House of the Dragon: The Targaryen and The Hightower families go to war

The Targaryen household and the Hightower household wage an all-out war for the Iron Throne in the Season 1 finale of HBO’s House of the Dragon… with the first casualty revealed to be on the Targaryen aspect with the shocking loss of life of Lucerys Targaryen (Elliot Grihault).

Last week’s episode revealed King Viserys (Paddy Considine) has handed away, with Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke) putting in her son Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) as the new King… regardless of Viserys naming his daughter Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) as his successor years earlier.

While Rhaenrya plots out how to problem Aegon’s reign, Lucerys was despatched as a messenger… although he was killed by Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) in an intense scene that hints the dragons at the seat of House Targaryen’s energy will not be too simply managed, with Lucerys’ loss of life setting the stage for the war to comply with in Season 2. 

The episode begins with Rhaenyra discovering her son Lucerys, who asks if the Sea Snake goes to die, including he cannot be the new Lord of the Tides.

‘I’ll simply destroy every thing. I do not need Driftmark,’ Luke says, however his mom says they do not select their future.

He says ‘I’m not such as you. I’m not so… Perfect,’ although she insists, ‘I’m something however.’

‘My father sorted me and helped to put together me for my duties. Your mom will do the identical for you,’ she says when Lorent Marbrand arrives, saying Princess Rhaenys has simply arrived on dragonback.

Rhaenys tells her Viserys is lifeless and Aegon has been topped as his successor.

Rhaenyra says, ‘Alicent demanded you declare for Aegon. She did,’ and Rhaenys says, ‘I refused her.’

‘The High Septon topped Aegon in the Dragonpit. I witnessed it myself simply earlier than I fled on Meleys,’ she says.

‘The Greens are coming for you, Rhaenyra. And on your youngsters. You ought to depart Dragonstone without delay,’ although Rhaenyra feels a ache and reveals her child is coming.

The Maester says she hasn’t accomplished her time period but however she insists the child is coming.

Meanwhile, Daemon meets with advisors to fortify Dragonstone towards any assault from the Hightowers. 

Rhaenyra tells her son Jace that Viserys has handed and he asks what will likely be achieved about it and she says, ‘Nothing but.’

‘Whatever declare stays to me, you at the moment are its inheritor. Naught is to be achieved however by my command,’ she tells him.

Bartimos Celtigar tells Daemon, ‘A raven flew on this morning. The Sea Snake’s fever has damaged, and he has left Evenfall.’

Jace finds Daemon and finds him giving out orders however he says he’ll do no such factor since Rhaenyra mentioned no motion is to be taken.

‘It’s good you are right here, younger Prince. You’re wanted to patrol the skies on Vermax,’ Daemon says. 

Daemon says, ‘Summon Ser Steffon. Our Kingsguard are wanted on the Dragonmont,’ and tells Jace, ‘Come with me. I’ll present you the true that means of loyalty.’

Daemon tells the two Kingsguard members, ‘You swore an oath as knights of the Kingsguard. As do all who put on the white cloak, my Prince. To whom?’

‘So I’m presenting you with a alternative. Swear anew your oath to Rhaenyra as your queen… To Prince Jacaerys as the inheritor to the Iron Throne Or… If you help the usurper, communicate it now… And you should have a clear and honorable loss of life. But in case you select treachery, in case you swear fealty now solely to later flip your cloaks… Know that you’ll die…’ Daemon says.

He asks if they may swear fealty to Rhaenyra or not as his dragon looms overhead whereas Rhaenyra goes into labor… although the baby is stillborn.

At the funeral, Jason Lannister arrives and pulls out a crown, stating, ‘I swear in direction of the queen, with all my power. I’d give my blood for hers. I shall take no spouse, maintain no lands, father no youngsters.’

Daemon takes the crown and locations it on Rhaenyra’s head, bowing to her and stating,’ My Queen,’ as everybody bows earlier than her.

A fireplace  is lit below the enormous map of the Seven Kingdoms, as the Queen arrives to communicate along with her advisors round the nice desk.

Daemon talks about defending Dragonstone and what homes are loyal to their trigger and they communicate of Winterfell.

Rhaenyra turns to Rhaenys, who says her husband Corlys is crusing for Dragonstone, although it is unclear if he’ll swear to the Queen.

They communicate of the Dragons however Rhaenyra says none of their dragons have been to war earlier than.

The Queen is instructed that three ships have arrived as they put together for the worst as Daemon grabs his sword earlier than taking off.

Daemon meets Otto on the bridge, each flanked by a number of knights, as Otto says he’s there on behalf of, ‘Dowager Queen Alicent, mom of King Aegon, Second of His Name, Lord and Protector of the Seven Kingdoms. I’ve been directed to ship her message solely to Princess Rhaenyra.’

He asks the place she is as she arrives on her dragon as she says she’s not a princess however the Queen now.

‘King Aegon Targaryen, Second of His Name… In his knowledge and need for peace, is providing phrases,’ Otto says.

‘Acknowledge Aegon as king and swear obeisance earlier than the Iron Throne. In alternate, His Grace will verify your possession of Dragonstone. It will cross to your trueborn son, Jacaerys, upon your loss of life. Lucerys will likely be confirmed as the reliable inheritor to Driftmark and all the lands and holdings of House Velaryon. Your sons by Prince Daemon will even be given locations of excessive honor at court docket: Aegon the Younger as the King’s squire, Viserys as his cupbearer. Finally, the King, in his good grace, will pardon any knight or lord who conspired towards his ascent,’ Otto says. 

‘I’d fairly feed my sons to the dragons  than have them carry shields and cups on your drunken, usurper cunt of a king,’ Daemon says.

‘Aegon Targaryen sits the Iron Throne. He wears the Conqueror’s crown, wields the Conqueror’s sword, has the Conqueror’s title. He was anointed by a Septon of the Faith earlier than the eyes of hundreds. Every image of legitimacy belongs to him. And then there’s Stark, Tully, Baratheon. Houses which have additionally obtained, and are at current, contemplating beneficiant phrases from their king,’ Otto says.

‘Stark, Tully, and Baratheon all swore to me when King Viserys named me his inheritor,’ she says.

‘The succession modified the day your father sired a son. I solely remorse that you just and he had been the final to see the fact of it. You are not any extra Hand than Aegon is king. F***ing traitor.

He fingers her one thing – the web page Rhaenyra ripped out of a guide and gave to Alicent after they had been youngsters.

Otto provides, ‘Queen Alicent has not forgotten the love you as soon as had for one another. No blood want be spilled, so the realm can keep it up in peace.’

‘She can have her answer now, stuffed in her father’s mouth alongside along with his withered c**okay. Let’s finish this mummer’s farce. Ser Erryk, carry me Lord Hightower so I’ll take the pleasure myself,’ Daemon says, elevating his sword.

Rhaenyra’s dragon roars and she says, ‘No. King’s Landing can have my answer on the morrow.

Daemon tells Rhaenyra later, ‘It’s no straightforward factor for a person to be a dragonslayer. But dragons can kill dragons. And have. The easy fact is that this: We have extra dragons than Aegon. Viserys spoke typically of the Valyrian histories. I do know them nicely.’

‘Everything burned. I don’t want to rule over a kingdom of ash and bone,’ she says and somebody asks, ‘Are you contemplating the Hightowers’ phrases, Your Grace?’

‘As Queen, what’s my true responsibility to the realm, Lord Bartimos? Ensuring peace and unity? Or that I sit the Iron Throne, regardless of the price?’ she says.

Daemon says, ‘That’s your father speaking’ however she says, ‘My father’s lifeless. And he selected me as his successor… To defend the realm, not cast it headlong into war.’

‘Well, the enemy have declared war. What are you gonna do about it?’ he says and she tells everybody to, ‘Clear the room.’

She asks Daemon, ‘Does the promise of war excite you?’ and he says, ‘You can’t bend the knee to the Hightowers. They stole your birthright.’

He tells her it is her responsibility as queen to crush rebellions and she says, ‘A Song of Ice and Fire.  The coming war towards the darkness in the North, The Conqueror’s Dream. Viserys shared it with me when he named me inheritor.’

She is stunned when Daemon begins choking her, including, ‘My brother… Was a slave to his omens and portents.’

‘Anything to make his feckless reign seem to have goal. Dreams did not make us kings. Dragons did,’ he says whereas releasing her.

‘He by no means instructed you… Did he?’ she asks.

The episode cuts to Corlys (Steve Toussaint) lastly again by Rhaenys’ aspect, as she tells him he deserted her.

‘Both our kids stolen from us. I wanted you. Baela and Rhaena wanted you, and you deserted us for extra journey at sea. As has all the time been your method,’ she says.

‘You had been proper, Rhaenys. I reached too far. And for nothing. Our pursuit of the Iron Throne… Is at an finish. We shall declare for nobody. We will retire to High Tide to be content material… With our grandchildren,’ he says.

‘Jace, Luke, and Joff are claimants to the throne. Those boys’ll not be secure as long as Aegon is king,’ she says.

Corlys says Rhaenyra, ‘destroys every thing she touches,’ however Rhaenys defends her.

‘That “Girl”… Is holding the realm collectively at current. Every man standing ‘spherical the Painted Table urges her to plunge the realm into war. Rhaenyra’s the just one who’s demonstrated restraint. 

Corlys arrives to see Rhaenyra, as she tells him, ‘Lord Corlys. It brings a lot reduction to see you hale and wholesome once more.’

‘I’m very sorry about your father, Princess. He was a superb man,’ he says as he mentions she has too few allies to win a war.

‘Your father’s realm… Was one of justice and honor. Our homes are sure by frequent blood and frequent trigger. This Hightower treason can’t stand. You have the full help of our fleet and home. Your Grace,’ he says.

‘You honor me, Lord Corlys. Princess Rhaenys. But, as I mentioned to my bannermen, I made a promise to my father to maintain the realm robust and united. If war’s first stroke is to fall, it is not going to be by my hand,’ she says.

‘You don’t imply to act? Taking warning doesn’t imply standing quick,’ he says however she provides, ‘I want to know who my allies are earlier than I ship them to war.’  

‘The consequence of my… Near-demise in the Stepstones… Is that we now management them. I took care to absolutely garrison the territory this time. A complete blockade of the transport lanes will likely be in place in days, if not already. The Triarchy have been routed. The Narrow Sea is ours. If we… Further seal the Gullet, we are able to minimize off all seaborne journey and commerce to King’s Landing. I shall take Meleys and patrol the Gullet myself,’ Corlys says. 

Bartimos provides, ‘When we drain the Narrow Sea, we are able to encompass King’s Landing, lay siege to the Red Keep, and power the Greens’ give up.

‘If we’re to have sufficient swords to encompass King’s Landing, we should first safe the help of Winterfell, the Eyrie, and Storm’s End,’ she says.

Jacaerys provides, ‘We ought to bear these messages. Dragons can fly sooner than ravens and they’re extra convincing. Send us.’

Corlys provides, ‘The Prince is true, Your Grace’ as she agrees and provides, ‘Prince Jacaerys will fly north. First to the Eyrie to see my mom’s cousin, the Lady Jeyne Arryn, and then to Winterfell to deal with with Lord Cregan Stark for the help of the North. Prince Lucerys will fly south to Storm’s End and deal with with Lord Borros Baratheon. We should remind these lords of the oaths they swore. And… The price of breaking them.’

Rhaenyra is speaking along with her sons, making them promise not to battle, including they’re messengers, not warriors.

‘You should take no half in any combating. Swear it to me now below the eyes of the Seven,’ she says, as they each swear to her earlier than taking off on their dragons.

Daemon is seen carrying a torch right into a crypt, singing in High Valyrian, as he units his torch down and the dragon emerges as Daemon retains singing.

Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys Velaryon arrives in Storm’s End, saying, ‘I carry a message to Lord Borros from the Queen.

When he is taken inside, he finds Aemond there, passing alongside his mom’s message, getting a maester to learn it, although he isn’t happy.

‘Remind me of my father’s oath. King Aegon no less than got here with a proposal: My swords and banners for a wedding pact. If I do as your mom bids… Which one of my daughters will you wed… Boy?’

Lucerys tells him, ‘My lord… I’m not free to marry. I’m already betrothed.’

‘So you include empty fingers. Go house, pup. And inform your mom that the Lord of Storm’s End will not be some canine that she will be able to whistle up at want to set towards her foes,’ he says.

He begins to stroll away when Aemond stops him, including, ‘Did you actually suppose that you may simply fly about the realm attempting to steal my brother’s throne for gratis?’

‘I cannot battle you. I got here as a messenger, not a warrior,’ he says as Aemond provides, ‘A battle could be little problem.’

‘No. I need you to put out your eye. As cost for mine. One will serve. I’d not blind you. Plan to make a present of it to my mom,’ Aemond says.

Though the lord is not going to have any blood shed and he orders Lucerys to be introduced again to his dragon, and he flies away into the wet evening.

As he flies away… he finds Aemond following on his a lot bigger dragon, cackling maniacally. 

Lucerys takes hiss dragon by means of a way more slender hall that Aemond cannot take his bigger dragon by means of and he manages to escape.

‘You owe a debt. Boy,’ Aemond screams as Lucerys’ dragon comes again and breathes a stream of fireplace, seemingly towards Lucerys ‘ needs as he screams for his dragon Arrax to ‘obey me.’

He escapes above the rainclouds whereas Aemond cannot management his dragon both, screaming, ‘Vhagar! No! No!’

While Lucerys thinks he has escaped, Aemond swoops in on his large dragon Vhagar swoops in and chomps down on Arrax and Lucerys… even over Aemond screaming, ‘Vhagar! No!’

Vhagar is seen decapitating the dragon as each the lifeless Arrax and Lucerys fall to the earth beneath… as Aemond merely watches in horror.

The episode cuts again to Dragonstone, the place a solemn Daemon walks up to Rhaenyra, and whereas we will not hear what he says, he seemingly tells her that her son Lucerys and his dragon Arrax are each lifeless.

She stands over the fireplace, shaking her head, attempting to course of her newfound grief… when she turns to the digital camera with a glance of anger and disappointment… as the episode and the first season of House of the Dragon comes to an finish. 

House of the Dragon was already renewed for a second season on HBO, although no manufacturing particulars had been launched fairly but.

The sequence was created by Ryan Condal and Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin, with Condal and Miguel Sapochnik serving as showrunners.

The present is predicated on the guide of the identical title by Martin, which chronicled House Targaryen’s 300-year reign over Westeros.