House of the Dragon: The Targaryen and The Hightower families go to war with the first casualty revealed in the Season 1 finale that sets the stage for Season 2
The Targaryen family and the Hightower family 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 side with the surprising death of Lucerys Targaryen (Elliot Grihault).
Last week’s episode revealed King Viserys (Paddy Considine) has passed away, with Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke) installing her son Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) as the new King… despite Viserys naming his daughter Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) as his successor years earlier.
While Rhaenrya plots out how to challenge Aegon’s reign, Lucerys was sent as a messenger… though he was killed by Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) in an intense scene that hints the dragons at the seat of House Targaryen’s power are not too easily controlled, with Lucerys’ death setting the stage for the war to follow in Season 2.
War: The Targaryen family and the Hightower family wage an all-out war for the Iron Throne in the Season 1 finale of HBO’s House of the Dragon
Dragon: Rhaenys (Eve Best) – The Queen Who Wasn’t – made her presence known at the coronation ceremony with her dragon, while then heading to Dragonstone to tell Rhaenyra what had happened
The episode begins with Rhaenyra finding her son Lucerys, who asks if the Sea Snake is going to die, adding he can’t be the new Lord of the Tides.
‘I’ll just ruin everything. I don’t want Driftmark,’ Luke says, but his mother says they don’t choose their destiny.
He says ‘I’m not like you. I’m not so… Perfect,’ though she insists, ‘I am anything but.’
Lucerys: The episode begins with Rhaenyra finding her son Lucerys, who asks if the Sea Snake is going to die, adding he can’t be the new Lord of the Tides
Ruined: ‘I’ll just ruin everything. I don’t want Driftmark,’ Luke says, but his mother says they don’t choose their destiny
‘My father looked after me and helped to prepare me for my duties. Your mother will do the same for you,’ she says when Lorent Marbrand arrives, saying Princess Rhaenys has just arrived on dragonback.
Rhaenys tells her Viserys is dead and Aegon has been crowned as his successor.
Rhaenyra says, ‘Alicent demanded you declare for Aegon. She did,’ and Rhaenys says, ‘I refused her.’
Viserys: Rhaenys tells her Viserys is dead and Aegon has been crowned as his successor
Refused: Rhaenyra says, ‘Alicent demanded you declare for Aegon. She did,’ and Rhaenys says, ‘I refused her’
‘The High Septon crowned Aegon in the Dragonpit. I witnessed it myself just before I fled on Meleys,’ she says.
‘The Greens are coming for you, Rhaenyra. And for your children. You should leave Dragonstone at once,’ though Rhaenyra feels a pain and reveals her baby is coming.
The Maester says she hasn’t completed her term yet but she insists the baby is coming.
Witness: ‘The High Septon crowned Aegon in the Dragonpit. I witnessed it myself just before I fled on Meleys,’ she says
Meeting: ‘The Greens are coming for you, Rhaenyra. And for your children. You should leave Dragonstone at once,’ though Rhaenyra feels a pain and reveals her baby is coming
Meanwhile, Daemon meets with advisors to fortify Dragonstone against any attack from the Hightowers.
Rhaenyra tells her son Jace that Viserys has passed and he asks what will be done about it and she says, ‘Nothing yet.’
‘Whatever claim remains to me, you are now its heir. Naught is to be done but by my command,’ she tells him.
Tells: Rhaenyra tells her son Jace that Viserys has passed and he asks what will be done about it and she says, ‘Nothing yet’
Bartimos Celtigar tells Daemon, ‘A raven flew in this morning. The Sea Snake’s fever has broken, and he has left Evenfall.’
Jace finds Daemon and finds him giving out orders but he says he’ll do no such thing since Rhaenyra said no action is to be taken.
‘It’s good you’re here, young Prince. You’re needed to patrol the skies on Vermax,’ Daemon says.
No such thing: Jace finds Daemon and finds him giving out orders but he says he’ll do no such thing since Rhaenyra said no action is to be taken
Patrol: ‘It’s good you’re here, young Prince. You’re needed to patrol the skies on Vermax,’ Daemon says
Daemon says, ‘Summon Ser Steffon. Our Kingsguard are needed on the Dragonmont,’ and tells Jace, ‘Come with me. I’ll show you the true meaning of loyalty.’
Daemon tells the two Kingsguard members, ‘You swore an oath as knights of the Kingsguard. As do all who wear the white cloak, my Prince. To whom?’
‘So I’m presenting you with a choice. Swear anew your oath to Rhaenyra as your queen… To Prince Jacaerys as the heir to the Iron Throne Or… If you support the usurper, speak it now… And you will have a clean and honorable death. But if you choose treachery, if you swear fealty now only to later turn your cloaks… Know that you will die…’ Daemon says.
Swore: Daemon tells the two Kingsguard members, ‘You swore an oath as knights of the Kingsguard. As do all who wear the white cloak, my Prince. To whom?’
Choice: ‘So I’m presenting you with a choice. Swear anew your oath to Rhaenyra as your queen… To Prince Jacaerys as the heir to the Iron Throne Or… If you support the usurper, speak it now… And you will have a clean and honorable death. But if you choose treachery, if you swear fealty now only to later turn your cloaks… Know that you will die…’ Daemon says
He asks if they will swear fealty to Rhaenyra or not as his dragon looms overhead while Rhaenyra goes into labor… though the child is stillborn.
At the funeral, Jason Lannister arrives and pulls out a crown, stating, ‘I swear towards the queen, with all my strength. I’d give my blood for hers. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children.’
Daemon takes the crown and places it on Rhaenyra’s head, bowing to her and stating,’ My Queen,’ as everyone bows before her.
Fealty: He asks if they will swear fealty to Rhaenyra or not as his dragon looms overhead while Rhaenyra goes into labor… though the child is stillborn
Stillborn: Rhaenyra’s stillborn child
Jason: At the funeral, Jason Lannister arrives and pulls out a crown, stating, ‘I swear towards the queen, with all my strength. I’d give my blood for hers. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children’
A fire is lit under the huge map of the Seven Kingdoms, as the Queen arrives to speak with her advisors around the great table.
Daemon talks about defending Dragonstone and what houses are loyal to their cause and they speak of Winterfell.
Rhaenyra turns to Rhaenys, who says her husband Corlys is sailing for Dragonstone, though it’s unclear if he will swear to the Queen.
Fire: A fire is lit under the huge map of the Seven Kingdoms, as the Queen arrives to speak with her advisors around the great table
Swear: Rhaenyra turns to Rhaenys, who says her husband Corlys is sailing for Dragonstone, though it’s unclear if he will swear to the Queen
They speak of the Dragons but Rhaenyra says none of their dragons have been to war before.
The Queen is told that three ships have arrived as they prepare for the worst as Daemon grabs his sword before taking off.
Daemon meets Otto on the bridge, both flanked by several knights, as Otto says he is there on behalf of, ‘Dowager Queen Alicent, mother of King Aegon, Second of His Name, Lord and Protector of the Seven Kingdoms. I’ve been directed to deliver her message only to Princess Rhaenyra.’
War: They speak of the Dragons but Rhaenyra says none of their dragons have been to war before
Ships: The Queen is told that three ships have arrived as they prepare for the worst as Daemon grabs his sword before taking off
Otto: Daemon meets Otto on the bridge, both flanked by several knights, as Otto says he is there on behalf of, ‘Dowager Queen Alicent, mother of King Aegon, Second of His Name, Lord and Protector of the Seven Kingdoms. I’ve been directed to deliver her message only to Princess Rhaenyra’
He asks where she is as she arrives on her dragon as she says she’s not a princess but the Queen now.
‘King Aegon Targaryen, Second of His Name… In his wisdom and desire for peace, is offering terms,’ Otto says.
‘Acknowledge Aegon as king and swear obeisance before the Iron Throne. In exchange, His Grace will confirm your possession of Dragonstone. It will pass to your trueborn son, Jacaerys, upon your death. Lucerys will be confirmed as the legitimate heir to Driftmark and all the lands and holdings of House Velaryon. Your sons by Prince Daemon will also be given places of high honor at court: 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 against his ascent,’ Otto says.
Dragon: He asks where she is as she arrives on her dragon as she says she’s not a princess but the Queen now
Terms: ‘King Aegon Targaryen, Second of His Name… In his wisdom and desire for peace, is offering terms,’ Otto says
‘I would rather feed my sons to the dragons than have them carry shields and cups for 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 name. He was anointed by a Septon of the Faith before the eyes of thousands. Every symbol of legitimacy belongs to him. And then there is Stark, Tully, Baratheon. Houses that have also received, and are at present, considering generous terms from their king,’ Otto says.
‘Stark, Tully, and Baratheon all swore to me when King Viserys named me his heir,’ she says.
Feed: ‘I would rather feed my sons to the dragons than have them carry shields and cups for your drunken, usurper cunt of a king,’ Daemon says
Swore: ‘Stark, Tully, and Baratheon all swore to me when King Viserys named me his heir,’ she says
‘The succession changed the day your father sired a son. I only regret that you and he were the last to see the truth of it. You are no more Hand than Aegon is king. F***ing traitor.
He hands her something – the page Rhaenyra ripped out of a book and gave to Alicent when they were children.
Otto adds, ‘Queen Alicent has not forgotten the love you once had for each other. No blood need be spilled, so the realm can carry on in peace.’
Page: He hands her something – the page Rhaenyra ripped out of a book and gave to Alicent when they were children
Otto: ‘Stark, Tully, and Baratheon all swore to me when King Viserys named me his heir,’ she says
‘She can have her answer now, stuffed in her father’s mouth along with his withered c**k. Let’s end this mummer’s farce. Ser Erryk, bring me Lord Hightower so I may take the pleasure myself,’ Daemon says, raising his sword.
Rhaenyra’s dragon roars and she says, ‘No. King’s Landing will have my answer on the morrow.
Daemon tells Rhaenyra later, ‘It’s no easy thing for a man to be a dragonslayer. But dragons can kill dragons. And have. The simple truth is this: We have more dragons than Aegon. Viserys spoke often of the Valyrian histories. I know them well.’
Answer: ‘Stark, Tully, and Baratheon all swore to me when King Viserys named me his heir,’ she says
Morrow: Rhaenyra’s dragon roars and she says, ‘No. King’s Landing will have my answer on the morrow
‘Everything burned. I do not wish to rule over a kingdom of ash and bone,’ she says and someone asks, ‘Are you considering the Hightowers’ terms, Your Grace?’
‘As Queen, what is my true duty to the realm, Lord Bartimos? Ensuring peace and unity? Or that I sit the Iron Throne, no matter the cost?’ she says.
Daemon says, ‘That’s your father talking’ but she says, ‘My father’s dead. And he chose me as his successor… To defend the realm, not cast it headlong into war.’
Ash: ‘Everything burned. I do not wish to rule over a kingdom of ash and bone,’ she says and someone asks, ‘Are you considering the Hightowers’ terms, Your Grace?’
Father: Daemon says, ‘That’s your father talking’ but she says, ‘My father’s dead. And he chose 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 everyone to, ‘Clear the room.’
She asks Daemon, ‘Does the promise of war excite you?’ and he says, ‘You cannot bend the knee to the Hightowers. They stole your birthright.’
He tells her it’s her duty as queen to crush rebellions and she says, ‘A Song of Ice and Fire. The coming war against the darkness in the North, The Conqueror’s Dream. Viserys shared it with me when he named me heir.’
Excite: She asks Daemon, ‘Does the promise of war excite you?’ and he says, ‘You cannot bend the knee to the Hightowers. They stole your birthright’
Duty: He tells her it’s her duty as queen to crush rebellions and she says, ‘A Song of Ice and Fire. The coming war against the darkness in the North, The Conqueror’s Dream. Viserys shared it with me when he named me heir’
She is surprised when Daemon starts choking her, adding, ‘My brother… Was a slave to his omens and portents.’
‘Anything to make his feckless reign appear to have purpose. Dreams didn’t make us kings. Dragons did,’ he says while releasing her.
‘He never told you… Did he?’ she asks.
Choking: She is surprised when Daemon starts choking her, adding, ‘My brother… Was a slave to his omens and portents’
Dreams: ‘Anything to make his feckless reign appear to have purpose. Dreams didn’t make us kings. Dragons did,’ he says while releasing her
The episode cuts to Corlys (Steve Toussaint) finally back by Rhaenys’ side, as she tells him he abandoned her.
‘Both our children stolen from us. I needed you. Baela and Rhaena needed you, and you abandoned us for more adventure at sea. As has always been your way,’ she says.
‘You were right, Rhaenys. I reached too far. And for nothing. Our pursuit of the Iron Throne… Is at an end. We shall declare for no one. We will retire to High Tide to be content… With our grandchildren,’ he says.
Corlys: The episode cuts to Corlys (Steve Toussaint) finally back by Rhaenys’ side, as she tells him he abandoned her
Adventure: ‘Both our children stolen from us. I needed you. Baela and Rhaena needed you, and you abandoned us for more adventure at sea. As has always been your way,’ she says
Retire: ‘You were right, Rhaenys. I reached too far. And for nothing. Our pursuit of the Iron Throne… Is at an end. We shall declare for no one. We will retire to High Tide to be content… With our grandchildren,’ he says
‘Jace, Luke, and Joff are claimants to the throne. Those boys’ll not be safe so long as Aegon is king,’ she says.
Corlys says Rhaenyra, ‘destroys everything she touches,’ but Rhaenys defends her.
‘That “Girl”… Is holding the realm together at present. Every man standing ’round the Painted Table urges her to plunge the realm into war. Rhaenyra’s the only one who’s demonstrated restraint.
Not safe: ‘Jace, Luke, and Joff are claimants to the throne. Those boys’ll not be safe so long as Aegon is king,’ she says
Restraint: ‘That “Girl”… Is holding the realm together at present. Every man standing ’round the Painted Table urges her to plunge the realm into war. Rhaenyra’s the only one who’s demonstrated restraint
Corlys arrives to see Rhaenyra, as she tells him, ‘Lord Corlys. It brings much relief to see you hale and healthy again.’
‘I’m very sorry about your father, Princess. He was a good 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 houses are bound by common blood and common cause. This Hightower treason cannot stand. You have the full support of our fleet and house. Your Grace,’ he says.
Corlys arrives: Corlys arrives to see Rhaenyra, as she tells him, ‘Lord Corlys. It brings much relief to see you hale and healthy again’
Justice: ‘Your father’s realm… Was one of justice and honor. Our houses are bound by common blood and common cause. This Hightower treason cannot stand. You have the full support of our fleet and house. Your Grace,’ he says
‘You honor me, Lord Corlys. Princess Rhaenys. But, as I said to my bannermen, I made a promise to my father to hold the realm strong and united. If war’s first stroke is to fall, it will not be by my hand,’ she says.
‘You do not mean to act? Taking caution does not mean standing fast,’ he says but she adds, ‘I wish to know who my allies are before I send them to war.’
‘The consequence of my… Near-demise in the Stepstones… Is that we now control them. I took care to fully garrison the territory this time. A total blockade of the shipping lanes will 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 can cut off all seaborne travel and trade to King’s Landing. I shall take Meleys and patrol the Gullet myself,’ Corlys says.
Honor: ‘You honor me, Lord Corlys. Princess Rhaenys. But, as I said to my bannermen, I made a promise to my father to hold the realm strong and united. If war’s first stroke is to fall, it will not be by my hand,’ she says
Act: ‘You do not mean to act? Taking caution does not mean standing fast,’ he says but she adds, ‘I wish to know who my allies are before I send them to war’
Bartimos adds, ‘When we drain the Narrow Sea, we can surround King’s Landing, lay siege to the Red Keep, and force the Greens’ surrender.
‘If we are to have enough swords to surround King’s Landing, we must first secure the support of Winterfell, the Eyrie, and Storm’s End,’ she says.
Jacaerys adds, ‘We should bear those messages. Dragons can fly faster than ravens and they’re more convincing. Send us.’
Send us: Jacaerys adds, ‘We should bear those messages. Dragons can fly faster than ravens and they’re more convincing. Send us’
Corlys adds, ‘The Prince is right, Your Grace’ as she agrees and adds, ‘Prince Jacaerys will fly north. First to the Eyrie to see my mother’s cousin, the Lady Jeyne Arryn, and then to Winterfell to treat with Lord Cregan Stark for the support of the North. Prince Lucerys will fly south to Storm’s End and treat with Lord Borros Baratheon. We must remind these lords of the oaths they swore. And… The cost of breaking them.’
Rhaenyra is talking with her sons, making them promise not to fight, adding they are messengers, not warriors.
‘You must take no part in any fighting. Swear it to me now under the eyes of the Seven,’ she says, as they both swear to her before taking off on their dragons.
He’s right: Corlys adds, ‘The Prince is right, Your Grace’ as she agrees and adds, ‘Prince Jacaerys will fly north. First to the Eyrie to see my mother’s cousin, the Lady Jeyne Arryn, and then to Winterfell to treat with Lord Cregan Stark for the support of the North. Prince Lucerys will fly south to Storm’s End and treat with Lord Borros Baratheon. We must remind these lords of the oaths they swore. And… The cost of breaking them’
Sons: Rhaenyra is talking with her sons, making them promise not to fight, adding they are messengers, not warriors
No fighting: ‘You must take no part in any fighting. Swear it to me now under the eyes of the Seven,’ she says, as they both swear to her before taking off on their dragons
Daemon is seen carrying a torch into a crypt, singing in High Valyrian, as he sets his torch down and the dragon emerges as Daemon keeps singing.
Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys Velaryon arrives in Storm’s End, saying, ‘I bring a message to Lord Borros from the Queen.
When he’s taken inside, he finds Aemond there, passing along his mother’s message, getting a maester to read it, though he’s not pleased.
Daemon: Daemon is seen carrying a torch into a crypt, singing in High Valyrian, as he sets his torch down and the dragon emerges as Daemon keeps singing
Lucerys: Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys Velaryon arrives in the Eyrie, saying, ‘I bring a message to Lord Borros from the Queen
‘Remind me of my father’s oath. King Aegon at least came with an offer: My swords and banners for a marriage pact. If I do as your mother bids… Which one of my daughters will you wed… Boy?’
Lucerys tells him, ‘My lord… I am not free to marry. I’m already betrothed.’
‘So you come with empty hands. Go home, pup. And tell your mother that the Lord of Storm’s End is not some dog that she can whistle up at need to set against her foes,’ he says.
Empty: ‘Remind me of my father’s oath. King Aegon at least came with an offer: My swords and banners for a marriage pact. If I do as your mother bids… Which one of my daughters will you wed… Boy?’
Storm: ‘So you come with empty hands. Go home, pup. And tell your mother that the Lord of Storm’s End is not some dog that she can whistle up at need to set against her foes,’ he says
He starts to walk away when Aemond stops him, adding, ‘Did you really think that you could just fly about the realm trying to steal my brother’s throne at no cost?’
‘I will not fight you. I came as a messenger, not a warrior,’ he says as Aemond adds, ‘A fight would be little challenge.’
‘No. I want you to put out your eye. As payment for mine. One will serve. I would not blind you. Plan to make a gift of it to my mother,’ Aemond says.
No fight: He starts to walk away when Aemond stops him, adding, ‘Did you really think that you could just fly about the realm trying to steal my brother’s throne at no cost?’
No fight: ‘I will not fight you. I came as a messenger, not a warrior,’ he says as Aemond adds, ‘A fight would be little challenge’
Though the lord will not have any blood shed and he orders Lucerys to be brought back to his dragon, and he flies away into the rainy night.
As he flies away… he finds Aemond following on his much larger dragon, cackling maniacally.
Lucerys takes hiss dragon through a much more narrow corridor that Aemond can’t take his larger dragon through and he manages to escape.
Following: As he flies away… he finds Aemond following on his much larger dragon, cackling maniacally
‘You owe a debt. Boy,’ Aemond screams as Lucerys’ dragon comes back and breathes a stream of fire, seemingly against Lucerys ‘ wishes as he screams for his dragon Arrax to ‘obey me.’
He escapes above the rainclouds while Aemond can’t control his dragon either, screaming, ‘Vhagar! No! No!’
While Lucerys thinks he has escaped, Aemond swoops in on his massive dragon Vhagar swoops in and chomps down on Arrax and Lucerys… even over Aemond screaming, ‘Vhagar! No!’
Arrax: ‘You owe a debt. Boy,’ Aemond screams as Lucerys’ dragon comes back and breathes a stream of fire, seemingly against Lucerys ‘ wishes as he screams for his dragon Arrax to ‘obey me’
Vhagar is seen decapitating the dragon as both the lifeless Arrax and Lucerys fall to the earth below… as Aemond simply watches in horror.
The episode cuts back to Dragonstone, where a solemn Daemon walks up to Rhaenyra, and while we can’t hear what he says, he seemingly tells her that her son Lucerys and his dragon Arrax are both dead.
She stands over the fire, shaking her head, trying to process her newfound grief… when she turns to the camera with a look of anger and sadness… as the episode and the first season of House of the Dragon comes to an end.
Decapitate: Vhagar is seen decapitating the dragon as both the lifeless Arrax and Lucerys fall to the earth below…
Horror: Aemond simply watches in horror
Daemon and Rhaenyra: The episode cuts back to Dragonstone, where a solemn Daemon walks up to Rhaenyra, and while we can’t hear what he says, he seemingly tells her that her son Lucerys and his dragon Arrax are both dead
Anger: She stands over the fire, shaking her head, trying to process her newfound grief… when she turns to the camera with a look of anger and sadness… as the episode and the first season of House of the Dragon comes to an end
House of the Dragon was already renewed for a second season on HBO, though no production details were released quite yet.
The series was created by Ryan Condal and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, with Condal and Miguel Sapochnik serving as showrunners.
The show is based on the book of the same name by Martin, which chronicled House Targaryen’s 300-year reign over Westeros.
Renewed: House of the Dragon was already renewed for a second season on HBO, though no production details were released quite yet
Book: The show is based on the book of the same name by Martin, which chronicled House Targaryen’s 300-year reign over Westeros
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