultimate plea to his loved ones. He eliminates his mask to expose the rest of his encounter, an eyeball lacking and the pores and skin of his cheek practically entirely gone. He seems to be skeletal. “I want you to see me as I am. Not just a king but your father, your brother, your partner, your grandsire, who may well not it appears to be walk for a great deal for a longer time among you,” he says. He begs them to make great with every other, if not for the realm’s sake, then for his. Rhaenyra is the 1st to comply, boosting her glass to Alicent to praise her loyalty and devotion to Viserys. “For that she has my gratitude and my apology,” she claims. Moved, Alicent raises her possess glass to Rhaenyra and her dwelling. “You will make a fine queen,” she provides. Even Otto is surprised.

Meanwhile, the kids are however squabbling. Aegon hits on Jace’s fiancée, Baela, to get on his nerves. But Jace requires the higher street, elevating a toast to Aemond and Aegon in what is starting to feel like a emotions circle. Helaena toasts Baela and Rhaena for their engagements, including that owning a partner is “not so bad—mostly he just ignores you, besides from time to time when he’s drunk.” (A person assistance this female!) Jace dances with Helaena although the loved ones seems on, experiencing laughs at supper. For a minute it appears to be like every thing is ok in Home Targaryen. Right until Viserys commences sensation a terrible discomfort and is carried out of the dining place.

A roasted pig is placed in entrance of Aemond for supper, and Luke laughs remembering how they utilized to tease Aemond with his really personal “dragon pig.” Aemond loses his persistence. He provides a remaining toast focused to his nephews, contacting them handsome, wise, and potent, alluding to their serious father Harwin Strong. After once again, he picks up the parentage issue they had just seemingly laid to relaxation. The boys are offended and tousle with their uncles when yet again until finally the older people mail them all back to their rooms. Rhaenyra wishes to take the kids back again to Dragonstone. Alicent normally takes her hand, hoping she’ll appear back quickly. The gesture is mild and acquainted, practically reminiscent of their friendship as younger women.

Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen.

Remember Mysaria? We’ve long gone via numerous episodes and 3 of Daemon’s wives considering the fact that we previous noticed her. But just after meal, Talya, a handmaiden to Queen Alicent, meets with her in the cloak of evening. The scene finishes there, nevertheless. Character growth will have to wait yet another working day!

Viserys writhes in pain in bed although Alicent tends to him. Not in his proper thoughts, he blunders her for Rhaenyra and answers her dilemma from the other night. He does consider in the Song of Ice and Fireplace, he confirms. He title-drops Aegon, referring to the Conqueror, and claims what he observed in the North was accurate. He mentions “The Prince That Was Promised,” referring to the destined hero who will arise from the Targaryen bloodline. But Alicent, who has no awareness of Viserys and Rhaenyra’s top secret, interprets this in different ways: She thinks Viserys is calling Aegon, their firstborn son, the prince that was promised—as in the rightful heir to the Iron Throne alternatively of Rhaenyra. “It is you. You are the a single. You should do this,” Viserys whispers in his delirium. Alicent usually takes this as his want for their son to turn into king. Olivia Cooke is superb at conveying Alicent’s shock, aid, acceptance, and even concern as she grapples with the bodyweight of this concept. You can previously explain to what chaos will ensue, and what destruction she will do, with this information.

“I fully grasp my king,” Alicent tells him as she leaves the home. The digicam pans to that fated Valryian metal dagger as she exits. In the darkness, Viserys seems to be taking his ultimate breaths in mattress. He has no idea he’s just performed the worst activity of phone at any time.

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