Spoilers under.
When you have been anticipating Rhaenyra and her new dragon military to rumble with Aemond, Vhagar, and the greens…you’ll have to attend for subsequent season. Home of the Dragon took its time with season 2, organising key gamers for the Dance of Dragons and coming to a detailed simply earlier than the highly-anticipated showdown. After final week’s fiery dragon matching ceremony, episode eight doesn’t fairly really feel like a finale in a conventional Recreation of Thrones sense (sorry, no battles) however extra like setup for what’s to return.
First, Tyland Lannister tries to get the Triarchy to pledge their allegiance (and ships) to Aegon, however in trade, they need management of the Stepstones, a territory that’s been disputed for ages. As soon as he concedes, they reveal one closing situation: The commander of the Triarchy fleet should be a part of him in battle, in any other case the sailors gained’t comply to a overseas chief. Enter commander Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn), who sizes up Tyland, incorrectly calls him Tywin, finds him too frail, and refuses to sail. A lot for that.
In the meantime, after fleeing Dragonstone upon the sight of Rhaenyra’s new dragonriders, Aemond Targaryen takes his fury out on the close by Sharp Level, burning down the town and its harmless civilians.
His brother, Aegon, continues to heal in mattress when Lord Larys drops in with an pressing proposition: They need to depart King’s Touchdown as a result of Aemond will kill Aegon. Fortunately, Larys has already relocated his gold to the Iron Financial institution in Braavos (does this rely as an offshore account?), to allow them to dwell there within the meantime. Aegon doesn’t like the thought of operating, and he’s extra preoccupied with a sure a part of his anatomy dropping its operate, however he’s ultimately satisfied by the potential of glory. Larys says they’ll return to King’s Touchdown when the time is ripe, and Aegon could be a complete hero.
Rhaena continues to be within the Vale searching for that wild dragon, by the best way.
Prince Jacaerys continues to be uncomfortable with (learn: threatened by) the brand new dragonriders, and his probability encounter with Ulf, whose ft are propped up on the painted desk, doesn’t assist. Ulf, Silverwing’s new rider, tells the younger prince that they’re “minimize from the identical fabric”—each bastards who journey dragons—however Jace insists they’re not alike. Later, Baela tells him to not fear in regards to the new recruits; there’s extra to Jace than his standing and dragons. Now he should show his doubters mistaken.
Corlys has renamed his ship, “Sea Snake,” to “The Queen Who By no means Was,” after his late spouse Rhaenys. When Rhaenyra asks him about her dragonrider Addam of Hull, as a substitute of claiming, “Ah sure, he’s my son,” Corlys merely replies that Addam was one in every of his shipwrights and he had little to do with him (regrettably). He advises Rhaenyra to strike the inexperienced forces now that her six-dragon squad is assembled. Plus, he teases, there’s one other participant that’s but to be revealed. Who might or not it’s?
Keep in mind that sexist man on Rhaenrya’s council, Ser Alfred Broome? He arrives to Harrenhal per her request to test on Daemon. However when he and the king consort meet privately, Broome urges him to take the throne himself. “What we want on this second is a king,” he says, not hiding his misogyny. Daemon smiles. Ser Simon Robust is watching within the shadows.
Alicent Hightower is again in King’s Touchdown after her solo retreat. Her daughter, Helaena, says she was happier earlier than she was queen. Alicent floats the thought of leaving city. Earlier than she will say the place they’d go, Aemond enters and orders Helaena to fly into battle on her dragon Dreamfyre, to which Alicent protests. She gained’t let her harmless daughter be corrupted by Aemond’s quest for energy. She finds Grand Maester Orwyle and asks for assist buying passage in secret.
Someplace in camp, Alicent’s brother Gwayne Hightower confronts Ser Criston Cole about his affair with Alicent, which he doesn’t deny. He says Alicent has saved his life twice and “since then, she has been the beacon I observe.” (It didn’t appear that manner when Cole refused to help her declare to rule as regent.) However Cole is relatively nihilistic as his military heads into battle, more likely to their demise. “To die shall be a form of aid, don’t you assume?” he asks. Gwayne is shocked.
After a muddy brawl, Tyland earns a little bit of Lohar’s respect and a dinner invite. Lohar makes him carry out a music on the feast (like your dad and mom making you sing in entrance of your loved ones as a child) and agrees to sail into battle with him. Oh, and in addition: Lohar needs Tyland to have youngsters with their wives.
On Dragonstone, there’s a Targaryen household dinner with the brand new dragonriders. Rhaenyra guarantees that in the event that they serve her effectively, she’ll knight them. However she wants them to do what Corlys mentioned, and strike whereas they’ve the benefit: In two days, they have to “subdue” the inexperienced strongholds of Outdated City and Lannisport to finish the conflict ASAP, which could entail killing innocents. Hugh and Baela bristle on the concept, however Jace says it have to be finished. Earlier than the dialogue can proceed, a message arrives from Harrenhal—it’s from Simon Robust, who says Daemon has raised his military efficiently however he fears treachery is afoot. Rhaenyra decides to move over there herself and requests Addam to return with, to Jace’s shock.
Alys Rivers wakes Daemon in Harrenhal and brings him to the godswood; she senses he’s prepared to know his destiny. As they stroll out, a determine with antlers growls within the distance then disappears. (What does it imply?!) Daemon locations his hand on the weirwood tree and sees a loaded imaginative and prescient of the long run: Blood Raven and the Three-Eyed Raven, White Walkers, a purple comet, and Daenerys Targaryen herself (from behind) and the delivery of her three dragons. The montage is adopted by a imaginative and prescient of Rhaenyra on the Iron Throne, signaling to Daemon that she is destined to rule. Then Helaena seems, reminding him that he performs a component on this story.
The true Helaena is within the Purple Hold, and Aemond as soon as once more tries to persuade her to fly to Harrenhal. She tells Aemond she is aware of he burned Aegon at Rook’s Relaxation and let him fall off his dragon—she noticed it. She additionally predicts that Aegon shall be king once more. ”He’s but to see victory he sits on a wood throne. And also you’ll be lifeless. Swallowed up within the Gods Eye and by no means seen once more,” she says ominously.
Rhaenyra and Addam arrive to Harrenhal to seek out that Daemon’s military has certainly been shaped. The entire corridor and grounds are crammed with troopers. They’re sworn to Daemon—however to whom is Daemon sworn? When she confronts him unexpectedly, Daemon reveals, in Excessive Valyrian, that he’s had a change of coronary heart. “The world isn’t what I assumed it was. The conflict is just the start. Winter is coming with darkness and doom.” (One other Recreation of Thrones reference, albeit from Home Stark.) Daemon’s weirwood imaginative and prescient did a quantity on him; he now believes, like Viserys did, that Rhaenyra have to be the one to unite the realm to outlive the terrors forward. He kneels and declares Rheanyra because the true queen. His males drop to their knees behind him. Rhaenyra is impressed. He rallies his troops to “combat for our queen” and so they roar again.
Lastly, Corlys is about to board an precise boat, however first he tries to supply Alyn, one in every of his illegitimate sons, some assist. Alyn places him in his place. You provide assist now, after you left me and my brother fatherless, hungry, and poor for years? If Alyn survives the conflict, he says, he wish to go on as he began it—alone.
Ultimately, Rhaena sees a dragon flying within the distance.
Rhaenyra is woken as much as discover a shock customer at Dragonstone: Alicent. The queen mom is able to depart her royal life behind with Helaena and her daughter, and be free, however Rhaenyra isn’t satisfied. Alicent even affords Rhaenyra a simple win: When Aemond flies to Harrenhal, Rhaenyra can storm the citadel then and Alicent would order the guards to let her by. As for Aegon, when he recovers, she might speak him into bending the knee to his half-sister. Rhaenyra doesn’t like that Alicent nonetheless defends her usurper son. For her to safe victory, she should kill the opposition. Would Alicent be keen to sacrifice a son for a son? Alicent is in tears, however…she ever so subtly nods her head sure. She tells Rhaenyra to let her go to do what she promised, and even affords for her outdated buddy to tag alongside. However Rhaenyra chooses to remain put. Alicent leaves alone. Now the query is, will Rhaenyra take the again door Alicent simply opened for her, after spending all of that point amassing armies and allies?
In a closing montage, everyone seems to be preparing for battle: Ulf, Hugh, and Addam placed on their armor; the Hightower military marches with what seems to be Daeron and his dragon Tessarion flying overhead; the Stark military marches throughout the Twins simply because the Freys promised; the Lannister and Lefford armies march collectively; Tyland Lannister and Lohar sail with the Triarchy fleet; Corlys and Alyn row to The Queen Who By no means Was; Rhaena (lastly!) comes head to head with a wild dragon; Otto Hightower is captured someplace behind bars (how’d he find yourself there?); and Aegon and Larys are stealing away in a hen coop. If Rhaenyra is anticipating Aegon’s head, she won’t be completely satisfied to be taught he’s M.I.A.
Extra battles are absolutely approaching Home of the Dragon, however not simply but.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Tradition Editor at ELLE.com, the place she oversees protection on TV, motion pictures, music, books, and extra. She was beforehand an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There’s a 75 % probability she’s listening to Lorde proper now.
