House of the Dragon Episode 8 Review
by Chelsea House “Targaryen,” GGR Chief Media Correspondent
Our episode opens with Princess Rhaenys saying that six years has passed since our last viewing experience. Six years since she has seen her husband. A maester is in front of her explaining the severity of the wound Coryls received on his neck due to what, we assume, was fighiting in the Stepstones. He has “blood fever” and he’s three days away from Driftmark. When the Maester leaves, Vaemond, Corlys’s brother, approaches Rhaenys who sits upon the Driftmark throne, Baela by her side. He wants Driftmark to pass to him – not Lucerys. He doesn’t want the Velaryon line to end with a bastard. Rhaenys denies him, so he says he’ll petition to the King – or who’s really been ruling as of late – the Queen.
On Dragonstone Daemon is hunting dragon eggs in the volcano. He retrieves three from Syrax and gives them to the dragon keepers awaiting him outside. They hand him a letter from Baela.
Rhaenyra, pregnant, walks around listening to her son Jace learn High Valyrian. Joffrey plays by the fire with the nursemaid, and you get the idea that life has been peaceful for them here at Dragonstone. Daemon enters and shows her the letter. She knows Corlys is trying to question the legitimacy of Luke, Jace, and thus herself. This could be disastrous for them. She also notes that Rhaenys is going to court as well, although she’s not sure why. This decides for them that they also must go to defend their claim.
Upon arrival to a rather quiet Red Keep, Rhaenyra and team are given no welcome. There is a definite difference in the castle as Daemon and her walk around the halls. Stars of the Seven are everywhere while Targaryen carvings and tapestries have been taken down. The princess remarks that she barely recognizes her home.
Council meetings! Alicent sits in Viserys’s seat listening to accounts of... well.. Accounting. Ser Harrold announces that their guests have arrived which sparks a conversation about Lucerys’s claim to Driftmark. They know war is approaching and they are unsure it is best for a young man who’s never sailed to command the fleet. When Otto asks if their guests were greeted as befit their station – Ser Harrold confirms they were greeted just as Otto had ordered. Alicent excuses herself to go physically welcome the two, however, she is intercepted by a guard – Erryk – who says there has been a delicate situation in the Prince’s chambers.
Rhaenyra and Daemon enter Viserys’s bed chambers and are immediately taken aback by what they see. The King’s model of Old Valyria is huge. Spider webs and dust flutter about it, and sheer white linens cover the room, making it feel like a medical sick bed instead of her father’s chambers. She pulls back some draping strips and sees him lying in bed, a cloth covering half of his face, wheezing and skeletal. She approaches and calls out to him, announcing that it is her and Daemon. The king seems dazed and confused, but when he does recognize them he says “It has been so long” in a long breathy sentence. Rhaenyra has a look of guilt on her face. She had never left the Red Keep because she was worried about what the “greens” would do to her father. Now, he lays in his bed, delerious, and half of what he used to be. Daemon is unreadable, although you can sense a concern for his brother. It doesn’t stop him from telling the King they need him to support Lucerys’s claim to the Driftmark throne. When this seems to confuse the King further, Rhaenyra tells him there is someone they want to introduce him to. Two silver haired boys approach. One toddler in the arms of a nursemaid is introduced as “Aegon”, (because that’s not confusing at all), and toddler on her lap is introduced as Viserys. It’s a heart swelling moment as the King smiles and says that it’s a name fit truly for a King. The warm moment is interrupted when he grabs his head in pain and begins to groan. He quickly asks Daemon for his “tea”, to which his brother obliges. When Viserys is done drinking, Daemon gives the cup a sniff and side eyes Rhaenyra.
Alicent is in her chambers with a servant girl who is shaking and beside herself. She explains, with the Queen’s encouragement, that Aegon raped her. The Queen’s has a stone resolve, but she embraces the servant girl, gives her gold, and “the tea”. She tells the servant to keep quiet about what happened. It’s a glimmer back to when she spared Ser Cole so long ago after admitting he had slept with the Princess. With her hair pinned up, her rigid and angled outfit, it’s hard to not judge Alicent as being a cold-hearted person. Especially after seeing the King in his bed, his prized model neglected. But it’s this moment that shows maybe we’re not seeing everything, and that no character is inherently good or bad. She rushes to Aegon’s room and chastises him over the situation. He seems completely unbothered. She tells him that he’s bringing shame on his wife, himself, and her. She says that he is no son of hers and at some point, in this conversation slaps him. She has never been kind to her eldest son, at least not that we’ve seen. She’s incredibly hard on him. I wonder if that didn’t create what he is now. Or maybe she just always saw this side of him and it disgusted her? Regardless, her harsh words cause him to say that he has tried so hard and done everything they’ve asked of him – but it’s never been enough for her or his father. She has no reply.
Rhaenyra speaks with Daemon about seeking another maester’s opinion. She is greatly concerned for her father, and so is he. Alicent finally enters to greet them. Daemon expresses his irritation that she didn’t do this upon their arrival. Rhaenyra sarcastically says that she must have been busy – what do they know of ruling a kingdom, after all. Alicent defends herself and says she doesn’t rule, she and her father are just stewards of the King’s wisdom.
“And how exactly is that wisdom expressed?” Dameon asks her, reffering to his state of confusion because of milk of the poppy.
Alicent defends this decision saying he is in great pain and they have not seen him without it and the maesters prescribed it. Rhaenyra makes a comment about it being convenient while Alicent and Otto “warm his throne”. Dameon also asks if the maesters prescribed all of the taking down of Targaryen heraldry and replacing it with “statues and stars.” The emblems of The Seven serve only to guide us on an uncertain path, she responds. Rhaenyra asks who will pass judgement tomorrow, and Alicent remembers her backbone and states that her and her father will be, and that The Father is just and will forgive them of their accusations made today.
Jace and Luke explore the training grounds reminiscing about days of old. They hear sword fighting and turn to see a tall, long haired, Aemond fighting Ser Criston Cole – and he’s pretty freaking good. With an eyepatch over his eye, he darts a sharp eye towards his nephews and asks if they came to train. They’re saved from answering when Vaemond enters the courtyard with his bannermen. He meets with Alicent and Otto – alone. Alicent’s not so keen on uprooting Luke as the heir to Driftmark when the right was already given to him. Otto asks her if she really wants a child at the helm of the fleet of ships when war comes knocking on their door.
“We must, of course, act in the interest of our subjects.” she says with a loaded look towards her father before glancing away. Vaemond says that Driftmark would be greatly in their debt. Alicent is, yet again, exasperated by her father and swept away by the current of his ambitions.
Rhaenys stands staring at the godswood tree. It’s been a while since she’s been back to the Red Keep. Rhaenyra and Rhaena come and greet her. Rhaenys gives her granddaughter a warm welcome, the Princess compliments Rhaenys on how well she’s raised Baela as her ward, and then asks Rhaena if she can speak with Rhaenys alone. She says that she had been trying to work out why Rhaenys would come to court, and then she realized that she wanted to come to put her own name in for the petition. Rhaenys doesn’t respond. Rhaenyra complains that it’s no fair hearing – it's just a trap to question her children’s legitimacy. “Yet you did worse for Laenor” Rhaenys responds. Rhaenyra explains she loved her son, and that she had no part in his “death”. She proposes a marriage between her son and Laena’s so that they can both rule Driftmark and the Seven Kingdoms together. Rhaenys states that it’s either a generous or desperate offer. What does it matter? Is Rhaenyra’s response. Rhaenys agrees – it doesn’t matter. She says that this will be the Hightower's first blow and they already have Rhaenyra on her knees. Her words hit the heir right where they were meant to. She’s right, after all.
It’s a dark and stormy night. Rhaenyra wanders to her father’s bedside. She sits beside him and asks if he believes the story of fire and ice to be true. She said that the song explains that a Targaryen must sit on the throne to unite the kingdom – but by naming her heir, he divided it. “I thought I wanted it.” She says before breaking down. She says the burden is too heavy to bear. I’m sure, looking at her father in the state he’s in, she sees even more the weight of ruling a kingdom. He mumbles and murmurs, still confused from his “tea”. She exclaims that if he means for her to bear the burden, then he needs to defend her. Her and her children. When he doesn’t respond, she weeps. Watching this scene, I couldn’t help but see a vibrant Viserys gazing upon his stone model while giving his daughter advice and love. Their warm conversations about her growing up, ruling, duty, and so much more. I’m sure she longed for nothing more than one of those conversations and instead is left begging for anything from her fading father. She feels the throne slipping from her, she feels the prophecy that she’s carried all these years weighing on her shoulders, she sees her children being cast away as bastards, and she feels so alone. Her father has always been the one to set things straight regarding her and her children. She will have to stand on her own feet now.
In the morning, Viserys is with the maesters getting his wounds cleaned while Otto watches. He tells Otto that he wants a supper with his whole family that evening. As the maesters position him into a sitting position, we see the extent of his rotting body. He is thin, frail, and covered in lesions. Every move causes him great pain. Otto tells him to drink his milk of the poppy, but the King waves it away.
The next scene is Otto standing in front of the throne. He announces the beginning of the petition with all the Lords and Ladies looking on. He lowers himself onto the throne in a grand gesture and beckons Vaemond to begin. It’s absolutely nauseating to see him so confident and haughty. You almost wish something would fall on his head. Vaemond begins with a brief history of the Velaryons and explains that he should inherit the Driftmark throne as a true Velaryon. Rhaenyra interrupts stating that her boys are true blood and he doesn’t care about blood – just his own ambitions. Alicent tells her that she will have her turn. Vaemond continues by putting his name in officially.
Otto gives Rhaenyra her chance. She steps forward and begins her speech before being interrupted by the throne doors being flung open. She turns around to see who is coming in and her breath catches.
“King Viserys of House Targaryen. The first of his name. King of the Andals. And the Rhoynar. And the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm.” The words ring with love and dignity for their King who slowly walks in, dressed as regally as his feeble frame will allow, crown on his head, a gold mask covering half of his face, and his cane clicking with each painful step. Rhaenyra is completely shocked, Otto shakily stands from the throne, and Alicent looks concerned for her husband as well as maybe proud? Everyone bows their heads as he hobbles his way to the throne. When he gets to his daughter, he stops and gazes upon her. She stares at him in complete awe, the sunlight casting a halo around her body. In the last episode, Viserys says to Daemon, “Your girls are the very image of their mother. A comfort and an anguish, as I well remember.” As he gazes at the last thing he has from Aemma, I wonder if he saw her in that moment. Regardless, she asked for his help, and his love and belief in her pulled him from his sick bed to this moment.
He looks at Otto and says, “I will sit the throne today.” The guards come to try and help him up the steps, but he waves them off – tenderly stating that he will be fine. He climbs the first few steps – the swords surround him – the throne that has slowly eaten away at him over the years of his rule awaiting him. Each step brings him agony. His crown falls and he heavily leans on his cane, panting from the exertion. A hand reaches down and gingerly picks up the crown, “I said I’m fine” the King repeats looking up to see who picked it up. His face softens in surprise when he sees Daemon standing over him. “Come on,” his brother states and guides him up to the throne. Viserys glances at him again as they ascend the last few steps. He collapses onto the throne. Daemon takes the crown, slowly walks up to him, and places it on his head. If you are like me, the scene from the very first episode where Daemon asks Viserys why he never asked him to be his Hand flashed before your eyes. Daemon has been his biggest supporter even in all his rebellion. He has never allowed people to talk too harshly of his brother, he has always had his back, and here he is – placing the crown on his brother’s head in his weakest and most vulnerable of times when others were so quick to take advantage of his state. It takes a lot to make me cry... in fact I really don’t cry often while watching shows or movies. To say that I got teary is an absolute understatement. It was such a thing to behold – and if Paddie Considine doesn’t get a freaking award for his performance – I'm boycotting Hollywood.
When everything is settled, Viserys expresses his confusion at why this is even a matter to be petitioned. He states that the only other person that could shed light on the situation would be Rhaenys. All eyes are on her as she holds the power to support whomever she pleases. She gave a look at her cousin as he walked to the throne that mimicked Daemon’s. It’s a look of regret, shame, and guilt. One that we often feel when a loved one is nearing the end of life and we were “too busy” to call, write, or visit. You see them in their last days and it’s nothing but a shadow of the vibrant smiles, laughs, hugs, and memories you once shared. I think because of this, and because she saw the influence that Rhaenyra held over him, she decided to state that Corlys wished nothing more than for Luke to ascend the Driftmark throne and that Rhaenyra wished to betroth Luke and Jace to Rhaena and Baela and she agreed. The looks on Alicent, Otto, and Vaemond’s faces show just how heavy of a blow this was to them. A completely unforeseen turn of events.
Vaemond begins to argue his point again. He goes as far as calling the boys bastards in front of the whole throne room and takes it a step further by calling the Princess a whore. Sheesh. Viserys stands and grabs his dagger saying he will have his tongue for that. He doesn’t need to, though, because Daemon ends Vaemond’s life with a single swing of his sword. This causes Viserys a headache and Alicent quickly calls for the maesters to come to help him. She begs the king to drink his tea for the pain. She sounds genuinely upset and concerned for him which puts a bit of a new light on her character in this episode. He denies her saying he wants to be clear of mind.
At the dinner, Alicent and Rhaenyra sit, separated only by the King’s seat, and awkwardly avoid talking or looking at each other. The guards carry Viserys in on a seat and set him down between the women. He states that this is an occasion for celebration and officially congratulates his grandsons for being betrothed to their cousins. Aegon takes this opportunity to egg Jace on about the ways of sex which doesn’t impress him in the least. Viserys stands and states that he is both gladdened and filled with sorrow to see the people he loves the most so close and yet so far. He takes off his mask showing that he is missing an eye and half of a cheek. Rhaenyra looks appalled and glances at Alicent who seems empathetic of the courage it took him to do that. He states that he is no longer a handsome man, but he wanted them to see him as he was – a human being. He begs union from the families one last time and states that if it isn’t for them, “then for the sake of this old man who loves you all so dearly.” It’s something he’s tried to preach since he married Alicent – to simply be family and put away all the childishness. He so desperately wants them to rule together in peace and harmony. It’s hard to tell whether it’s the weight of ruling a Kingdom he never exactly wanted to rule, or the weight of trying to hold a family together that felt like it was ripping at the seams that caused his body to deteriorate the way it has. Perhaps a bit of both. Regardless, he himself proves as a warning flag to his family of what strife – inward or not – can do to a person. He sits back down.
Rhaenyra takes the opportunity to honor her father’s wishes, she owes him the world, and raises a cup to Alicent. She states that there has not been a more loyal person to her father, and for that she is filled with gratitude and offers an apology. Her words cause tears to fill her old friend’s eyes. She says she is deeply moved. That they are both mothers who care for their children – they are not so different. She raises a glass and states that the Princess will make a fine Queen one day. It’s amazing the power of words. They can heal and they can cut to the quick. This show has been so frustrating to me because so many of their problems could have been simply solved with an apology, an agreement, a compromise... words. Simple, genuine, well intended words. Speaking of words, Aegon tries to push Jace by whispering to Baela that if she ever wants to be truly pleased – she can come find him. This causes Jace to stand and slam his hand onto the table. Aemond stands ominously, ready to defend his brother. Jace decides to take the higher road and raises a glass to their fond childhood memories. Helaena raises a toast to the betrothed and states that it’s not so bad – husbands mostly ignore you except for when they’re drunk sometimes. Yikes. Viserys calls for music and Jace asks Helaena to dance.
There is a montage of everyone dancing, eating, laughing, and getting along. The camera focuses on the King’s face. He takes in every particle of the scene with absolute bliss and almost disbelief. His dream is finally unfolding in front of him. He lets out a deep sigh of relief and smiles. He is deeply pleased. His head suddenly begins to ache again and Alicent calls for the guards to take him to his bed.
A suckling pig is placed in front of Aemond and Luke chuckles – remembering the dragon they made for him. Instead of taking the joke in stride, Aemond stands and proposes a final toast to his nephews. He lists their attributes, landing on the word “strong”. Alicent tells him to stop and he pushes it further. This leads to a fight between the four boys. Rhaenyra sends her boys to bed, and Daemon stands in front of them causing Aemond to back down. Alicent chastises her son and calls after Rhaenyra. The princess says it will be best if they all left. Alicent asks her to stay longer. She replies that she will see her boys home and then return on dragon back. Alicent says that bother she and the King would like that.
This scene depicts the differences between the two families. Alicent’s sons seem wild, uncontrollable, and geared to wreak havoc whenever possible. They are sharper than the Velaryons. Meanwhile, Jace and Luke seem more apt to pick the high road. They have been so used to rising above ridiculing and judgmental eyes their whole lives. They’ve had no choice but to learn how to hold their tongues and avoid conflict. The bond that was already there with Rhaenyra and Alicent may have been rekindled in this scene, but the children don’t really know that relationship. They’ve spent most of their lives playing the comparison game. How do you mend what was broken to begin with?
Another thing of note is that Mysaria, Daemon’s former lover, has been recieving information from the palace. Secrets make powerful people. We have yet to see what she will do with them.
Alicent visits her husband in his bed chamber. She brushes his face and comforts him. Now that he has drank his tea, he is confused once again, and mistakes her for Rhaenyra. He continues that conversation about the Song of Ice and Fire and states that it is true, and Aegon must rule – she is the one that must do it. Alicent, understandably, confuses him for talking about their son Aegon. She states that she understands and stands to leave. Viserys, now alone, states “no more” to the empty room. The pain he has felt for so many years is now too much for him to bear. He reaches a hand up into the air and says, “My love” before taking his final breath. Rest in peace King Viserys.
The next episode will begin the tipping point of the official dance of the dragons. Alicent’s misunderstanding will cause such mass devestation. What the next episode brings is yet to be told. Will the battle begin immediately? Being part of the Game of Throne universe, we are well aware that this season will end on a large cliff hanger. Who’s death will be the first? Will Corlys pull through and fight beside his wife during the battle? Will Mysaria help Daemon, or will she play the role of a scorned lover? Will Jace and Luke grow the nerve and skill they need to actually fight a war - or will that responsbility rest solely on Daemon and Rhaenyra? So many questions loom in the are of House of the Dragon. Until then!