House Of The Dragon Episode 8 Review, House Of The Dragon Season 1 Episode 8 Review
by Hemalatha R | Updated Feb 20, 2023
House Of The Dragon Episode 8
The latest episode of House Of The Dragon sees a minor question of estate law turn into a kingdom-destabilizing event, as the legitimacy of Rhaenyra's elder children is called into question. Rhaenys, who is sitting behind the Driftwood throne, is facing the question of succession, as her husband Corlys is seriously injured following a pirate attack on his way home. His brother Vaemond claims his seat on the grounds that there is no true-born heir left by Rhaenys and Corlys’ son Laenor. This prompts yet another family gathering that quickly turns into accusations, acrimony, and a near-brawl.
Despite the chaos, there are reasons to hope for reconciliation among the warring relations, even if they don't last long. Rhaenyra and Daemon scramble to King's Landing to meet the challenge posed by Vaemond, and we get a glimpse of how the family's different branches have evolved after a long gap. Rhaenys is handling Driftmark capably and raising Daemon's daughter Baela. Rhaenyra and Daemon appear happy on Dragonstone, with Rhaenyra overseeing High Valyrian lessons for her son Jacaerys and pregnant with a third child by Daemon. While Rhaenyra's plea to her father about the throne shows that she understands the perilous position she's in, she still relies on the men in her family for support rather than trying to build her own, wider power base. Vaemond's claim is not entirely wrong, and it harks back to the argument last time between Rhaenys and Corlys about whether name or blood matters most for a legacy. Overall, this week's episode of House Of The Dragon is a stacked deck for director Geeta V. Patel, but she plays her cards well. The family reunion is emotional, but the dominant emotions are suspicion, fear, and anger. It's the hope for reconciliation that ultimately kills us, once again.
House Of The Dragon Season 1 Episode 8 Review
The latest episode of House of the Dragon has left fans on the edge of their seats as a minor question of estate law becomes a kingdom-destabilizing event. The death of King Viserys (Paddy Considine) is the catalyst for yet another emotional family reunion filled with suspicion, fear, and anger. The good news is that there are reasons to hope for reconciliation among the warring relations, but as always, it is the hope that kills. As the episode begins, Corlys (Steven Toussaint), who has been away voyaging since the death of his children, returns seriously injured following a pirate attack on his way home. This leads to a question of succession and raises doubts about the legitimacy of Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) elder children. Vaemond (Will Johnson) claims Corlys' seat, arguing that Rhaenys (Eve Best) and Corlys’ son Laenor left no true-born heir. Vaemond pledges to bring his petition to the realm's effective rulers, Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and the Hand, Lord Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), who have no reason to be friendly to Rhaenyra or her sons’ claims as the health of King Viserys fails.
Rhaenyra and her husband, Daemon (Matt Smith), scramble to King’s Landing to meet this challenge, leading to yet another family gathering that devolves into accusations, acrimony, and at one point, a near-brawl. Amidst all the chaos, House of the Dragon gives us a nimble look at how the family's different branches have evolved over the years. Rhaenyra is portrayed as being in a perilous position, trying to reckon with the situation and relying on the men in her family for support instead of trying to build her own, wider power base. Vaemond isn't wrong in his contentions, and in fact, his claim harks back to the argument last time between Rhaenys and Corlys about whether name or blood matters most for a legacy. Once again, the show is taking sides and creating a clearer set of good guys and bad guys.
The death of King Viserys sets off a chain of events that leads to the interpretation of his words causing chaos. Viserys wishes for Alicent to take up his mantle as protector of the realm and keep the houses together. However, Alicent clearly interprets this as needing to usurp the succession and put Aegon on the throne. The characters in House of the Dragon are absolutely fascinating to watch, and every single person has a motive and a desire. There are murky shades of grey all over the place, and no one person is inherently good. The show's poetic dialogue is so cleverly written that every line feels meaningful to either character or plot progression. In conclusion, House of the Dragon has a purpose and drive that makes for a bloody good show. Every episode seems to be getting better and better, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next one. The tension is palpable, and even a simple look shared by characters is enough to build up tension. It is a show that is well worth watching for any fan of the fantasy genre.
House Of The Dragon Season 1 Episode 8 Explained
In the latest episode of House of the Dragon, titled “The Lord of the Tides”, we witness a tragic misunderstanding that could have major implications for the fate of Westeros. The episode revolves around the question of succession for House Velaryon's rule of Driftmark. While Prince Jacaerys and Lucerys are both contenders for the position, Vaemond challenges Lucerys' right to succession, casting doubts on his parentage. However, the final scene of the episode takes a different turn, as Viserys Targaryen mutters about the Song of Ice and Fire, a prophetic dream of Aegon the Conqueror about the Prince Who Was Promised, who will unite the people of the world against the White Walkers. While only Viserys and his daughter Rhaenyra know about this prophecy, Alicent sits beside Viserys in this scene, tending to him. As Viserys mentions the name Aegon and speaks about the Prince Who Was Promised, Alicent misinterprets his words to mean that he wants their son Aegon II to be king.
This misunderstanding is a tragic one, as Alicent does not know anything about the Song of Ice and Fire and only catches snippets of Viserys' ramblings. Her belief that Viserys is confessing his desire for Aegon II to be king could have major consequences for the realm, as it serves the greens' ambitions. It remains to be seen how this misunderstanding will shape the future of Westeros, but it is clear that it could have far-reaching implications for House Targaryen and the realm as a whole. As we approach the end of the season, it is clear that the stakes are higher than ever before. The question of succession for House Velaryon is just one of many issues that will need to be resolved, as the realm faces threats from the White Walkers and internal power struggles. With the fate of Westeros hanging in the balance, it remains to be seen which characters will emerge victorious and which ones will fall by the wayside. Fans of House of the Dragon will undoubtedly be on the edge of their seats as they await the next episode to see how this thrilling storyline unfolds.
House Of The Dragon Season 1 Episode 8 Recap
House of the Dragon has been keeping fans on the edge of their seats with its thrilling plot twists and unexpected turns. Episode 8 of the series, titled "The Lord of the Tides," takes a major leap forward in time, with the action picking up six years after the events of the previous episode. The episode opens with Lord Corlys Velaryon gravely injured in battle. In his absence, his wife Rhaenys has been ruling in his stead, but the question of succession hangs heavy over the family. Corlys' brother Vaemond sets the tide in motion as he questions who will be the next Lord of the Tides if Corlys passes away.
This question sets off a chain of events that threatens to tear House Velaryon apart. Vaemond challenges the legitimacy of Corlys' children as heirs to Driftmark, arguing that they are not pure Valyrian and therefore not worthy of the title. This challenge is particularly aimed at Lucerys, who Vaemond believes was fathered by Harwin Strong.This creates a rift within the family, with Rhaenys and her daughter Laena defending Lucerys' right to the title. However, Vaemond is not the only one who questions Lucerys' parentage. Prince Jacaerys also raises doubts about the young man's lineage, creating further tension within House Velaryon.
As the episode progresses, the tension between the characters reaches a boiling point. Rhaenys and Laena are forced to defend their position in a dramatic confrontation with Vaemond, while Lucerys and Jacaerys engage in a dangerous game of dragon-riding that could have fatal consequences. The episode ends with a shocking twist that could have major implications for the future of House Velaryon and the realm as a whole. As Viserys Targaryen lies on his deathbed, muttering about the prophetic dream of Aegon the Conqueror, his words are misinterpreted by Alicent Hightower as a confession of his desire for Aegon II to be king. This misunderstanding could have far-reaching consequences for the realm, as it serves the greens' ambitions. Overall, "The Lord of the Tides" is a thrilling and action-packed episode that highlights the tensions and power struggles within House Velaryon. With the question of succession still up in the air and the threat of the White Walkers looming on the horizon, it remains to be seen how this thrilling storyline will play out in the episodes to come. Fans of House of the Dragon will undoubtedly be eagerly awaiting the next episode to see what happens next in this epic saga.
House Of The Dragon Episode 8 Review - FAQs
House of the Dragon is a television series based on George R.R. Martin's book Fire & Blood. The show takes place in the world of Game of Thrones, and tells the story of House Targaryen, the family that ruled the Seven Kingdoms before the events of the original show.
In Episode 8 of House of the Dragon, a major leap forward in time occurs, with Lord Corlys Velaryon gravely injured in battle. Vaemond, Corlys' brother, questions who will be the next Lord of the Tides if Corlys passes away, leading to tensions and power struggles within House Velaryon.
The main characters in "The Lord of the Tides" episode are Lord Corlys Velaryon, his wife Rhaenys, his brother Vaemond, Rhaenys' daughter Laena, and the Targaryen prince Jacaerys.
The prophetic dream of Aegon the Conqueror is a prediction of the Prince Who Was Promised, a Targaryen leader who will unite the peoples of the world against the White Walkers. This prophecy has been passed down through the Targaryen rulers since the dynasty's founding.
Viserys' words being misinterpreted by Alicent as a confession of his desire for Aegon II to be king could have major implications for the realm, as it serves the greens' ambitions. This misunderstanding could shape the fate of Westeros and have far-reaching consequences for the future of House Velaryon and the realm as a whole