The first episode of House of the Dragon dropped, setting the stage for a Targaryen clash. It presented us to a cast of brand-new characters that will hopefully one day become as famous as those that lived and died– especially died– in Game of Thrones.House of the Dragon takes location nearly 200 years prior to the events depicted in Game of Thrones. That implies those of us eager to inspect in with their favorite (enduring) characters are out of luck, as none of them have actually been born. (Though we may be in luck, as news of a Jon Snow-focused sequel series just recently broke.) As House of the Dragons name recommends, its all about the Targaryens, who ruled Westeros for 300 years prior to “The Mad King” Aerys Targaryen was unseated by Robert Baratheon. When again watching the throne, you are. Take care: House of the Dragon episode 1 spoilers follow. We begin at the endHouse of the Dragon begins with a pre-opening credits vignette that sets the tone for the mayhem quickly to ensue.A storyteller fills us in on current history. King Jaehaerys Targaryen is amongst Westeros most illustrious rulers: His reign lasted over 60 years, the longest ever. With both of his kids dead, Jaehaerys assembled a council to choose who would be the beneficiary to his throne. The deliberations of this council is the first scene we see– House of the Dragons comparable to the White Walkers slaying Nights Watch men in the Game of Thrones opening.There are two main competitors: Princess Rhaenys Targaryen and Prince Viserys Targaryen. Not material to permit a lady to rule, the council conferred the crown onto Viserys. The narrator informs us that the smart Jaehaerys objective in organizing the council vote was to avoid a Targaryen civil war over the crown.Viserys and Aemma Targaryen, King Jaehaerys, Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen.
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” The only thing that could take apart the home of the dragon,” the storyteller informs us, “was itself.” Later on, we get a practical message onscreen that informs us that weve avoided forward practically a decade after that council decreed Viserys King.” It is now the ninth year of King Viserys I Targaryens Reign. 172 years before the death of the Mad King, Aerys, and the birth of his child, Princess Daenerys Targaryen.” Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, children of the King and the Kings Hand..
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Dragon PrincessAfter the credits, House of the Dragon reacquaints us with Kings Landing. We see a silver-haired woman sliding along on a dragon, introducing us to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the daughter of King Viserys. After dismounting from her dragon, Rhaenyra links arms with Alicent Hightower, the child of Hand of the King Otto Hightower. She then takes us on a nostalgic walk through the Red Keep.Rhaenyra enters into the chambers of her mother, Aemma (” Emma”) Targaryen, whos pregnant and simply weeks away from giving birth. Rhaenyra states everybody is thinking of the child, however someone needs to take care of Aemma. ” You will lie in this bed quickly enough, Rhaenyra,” Aemma responds. “This discomfort is how we serve the world.” In a reply reminiscent of Arya Stark, Rhaenyra shoots back with a smile: “I d rather work as a knight and flight to fight and splendor.” We later see Alicent Hightower attempt to tutor Rhaenyra under a Redwood tree, however Rhaenyra isnt in the state of mind to study. Alicent says Rhaenyra is always like this when shes anxious, and expects that Rhaenyra is anxious shell be overshadowed by Viserys potentially having a son.Aemm.
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” I expect my father that he gets a kid,” she states. “As long as I recall, thats all hes wanted.” She then states shes not thinking about her position within the family– all shes interested in is riding on dragonback, seeing the great wonders across the Narrow Sea and consuming “just cake.” We stan Rhaenyra, our cake queen.Kings CouncilGame of Thrones final seasons saw Cersei Lannister demand complete control of the crown. She was the Queen; she was the Small Council. Home of the Dragon right away reminds us how uncommon this was, as were rapidly tossed into a Small Council conference that has actually renowned lords constrained around the kings table.Things get severe when Lord Corlys Velaryon, who commands the kings fleet, starts complaining of disturbances in the Free Cities, which Thrones fanatics will remember consists of locations like Braavos, Pentos, Volantis. 3 of these cities are joining forces, calling themselves the Triarchy, and theres a chap called “the Crabfeeder” who tortures pirates by, well, feeding them to the crabs. This crucial matter is brushed aside by King Viserys and his Hand, Otto. Rather, they start to focus on the Heirs Tournament, a jousting champion held on the day of Viserys kids birth. Viserys celebrates that a huge celebration is required, since hell undoubtedly have a young boy. Grand Maester Mellos states theres no way to tell what the sex of the child will be, however Viserys isnt hearing that.” Theres a kid in the queens tummy, I understand it. And my successor will put all this damnable hand-wringing to an end. I know it.” Sure he will, Viserys. Sure he will.Otto Hightower, Hand of the King.
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Family mattersWhat is a big household without a brooding uncle? One of House of the Dragons opening scenes presents us to Daemon Targaryen, whos just recently been named leader of Kings Landings City Watch. Daemon has a chip on his shoulder: Hes the more youthful sibling of Viserys, so hes next in line to be king, but reckons he does not get enough respect on his name.Rhaenyra satisfies Daemon in the empty Great Hall, where she finds him ominously perched on the Iron Throne. She asks why hes returned, considering that she never ever sees him at court. ” I heard your dad was hosting a competition in my honor,” he states.” The tournament is for his heir,” she replies.” Just as I said,” he says with a smirk.Daemon is certainly a problematic person, however he descends the throne and reveals his niece a pendant with a pendant made with Valyrian steel. He provides it to her– the Targaryens are a Valyrian family– positioning it around her neck.” Now you and I both own a small piece of our ancestry.” Daemon Targaryen, younger bro of King Viserys.
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He cuts a less conciliatory figure a few scenes later as he riles up the City Watch. Daemon tells them they utilized to be a pack of roaming canines, today hes trained them to be a pack of hounds. Kings Landing is overloaded in criminal activity, however tonight, he states, its residents will discover to “fear the color gold.” That speeds up the City Watch storming through Kings Landing in an orgy of violence. Hands, heads and genital areas are gruesomely sliced off, which winds up being a big headache for King Viserys. Otto Hightower is miffed, grumbling to the king that a two-horse cart was required to haul away the chopped-off limbs. ” The prince can not be allowed to act with this sort of unchecked impunity,” Hightower says to the king as they walk into the council space– where they see Daemon at the table. Awkward.Hightower and Daemon Targaryen enter it over whether it was an indiscriminate program of violence or a necessary elimination of lawbreakers ahead of the Heirs Tournament, which will see individuals from all across Westeros descend on the capital.Hightower then gets on Daemon for not taking care of his wife, Lady Rhea of the Vale. He says that Daemon hasnt been around the Vale in ages. “I think my Bronze bitch would be better for my absence,” Daemon states, and makes some unkind remarks about the relations in between males and sheep in the Vale. Daemon then taunts Hightower for his own better halfs recent passing, which quickly infuriates the Hand. ” My sibling makes sport of provoking you,” Viserys states to Hightower, “must you indulge him?” Viserys scolds Daemon for his violent passion. Daemon walks and accepts out of the Small Council meeting.The takeaway here: The kings Hand does not get on well with the kings brother.” The Sea Snake” Lord Corlys Velaryon.
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He has a gross, pus-filed gash on his lower back, which Viserys scoffs is merely a cut sustained from sitting on that most uneasy throne. It turns out the maesters got their timing area on: Before the very first jousts begin, King Viserys reveals that Queen Aemma is in labor.The tradition here is for the jousting knights to ask true blessings from Lords and Ladies in the audience. He gets to select which of the knights he wants to joust with, and points to a knight from House Hightower– a knight thats the eldest kid of Hand of the King Otto Hightower.
Its not long before the tournament gets violent; prior to knights leave their horses and start combating to the death. “Queen That Never Was” Rhaenys, chatting with her Lord of Ships hubby Corlys Velaryon, complains that its been too long because a real war– that knights would act more honorably if they really had to face combat.Next up is Daemon versus Ser Cole, the person who beat the Baratheon. Cole unhorses Daemon in the joust, then Daemon demands sword-to-sword fight. In spite of Daemons track record as a fantastic warrior, hes bested by Cole. Theres no bloodshed in their fight: Cole deactivates Daemon, and Daemon yields.Hard decisionsIn the middle of the Heirs Tournament, the King is informed of problem. He rushes to Aemmas chambers to discover that the child is in breech, and that efforts to turn the kid the proper way up have stopped working. The Grand Maester states the queen is fighting, however it may not be enough.” During a hard birth it sometimes becomes essential for the dad to make an impossible option … to sacrifice one or to lose them both,” Grand Maester Mello states. “There is an opportunity we can save the kid,” but the resulting blood loss is likely to eliminate the mom. “We must either act now or leave it with the Gods.” Viserys evidently has little trust in the Gods. He nestles Aemmas hand. “Theyre going to take the babe out now,” he says, adding that he enjoys her. She starts to stress, asking whats occurring and stating shes terrified. When she realizes whats occurring– once the Maester gets ready for his very first cut– she pleads for mercy, pleading him to alter his mind. Its a difficult scene.The kid is cut, and the mom delegated pass away. Daemon and Rhaenyra at the funeral.
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” I made Daemon master of laws, but you stated he was an autocrat,” King Viserys barks at Hightower. As Viserys dismisses the concept, we see that Daemon is peeping through a wall, eavesdropping on the meeting.The Grand Maester says that in these scenarios, it would not be incorrect for the king to call an heir. Hightower recommends Rhaenyra, as shes the oldest child of the king.
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She gives him an awkward “are you actually asking me to do that” look, however Otto guarantees her the king would simply value company.Viserys is in his chambers, messing around with a clay model of Kings Landing when she enters. Viserys calls Daemon into the Great Hall, where he faces Daemon about the remarks. He says Hightower is self-centered, and that the king requires somebody– like Daemon– to safeguard him from himself.King Viserys annointing Rhaenyra brand-new successor.
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” I have actually chosen to name a brand-new beneficiary,” Viserys reveals, “you are to go back to Runestone and your Lady spouse at when. And you are to do so without quarrel, by order of your king.” Daemon looks down King Viserys as treacherous music plays. As Daemon strolls off, the king looks down at his own hand and sees that hes cut himself with one of the blades on the Iron Throne– another cut like the one on his back that wont heal.In the final scene, King Viserys annoints Rhaenyra as his successor. As he talks to Rhaenyra in the Red Keep, we see a montage of Westeros lords– including the Baratheons and the Starks– pledging to support Rhaenyra as successor. ” Im sorry, Rhaenyra, I have actually squandered the years considering that you were born, desiring for a child,” Viserys states to her. “You are the really best of your mom. And I believe, as I know she did, that you might be a great ruling queen … Daemon was not made to use the crown. But I think that you were.” Viserys annointing ends with a prophecy, gave considering that the days of Aegon the Conqueror over 100 years prior. ” Aegon foresaw completion of the world of males. It is to start with an awful winter season gusting out of the distant north. Aegon saw outright darkness riding on those winds, and whatever dwells within will destroy the world of the living. When this excellent winter comes, all of Westeros needs to stand against it. And if the world of guys is to survive, a Targaryen needs to be seated on the Throne. A King or Queen strong enough to unify the realm versus the cold and the dark.”” Aegon called his dream A Song of Ice and Fire.”.
House of the Dragon instantly reminds us how uncommon this was, as were quickly tossed into a Small Council meeting that has actually renowned lords cramped around the kings table.Things get major when Lord Corlys Velaryon, who commands the kings fleet, starts grumbling of disturbances in the Free Cities, which Thrones fanatics will recall consists of locations like Braavos, Pentos, Volantis. Daemon has a chip on his shoulder: Hes the more youthful sibling of Viserys, so hes next in line to be king, however reckons he doesnt get enough respect on his name.Rhaenyra satisfies Daemon in the empty Great Hall, where she finds him ominously set down on the Iron Throne. Daemon walks and accepts out of the Small Council meeting.The takeaway here: The kings Hand does not get on well with the kings bro. She provides him an awkward “are you actually asking me to do that” look, but Otto assures her the king would simply value company.Viserys is in his chambers, messing around with a clay design of Kings Landing when she enters. As Daemon walks off, the king looks down at his own hand and sees that hes cut himself with one of the blades on the Iron Throne– another cut like the one on his back that wont heal.In the final scene, King Viserys annoints Rhaenyra as his heir.