House Of The Dragon Season 1 Episode 8

House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 8 Recap

A King and a Lord Await Death

In House of the Dragon Episode 8, "The Lord of the Tides," King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) and Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) lie on their deathbeds, their families arguing over who shall take their places. House of the Dragon doesn't stay still for long. The Lord of the Tides picks up six years after the events of the previous episode, "The Princess and the Queen," and the show is already setting up its next major conflict.

The End of an Era

This week brought the end of an era as the second sons—Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault)—of the two most powerful families in Westeros, the Targaryens and the Velaryons, came to blows. The episode ends with a shocking twist that will have major implications for the rest of the season. If you haven't seen the episode yet, be sure to check it out before reading any further.

Aegon II Targaryen's Coronation

The episode opens with the coronation of Aegon II Targaryen, the first-born son of Viserys I Targaryen and his second wife, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke). Aegon is a cruel and ambitious man, and his coronation is a sign of the dark times to come for Westeros. His coronation is a power grab by the Greens, the faction of House Targaryen that supports Aegon's claim to the throne. The Greens are led by Alicent and her father, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), who is the Hand of the King.

Lucerys Velaryon's Mission

Meanwhile, Lucerys Velaryon arrives at Storm's End to deliver a message to Lord Borros Baratheon (Roger Evans), the Lord of Storm's End and a supporter of Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. Lucerys is a kind and gentle boy, but he is also a skilled rider and a brave warrior. His mission is dangerous, but he is determined to succeed. But when he arrives, he finds Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) there to deliver a different message. Aegon and his supporters have decided to crown him as the new king instead of Rhaenyra. Aemond and Lucerys have a long-standing rivalry, and Aemond is determined to humiliate Lucerys. He challenges Lucerys to a race, and they both take to the skies on their dragons.

A Shocking Twist

The race ends in tragedy, when Aemond's dragon, Vhagar, kills Lucerys' dragon, Arrax, in midair, sending Lucerys plummeting to his death. The episode ends with Rhaenyra receiving the news of her son's death. She is devastated, and she vows to avenge him. The death of Lucerys is a major turning point in the series, and it sets the stage for a bloody civil war between the Targaryens and the Velaryons.