House of the Dragon Episode 8: Summary and Ending Explained! The Fate Of Corlys Velaryon, The Sons Of Rhaenyra and Daemon
There are only two episodes left from the finale of the first season of House of the Dragon, the prequel TV series of Game of Thrones that tells the origins of the Targaryen family and their civil war for the rightful heir to the Throne. In the books of George RR Martin, the plot also tells in detail all the events preceding this war, while in the television transposition several time leaps were necessary, to reach the moment that marks the beginning of the battle as soon as possible.
For this reason, even in the eighth episode of House of the Dragon, released today 10 October 2022, the story is again projected forward by a few years. The seventh episode of the series ends with the marriage between Rhaenyra and Daemon after both together with Ser Qarl and Laenor, stage the latter’s death. In the eighth episode of House of the Dragon, another six years have passed since these events, during which there have been new implications.
House of the Dragon Episode 8: Summary
About six years have passed since Laena Velaryon’s funeral and the scorching family division that ensued. The Black sides, led by Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), Daemon (Matt Smith), and their children, are pitted against Otto Hightower’s Greens (Rhys Ifans), Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and her children. The two groups have had no contact since, harboring a grudge in their discontent as they await further developments on the condition of King Viserys (Paddy Considine), but the unstable situation regarding the Driftmark now creates more than a few apprehensions on both sides. The long absence of Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and the uncertainty about his condition lead his brother Vaemond (Wil Johnson) to stand in stark contrast with his wife Rhaenys (Eve Best) regarding the succession of the house.
The agreements provide for Lucerys, son of Laenor and Rhaenyra, to become the new Lord of Altamarea, but Vaemond disputes this decision by bringing to the attention of the crown the rumors about the royal descent of the children of the future queen. While the life of the Blacks continues serenely in Dragonstone, Rhaenyra and Daemon are forced to leave for King’s Landing to guarantee their claim on those territories. The distance and the weight of time will be felt but will also prove how much the sovereign has suffered in recent years and how much his descendants have instead exploited the situation to their advantage. The kids have become young men and now seem ready to put their weight in the dispute, but the decisions on the fate of this further diatribe will bring the king back to assert his word.
The strenuous attempt to quell an already announced conflict will lead to unexpected consequences and moments of great impact, proving the enormous weight of the crown, between the responsibilities and desires of the king. The hoarse and tired voice of the sovereign, initially supported by the people close to him, will however find himself more and more alone in making room for the light. On the thin thread of peace supported with all one’s strength, now hangs oblivion that even fate seems to consider inevitable.
House of the Dragon Episode 8 Ending Explained: The Heir To The Driftmark Wooden Throne
The Fate Of Corlys Velaryon
Lord Corlys Velaryon, progenitor of the Velaryon family and father of Laenor, even knowing that Rhaenyra’s children are not his true grandchildren, decides to appoint as his heir to the Wooden Throne the young Lucerys who still bear the surname of their house. Over the past six years, Corlys has again been fighting at the Stepstones Islands as the Triarchy, formerly commanded by Craghas Drahar, has reformed.
During the battle Corlys is the victim of an ambush in which he is wounded in the neck by a blade and falls into the sea: despite the rescue, the man has lost a lot of blood and later begins to have a strong fever that is consuming him; the hopes of survival are low and the family is preparing to receive him at home, with the knowledge that already during the journey he might not make it.
Corlys’s Brother Claims His Throne
Given the possible death of his brother Corlys, Vaemond Velaryon begins to make claims for the Wooden Throne as the first direct blood heir, unlike the sons of Rhaenyra. In such circumstances Rhaenys, Corlys’ wife, reminds her brother-in-law of her husband’s wishes, of which she takes her place in her absence; but the man does not want to hear reasons and therefore decides to present himself in the presence of King Viserys to assert what he believes to be his rights.
Rhaenyra Asks Rhaenys For Help
The Sons Of Rhaenyra And Daemon
The Princess and Prince Targaryen currently reside in Dragonstone, where Rhaenyra had previously gone to stay with Harwin Strong’s children and ex-husband Laenor before the latter escaped with her lover. Rhaenyra hadn’t been to King’s Landing for the past six years, but when she is made aware of Vaemond’s intentions, she decides to go to the Red Keep too to resolve the situation.
During this event, Aegon III and Viserys II, sons of Daemon and Rhaenyra who are expecting a third child, are shown. It is also revealed that Rhaena, one of the twins Daemon had with his second wife Laena, stayed with them after her mother died, while Baela was taken under the wing of her grandmother Rhaenys and resides with her. at Driftmark.
Rhaenyra Seeks Allies
Precisely because of the bond that unites his family and that of the Velaryons, Rhaenyra to obtain the support of Rhaenys so that her son Lucerys is the heir of the Wooden Throne, proposes to the woman to marry the latter with Rhaela who will become the queen of Driftmark and Jacaerys with Baela, who instead will be the queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Rhaenys, however, must first think about protecting her family and herself, as he knows that the Princess has many enemies. This is why he believes that at the moment their alliance would make no difference.
The Long Agony Of King Viserys
Viserys And The Course Of His Disease
In previous episodes of House of the Dragon it is shown that due to the continuous injuries induced by the Iron Throne, Viserys is struck by a serious infection that the Masters of the Kingdom manage to keep at bay in some way, at least initially. With the passage of time and with old age that begins to make itself felt, the disease inexorably continues its course; so much so that at a certain point, Viserys was amputated an arm.
Another six years have passed since that period (as shown in the eighth episode) and Viserys is now almost unrecognizable: the disease has also deprived him of an eye, and some teeth, he has lost a lot of weight and in addition to being largely weak and debilitated. , he is also confused and struggles to recognize people or to distinguish the past from the present.
The Cause Of Viserys Confusion
When Rhaenyra appears in front of his father, despite the man being very tired he manages to say a few short words. Daemon realizes that the King is being given poppy milk, a strong opiate that can relieve unbearable pain but also generates confusion; moreover, prolonged intake causes migraines and drowsiness and is used precisely to gently accompany the terminally ill to death.
Consequently, to Daemon and Rhaenyra even if they do not say it openly, the doubt arises that the King has been slowly poisoned to speed up the procedure for the future heir to the Throne. But at the moment they are visiting to solve a big problem and therefore to make the best of a bad situation, the two spouses avoid creating other tensions. During the night Rhaenyra goes again to visit her father because she needs his support to confirm her title of future queen and that of the king of her eldest son. Viserys is even more debilitated than before and cannot give her daughter the attention she needs, she only moans and needs to rest.
Vaemond Velaryon’s Petition
Vaemond Arrives At The Red Fortress
The next morning Vaemond also arrives at the Red Keep, joins all the others in the throne room and is invited by Otto Hightower, who takes the place of the King, to present his cause. The man raises the same question that he previously pointed out to his sister-in-law Rhaenys and in the meantime, Rhaenyra intervenes, disputes his claims and reiterates that the Throne of Wood belongs to his son Lucerys. To the general astonishment Viserys suddenly arrives, who can barely stand up but still manages to get to the Iron Throne and fulfill his duty as King. Viserys reconfirms his daughter Rhaenyra as his legitimate heir and his nephew Lucerys as the heir of Driftmark during the night even though he seemed in a daze, the King had listened to the words of his daughter and so he makes a last effort to give her support; but also to remind everyone that despite his status, he is still the ruler and the one who makes certain decisions.
Rhaenys’ alliance and Vaemond’s Death
After the King’s support, Rhaenys decides to accept Rhaenyra’s proposal and tells everyone that her granddaughters will marry the Princess’s children. At this point Vaemond, who remains firm in his positions, rebels against himself King whom he accuses of his actions and heavily offends Rhaenyra and her children; after this affront Viserys asks to have his tongue to punish him and Daemon immediately intervenes by decapitating the rebel.
The Targaryen Family Dinner
Visery’s Speech To His Family
After a long time, Viserys has his whole family reunited and for this reason he orders a dinner to spend the little time he has left with his loved ones. At the table are present Rhaenyra and Daemon with their respective children from previous marriages, Alicent with her children and her father Otto and Rhaenys who, in addition to being the grandmother of the twins Baela and Rhaena, is also the cousin of Viserys and Daemon. The King makes a toast to all the diners and a long, very moving speech, where he invites those present to all be on the same side as a real family and to put away the hatchet.
After him, the first to raise another glass is Rhaenyra who puts aside her hostility towards Alicent and the latter shortly after does the same towards him. Later also Jacaerys makes a toast to Alicent’s children, as well as her uncles and subsequently asks Helaena to dance: on this occasion it is revealed that in the time jump of six years she has become the wife of her brother Aegon, who however does not pay her attention. and for this Jake tries to play down the situation.
Aemond Rekindles Disagreements In The Family
The family has a merry evening and everything seems to be going well until Viserys collapses from being over-tired and is then taken to his room. While the others begin to take their leave, Aemond makes a toast with which he laughs at Rhaenyra’s children again about the talk of their fatherhood and the situation is about to get out of hand, but Daemon and the guards immediately intervene to restore order.
The Prophecy Of Aegon The Conqueror
Later Alicent goes to visit Viserys and the latter again in a daze, mistakes her for his daughter Rhaenyra and answers a question that the Princess had asked him the previous night: the King confirms that Aegon the Conqueror’s prophecy is true and that only she can keep the Kingdom united. Alicent, who at dinner had reconnected with Rhaenyra, after what she has just taken of her is visibly shaken because she probably believes that the Princess is plotting behind her and that the toast made to her in her honor was just a farce. Left alone, Viserys takes his last breaths.
