‘Home of the Dragon’ Episode 8 Recap: Again to the Future

Home of the Dragon does not keep nonetheless for lengthy. Episode 8 of HBO’s Sport of Thrones prequel, titled The Lord of the Tides, takes place 6 years after episode 7. That signifies that, because the premiere episode, we have jumped practically 20 years into the long run. Home of the Dragon retains it shifting.

The problem on the middle of episode 8, as its title suggests, is who will succeed Lord Corlys Velaryon as Lord of Driftmark. Whoever guidelines Driftmark additionally guidelines Westeros’ biggest fleet, so it is an necessary put up. Since Home Targaryen is now successfully cut up into two groups, each need certainly one of their gamers to rule Driftmark.

A brand new time bounce additionally means some new actors: The six Targaryen children — Aegon, Aemond, Jacaerys, Lucerys, Baela and Rhaena — all  have new faces in Sunday’s episode. A full recap of Home of the Dragon episode 8 is under. Warning: Spoilers forward.

Six years therefore

It is time for a time bounce, the second largest but. As famous, The Lord of the Tides takes place 6 years after the occasions of episode 7. Jacaerys, Rhaenyra’s eldest son, has reworked from small youngster to gangly teenager. 

We begin off this week in Driftmark, the place Princess Rhaenys will get phrase that Lord Corlys Velaryon, Lord of Driftmark, has been injured. The restarted conflict within the Stepstones that was talked about in final week’s present — the conflict Ser Qarl was planning to battle in — continues to be going, and Lord Corlys was beforehand injured in a battle. He is not lifeless but, however he is presumed to die. The incident invitations the uncomfortable query over who succeeds him.

Lucerys Velaryon is the rightful inheritor on paper, since he is the “son” of Laenor Velaryon, however Corlys brother, Vaemond, says that will not do. Everybody is aware of Lucerys was really fathered by Harwin Robust, so to go Driftmark to him could be to finish Home Velaryon’s rule of Driftmark.

Vaemond challenges Lucerys’ proper to succession, bringing the reality of Lucerys’ parentage into query. Meaning everybody must descend on King’s Touchdown to battle it out.

Queen Alicent is now very a lot accountable for King’s Touchdown. Viserys has seemingly been on dying’s door for 16-odd years now. He is nonetheless alive, however fully bedridden. Most of his hair is gone, his pores and skin discolored, and a bandage is wrapped across the left aspect of his head when Rhaenyra and Daemon (who sailed from Dragonstone) go to see him.

Rhaenyra and Daemon inform Viserys that Lord Corlys is injured and doubtless going to die, and that they want his assist as king to shore up Lucerys’ declare to Driftmark. It does not work although, as a result of Viserys does not know what is going on on. He is been ingesting Milk of the Poppy to calm his ache, however it’s additionally a sedative. As an alternative of politicking, Rhaenyra introduces Viserys to her and Daemon’s two kids: Aegon and Viserys.

So sure, to be clear, there at the moment are two dwelling Aegons. Aegon II is the son of Viserys and Alicent, Aegon III is the son of Rhaenyra and Daemon. There are additionally two Viseryseses.

Talking of Aegon (II), the prince shouldn’t be man. He sexually assaults (off-screen) certainly one of King’s Landings servants, who tells Queens Alicent of the ordeal. The Queen comforts her — for a couple of seconds. She then threatens that unhealthy issues will occur if the servant tells anybody of this, offers her some gold and forces her to drink a particular brew of tea, which I assume is just like the King’s Touchdown equal of the Males in Black neuralyzer stick.

Queen Alicent berates Aegon, who’s strung out bare in mattress. The queen yells that the prince has insulted his spouse — who’s additionally his sister, Helaena — to not point out the queen herself. Aegon complains that he tries so exhausting however that nothing is nice sufficient for Alicent. She offers him a tough slap.

“You are no son of mine.”

Making offers

After adjourning a Small Council assembly and dressing down her undressed son, Queen Alicent lastly greets Rhaenyra and Daemon within the King’s Chambers. 

They’re offended the queen did not greet them on arrival.

“King Viserys’ situation has worsened because you noticed him final,” Alicent tells them, a big understatement. Queen Alicent says the maesters advise her to maintain him sedated with the Milk of the Poppy, however Rhaenyra and Daemon do not buy it.

“Ah, the maesters. It’s they who preserve him addled on Milk of the Poppy whereas the Hightowers heat his throne,” Rhaenyra says.

Daemon wonders if the maesters additionally really helpful the removing of Targaryen iconography all through King’s Touchdown and its substitute with non secular symbolism.

“The emblems of The Seven serve solely to information us on an unsure path to remind us of a better authority,” she explains. And tomorrow, it’s going to be her authority who presides over Driftmark’s succession.

In the meantime, Jacaerys and Lucerys are working concerning the previous King’s Touchdown coaching grounds once they likelihood upon an intense sparring conflict. It is two distinctly unfriendly faces: Ser Criston Cole is coaching with Aemond Targaryen, who’s sporting an eyepatch because of Lucerys. 

Ser Criston is admittedly going for Aemond, however the prince outmaneuvers and bests the knight. Ser Criston congratulates him, and says he’ll be profitable tournaments very quickly.

“I do not give a shit about tourneys,” he says. Then, with out shifting his head or eye to deal with Jace and Luc, he disconcertingly provides, “nephews, have you ever come to coach?”

Earlier than any melee breaks out, Vaemond Velaryon and his crew arrive. Vaemond heads straight to the queen, and will get an viewers with each the queen and her father Hand. Otto Hightower is firmly on Vaemond’s aspect.

“The realm has loved an extended peace, a credit score to the work of each Jahaerys and Viserys, however the specter of conflict looms and will arrive on our shores,” Otto says to his daughter. “When it does, will you need a youngster on the command of the best fleet in Westeros?”

“The subsequent Lord of the Tides shall be deep in your debt, your grace,” Vaemond says. “As will Driftmark, in all its power.” 

The implication is obvious: If the queen have been to, say, get in a civil conflict with the princess, a Vaemond-led Driftmark would again Alicent. A strong ally. 

Rhaenyra meets Rhaenys within the Godswood to do some petitioning of her personal. Rhaenyra says she’s puzzled why Rhaenya got here to King’s Touchdown, and whose declare she would again, however ultimately realized that Rhaenya goes to place herself ahead.

“That is no truthful continuing, it’s a lure. Set by the Queen and the Hand, I would wager, to proclaim my son illegitimate,” Rhaenyra says.

“But you probably did worse than that with Laenor, did you not?”

Rhaenyra says she cherished Laenor, and that she did not order Laenor’s dying. Technically true! Rhaenyra makes Rhaenys a proposal: If she backs Lucerys’ declare to Driftmark, Laena’s two daughters can marry Rhaenyra’s two sons. That means, Baela, Laena’s eldest, shall be Queen and her sons will turn out to be heirs to the Iron Throne. 

“A beneficiant supply, or a determined one,” Rhaenys scoffs. “You may discount with me all you want… however tomorrow the Hightower’s land their first blow. They’ve pressured you to your knees, and I need to stand alone.”

Aegon’s biggest hit

Rhaenyra visits her ailing father at night time, with a thunderstorm crackling within the background.

“The track of ice and fireplace, do you imagine it to be true?” She says, beginning large.

“Aegon’s dream,” he whimpers.

“You advised me it was our obligation to carry the realm united in opposition to a standard foe. By naming me inheritor you divided the realm. I assumed I wished it, however the burden is a heavy one…If you want me to bear it then defend me, and my kids.” 

The subsequent morning, whereas the maesters are working over a pained and groaning Viserys, the king tells Otto Hightower he desires to dine with the entire household tonight.

With nice exertion, the king manages to take a seat up. Hightower palms him Milk of the Poppy, however Viserys rejects it. “Simply organize the supper.” 

Hold your heads

It is now time for the case of Driftmark’s succession. With a who’s who of King’s Touchdown organized into the Pink Hold, the claimants plead their case earlier than the Hand of the King.

Vaemond offers a speech about Velaryon blood, about how he does not have ambition, he simply desires Velaryons to proceed their rule of Driftmark. Rhaenyra begins her soliloquy however is straight away interrupted – by King Viserys Targaryen.

He is performed it. The king is away from bed.

Everyone seems to be shocked, however Otto Hightower is especially dismayed. That is unhealthy information for Staff Hightower, since Viserys has proven he’ll all the time aspect with Rhaenyra.

Viserys takes a gradual march down the Nice Corridor. He stares at Hightower. “I’ll sit the throne right now.” 

“I need to admit my confusion,” King Viserys begins. “I don’t perceive why petitions are being heard over a settled succession. The one one current who may supply keener perception into Lord Corlys’ needs is the Princess Rhaenys.”

Rhaenys thinks rapidly on her ft. Seh says that Lord Corlys wished that Driftmark go by means of Ser Laenor to Lucerys.  

“His thoughts by no means modified, nor did my assist of him” Rhaenys says. “As a matter of reality, the Princess Rhaenyra has simply knowledgeable me of her want to marry her sons, Jace and Luc, to Lord Corlys’ granddaughters, Baela and Rhaena. A proposal to which I wholeheartedly agree. 

Effectively performed. King Viserys decrees the matter settled. 

Not so quick!

Petitioning is over, so Vaemond begins to protest. “You break legislation and centuries of custom to put in your daughter as inheritor, do not you dare inform me who deserves to inherit the title Velaryon,” he says to the king.

Daemon begins to smile, figuring out his enemy is on the cusp of ruining himself. 

“My home survived the doom, and a thousand tribulations in addition to, and god’s be damned, I cannot see it ended on account of this,” Vaemond begins, motioning in the direction of Lucerys.

Daemon dares Vaemond to say it. Vaemond smiles — and falls for the lure.

“Her kids are BASTARDS,” he yells. “And she or he is a whore.”

Congratulations, Vaemond Velaryon. You performed your self. 

King Viserys says he’ll have Vaemond’s tongue. He will not: Daemon slices Vaemond’s head clear off.

Come dine with me

A spontaneous decapitation is not essentially the most auspicious warmup for dinner, however the king ordered everybody to dinner, so what are you able to do?

“How good it’s to see you all tonight, collectively,” Viserys says in the beginning of dinner, not studying the room in any respect. 

Although it is a blissful event, Viserys mentioned, his coronary heart is full of sorrow. The king takes off the gold masks that had obscured the left a part of his face to disclose an empty eye socket.

“I want you to see me as I’m,” he says. “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. Allow us to not maintain ailing emotions in our hearts. The crown can’t stand robust if the home of the dragon stays divided. Put aside your grievances, if not for the sake of the crown then for the sake of this previous man, who loves you all so dearly.” 

It was an incredible speech. Viserys’ total presence on this episode is basic Sport of Thrones high quality stuff. It wasn’t simply me who was impressed, as all of the adults within the room have been visibly stirred by the king’s plea for concord. 

Rhaenyra stands as much as toast Queen Alicent. The princess says she loves Viserys, however that Queen Alicent is the one who has been on the king’s aspect for all these years. “She has tended to him with unfailing devotion, love and honor. And for that, she has my gratitude. And my apology.”

Queen Alicent accepts the toast and returns the favor. She says they’ve extra in widespread than they typically bear in mind and, considerably, says Rhaenyra will “make a advantageous queen.”

Sadly, the Targaryen children weren’t so moved by Viserys’ phrases. Aegon had been teasing Jacaerys about his betrothal to Baela, asking if Jacaerys even knew methods to consummate their marriage. It did not assist when Helaena, Aegon’s sister/spouse, gave a toast of her personal.

“I wish to toast Baela and Rhaena,” she bega. “They’re going to be married quickly. It is not so unhealthy. Largely he simply ignores you. Besides typically when he is drunk.”

Some awkward appears to be like among the many room. Viserys tries to get the night again on observe with some music, which leads Jacaerys providing to bop with Helaena. 

It is meant to impress Aegon, which it does, however it additionally momentarily gives some mirth for the room. Everyone seems to be cheerful. Rhaenyra smiles with Daemon, the queen is blissful, even ol’ Otto Hightower lets out amusing because the music performs. The king is glad, however rapidly succumbs to sickness and must be taken out of the room.

Lucerys cannot preserve his eyes of Aemond, and lets out an unlucky snigger that Aemond catches. With the king out of the room, Aemond takes this chance to offer a toast of his personal.

“A ultimate tribute to the well being of my nephews,” he says. “Jace, Luc and Joffrey. Every of them good-looking, clever… robust. Allow us to drain our cups to those three Robust boys. 

That remark, a reference to Harwin Robust, causes a ruckus. Jahaerys will get up in Aemond’s grill, daring him to say it once more. Queen Alicent reprimands Aemond, asking why he is say such a silly factor. A battle practically breaks out, however Daemon interjects. The children are all despatched to their rooms.

Rhaenyra says she must get the youngsters again to Dragonstone, however guarantees a involved Alicent she’ll fly again. “The King and I would love that.”

The prince that was promised

Within the ultimate scene within the film, we see what could find yourself being King Viserys’ ultimate Home of the Dragon scene. 

Queen Alicent visits the sleeping king after dinner. The king is delirious, and struggling to breathe. 

“You wished to know if I imagine it to be true,” he says. “Aegon.”

Viserys is confused. He thinks Alicent is Rhaenyra, and solutions the query his daughter put to him the night time earlier than.

“You wished to know if I imagine it to be true,” he says. “His dream, the track of ice and fireplace, it’s true. What he noticed within the north. The prince that was promised.”

“Prince Aegon?” the bewildered queen asks. 

“You wished to know if I imagine it to be true.”

“The Prince to unite the realm in opposition to the chilly and the darkish. It’s you. You’re the one. You will need to do that,” Viserys says, gasping for breath. “Please do that.”

“I perceive, my king,” Alicent says. 

Uh oh.