Summary
There’s another time jump, and families are once again feuding. But one of the biggest shocks of the episode comes from a rivalry coming to a low-key end, at least for now.
This recap of the HBO Max series House of the Dragon season 1, episode 8, “The Lord of the Tides,” contains spoilers.
There were shock deaths (or fake deaths), marriages to continue the pure Targaryen bloodline, and claims of bastard children in House of the Dragon episode 7. Will this episode be able to top it? Read the below recap:
House of the Dragon season 1, episode 8 recap
As “The Lord of the Tides” starts, we learn that it’s been 6 years since Rhaenys has last seen her husband, Corlys. After Daemon takes a dragon’s egg, Rhaenyra speaks with her children, Joffrey and Jacaerys. She and Daemon learn that a claim has been made against her children’s legitimacy from Rhaenys. Rhaenys, as we soon learn, believes that Rhaenyra had her son killed so she could marry Daemon. Shortly afterwards, Rhaenyra and Daemon arrive as guests at King’s Landing — an arrival that Alicent and Otto are not overly thrilled with. At King’s Landing, Rhaenyra goes to see her father, King Viserys. He is very ill, and his body appears to be rotting away. After Rhaenyra introduces her father to her latest child, he becomes weak and asks for tea. But when Daemon smells the tea, he notices that something is very strange with it.
Alicent speaks with a serving girl, someone who Aegon has taken advantage of. Rather than punish the Prince, she manipulates the young girl into not revealing what has happened. And Alicent then gives her some tea and plenty of coins. Alicent screams at Aegon for his actions before telling him that he is no son of hers. He responds by telling her that he never asked for any of this and that he has always done what he could to please her and Viserys. It is now suggested that the serving girl is unable to be found. Has the tea caused her to die, or has she simply fled with the coins Alicent gave her?
Alicent, Rhaenyra, and Daemon reunite; naturally, it is not a friendly experience. Rhaenyra next meets with Rhaenys; Rhaenyra denies having a role in her son’s death. Next, she has an offer: to back Luke, and she will make sure her granddaughter becomes Queen. A generous offer or a desperate offer? It doesn’t matter to Rhaenys as all she wants is to bring Rhaenyra to her knees. Afterwards, Rhaenyra sits with her father and reveals that being heir brings too much burden to her. If he wants her to continue, he must defend her. As the night continues, Viserys becomes weaker, and the extent of his illness becomes clear.
The ending
With Viserys too ill to sit on the throne, Otto takes charge of the meeting. The accusations against Rhaenyra and the bloodline of her children are made clear. As Rhaenyra starts to make her defence, a weak Viserys enters the scene and decides to “sit the throne today”. Good news for Rhaenyra, perhaps. Bad news for everyone else. As soon as he takes the throne, Viserys asks why petitions are being held over settled successions. Viserys settles the matter and restores Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne. Vaemond is livid about the matter and makes his opinion about it loud and clear. When Vaemond calls Rhaenyra a whore, Viserys says that he will have his tongue for that. However, that doesn’t matter as Daemon chops off half of his head.
During dinner, Viserys takes off his gold mask, revealing that his body has decayed so much that he has an eye missing. He tells everyone there that for the crown to remain strong, they must all put their differences aside. So, Rhaenyra acknowledges that Alicent has stood by Viserys’ side no matter what, and for that, she has Rhaenyra’s gratitude. As a result, Alicent raises her cup to Rhaenyra and states that she will make a fine Queen. With the feud seemingly settled, Viserys watches the family members socialise. But as Viserys grows more ill, his guards carry him away.
The calm atmosphere doesn’t last long as Aemond makes a speech and nearly causes a family fight. That night, with Viserys in bed, Alicent gives him more tea. Viserys mumbles to Alicent that Aegon’s dream, the song of ice and fire, is true. He further says, “what he saw in the north, the prince that was promised, it is you, you are the one, you must do this.” Alicent tells him that she understands and leaves. As the episode ends, it seems that Viserys dies.
What did you think of House of the Dragon season 1, episode 8? Comment below.
