Warning: This article contains major spoilers for the final episode of House of the Dragon… Rhaenys says it’s been six years since she’s seen Corlys, and he’s out to sea. She was informed that he was seriously injured, having been cut in the neck and fallen into the sea, with serious illness after the wound. Vaemond raises the question of Corlys’ succession to the Driftmark throne. He thinks it’s worth it, but Rhaenys repeats Corlys’ wishes for the throne to pass to Lucerys. He challenges her, saying Aliscent will take his side in the dispute, and she is the one who is really managing things for the time being.
The demon finds some dragon eggs in the Dragonstone Mountains, and reveals that three fresh eggs have been laid by Syrax, a Rhaenyra dragon. When he flips them over on the spot in the heating room, he receives a note with news from the Driftmark. He breaks the news to Rhaenyra and she is understandably frustrated with Vaemond’s plot. By questioning the legitimacy of the Lucerys, he questions the legitimacy of their entire family and claims the Iron Throne. Daemon places his hand on Rhaenyra’s belly, indicating that she is pregnant, and they agree to sail to King’s Landing.
Nobody is there to greet Rhaenyra and Daemon when they arrive at King’s Landing. Aliscent is seated at the head of the table during the council meeting, and it is revealed that Otto has orchestrated the unfriendly welcome of the Targaryens. They argue over who should take the throne in the Driftmark, where no one believes in the legitimacy of the Lucerys.
Rhaenyra and Daemon go to visit Viserys, and she is in very bad shape. Lying in bed with bandages over most of his face, struggling to breathe and clinging to life with a thread. Daemon tells Viserys about the problems with the Stepstones and Driftmark, including injury to Corlys. They told him he needed to confirm Lucerys’ position as the Driftmark’s heir. They reveal that they have two children together, named Aegon and Viserys.
A maid is brought to Alicent crying, saying that she was raped by Aegon II when she brought him wine. Aliscent believes her, and threatens her about what might happen if she tells anyone, gives her the silent money, and drinks the contraceptive tea. When she confronts Aegon, he doesn’t care at all, nor does he seem to care about any of the responsibilities of the throne either. She told him, “You are not my son.” Aliscent then meets Rhaenyra and Daemon, who question her leadership and treatment of Viserys while he is ill. She is clearly responsible, and the only other person with any real power is her father, the Hand of the King. Together, they speak on behalf of the king.
Jacaerys and Lucerys head to the training grounds to find Aemond, who has grown too much, arguing with Criston Cole and getting caught alone. He has become a skilled warrior. Having confessed his nephews, Vaemond arrived from Driftmark, surrounded by the banners of House Velaryon. He meets Alicent and Otto about being named the heir to the Driftmark. Otto says war is looming, and they can’t have a child commanding the world’s largest fleet.
Rhaenyra meets Rhaenys, where she discovers that Rhaenys has planned to defend herself as ruler of the Driftmark, rather than Lucerys or Vaemond. Rhaenyra tries to bargain, and suggests that her sons marry Laena’s daughters, giving both families the Iron Throne and the Driftmark Throne. Rainey, convinced that Reinera killed Lenore, says she will stand alone in the war between the Hightowers and the Targaryen.
Rhaenyra spoke to Viserys in the middle of the night and told him that if he really believed in her and believed in Ice and Fire, he should stand up for her and her children. The next morning, Viserys told Otto that he wanted dinner for the whole family, and refused the medicines because of the pain he was receiving. He chooses to deal with pain versus a clear mind.
The meeting begins hearing the petitions of the Driftmark heir. Vaemond goes first and pleads his case, with Alicent clearly standing behind him. When Rhaenyra begins, the hall doors open and Viserys appears, and he slowly walks to the Iron Throne with the help of a stick. He says the whole procedure confuses him, as Corlys settled the question of his succession a long time ago. He asks Rhaenys to speak, as she is the only one who will know Corlys’ wishes. Confirming that he chose Lucerys, she puts forward Rhaenyra’s proposal to marry Laenor’s sons to Laena’s daughters, and she wholeheartedly agrees to the marriages. Viserys considers the matter settled, but Vaemond does not, and publicly calls Rhaenyra’s children for being illegitimate, saying they are not Velaryon. He calls them miscreants and calls Rhaenyra a whore, causing Daemon to cut off his head with a single stroke of his sword.
All the Viserys family gather for a meal together, and things between them are more tense than ever. After Viserys pours his heart out in a speech that includes taking off his mask and revealing that half of his face is essentially missing, Rhaenyra and Alicent seem to find solid ground. They drink each other and try to put the past aside, and work together for the betterment of the whole house. However, their children do not go the same way. Jacaerys tries to play cute but has never met any love from his uncles, so he offers his hand to Aegon’s wife for a dance. Emond’s last word is to give a nibbling toast to his nephews, referring to them as “tough boys,” referring to their real fathers.
The servant who witnessed the accusations against Egon earlier in the episode appears on the streets of King’s Landing. She meets Missaria, Damon’s ex-wife, who is likely to share information from within the Red Keep.
The episode ends with Viserys in his bed, talking to Alicent. He thinks he’s talking to Rhaenyra, and he’s talking about the prince he promised. After she gives him tea and walks out of the room, the king takes his last breaths.
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