Home of the Dragon’s first season is carried out and dusted. Anticipation was excessive for HBO’s Sport of Thrones prequel, and with round 30 million individuals watching every episode, it is confirmed to be a success, even when nobody actually knew what to anticipate from the present. We bought some solutions early within the season when it was renewed for a second season, revealing it’d take greater than 10 episodes to inform the story of the Targaryen civil warfare.
On Sunday’s finale, we noticed the precursor to the civil warfare generally known as the Dance of the Dragons. Phrase of King Viserys’ loss of life lastly reaches Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen, but the queen is reluctant to go to warfare 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 take a look at her resolve, such that we all know warfare 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 loss of life of Lucerys Targaryen, Rhaenyra’s youngest youngster, whose true father is Harwin Robust. Lucerys, chances are you’ll keep in mind, was named inheritor to Dragonstone in episode 8 — a call {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 assist from the Eyrie, Winterfell and the Stormlands in the event that they’re to have a reputable drive to problem the Hightowers. Towards the tip 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 acquire 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 at the very least 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 depart, 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 probably be spilled in his fort.
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 monumental dragon Vhagar chase Lucerys. Aemond simply needs to seize Lucerys and take out his eye, however his dragon has a thoughts of its personal. After Arrax blazes Vhagar with dragonfire, the angered beast takes a chew out of Arrax. However as a result of Vhagar is so enormous, it leads to Arrax being chomped in half.
Lucerys is gone, as is Arrax. Crucially, Aemond Targaryen seems overwhelmed with remorse at seeing his cousin killed. That is not out of familial feeling, however moderately realizing how a lot of an escalation his loss of life is prone to entail.
Of dragons and males
Dragonfire was a motif all through finale, which is what you’d count on from a present referred to as Home of the Dragon. However one recurring argument was the identical one Daenerys Targaryen confronted in Sport 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 temporary scene within the episode might find yourself having further significance: We noticed Daemon strolling by 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 remaining scene of Home of the Dragon, Daemon informs Rhaenyra of Lucerys’ loss of life. Rhaenyra would not say something, however her decided rictus is harking back to Daenerys’ after Missandei’s public execution. “If it is warfare you need,” her facial features stated, “it is warfare 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.