For a short second on this week’s Home of the Dragon, it seems to be like King Viserys’ dream of household unity would possibly truly come to move. As a result of, actually, who’d be capable of refuse the final needs of a visibly dying man who’s merely asking his kin to not destroy one another?
However then there’s a complicated dialog that occurs proper earlier than Viserys breathes his final, and that looks as if it can change the whole lot. Are we actually stunned? In any case, whereas it is likely to be good to think about a world during which Alicent and Rhaenyra fly collectively on dragon again, see the nice wonders throughout the Slim Sea and eat solely cake… properly, everyone knows how issues are likely to go on this violent, incestuous, power-hungry universe.
Learn on for the highlights of Episode 8.
WHO’LL REPLACE THE SEA SNAKE? | Rhaenys questions a maester in regards to the well being of Corlys, whom she hasn’t seen in six years. Looks as if an excellent time to verify in! The person reviews that the Sea Snake led his males into an ambush, suffered a gory neck wound after which fell into the ocean, shedding plenty of blood within the course of. “However the larger concern is the fever that adopted,” the maester says, including that Corlys is due dwelling in three days.
Vaemond warns that his brother could also be useless by the point his ship reaches dwelling port, “and who will take the Driftwood throne?” Although Rahenys has been ruling in her husband’s absence, she reminds Vaemond that the seat will move to Lucerys Velaryon, as Corlys promised when Rhaenyra and Laenor had been wed. “My brother cares just for the historical past books, however what of the Velaryon line?” Vaemond bristles, asking for her help in his laying declare to Driftood’s energy place. “The winds have shifted. The Crown has good purpose to take my facet,” he says. Extra on that in a minute!
HAVE FUN STORMING THE CASTLE! | At Dragonstone, Daemon climbs down into Syrax’s den and harvests three eggs, handing them off to the dragon minders. They provide him a word from his daughter, Baela, that’s simply arrived from Driftmark. Inside the home, Rhaenyra — who’s pregnant once more — checks in on Jacaerys throughout his Excessive Valyrian lesson. Daemon interrupts to share what he realized from the letter: Vaemond goes to name Rhaenyra’s children’ legitimacy into query, they usually’ve received to go to King’s Touchdown to cope with it.
Once they arrive, they see firsthand that Viserys is in some way nonetheless alive, although he’s decrepit, bed-ridden and in INCREDIBLY tough form. The princess and her consort instantly head to her father’s quarters and waste little time attending to the meat of the matter. “Brother, hearken to me: You’re to affirm your place for Lucerys to be Corlys Velaryon’s successor,” Daemon says, leaning over the mattress to ensure that Viserys hears him clearly. Does the message land? Most likely not. However then Rhaenyra declares that they wish to introduce Viserys to somebody, and she or he brings in twin blonde infants Aegon and Viserys. (Aspect word: I give Child Viserys plenty of credit score for not instantly shedding his cool when somebody strongly resembling the Crypt Keeper begins pawing at him.)
Alicent is delayed on her technique to attend to her visitors by a knight who alerts her to a spot of trouble in Prince Aegon’s residences. As she listens to a sobbing serving woman who delivered wine to the prince’s rooms, we be taught that Aegon raped her. Alicent embraces the younger lady and says she believes her… however that others possible gained’t. After she subtly threatens her a little bit extra, she places a bag of cash within the serving woman’s hand, primarily force-feeds her some moon tea (“It’s greatest to make sure”), after which marches to Aegon’s room to scream at him about how disgraceful he’s. The prince reveals no regret, in fact; as Alicent hollers at him about how he’s introduced disgrace upon them and his spouse, he stands up, bare-assed, and cries a little bit when he says he’ll by no means be ok for her or Viserys.
When Alicent lastly makes her technique to say hey to Rhaeynra and Daemon, they accuse her of conserving Viserys insensate through milk of the poppy in order that she and her father can rule the dominion. She counters that she and Otto are merely finishing up the king’s needs, and that the outdated man’s struggling when he’s unmedicated is unimaginable. Oh, and the mixed HIghtowers would be the ones ruling on Lucerys’ declare to Driftmark the subsequent day, in order that’s a enjoyable new wrinkle.
CATCHING UP | Jace and Luce make their technique to the coaching yard, the place they see a platinum-haired younger man greatest Ser Criston Cole. When the blondie turns round, they understand it’s Aemon, who’s now sporting a gnarly eye patch over the peeper that he misplaced within the final episode.
Within the weirwood, Rhaenyra finds Rhaenys they usually play a recreation of semantics. “I liked your son, and I didn’t order his demise, nor was I complicit in it. I swear this to you,” the youthful princess tells the older one. Then she makes a proposal: Again Luke’s declare, and betrothe Laena’s kids to hers. “Balea might be queen of the Seven Kingdoms, and her sons might be heirs to the throne,” Rhaenyra says. Rhaenys warns Rhaenyra that the next day, the Hightowers will land their first blow. “They’ll power you to your knees,” she says, and Rhaenyra seems to be legitimately anxious.
That evening, Rhaenyra sits at her father’s bedside, crying a little bit as she laments that the burden of management may be very heavy and that she wants his backing to succeed. However he’s a wheezing, babbling mess, and it makes her weep tougher.
The following morning, as maesters deal with the king’s sore-covered physique, he mentions that he’d wish to have a household dinner that night. And though he winces on the slightest motion and looks as if he’s one foot and 4 toes within the grave, he refuses the milk of the poppy that Otto Hightower provides.
THE MAIN EVENT | Later, within the Throne Room, Otto presides over the petitions for Corlys’ seat. (Have in mind, the Sea Snake isn’t useless but.) Vaemond goes first, citing his “true, unimpeachable blood of Home Velaryon,” which units off Rhaenyra. However her objection is stilled by Alicent. And when it’s time for Rhaenyra to make her formal speech on behalf of Luke, she’s interrupted by Viserys’ surprising entrance into the proceedings.
The king is leaning closely on his cane. He’s sporting a golden masks that covers half his face, and I half count on him to launch right into a wheezing rendition of “The Music of the Evening.” However he rebukes nearly all assist, telling Otto to skedaddle from the seat of honor, as a result of “I will sit the throne right this moment.” When the king’s crown falls as he limps up the steps to his chair, Daemon steps ahead to assist his brother the previous few paces, then gently locations the decoration on his head.
Although Viserys seems to be like eight sorts of fried demise, he instantly makes his ideas clear: Why is everybody bickering over a succession that’s already settled? Then he calls Rhaenys ahead to talk, seeing as she’s the one who has probably the most perception into her husband’s ideas and/or needs. When she does, she says that Corlys backs the present plan — that Lucerys take the Driftmark throne — after which she declares Rhaenyra’s marriage plan for her boys with Daemon’s daughters, including that she agrees with it.
Vaemond’s face upon listening to this information is slightly epic. He instantly challenges the king, saying that he won’t “enable” this breaking of custom. “THAT IS NO TRUE VELARYON!” he yells, pointing at Lucerys. “That actually is not any nephew of mine.” He continues to rant, ending with the declaration that Rhaenyra’s “kids are BASTARDS! And she or he is a whore.” Although the viewers within the Throne Room is small, the gasp that follows his assertion is large. Viserys unsteadily rises, pulling his dagger. “I’ll have your tongue for that,” he says. However then, impulsively, Vaemond is lacking the highest half of his face… as a result of Daemon has used his sword to slice off the northern third of his cranium from behind. “He can maintain his tongue,” the prince quips. Uh, woah. The entire episode is an excessive amount of for Viserys, who falls again onto the throne, moaning; he’s carted away by a knight and a maester.
HEY, YA GOTTA EAT | Regardless of the entire demise, discord and partial decapitation, that dinner Viserys needed? It nonetheless occurs. “How good it’s tonight to see you all collectively,” he says after he’s carried into the feast, as if homicide didn’t unfold earlier than all of them just some hours earlier. He toasts the youngsters and their messed-up achievements, then laments how distant they’ve all grown from one another. He removes his masks at one level, revealing an empty eye proper eye socket. “Tonight I want you to see me as I’m, not only a king, however your father, your brother, your husband, your grandsire, who could not, it appears, stroll for for much longer amongst you.” He exhorts them to put aside their grievances, however then I get so distracted by the truth that an ulcer has eaten clear via his cheek that I am going right into a fugue state for some time. After I come again, he’s demanding that they put aside their grievances “for the sake of this outdated man, who loves you all dearly.”
He sits, exhausted, and Rhaenyra instantly stands and raises a glass to Alicent for her steadfastness and loyalty to the king. She additionally apologizes. When she sits, the queen is visibly moved, saying that she and her former greatest good friend “have extra in frequent that we typically enable. I increase my cup to you and your home. You’ll make a effective queen.” Everybody follows swimsuit, lifting their goblets, and it looks as if possibly we’re on the very tenuous highway to household unity? Finally there’s music and dancing and smiling and laughing, and Viserys seems to be content material as he surveys his household gathered round him.
However after the king is carried out, mid-meal, Luke can’t assist however snicker because the roast pig is positioned instantly in entrance of Aemond. So Ol’ Eyepatch himself stands up and provides a toast to Jace, Luke and Joffrey, “these three STRONG boys.” It’s a not-really-veiled reference to their true pop, Ser Harwin Robust. Luke and Jace rapidly throw down, however Daemon steps in to cease issues earlier than they get too intense. Alicent rapidly runs to the princess’ facet, lamenting when Rhaenyra says its greatest for her household to return to Dragonstone. However she says she’ll return on dragonback after she sees the youngsters dwelling safely, and the closeness between these two is one thing we haven’t seen since earlier than the primary time bounce. Alicent grasps Rhaenyra’s hand and says each she and Viserys might be comfortable to have her again.
Late that evening, the king is moaning in ache as Alicent attends to him. He begins babbling about Aegon’s dream and the Prince That Was Promised, and the queen is confused. However when he says “You’re the one… you have to do that,” she appears to return to a realization. “I perceive, my king,” she says, leaving the room. (He positively thinks she’s Rhaenyra, sure?)
Then Viserys reaches into the darkness for one thing or somebody that solely he can see. A tear falls from his remaining eye. He appears relieved, barely, as he breathes what I assume is his final breath (although I believed he was a goner two episodes in the past, so what do I do know?) and says, “My love” — ostensibly seeing the deceased Queen Aemma because the scene goes to black.
Now it’s your flip. What did you consider the episode? Pontificate within the feedback!
