Home of the Dragon’s first season is executed and dusted. Anticipation was excessive for HBO’s Recreation of Thrones prequel and, with round 30 million folks watching every episode it is confirmed to be successful, even when nobody actually knew what to anticipate from Home of the Dragon. We obtained some solutions early within the season when the present was renewed for a second season, revealing it’d take greater than 10 episodes to inform the story of the Targaryen civil conflict.
On Sunday’s finale, we noticed the precursor to the civil conflict generally known as the Dance of the Dragons. Phrase of King Viserys’ demise lastly reaches Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen, but the queen is reluctant to go to conflict for the throne. Aegon the Conqueror’s prophecy rings in her head as she declares the necessity to preside over a united realm, not smoke and rubble.
But the closing moments of the present check her resolve, such that we all know conflict is assured. Final warning: Home of the Dragon spoilers beneath.
Lucerys, we hardly knew ye
The highest-line information from Home of the Dragon’s finale is the demise of Lucerys Targaryen, Rhaenyra’s youngest baby whose true father is Harwin Robust. Lucerys, it’s possible you’ll keep in mind, was named inheritor to Dragonstone in episode 8 — a choice {that a} disgruntled Vaemond Velaryon died contesting.
In the midst of Home of the Dragon’s finale, Rhaenyra and Daemon resolve they should shore up help from the Eyrie, Winterfell and the Stormlands in the event that they’re to have a reputable pressure to problem the Hightowers. Towards the top of the episode, she sends her two eldest youngsters out to petition the lords and women of those areas. Jacaerys will go to the Eyrie to obtain Woman Arryn’s forces, then head over to Winterfell to talk with Cregin Stark. Lucerys, in the meantime, must go to Storm’s Finish to talk up Borros Baratheon.
When he will get there, nonetheless, we see that Aemond Targaryen has beat him to the punch. That is the identical Aemond Targaryen who misplaced an eye fixed due to Lucerys — the identical Aemond Targaryen who’s been fantasizing about revenge for years. Lord Baratheon rebuffs Lucerys: Aemond no less than got here with a wedding proposal to wed the 2 homes, whereas Lucerys solely had a reminder from Rhaenyra that Home Baratheon had years in the past pledged their swords to her succession.
Lucerys tries to go away, however Aemond is not about to let the prince escape him. He calls for Lucerys pluck out his personal eye to pay the debt he incurred when he de-eyed Aemond. Lord Baratheon calls for the 2 break it up, that no blood will likely be spilled in his citadel.
Lucerys mounts Arryx, his dragon, to fly again to Dragonstone. Sadly, a busy storm has damaged out — it’s Storm’s Finish, in any case. Aemond and his huge dragon Vhagar chase Lucerys. Aemond simply desires to seize Lucerys and take out his eye, however his dragon has a thoughts of its personal. After Arrax blases Vhagar with dragonfire, the angered beast takes a chew out of Arrax. However as a result of Vhagar is so big, it leads to Arrax being chomped in half.
Lucerys is gone, as is Arrax. Crucially, Aemond Targaryen appears overwhelmed with remorse at seeing his cousin killed. That is not out of familial feeling, however fairly realizing how a lot of an escalation his demise is more likely to entail.
Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen.
HBO
Of dragons and males
Dragonfire was a motif all through finale, which is what you’d anticipate from a present referred to as Home of the Dragon. However one recurring argument was the identical one Daenerys Targaryen confronted in Recreation of Thrones: Ought to Rhaenyra attempt peace or conventional warfare? Or ought to she simply burn King’s Touchdown down with dragons?
Aemond has Vhagar, probably the most highly effective dragon of all, it is true. However the dragon numbers are on Rhaenyra and Daemon’s aspect — even with out Arrax. One transient scene within the episode could find yourself having additional significance: We noticed Daemon strolling via a pitch black cave, the place he discovered one other titanic dragon. He sang a track in Valyrian, apparently profitable in his try to bond with the beast. Extra dragons imply extra bother for the Seven Kingdoms.
Within the closing scene of Home of the Dragon, Daemon informs Rhaenyra of Lucerys’ demise. Rhaenyra would not say something, however her decided rictus is harking back to Daenerys’ after Missandei’s public execution. “If it is conflict you need,” her facial features mentioned, “it is conflict you may get.”
Although we noticed Lucerys’ journey ended with tragedy, we noticed nothing of Jacaerys’ travels up north. If I am a betting man, I am placing my cash on Home of the Dragon season 2 kicking off in Winterfell. It will be good to be again.
