House of the Dragon Episode 8 Recap and Reactions

Alicent presents an awkward welcome to Rhaenyra and Daemon in Viserys’ space but neither silver-haired guest is delighted. She also notices the scar on Rhaenyra’s forearm, still left from when she sliced her in a rage with a Valyrian metal blade. Rhaenyra and Daemon are so in sync in this article, their fed up energy is matched and they see by means of Alicent’s act. Their alternating comments are in rhythm as they prod the queen about keeping ability and introducing the Faith of the 7 although Viserys is weak in bed. Alicent is unperturbed. She’ll have her say for the duration of the petition for Lucerys’ inheritance in any case.

As Jace (Jacaerys) and Luke (Lucerys, now played by Elliot Grihault) wander all over the Red Hold, Luke notices everyone on the lookout at them. He presently is aware of why. “No just one would issue my currently being heir to Driftmark if I seemed a lot more like Ser Laenor Velaryon than Ser Harwin Sturdy,” he claims. In the lawn, they obtain Ser Criston sparring with none other than Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), now sporting Legolas-like hair and an eyepatch above the eye Luke sliced out several years in the past. Aemond’s preventing techniques have definitely improved given that they ended up boys in overcome lessons together. Jace and Luke tremble when they recognize him but Aemond has already spotted them in the group. “Nephews,” he phone calls out to them. “Have you appear to educate?”

Prior to they can arrange a rematch, Vaemond Velaryon arrives in King’s landing. Throughout a brief meeting, Otto and Alicent Hightower take into account his proposition. The queen wants to act in the public’s ideal interest, but the scheming Hand of the King would make a fantastic place: War is looming. When it will come, do you really want a youngster top the finest fleet in Westeros?

Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower.

I just cannot believe that this happened, but we get Rhaenyra, Rhaenys, and Rhaena—Daemon and Laena’s young daughter—all together in the exact scene. (Will a Daemon, Aemond, and Vaemond collab come subsequent?) Rhaenyra methods Rhaenys at the Weirwood tree, knowing the latter is below to vouch for herself as the upcoming leader of Driftmark. Rhaenyra makes an supply: If Rhaenys supports Luke as heir of Driftmark, they’ll betrothe Laena’s youngsters to Rhaenyra’s. That would make Baela (Bethany Antonia) queen of the 7 kingdoms if she marries Jace and Raena (Phoebe Campbell) a upcoming ruler of Driftmark along with Lucerys. The Driftwood Throne would be inherited by her little ones. Rhaenys appears intrigued, contacting it “a generous offer…or a determined a person.” But she chooses to act by itself for now.

Rhaenyra visits her father’s bedside on a stormy night time, troubled. “The Song of Ice and Hearth, do you consider it to be true?” 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 obligation to unite the realm against a prevalent foe. But, “by naming me heir, you divided the realm,” she says. “I thought I required it,” Rhaenyra states of the crown. But as the previous adage says, weighty is the head that wears it. The princess is beginning to crumble under that bodyweight. “If you want me to bear it, then protect me and my small children,” she begs to her father. With everybody coming right after her, she needs him on her facet.

In the Good Corridor, Vaemond tends to make his case to inherit the seat of Driftmark though Otto presides in excess of the collecting. Rhaenyra will come up coming, but just before she can communicate, King Viserys hobbles into the throne home 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 one particular was anticipating him to clearly show. “I will sit the throne currently,” Viserys insists, although it is a pitiful image as he heaves and struggles up the stairs to the Iron Throne. His crown even falls off—an noticeable metaphor—but Daemon picks it up, assists his brother up the ways, and places the crown back on his head. Viserys reiterates that the subject of Driftmark’s successor has by 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 happy.

But Vaemond is not. Even as the king of the Seven Kingdoms, Viserys is in no position to inform him who can inherit his family’s ancestral throne and house. Household Velaryon survived the Doom it are not able to turn into extinct more than this. Wil Johnson provides his all listed here, respiration fireplace into Vaemond’s impassioned, poignant speech. He’s not only combating for legacy like his brother Corlys he’s battling for his family’s survival. Vaemond finishes his piece calling Rhaenyra’s sons bastards and the princess a whore. The hall gasps. Viserys gets up. Daemon slices Vaemond’s deal with thoroughly clean in 50 % with his sword. It’s a sudden and surprising death, and I’m pretty much still left wishing we could’ve viewed a lot more of Vaemond. Right after keeping to the background in past episodes, this was the a person exactly where he shone the most, but also the place he met his untimely close. (Alas, the character is also beheaded in George R. R. Martin’s textbooks just after he attempts to declare the Driftwood Throne and queries Rhaenyra’s young children.)

Wil Johnson as Vaemond.

Even with the bloodshed, the Targaryen and Hightower families continue to assemble for dinner collectively at the king’s behest, and he’s the only a person who appears to be pleased about it. Below, Viserys makes a determined last plea to his family members. He eliminates his mask to expose the relaxation of his encounter, an eyeball lacking and the skin of his cheek practically totally absent. He looks skeletal. “I wish you to see me as I am. Not just a king but your father, your brother, your husband, your grandsire, who may perhaps not it would seem stroll for a great deal for a longer period among the you,” he states. He begs them to make good with each other, if not for the realm’s sake, then for his. Rhaenyra is the very first 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 states. Moved, Alicent raises her personal glass to Rhaenyra and her home. “You will make a good queen,” she adds. Even Otto is shocked.

Meanwhile, the young children are continue to squabbling. Aegon hits on Jace’s fiancée, Baela, to get on his nerves. But Jace can take the superior highway, elevating a toast to Aemond and Aegon in what is setting up to truly feel like a thoughts circle. Helaena toasts Baela and Rhaena for their engagements, introducing that possessing a husband is “not so bad—mostly he just ignores you, except from time to time when he’s drunk.” (Another person aid this lady!) Jace dances with Helaena though the family looks on, having fun with laughs at meal. For a minute it would seem like all the things is ok in Dwelling Targaryen. Till Viserys commences sensation a awful suffering and is carried out of the eating room.

A roasted pig is positioned in front of Aemond for dinner, and Luke laughs remembering how they used to tease Aemond with his incredibly individual “dragon pig.” Aemond loses his patience. He offers a closing toast devoted to his nephews, contacting them handsome, intelligent, and sturdy, alluding to their serious father Harwin Powerful. When all over again, he picks up the parentage challenge they had just seemingly laid to rest. The boys are offended and tousle with their uncles as soon as yet again right until the adults deliver them all again to their rooms. Rhaenyra wishes to choose the children back again to Dragonstone. Alicent normally takes her hand, hoping she’ll occur back again shortly. The gesture is mild and acquainted, practically reminiscent of their friendship as youthful women.

Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen.

Keep in mind Mysaria? We’ve gone by way of various episodes and a few of Daemon’s wives due to the fact we past noticed her. But immediately after dinner, Talya, a handmaiden to Queen Alicent, satisfies with her in the cloak of evening. The scene finishes there, while. Character progress will have to wait around an additional working day!

Viserys writhes in pain in mattress while Alicent tends to him. Not in his suitable mind, he mistakes her for Rhaenyra and answers her concern from the other night time. He does feel in the Track of Ice and Fire, he confirms. He name-drops Aegon, referring to the Conqueror, and suggests what he saw in the North was true. He mentions “The Prince That Was Promised,” referring to the destined hero who will crop up from the Targaryen bloodline. But Alicent, who has no knowledge of Viserys and Rhaenyra’s key, interprets this in different ways: She believes Viserys is calling Aegon, their firstborn son, the prince that was promised—as in the rightful heir to the Iron Throne as an alternative of Rhaenyra. “It is you. You are the a single. You need to do this,” Viserys whispers in his delirium. Alicent normally takes this as his would like for their son to become king. Olivia Cooke is superb at conveying Alicent’s shock, aid, acceptance, and even panic as she grapples with the excess weight of this information. You can previously explain to what chaos will ensue, and what harm she will do, with this news.

“I have an understanding of my king,” Alicent tells him as she leaves the place. The camera pans to that fated Valryian steel dagger as she exits. In the darkness, Viserys looks to be using his remaining breaths in bed. He has no concept he’s just performed the worst activity of telephone ever.

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