Directed By: Miguel Sapochnik / Written By: Ryan Condal

Original Airdate: August 21, 2012

Runtime: 66 minutes

In 112 AC, nine years into Viserys Targaryen’s reign, the King of the Seven Kingdoms hosts a tournament in the capital of King’s Landing in order to celebrate the impending birth of his second child. Despite Grand Maester Mellos' insistence that there is no way of determining the sex, Viserys is confident the child will be a boy, securing his heir to the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, after returning from flying her dragon Syrax, the king’s daughter, Princess Rhaenyra, welcomes her uncle Prince Daemon back to the Red Keep for the tournament. The king’s brother and current heir is threatened by the line of succession if Queen Aemma delivers a boy.

main cast

HARRENHAL

In the year 101 AC, Jaehaerys I Targaryen, the longest-running king in the history of the Seven Kingdoms, gathers the lords and ladies of Westeros in the enormous ruins of the former holdfast of Harrenhal. As the king has outlived the deaths of both of his sons, the Great Council convenes in order to avoid a civil war by electing a Prince of Dragonstone to succeed Jaehaerys’ position upon the Iron Throne. Although fourteen claims are brought forward, only two are truly considered by the lords of of the kingdoms; those of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, Jaehaerys' eldest grandchild, and Prince Viserys Targaryen, his eldest grandson. As King Jaehaerys announces his successor, Princess Rhaenys reacts coolly to the news that she has been passed over due to her sex. Instead, following tradition, the assembled lords of the realm heavily favor her first cousin Prince Viserys because of his unbroken male line. Standing alongside his pregnant wife, Aemma Arryn, Viserys wins the final vote by a wide margin and is declared the new official heir. A few years later, after Jaehaerys finally passes away, Viserys becomes the the fifth king of the Targaryen dynasty to rule the Seven Kingdoms.

KING’S LANDING

In 112 AC, nine years into King Viserys' reign, his only daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, flies high above the capital of King's Landing atop her golden dragon Syrax, who lands her outside the gates of the Dragonpit, which was built by the former king, Maegor the Cruel, following his destruction of the Sept of Remembrance. As the dragonkeepers escort Syrax away, Princess Rhaenyra is greeted by her sworn shield, Ser Harrold Westerling of the Kingsguard, and her friend, Lady Alicent Hightower. The two girls exchange comments on the rapid growth of the young Syrax before Rhaenyra invites Alicent to take a ride with her on dragonback, though Alicent politely declines. Ser Harrold and several men-at-arms then escort Rhaenyra and Alicent in a covered wagon back to the Red Keep, where Rhaenyra pays a visit to her heavily-pregnant mother, Queen Aemma Arryn. While Alicent stands patiently by the door, Rhaenyra is dismissive of the idea of becoming a mother, but Queen Aemma insists that as royal women, birthing children is how they serve the realm, calling the birthing bed “our battlefield.”

Meanwhile, within the Red Keep, King Viserys hosts a meeting with his small council, where Rhaenyra serves as cupbearer, though her father quickly chides her for being late to the meeting. The king’s Master of Ships, Lord Corlys Velaryon, warns the small council that the Free Cities have formed an alliance named the "Triarchy" and are trying to claim the Stepstones for themselves. Corlys warns that if the alliance eradicate the pirates currently inhabiting the Stepstones, Westerosi ports could be badly affected. His concerns are swiftly dismissed by Viserys and his Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower. The king’s Master of Coin, Lord Lyman Beesbury, then complains to Viserys about the ruinous amounts of gold his younger brother, Prince Daemon Targaryen, has spent in his new role as commander of the City Watch in order to properly arm and supply his men. However, King Viserys will hear no complaints against his brother, who is absent from his seat at the council table. The discussion then turns to the upcoming "Heir's Tournament" the king has planned for the upcoming birth of his next child. Despite Grand Maester Mellos' insistence that there is no way of determining the sex, Viserys is confident that the child will be a boy. After the council meeting, Rhaenyra and Ser Harrold head to the Great Hall, where they find Prince Daemon sitting upon the Iron Throne. Ser Harrold is shocked by the disrespect, but Rhaenyra, used to her uncle's flippancy, is more amused. Rhaenyra and Daemon converse in High Valyrian, with Daemon amused at, in his own words, Viserys throwing a tournament for his benefit, since until Viserys actually has a son, Daemon is his heir by law. He then gifts his niece a bejeweled necklace made of Valyrian steel.

Later that afternoon, Rhaenyra and Alicent spend time in the Red Keep's godswood, attempting to study. Rhaenyra, however, is too distracted to be taking it seriously despite Alicent’s insistence that their septa will be furious, who then claims that Rhaenyra is always “disagreeable” when nervous. Rhaenyra eventually concludes that she hopes her unborn sibling is a boy for the sake of her father's happiness, ignoring Alicent's remarks that a son would overshadow her in the line of succession. Elsewhere in the Red Keep, Viserys endures Grand Maester Mellos’ treatment of an infected wound on his back that has supposedly been inflicted by the rusted, sharp blades of the Iron Throne. Though Viserys declares that a small cut is of no concern, Mellos quietly informs Ser Otto Hightower that due to the king’s stress, “bad humors of the mind can adversely affect the body.” The Hand asserts to the Grand Maester that either way it needs to be kept quiet. Viserys then carelessly agrees with Mellos when it is announced that cauterization is the next course of action.

Afterwards, Viserys visits with his wife Aemma, who is taking a bath. Upon entering he comments to her that she spends more time in the bath than he does on the throne, to which she despairs that it is the only place where she can find comfort in her current state of pregnancy. She then jests that after this pregnancy she wouldn’t be surprised if she hatches an actual dragon. Telling her of his dreams alluding so, Viserys informs his wife of his confidence that their child will be a son, which would result in securing his line of succession. Queen Aemma, however, insists that boy or girl, it will be their last, following several miscarriages and stillbirths, and one child dead in the cradle (a total of five within ten years). Aemma insists that she cannot bring herself to mourn another child. As night falls, in the streets of King’s Landing, Prince Daemon addresses his men of the City Watch, proudly identified by the gold cloaks he has bestowed upon them. Daemon declares that he himself turned the City Watch from “stray mongrels” into a “pack of hounds,” before unleashing his men upon the capital’s numerous criminals. They are rounded up en masse in order to face justice, as thieves lose hands, rapers are castrated and murderers are executed on the spot.

At a small council meeting the following morning, at which Prince Daemon is finally in attendance, Ser Otto complains that the violence used by Daemon and his men was too excessive. Daemon defends his actions by pointing out that with most of the Seven Kingdom’s nobility are coming to his brother's tournament, and the general lawlessness of King's Landing, extreme measures were warranted to ensure the safety of all of Viserys' subjects within the city walls. Lord Corlys Velaryon also speaks in support of Daemon's actions, arguing that the criminals of the capital should fear the City Watch. The discussion then turns into a personal argument when Otto snipes that Daemon could put as much effort into his marriage as his work with the gold cloaks, insinuating that the prince should return to his wife's seat at Runestone in the Vale of Arryn. Daemon scoffs that his wife, Lady Rhea Royce, is likely happier for his absence, derisively referring to her as his "bronze bitch," then following this with an insult regarding her appearance. When Ser Otto defends Lady Rhea's honor, Daemon sarcastically offers to give her to Otto as a replacement for his own late wife, who has only recently passed. Otto furiously rises to his feet at such an insult, but King Viserys quickly defuses the argument, admonishing his brother Daemon to policing the city without a repeat of the previous night's brutality. That evening, Daemon complains to his mistress Mysaria, a brothel proprietor, about the lack of respect for his efforts shown by his brother and the small council. Mysaria reassures Daemon that, given his reputation and the power and prestige he possesses, the king can not so easily replace him.

The following day, King Viserys excitedly commences the Heir's Tournament with the announcement that Queen Aemma has gone into labor. He shouts into the large stadium stating “may the luck of the Seven shine down on all combatants.” After the tourney begins, Lord Boremund Baratheon calls upon the favor of his cousin Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, who is publicly addressed as the “Queen Who Never Was,” to a resounding applause from the court. Rhaenys wishes him good fortune before sitting back down in the royal stand next to her husband Lord Corlys. Rhaenyra and Alicent are then intrigued by a new combatant named Ser Criston Cole after his unexpected victories against Lord Boremund as well as his son, Ser Borros Baratheon. Rhaenyra asks Ser Harrold what he knows of Criston Cole, who informs her that he is a common-born son of a steward who is in service of House Dondarrion. Following Ser Criston’s victories, Prince Daemon rides into the tourney and further insults Ser Otto by picking his eldest son Ser Gwayne Hightower as his first opponent of the tourney. Moments before the joust begins, Daemon provokingly locks eyes with Ser Otto in the stands.

As the joust begins, Prince Daemon is struck hard by Ser Gwayne’s lance, knocking him off-balance. Daemon then, however, quickly defeats Ser Gwayne on the second tilt by gruesomely taking out the legs of Gwayne's horse, much to his sister Alicent’s horror. An angered Otto Hightower is further insulted when Daemon requests to receive his daughter Alicent's favor. As she wishes Daemon good fortune, a maester arrives and summons Viserys and Otto away. To the king’s horror, Grand Maester Mellos explains that Queen Aemma's child is in breech and all attempts to turn the baby have failed. Back at the tournament, Rhaenys casually comments to her husband that “the day grows ugly,” while Lord Corlys ponders if wanton violence is how the birth of the future should be celebrated. Rhaenys asserts that it’s been seventy years since King Maegor’s end and these knights have never known war before. She marvels at the fact that war hadn’t already broken out during the tourney at first blood. Elsewhere in the royal stand, Alicent anxiously picks at her fingernails, which have already been torn apart to the point of bloodshed. Meanwhile, as Queen Aemma continues to suffer through the labor, the Grand Maester discreetly informs stresses the fact that during difficult births it can become a necessity for the father to make an impossible choice. Mellos explains to a shocked Viserys that they must either cut open Aemma’s womb in order to free the baby, a procedure that will certainly kill her, or risk losing both mother and child if they are to proceed without intervention.

On the tourney grounds, the next joust begins as Daemon competes against Ser Criston. Rhaenyra observes in excitement during the first tilt where Daemon knocks back Criston. Meanwhile, in the birthing room, despite being appalled by the choice presented to him, a near-catatonic Viserys grudgingly gives his consent of the gruesome procedure. The Grand Maester's acolytes hold down a delirious Aemma while Viserys tries to bring her to peace with an ineffectual tenderness, telling her to not be frightened. The queen cries out as Mellos begins to cut directly into her womb. As the tourney continues, Ser Criston manages to unhorse Prince Daemon. Furious at his unexpected defeat, Daemon angrily demands his sword to continue the fight on foot. Criston dismounts to oblige the prince, wielding a flail while Daemon fights with Dark Sister, one of the two ancestral Valyrian steel swords of House Targaryen. A savage duel ensues from which, to the shock of all spectators, Criston eventually emerges victorious when a disheartened Daemon yields.

As a beaten and humiliated Daemon angrily storms off, Ser Criston removes his helm as he approaches the royal box. Alicent declares her surprise to Rhaenyra with regards his Dornish descent based on his olive skin and dark features. Criston asks Princess Rhaenyra for her favor as she then tosses down a floral wreath to him with a smile and bids Criston good luck in the rest of the tournament. Meanwhile, in the Red Keep, King Viserys cries beside the corpse of his wife Aemma when Mellos congratulates him on the birth of his son and heir to the throne. When Mellos asks if a name had been chosen, Viserys responds with ‘Baelon,’ in honor of his own father, but at that moment, the infant prince begins choking in the Grand Maester's arms. Several days later finds the small royal court gathered outside the city walls of King's Landing for Queen Aemma and Prince Baelon's funeral. Viserys is in catatonic grief, while Daemon approaches Rhaenyra to inform her that they are waiting on her. While Alicent looks over to her friend with sympathy, Rhaenyra bitterly ponders to her uncle whether her father finally found happiness in the few short hours that her brother lived. Daemon, compassionate to his brother and niece's losses, urges Rhaenyra to support her father, insisting that Viserys will need her more than ever. A heartbroken Rhaenyra shouts the High Valyrian command "dracarys" to her dragon Syrax, who is perched on a hill above the funeral party. Syrax climbs down from the hill and then sets the funeral pyre ablaze.

The next day in the council chamber, Otto presses Viserys to set his succession firmly in order. With Baelon's death, Daemon is once again Viserys' heir presumptive, but Otto is adamant that Daemon cannot succeed to the Iron Throne, unaware that Daemon is listening to the entire conversation from the shadows. Viserys angrily dismisses the insinuations that Daemon would murder him to seize the crown, insisting his brother has no ambitions for the throne because kingship wouldn't suit him. Otto, however, ultimately asserts that in his opinion Daemon should be kept far from power. Lord Corlys asks who else would have a claim, to which Otto suggests Rhaenyra. Lord Lyonel Strong, the Master of Laws, vehemently protests this, arguing that Westeros has never had a queen and doing so would overturn centuries of tradition. Viserys refuses the notion of choosing between his daughter and his brother, so Corlys offers an alternative, namely his own wife Rhaenys. As the daughter of King Jaehaerys's eldest son Aemon, Corlys explains that she has a valid claim to the throne, and a male heir named Laenor to continue her line. Otto and Lyonel shout him down before a furious Viserys berates his council for behaving like crows squabbling over a corpse while he is still mourning his wife and son.

Within the Tower of the Hand, Alicent pays her father a visit as Otto dispatches Mellos with a message to be sent by raven to Oldtown. Otto embraces his daughter, asking after Rhaenyra, before suggesting Alicent might offer her condolences to the king as well. Though apprehensive Alicent complies and visits Viserys in his chambers. Later that evening, at a pleasure house on the Street of Silk, Daemon hosts a drunken orgy for several of his gold cloaks. Afterwards, Otto reports this event to Viserys, insisting that his sources claim Daemon dubbed Baelon "the Heir for a Day." While the context is ambiguous, the king confronts Dameon in private while seated upon the Iron Throne. Viserys demands the truth, if Daemon truly mocked his deceased nephew. When Daemon calls it his own way of showing grief, Viserys erupts at Daemon for celebrating his restored status instead of consoling his brother and niece. Daemon retorts that Viserys has only ever tried sending Daemon away from his side, as well as never naming him Hand of the King after ten years of rule. When Viserys scoffs at the notion, Daemon insists he deserves it as Viserys' brother, and that he would do a better job of it than Ser Otto, who he describes as an overambitious second son out for himself. Daemon then asserts that Otto doesn't protect his brother, whereas he would. When Viserys asks from what, Daemon bluntly replies “Yourself. You're weak, Viserys, and that council of leeches knows it. They all prey on you for their own ends.”

Later that evening, Viserys summons Rhaenyra to Balerion's shrine within the bowels of the Red Keep and asks her what she sees when she looks at the dragon. Staring at Balerion's skull, Rhaenyra admits that she sees their family; the people say that the Targaryens are closer to gods than to men, but it is only because of their control of the dragons. Viserys warns Rhaenyra that their control of them is just an illusion and then asserts that a Targaryen must always understand that truth if they aspire to be king, “or queen”. He then apologizes for spending years chasing a son when he already had a worthy heir in his daughter. To cement his trust in her, Viserys then informs Rhaenyra of a truth known only to their family: Aegon the Conqueror had a vision of a prophecy coined "The Song of Ice and Fire," which foretold the end of the world of men and is preceded by a terrible winter descending from the North. Some time later, the realm's nobility, including houses Velaryon, Hightower, Stark and Baratheon, gather in the throne room. King Viserys bears witness while the nobles declare oaths of fealty to him in naming Rhaenyra as his heir. Meanwhile, at the Dragonpit, Prince Daemon, absent from the ceremony, presents his mistress Mysaria to his dragon Caraxes, before they both take flight.

*Episode descriptions from GOT Wiki