It is often said that there is no greater misfortune than greed. Westeros was bearing the consequences of greed and lust for power. Otto's mission had been.
She had the support of the largest and strongest fleet of the Seven Kingdoms. He told her that the Hightowers had taken her birthright and that she shouldn’t kneel down in front of them. Her innocent son had been snatched from her, and she was determined to make the Greens pay the price for it. Rhaenyra told her young boy that she was also frightened when she was told that she would be the heir to the iron throne. Rhaenyra had given birth to a stillborn baby, and it was a miracle that she had survived. She didn’t feel that she had the authority to do so. Even in such a state, Rhaenyra was still thinking about her father’s demise and about the coup that He said to his mother that he was not as perfect as she was. She was very young, and she didn’t understand the enormity of the responsibility that was being vested in her. He said that he didn’t want to be the Lord of the Tides. He feared that he would not be able to fill the shoes of [Towards the end of the 9th episode](https://dmtalkies.com/house-of-the-dragon-season-1-episode-9-recap-ending-explained-2022/) of “House of the Dragon,” we saw that [Rhaenys](https://dmtalkies.com/rhaenys-choose-rhaenyra-over-alicent-house-of-the-dragon-episode-9-2022/) had somehow managed to save her life and escape from the Red Keep.
The House of the Dragon season 1 finale sees Rhaenyra Targaryen crowned and face a war with her half-brother King Aegon II Targaryen.
[How to watch House of the Dragon – where can you stream?](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/how-watch-house-dragon-stream/) [House of the Dragon planned to last three or four seasons](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-of-the-dragon-three-four-seasons-newsupdate/) [When is House of the Dragon set? Rhaenyra is shown to briefly crumble in grief before turning around and showing a look of heartbreak and fury in her eyes. Meanwhile, in the bowels of Dragonstone, Daemon walks with a torch and sings in High Valyrian before placing his torch on the floor in front of a large dragon, Vermithor, who proceeds to roar and breath a burst of flame. In the lashing rain and storm outside, Lucerys races to Arrax and calms his dragon in High Valyrian before mounting him and flying into the storm. Rhaenyra refers to Ser Otto as a traitor, removes the pin as the Hand of the King and throws it over the causeway. Daemon holds the crown before walking over to Rhaenyra and crowning his wife before bowing down to her as his Queen. Inside Dragonstone, Rhaenyra reveals her concern about using dragons to burn the entire realm and sitting on the Iron Throne no matter the cost, revealing she is considering the terms given to her to avoid war. During the ceremony, Ser Erryk Cargyll (Elliott Tittensor) approaches with a message of no harm before producing the crown of King Viserys and swears fealty to Queen Rhaenyra as a member of her Queensguard. A nervous Lucerys is comforted by Rhaenyra who encourages him to appeal to the proud Lord Borros just a short distance away at Storm's End. Rhaenyra refuses the help of her nurses and endures a bloody episode of labour that results in the stillbirth of a premature infant. [Lord Corlys Velaryon](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/corlys-velaryon-house-dragon-steve-toussaint-explained/) (Steve Toussaint) is sailing to an unknown location, while Daemon plans to travel to Riverrun to secure the support of Lord Tully. Rhaenys fetches the boys and brings them to Rhaenyra and she relays the news of what has occurred in King's Landing.
In Episode 10 of HBO's 'House of the Dragon,' Rhaenyra and Daemon react to the throne usurping events from Aegon, Alicent, and Otto in Episode 9.
To have that level of shared history between these characters as a mechanism to help us feel that weight is especially effective—and one of House of the Dragon’s greatest assets. As a result of his brutality, Aemond is known henceforth as Aemon the Kinslayer. Now, it’s perhaps the inciting incident in the Dance of the Dragons. The Hightowers decided to crown Aegon the second with the helm and sword of Aegon the Conqueror, a not entirely subtle nod to the fact the Greens were conquering the throne for themselves. It’s a tangible reminder of their love for one another, despite their differences over the years. Lord Corlys brings a particularly critical bit of information with him; the Triarchy is finally done, and the Narrow Sea is under Velaryon control. It also continues to make it clear to viewers that Rhaenys is well-established as someone capable of seeing the entire chess board. The character seems to address that conversation head-on, as she explicitly states to Rhaenyra and Daemon that the “war is not mine to begin.” While that won’t likely be enough reasoning for some viewers—myself included, perhaps—it’s refreshing to see that Dragon knew ahead of time that people might be asking that question. Those ramifications feel like the tip of the spear, a brief hint into the bloody carnage that’s about to unfold. As such, we see only a handful of appearances from the Greens, including a swaggerful Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans, excellent as always) and a predictably unhinged moment from Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). One of House of the Dragon’s biggest strengths is how it manages to provide nuance to each character—and how the past influences their decisions. Upon receiving the news of both Viserys’ death and Aegon’s crowning from Rhaenys (Eve Best), the Blacks realize they’re behind the eight-ball and quickly work to shore up their power.
House of the Dragon's season 1 finale features Daemon (Matt Smith) singing in Valyrian to a dragon as he tries to round up more ammo in the Dance of the ...
(Silverwing, who Daemon mentions is coiled up with Vermithor, is Jaehaerys’ wife’s dragon — love is real.) He is described in the book as a bronze dragon with “great tan wings,” already large when Jaehaerys was accepted as his rider. It’s a tough break, but hopefully Vermithor and the other dragons will be able [to fill out the fleet in season 2](https://www.polygon.com/23419614/house-of-the-dragon-season-2-release-date-cast-news) — or at least, if they hope to go toe to toe with the Greens’ chonky gal. But given the size of that dragon and the response to his song, it seems more likely this is Vermithor, who was King Jaehaerys’ dragon. Though Rhaenyra pushes back that none of their dragons have been to war, he insists it’s a numbers game they’ve already won, should they be able to find the riders. It’s possible the dragon Daemon goes to see is one of the wild ones he references. After all, Rhaenyra’s children have dragons, as does Daemon’s daughter Baela (Bethany Antonia). In a modern, non-fantasy, narrative this would be the briefing the president gets in the war room about the nuclear capability of the other side. Then it’s revealed who he is serenading: a massive dragon, who lets loose a tremendous fire burst in response. In the earlier war council scene, Daemon was very intentional about taking note of all the dragons the Blacks command. Daemon is all over this, naturally, but one scene in the season 1 finale might throw off even the most dedicated viewers. He cautiously kneels and puts the torch on the ground, as a guttural, almost alien growl is heard somewhere in front of him. Ultimately, it all means going to round up more dragons.
How to watch House of the Dragon finale: Game of Thrones spin-off reaches fiery season one conclusion. Enjoy episode 10 on TV and online | Trusted Reviews.
Princess Rhaenys has arrived on Dragonstone to proclaim: “The greens are coming for you, Rhaenyra, and for your children.” At the end of episode 9, the coronation was crashed by Princess Rhaenys and her massive, massive dragon. King Viserys is dead, the fix is in, and the crown has been stolen.
'House of the Dragon' Season 1 finale: Emma D'Arcy and EP Miguel Sapochnik discuss the major death that kicks off the Dance of the Dragons.
until Vhagar went rogue and made a snack out of the smaller beast and his rider. “Somehow, I think this moves the goal posts of suffering,” series star Emma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra, says in the “Inside S1 E10” featurette available on HBO Max. Though earlier in the episode Rhaenyra had counseled patience when trying to figure out when and how to go to war with the Hightowers, the finale’s final moments showed a grieving Rhaenyra who clearly wants to avenge her son.
She sends Luke (Elliot Grihault) to Storm's End, to treat with Lord Borros Baratheon for support. As lords of the Seven Kingdoms, they all swore oaths to ...
When Daemon (Matt Smith) returns to Dragonstone to deliver the news to Rhaenyra, it seems that the loss of her son is the final straw for her. One account says that Aemond killed Lucerys of his own volition, while another says that he not only does that, but he carves out his eyes and delivers them to one of Lord Borros' daughters who called him weak. Rhaenyra then instills confidence in Luke by telling him that he has Baratheon blood in his veins through Rhaenys (technically this is not true) and that Lord Borros will welcome hosting a prince of the realm. He reveals to Luke that he has replaced his lost eye with a blue sapphire and demands an Luke heads to Arrax and Aemond goes to Vhagar. What happens between Lucerys and Aemond is framed more as a tragedy in House of the Dragon. To make matters worse, Lord Borros is unamused by Rhaenyra's message to him asking him to remember and honor his father's oath. Swear it to me right now, under the eyes of the Seven." In the final act of "The Black Queen," we see Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) sending her sons as messengers to try and curry favor with the nobles who have not declared for Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney). The shadow of Vhagar, the largest dragon in the world, looms in the back as he delivers his mother's message to Borros Baratheon. With Rhaenys (Eve Best) patrolling the Narrow Sea on her dragon Meleys, Rhaenyra sends Jace (Harry Collett) to the Eyrie to see Rhaenyra's mother's cousin, Lady Jane Arryn, and then further up north to Winterfell to treat with Lord Cregan Stark for the support of The North. [House of the Dragon](https://collider.com/tag/house-of-the-dragon/) Season 1 brings us to the official beginning of the civil war in Westeros known as the Dance of Dragons.
It's almost season finale time as House of the Dragon episode 10 premieres on HBO and HBO Max. When can you expect it to air in your time zone?
Are you prepared for the House of the Dragon season 1 finale? Eastern Time in the US, as well as 6:00 p.m. And if you, like so many, are ready for the After House of the Dragon‘s compelling debut season, there is no reason to expect anything less from its finale. Yes, the House of the Dragon season 1 finale has arrived. When can you expect it to air in your time zone?
On House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 10, the battle lines are drawn as Rhaenyra learns about the events of King's Landing. Read our...
The long wait for House of the Dragon Season 2 will be challenging, but I have few concerns about it. It's been great because it leaves nothing up to debate and enhances the source material instead of disregarding it. The last thing I expected from this finale was for Corlys to show up and be in a healthy state. Rhaenyra had lost so much, and that chilling look on her face signaled that she was a merciful Queen no more. The show should be credited for making a one-dimensional conflict from Fire & Blood three-dimensional. Daemon would have murdered everyone in the Dragonpit and wouldn't have thought twice about it. He has a constant death stare that makes him all the scarier. It's harrowing to think that much of this civil war could have been avoided without misunderstandings. If he thought one of his sons or brother could do that, he would have prepared them to be rulers. Their bond runs deep, but using the page of the novel was sheer manipulation. Knowing how swiftly alliances change in Westeros, I was concerned about whether Daemon and Rhaenyra would trust Rhaenys. Vhagar is a seasoned war veteran.
House of the Dragon Season 1 has come to an end, and Season 2 will delve fully into war with a higher body count than expected, and hopefully less troubling ...
This is also the Ned Stark-like moment that fans were waiting for, as it has the same gut-wrenching sensation. The Dance of the Dragons is here. To tweak Cersei Lannister’s words a little, in the game of thrones, some just die. [House of the Dragon](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/after-house-of-the-dragon-finale-leak-hbo-issues-statement-8224288/) has taken the plunge—and we’re not talking about King Viserys’ death. Do we already see the hint of the famous Targaryen madness settling in? But of course, allies cannot be rallied easily, least of all in the name of peace.
But it doesn't matter now. A false king sits on the Iron Throne, and Daemon assumes the worst—that Viserys was murder in order to make way for Aegon.
I do think it was pretty lousy of Corlys to leave his whole family in the lurch for years, but it turns out he actually accomplished what even Daemon could not: securing control of the Stepstones, and with them most of the sea routes to King’s Landing. Hamilton: I completely agree on all counts; Aemond is this week’s Worst Person in Westeros, and his dastardly actions have also set the stage for a very promising second season. He’s well within his rights to be pissed at Lucerys for taking out his eye, and while technically Lucerys lost control of his dragon first, it’s Aemond’s that strikes a fatal blow, and demolishes with it any hope of a peaceful resolution. If there’s any fault, it lies with his mother, who acts like she’s sending him on a milk run based on two terrible calculations: one, that all it will take to get House Baratheon in line is a reminder of the vow they swore to Rhaenyra delivered via dragon, and two, that no one else will have thought of this first. Alicent and her father have been crowned the Worst (the latter twice), as has her eldest son and two of her closest (and creepiest) advisors. And with that, as you note, the Dance of the Dragons seems to be out of the bag, to mix clichéd metaphors. Both of Rhaenyra’s two oldest (and, uh, Strongest) sons have frankly been pretty annoying this season, and “Luke” is pretty obviously out over his skis from the moment he departs for Storm’s End. Trying to intimidate your little cousin into gouging out his own eye and then letting your out-of-control dragon bite him in half seems like a pretty strong case for the Worst. This is now a very good television program and one I’m thoroughly looking forward to continuing watching in the future, which isn’t something I could have said after the first handful of episodes of this inaugural season. For starters, I would like to hand it to House of the Dragon for improving a lot over the course of its first season. A false king sits on the Iron Throne, and Daemon assumes the worst—that Viserys was murder in order to make way for Aegon. Aemond has long been established as a worthier heir to the Iron Throne than his ne’er-do-well older brother, but he’s also come off as a sort of brash and uncontrolled well of ambition.
The House of the Dragon season 1 finale ends in Fire & Blood.
Maybe she can sense the beating of Aemond’s heart and knows that this violence is what he really wants. All that matters are dragons: who has more of them and who has the dragonseeds to ride them? In this episode we see two of those nukes in the hands of children and the results are sadly predictable. In the book (which, remember: is written as a history text and is therefore up to interpretation), Luke’s death is depicted as a cold-blooded murder with no remorse on Aemond’s part. If you introduce a dragon the size of three sperm whales in the first act, it had better eat a child in the third act. And that brings us to the end. They are used as chesspieces like when Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) wins Vhagar over the the Greens’ side in [episode 7](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/house-of-the-dragon-episode-7-review-driftmark/) or briefly as spectacle like Caraxes and Seasmoke laying waste to the Stepstones in [episode 3](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/house-of-the-dragon-episode-3-review-second-of-his-name/). Through all the various feuds, misunderstandings, and wife murders, a part of Daemon always felt that a part of Viserys believed who could be a king. [House of the Dragon](https://www.denofgeek.com/house-of-the-dragon/). Throughout it all, the history matters and the history must be considered. For as long as Rhaenyra lives (and who knows how long that will be), these two events will be inextricably linked in her mind: the day the Greens took my throne and the day the Gods took my daughter. The king is dead and Rhaenyra may as well be the last person on the continent to know about it.
The Black Queen” ends the 'Game of Thrones' prequel's first season with several moments ripped (and riffed) straight from the pages of George R.R. Martin's ...
There are no moments in Fire and Blood indicating Aemond and Luke losing control over their dragons, with the beasts imbuing the fight with a life of their own. Luke Velaryon’s death in the book paves the way for so much of what comes next, including a sequence so harrowing that if brought to the screen faithfully, it could easily top the list of the most disturbing Game of Thrones scenes of all time. But there’s a huge change between book and show: the accidental nature of Luke’s death. Much of the scene plays out similarly between book and show, including the long name-drop list of dragons at Rhaenyra’s disposal. In both House of the Dragon and Fire and Blood, Rhaenyra’s early labor comes after hearing about her father’s death. What’s more, in the book, Jace is also ordered to stop at White Harbor, the biggest city in the North, which has yet to be featured in live-action. It looks like Alicent saved that page, as it’s the same piece of paper Otto hands Rhaenyra in the bridge scene, signifying the long-lost friendship between the two women. They stole my crown and murdered my daughter, and they shall answer for it.” In the show, Rhaenyra’s fury is more contained, though its explosiveness is strongly hinted at toward the end of the hour. Remember back in the season premiere when Rhaenyra and Alicent were reading by the Weirwood tree, and Rhaenyra tore out a page about the warrior queen Nymeria? Martin’s fictional history book, the basis of the prequel series' plot, were waiting with bated dragon breath all season long for Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) to accept her father’s crown, only to lose something much more precious: her son, Luke (Elliot Grihault), the highest-profile casualty yet in a war known throughout Westeros history as “The Dance of the Dragons.” In the case of Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) kin-slaying his nephew, however, I expect some out there in the book-reading crowd are narrowing at least one eye. House of the Dragon flew high one last time with its season finale, “The Black Queen,” an episode as mesmerizing as it was mystifying for the Fire and Blood faithful.
The first series of the long-awaited Game of Thrones prequel concludes tonight. We'll be bringing you all the information you need ahead of the finale.
Well worry not, the show's creators have already confirmed that there will be a second series of the popular Game of Thrones prequel. The House of Targaryen has a very confusing, if slightly 'limited', series of family members. [House of the Dragon: Episode 9 Reviewers are often given advanced access to new shows ahead of their actual release and the critics seem to have liked what they saw from episode ten. If the season ends with no confrontations with the Hightowers, we will not see any interactions until the next season, as this episode is the finale. That's a wrap on season one of House of the Dragon! Later, when Aemond claims the dragon of his late aunt Lena Velaryon, her children, and of those Princess Rhaenyra confront him. Daemon seems to encourage her to do so because of how outrageous it is that they have attempted to "steal" the throne. In the books, it is Rhaenyra's sons who take off on dragon back to visit allied houses and convince them to join their cause. As we know, Otto Hightower believes that the named heir of Viserys I must be killed so that she cannot rial people to her cause. Once we account for editing and post-production, it could be early 2024 before we see another season of the new hit. a tragic loss for the Queen and her second child to die since the Hightowers stole the throne.
'House of the Dragon' Season 1 finale recap: Find out what happens in Episode 10, 'The Black Queen.'
and then Aemond demands that the boy cut out one of his own eyes in exchange for what he did to Aemond years ago. Inside, he learns that Aemond has arrived before him, and he’s standing next to Lord Borros Baratheon as Luke delivers the message from Rhaenyra. Lord Corlys improves enough to make his way to the Chamber of the Painted Table, where he grandly pledges his loyalty — and the Velaryon fleet — to her side. Rhaenyra quickly shakes off — or stuffs down — her grief and makes her way to the Chamber of the Painted Table to strategize. which coincides with the moment that Daemon realizes the prophecy is going to be a THING. The bad news: Rhaenys is mad at him for running off to war, and she’s got all of the bad news of the past few episodes to fill him in on before he’s even out of his sickbed. She consoles him by telling him that she was the same age as he is now when she was named heir to the throne, and she wasn’t ready either: “I had to earn my inheritance.” He counters that he’s not like her — “perfect.” She kisses him head and assures him she’ll prepare him the way that her father prepared her. It’s too early for the birth, but the princess is definitely in labor as she retreats to her quarters and paces, moaning in agony when the contractions come on. When he yells at her in front of everyone, she clears the room. It’s entirely another when House of the Dragon‘s Season 1 finale brings us to the precipice of that legendary entanglement and then dragon-dives us right into the fray. She cradles and wraps the child, and the next we see, everyone from the castle has gathered around the baby’s funeral pyre out on the cliffs. Aegon](https://youtu.be/lP_AIjWLxaE), aka the epic war that came to be known as the Dance of the Dragons, as a history lesson in Game of Thrones.
In the season finale of HBO's 'Game of Thrones' spinoff, Rhaenyra assesses her position and the skies over Westeros become less than friendly.
Borros demands that the kids not fight under his roof, and we're reminded of how much lip-service the lords of the Seven Kingdoms pay to the safety of their guests. Jace is to head North, to deal with the Arryns and Starks. But Corlys officially declares for Rhaenyra, and informs her that the Triarchy has been routed (he's said that before) and he now controls the Stepstones — and the Narrow Sea. Aemond demands that Luke cut out one of his eyes, in payment for the one he took from Aemond all those years ago. Daemon heads down to the caverns underneath Dragonstone, and comes across a huge, old and not particularly easygoing dragon. More Houses from the Crownlands have declared for them — Lords Celtigar (of Claw Isle) and Staunton (of Rook's Rest), in addition to the three Houses that Daemon sent ravens to earlier. The meeting is frosty, with Rhaenyra calling Otto a traitor and Otto insisting that since Aegon has all the fancy stuff that kings have (crown! He orders that their nearby allies in the Crownlands (read: the region of Westeros around King's Landing) be alerted: Lord Darklyn (of Duskendale), Lord Massey (of Stonedance) and Lord Bar Emmon (of Sharp Point). A snarling Daemon assaults Rhaenyra, and dismisses the whole thing as more of his late brother's obsession with omens. He and the pregnant Rhaenyra share a nice scene together in which she reassures him that she wasn't ready when Viserys named her his heir. I mentioned last week that the characters on this show are drawn with a lot more nuance and ambivalence than their comparatively sketchy and ruthless counterparts in Fire & Blood, the book from which House of the Dragon is adapted. The ruinous civil war called the Dance of the Dragons is here at last, and if this episode is any indication, it's gonna be one bloody mosh pit.
In the plot-packed episode "The Black Queen," the action moves to Dragonstone.
- Speaking of stretching credulity, Luke is meant to be 14 in this episode—the same age as Rhaenyra was when Viserys named her heir. - It stretches credulity that Rhaenyra would send her young sons off to treat with uncertain allies in the middle of a cold war without so much as a single knight to escort them. [Game Of Thrones](https://www.avclub.com/tv/reviews/game-of-thrones-newbies), when she looks out over King’s Landing and makes the choice to burn it to the ground. She accuses him of abandoning her in favor of adventure at sea and tells him of Vaemond’s death at the hands of Daemon. In the season’s final scene, Daemon delivers the news of their son’s death to his wife. And as in “The Rogue Prince,” Rhaenyra flies in on Syrax as a show of power—only this time, she’s on Daemon’s side instead of Otto’s. Rhaenyra and her second son share quiet moments throughout the episode, in which he talks about how reluctant he is to rule Driftmark and generally looks like a sweet, fragile baby bird. It sounds like a good idea at first; but the moment Rhaenyra hands letters to her sons and tells them they should be messengers and not warriors, it’s painfully obvious that things are about to go south. Daemon’s ready to start the war right then and there, but Rhaenyra tells him to stand down; she’ll take a day to think it over. And he brought a gift: Viserys’ crown, overlooked in favor of the crown of Aegon on the Conquerer the presumptive king now wears. Daemon takes it from the knight’s hands and, as he did for his brother only a few days before, places the crown on Rhaenyra’s head and bends the knee. Rhaenyra Targaryen may be wearing her late father’s crown and she may be nominally the rightful heir; but “stale oaths,” as Otto Hightower says, are nowhere near as potent as a coronation performed before an audience of thousands.
Rhaenyra learns that the Hightowers have usurped her throne. Daemon wants war. Lucerys and Aemond have a fateful confrontation. A recap and review of 'House ...
He drags two members of the king’s guard (why are they there?) outside and asks them to declare for the rightful heir. The baby’s destiny is sealed from the first sight of that bloody hand — she (we learn in Fire & Blood that the baby is Rhaenyra’s only daughter) must die in a sacrifice parallel to that of Rhaenyra’s mother Aemma. Unlike the bold presentation of her reaction to her stillborn baby, we see Rhaenyra’s back as she learns about Jace’s mid-air demise. (Like Daemon, I too wondered, “What the fuck is this?” when the Grand Maester, who seemingly came along just to carry a piece of paper, pulled that page from his robe.) The Targaryens and their dragons choose one another, but in a contest of wills, the beasts win. We’re meant to see the parallels to Dany’s disastrous reign (note how Rhaenyra says she does not “wish to rule over a kingdom of ash and bone”), and to note how patient her ancestor is in comparison. (They do seem to share a brain in a green dream-y way.) After Otto Hightower rolls up and assumes that if he says Aegon’s name the fastest that means he wins, she waltzes by him and declares, “I’m Queen Rhaenyra now” (the old Rhaenyra can’t come to the phone). Daemon may have wanted the crown for himself, but when Ser Erryk (and trust me, it is Erryk and not Arryk) crashes their child’s funeral pyre and pulls out Viserys’ crown, it’s the prince who puts it on Rhaenyra’s head (after a long, covetous glance), just as he placed it on his brother’s pate in The Blacks have Rhaenrya’s Syrax, Daemon’s Caraxes, and Rhaenys’ Meleys (if she is willing to join the fray), while the boys have Vermax (Jace), Arrax (Luke), and Tyraxes (Joffrey). Now, should the plan work out, the Velaryon fleet can lock in the Greens from the coast, and the dragons can pounce from the west. The map is the famed Painted Table, last seen (in the future) as Daenerys, the next Targaryen queen-to-be, plots her return to Westeros around it. [Time zooms by](https://www.vulture.com/article/house-of-the-dragon-time-jumps.html), but we haunt the same few places: King’s Landing, Driftmark, Dragonstone, occasionally the sandy shores of the (finally important) Stepstones or a place like Harrenhal.
Rhaenys (Eve Best), fresh from the mass murder of civilians at Aegon's coronation, brings news of Viserys' death and the Hightowers' treachery to Daemon (who ...
Daemon (who has spent the episode crying on a beach and singing to a dragon) relays the news to Rhaenyra, who retreats before turning around to stare down the camera, now ready for the war and inevitably, a second season. They pledge allegiance to Rhaenyra, and their bond is heartwarming if mildly bewildering (Daemon has murdered Corlys’ brother and appears responsible for the death of his only son). Their relationship, dotted with martial frustrations and support, is one of the more compelling pairings in House of the Dragon. The funeral scene, inventively scored, doubles as a coronation for Rhaenyra as a few defectors come to swear their loyalty to the queen. Rhaenys (Eve Best), fresh from the mass murder of civilians at Aegon’s coronation, brings news of Viserys’ death and the Hightowers’ treachery to Daemon (who treats the princess with suspicion: why didn’t she just kill the upstarts when she had the chance?) and the pregnant Rhaenyra, who immediately starts bleeding. The series is attracting comparable numbers to Game of Thrones, but the prequel has established itself as a completely different kind of show, especially in the second half of its first season.