House of the Dragon Episode 8 Recap and Reactions

Spoilers under.

Welcome back again to Residence of Time Jumps the Dragon, wherever but a further handful of many years have handed in between episodes. That indicates the more youthful characters, like Rhaenyra, Alicent, and Daemon’s children, have once again been recast to depict the passing of time, but it can be perplexing with their parents not visually ageing at all. Which is except for King Viserys, whose terrible battle with a variety of leprosy has decreased him to all but a breathing corpse. Figuring out he’s in his ultimate times, he pleads his extended family to make peace with one particular a different, to have meal collectively like civilized, if not loving, kin instead of enemies who pull knives on a person a different. But will it function? In the vein of a True Housewives reunion, the collecting commences off hopeful but, inevitably, finishes in chaos. Particularly now that a further succession fight has come to the fore.

The episode commences with Princess Rhaenys acquiring information that her husband, Lord Corlys, has been severely wounded in struggle and his odds for survival are uncertain. It is been six yrs since she’s found him, but she should get ready for the worst circumstance scenario. The seat of Driftmark is meant to be handed down to Lord Corlys’ son, Laenor, but given that they think he is deceased, the up coming in line would be Laenor and Rhaenyra’s second son, Lucerys. (His to start with son is now in line for the Iron Throne.) Corlys’ brother Vaemond Velaryon (Wil Johnson) won’t settle for this. He knows that Laenor’s youngsters aren’t really Laenor’s why must international blood rule in excess of Driftmark? Vaemond proposes that as Corlys’ own blood, he should really be subsequent in line. But what about Rhaenys? She’s been filling in for Lord Corlys as he battles abroad. Could she sit on the Driftwood Throne for superior, or will the Queen That In no way Was be handed over once more? That is no make any difference to Vaemond he’s set on sailing to King’s Landing to make his circumstance.

Around in Dragonstone, Daemon scales down a cliff into Syrax’s lair to locate the dragon has laid a few eggs. (Extra dragons!) His daughter Baela, who’s been keeping with Rhaenys in Driftmark, sends a message warning him that Uncle Vaemond is driving to King’s Landing to talk about “matters of succession, legal rights, and the sanctity of blood” with the king. He shows the letter to Rhaenyra, who immediately normally takes offense to nevertheless an additional challenge of her son’s parentage. She and Daemon choose they must go to King’s Landing, as well.

Previously in this scene, we get a feeling of the Targaryen family in Dragonstone these times: Now-teenage Jacaerys (Harry Collett) is practicing Higher Valyrian with the grand maester. Joffrey, who was born two episodes ago, is now preschool age, or regardless of what the equivalent in Westeros is. Also, Rhaenyra is expecting once more. Time is genuinely flying!

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Daemon (Matt Smith), Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), Luke (Elliot Grihault), Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell), and Rhaenys (Eve Finest).

HBO

The Targaryens’ set up on Dragonstone is also significantly warmer than their accommodations when they get there in King’s Landing. Rhaenyra can scarcely acknowledge the Purple Keep’s darkish halls, which is partially Otto Hightower’s performing. At the Tiny Council meeting, he suggests he arranged the couple’s residence “as befits their station.” Ouch. Another massive transform? The Faith of the Seven has taken around the palace, with its symbolic seven-pointed star hovering above and hanging as a pendant on Queen Alicent’s neck. She sits at the head of the council desk, acting on behalf of her partner, the king.

Facet be aware: If you’re wanting to know who the newbies on the Modest Council are, they are Jasper Wylde, Learn of Regulation Grand Maester Orwyle, who changed the earlier Grand Maester Mellos and Tyland Lannister, Learn of Ships and twin brother of Jason Lannister.

Rhaenyra and Daemon take a look at Viserys in his chambers to find him deathly unwell and bedridden. He’s dropped just about all of his hair, his skin is purple and scabbed, his nails are brown. He just cannot even identify Rhaenyra, his only child, beside him. The princess tearfully requires in this difficult picture, and so does Daemon, but he also reminds them why they are there. He informs the king that a petition for the Driftwood Throne will shortly acquire place and they require him to affirm Lucerys as the rightful heir. Rhaenyra also has a shock for her father: She and Daemon have had two sons, Aegon (a bit petty to give your youngster the exact name as your fremeny’s firstborn, no?) and Viserys. With platinum blonde hair, Aegon III and Viserys II are without doubt Rhaenyra and Daemon’s blood.

Alicent discounts with a “delicate matter” with regards to her own son, Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney). The servant lady Diana has appear ahead accusing him of sexually assaulting her. Alicent believes her account, even embracing her as she cries. “It was not your fault. I think you,” the queen suggests. Still, she anxieties what many others may consider if word receives out. She gives Diana funds for her problems and tea to induce an abortion then sends her on her way. Subsequent, she scolds Aegon for his despicable actions. Groggy and naked in bed, he brushes off Diana’s promises, but his mother is not fooled. He cannot retain shaming his residence, shaming his spouse (keep up, he’s married? Guide spoiler: His spouse is his sister, Helaena.) like this, she says. With a swift slap throughout the experience, she leans in and tells him, “You are no son of mine,” quoting Tywin Lannister. Aegon starts off to break down. He under no circumstances requested for this existence! No matter what he does, his mother and father will under no circumstances be pleased, he states. Helaena (Phia Saban) interrupts the conversation, hunting for Diana to costume “the small children.” (Wait, she has youngsters now?) Alicent suggests very little, but her keen embrace with her daughter speaks volumes.

Alicent gives an awkward welcome to Rhaenyra and Daemon in Viserys’ room but neither silver-haired visitor is happy. 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 here, their fed up vitality is matched and they see through Alicent’s act. Their alternating reviews are in rhythm as they prod the queen about holding electrical power and introducing the Religion of the Seven whilst Viserys is weak in mattress. Alicent is unperturbed. She’ll have her say for the duration of the petition for Lucerys’ inheritance anyway.

As Jace (Jacaerys) and Luke (Lucerys, now played by Elliot Grihault) wander about the Purple Continue to keep, Luke notices anyone searching at them. He already understands why. “No just one would question my being heir to Driftmark if I appeared far more like Ser Laenor Velaryon than Ser Harwin Potent,” he claims. In the yard, they come across Ser Criston sparring with none other than Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), now sporting Legolas-like hair and an eyepatch in excess of the eye Luke sliced out several years back. Aemond’s battling skills have undoubtedly improved considering that they had been boys in fight classes with each other. Jace and Luke tremble when they acknowledge him but Aemond has by now noticed them in the crowd. “Nephews,” he phone calls out to them. “Have you appear to train?”

Just before they can arrange a rematch, Vaemond Velaryon comes in King’s landing. For the duration of a temporary conference, Otto and Alicent Hightower consider his proposition. The queen needs to act in the public’s very best desire, but the scheming Hand of the King would make a fantastic issue: War is looming. When it will come, do you truly want a baby major the best fleet in Westeros?

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Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower.

HBO

I just cannot imagine this happened, but we get Rhaenyra, Rhaenys, and Rhaena—Daemon and Laena’s youthful daughter—all collectively in the similar scene. (Will a Daemon, Aemond, and Vaemond collab arrive subsequent?) Rhaenyra approaches Rhaenys at the Weirwood tree, being aware of the latter is here to vouch for herself as the upcoming leader of Driftmark. Rhaenyra will make an give: If Rhaenys supports Luke as heir of Driftmark, they’ll betrothe Laena’s little ones to Rhaenyra’s. That would make Baela (Bethany Antonia) queen of the seven 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 would seem intrigued, calling it “a generous offer…or a determined one particular.” But she chooses to act alone for now.

Rhaenyra visits her father’s bedside on a stormy night time, troubled. “The Song of Ice and Fireplace, do you believe it to be real?” she asks him, tears in her eyes. When she was a youngster, he advised her about Aegon the Conqueror’s magic formula prophecy, and that it was their obligation to unite the realm versus a common foe. But, “by naming me heir, you divided the realm,” she claims. “I imagined I wanted it,” Rhaenyra says of the crown. But as the previous adage claims, major is the head that wears it. The princess is setting up to crumble underneath that fat. “If you want me to bear it, then defend me and my little ones,” she begs to her father. With absolutely everyone coming immediately after her, she wants him on her side.

In the Wonderful Hall, Vaemond would make his scenario to inherit the seat of Driftmark whilst Otto presides around the collecting. Rhaenyra will come following, but ahead of she can talk, King Viserys hobbles into the throne home dressed in his crown, cape, and all the regalia, aided with a cane and a sick golden Phantom of the Opera mask. The group is in shock no one particular was anticipating him to exhibit. “I will sit the throne nowadays,” Viserys insists, however it’s a pitiful image as he heaves and struggles up the stairs to the Iron Throne. His crown even falls off—an clear metaphor—but Daemon picks it up, helps his brother up the techniques, and areas the crown again on his head. Viserys reiterates that the make a difference of Driftmark’s successor has presently been settled. Even Rhaenys voices her assist for Luke as heir and confirms that Laena’s youngsters will marry Rhaenyra’s. Viserys is happy.

But Vaemond is not. Even as the king of the 7 Kingdoms, Viserys is in no position to tell him who can inherit his family’s ancestral throne and home. Residence Velaryon survived the Doom it can’t come to be extinct about this. Wil Johnson presents his all listed here, breathing fire into Vaemond’s impassioned, poignant speech. He’s not simply just combating for legacy like his brother Corlys he’s preventing for his family’s survival. Vaemond ends his piece calling Rhaenyra’s sons bastards and the princess a whore. The hall gasps. Viserys will get up. Daemon slices Vaemond’s encounter clean up in 50 percent with his sword. It’s a unexpected and stunning death, and I’m practically remaining wishing we could’ve viewed additional of Vaemond. Following trying to keep to the background in earlier episodes, this was the a person wherever he shone the most, but also where by he satisfied his untimely stop. (Alas, the character is also beheaded in George R. R. Martin’s guides right after he attempts to declare the Driftwood Throne and concerns Rhaenyra’s kids.)

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Wil Johnson as Vaemond.

HBO

Irrespective of the bloodshed, the Targaryen and Hightower families continue to collect for supper collectively at the king’s behest, and he’s the only just one who looks to be delighted about it. Here, Viserys makes a desperate ultimate plea to his loved ones. He gets rid of his mask to expose the relaxation of his facial area, an eyeball lacking and the pores and skin of his cheek virtually entirely long gone. He appears skeletal. “I desire you to see me as I am. Not just a king but your father, your brother, your husband, your grandsire, who may possibly not it would seem walk for much lengthier between you,” he says. He begs them to make wonderful with each other, if not for the realm’s sake, then for his. Rhaenyra is the initial 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 suggests. Moved, Alicent raises her own glass to Rhaenyra and her household. “You will make a fantastic queen,” she provides. Even Otto is amazed.

In the meantime, the kids are continue to squabbling. Aegon hits on Jace’s fiancée, Baela, to get on his nerves. But Jace takes the superior road, elevating a toast to Aemond and Aegon in what is commencing to really feel like a emotions circle. Helaena toasts Baela and Rhaena for their engagements, including that obtaining a partner is “not so bad—mostly he just ignores you, other than in some cases when he’s drunk.” (An individual enable this female!) Jace dances with Helaena whilst the loved ones appears to be like on, having fun with laughs at supper. For a moment it seems like anything is all right in House Targaryen. Right up until Viserys starts off emotion a awful ache and is carried out of the dining room.

A roasted pig is positioned in entrance of Aemond for evening meal, and Luke laughs remembering how they utilized to tease Aemond with his incredibly own “dragon pig.” Aemond loses his patience. He provides a final toast focused to his nephews, contacting them handsome, intelligent, and potent, alluding to their true father Harwin Strong. At the time yet again, he picks up the parentage issue they experienced just seemingly laid to relaxation. The boys are offended and tousle with their uncles once again until eventually the adults deliver them all back again to their rooms. Rhaenyra desires to just take the youngsters back to Dragonstone. Alicent requires her hand, hoping she’ll arrive back again quickly. The gesture is mild and familiar, just about reminiscent of their friendship as young women.

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Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen.

HBO

Try to remember Mysaria? We have gone through a number of episodes and 3 of Daemon’s wives because we final saw her. But soon after evening meal, Talya, a handmaiden to Queen Alicent, satisfies with her in the cloak of evening. The scene ends there, though. Character enhancement will have to hold out yet another working day!

Viserys writhes in discomfort in bed though Alicent tends to him. Not in his ideal mind, he faults her for Rhaenyra and answers her dilemma from the other evening. He does imagine in the Tune of Ice and Fireplace, he confirms. He name-drops Aegon, referring to the Conqueror, and states what he observed in the North was true. He mentions “The Prince That Was Promised,” referring to the destined hero who will occur from the Targaryen bloodline. But Alicent, who has no understanding of Viserys and Rhaenyra’s top secret, interprets this in another way: She believes Viserys is contacting Aegon, their firstborn son, the prince that was promised—as in the rightful heir to the Iron Throne in its place of Rhaenyra. “It is you. You are the 1. You will have to do this,” Viserys whispers in his delirium. Alicent usually takes this as his desire for their son to turn out to be king. Olivia Cooke is great at conveying Alicent’s shock, relief, acceptance, and even concern as she grapples with the fat of this concept. You can previously inform what chaos will ensue, and what damage she will do, with this information.

“I recognize my king,” Alicent tells him as she leaves the room. The digital camera pans to that fated Valryian metal dagger as she exits. In the darkness, Viserys looks to be having his last breaths in mattress. He has no concept he’s just played the worst video game of telephone ever.

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