Directed By: Geeta Vasant Patel / Written By: Eileen Shim

Original Airdate: October 9, 2022

Runtime: 68 minutes

Six years have passed and House Velaryon's succession is questioned when Corlys Velaryon, Lord of the Tides, is severely wounded in the Stepstones fighting the Triarchy. His brother, Ser Vaemond Velaryon, petitions King's Landing to be named as Corlys' heir to Driftmark, proclaiming that Lucerys Velaryon is not Ser Laenor Velaryon's legitimate son. A pregnant Princess Rhaenyra, Prince Daemon and their children return to an unfamiliar capital in order to defend Lucerys' claim. King Viserys Targaryen is now bedridden and disfigured while Queen Alicent Hightower and her father Ser Otto now oversee all royal matters.

main cast

DRIFTMARK

Six years have passed since Lady Laena Velaryon’s funeral at Driftmark, where Ser Laenor Velaryon faked his death in order to escape Westeros. In the Hall of Nine, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, attended by her granddaughter Baela Targaryen, listens to Maester Kelvyn reporting that her husband, Lord Corlys Velaryon, who has spent that time fighting to maintain the kingdom’s hold on the Stepstones, has been seriously wounded in an ambush by Triarchy forces. His ship is expected to return to Driftmark in three days, but his fever might claim his life by then. Ser Vaemond Velaryon, in attendance, insists that as Corlys' closest kin, he should inherit Driftmark if his elder brother dies, rather than Corlys' preferred choice of Lucerys Velaryon. Vaemond asserts that Lucerys, along with Jacaerys and Joffrey, are all bastard sons of the late Ser Harwin Strong and not of blood relation to her son Laenor, whom Rhaenys still believes is deceased. When Rhaenys warns Vaemond that her cousin, King Viserys Targaryen, would have his tongue for such words, Vaemond retorts that Queen Alicent Hightower now rules in Viserys' stead, and he expects her to ratify his claim to Driftmark.

DRagonstone

Prince Daemon Targaryen climbs the Dragonmont, the volcano overlooking Dragonstone castle, where he recovers three dragon eggs laid by Syrax from a nest within the volcano, handing them over to the dragonkeepers upon his return. Within the castle, a pregnant Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen watches her eldest son, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon reciting High Valyrian under the tutelage of Maester Gerardys, reassuring her son when he keeps reprimanding himself for making mistakes that he has plenty of time to learn. Rhaenyra dismisses the maester and her eldest son, as well as his younger brother Joffrey, when Daemon enters. In private, Rhaenyra and Daemon discuss a letter that has been sent to them from Driftmark by Daemon’s daughter Baela. Rhaenyra is furious at Vaemond's intentions, particularly since she expects Queen Alicent and her father Ser Otto Hightower to side with him, noting that if Lucerys' claim to Driftmark is overturned, by extension, Jace and her own claims to the Iron Throne will be jeopardized. Daemon agrees, and both conclude that they need to return to King's Landing to fight for Luke's claim to the Driftwood Throne.

king’s landing

Some time later, Rhaenyra and Daemon arrive at the Red Keep in the capital, accompanied by her three sons and Daemon's younger daughter, Rhaena Targaryen. To their anguish, they are received with a minimalist greeting, as only Lord Allun Caswell enters the courtyard to greet their return after several years. Daemon and Rhaenyra’s anger at the lack of reception only grows when they discover that in their absence, the Red Keep is now festooned with iconography of the Faith of the Seven instead of the traditional Targaryen heraldry. Rhaenyra outright states that she barely recognizes her old home. Meanwhile, Ser Harrold Westerling interrupts a meeting of the small council to inform them of Rhaenyra and Daemon's arrival. The council briefly discusses the succession of Driftmark when Grand Maester Orwyle remarks that Lord Corlys wanted Lucerys Velaryon to succeed him. Lord Lyman Beesbury agrees that as Laenor Velaryon’s son, Lucerys is the rightful heir. Lord Jasper Wylde argues that Corlys never formally named Lucerys as his heir, while Ser Tyland Lannister notes that Lucerys has no experience commanding ships, a necessity to hold the position of Lord of the Tides. Queen Alicent declares the claimants can present their petitions the following morning, then taking her leave to go and meet Rhaenyra and Daemon, only to be informed by Ser Erryk Cargyll (whom she briefly mistakes for his twin brother Ser Arryk) there has been an incident in Prince Aegon Targaryen's chambers.

In Viserys's chambers, Rhaenyra and Daemon find his model city of Old Valyria covered in dust and cobwebs, having been unattended for years. Much to their horror, Viserys is bedridden, disorientated and clearly in pain, his hair all but gone, his teeth rotten, and his face swathed in bandages. Daemon brings up the matter of Corlys being wounded in the Stepstones and the succession of Driftmark being disputed, only for a delirious Viserys to insist both are already settled. Daemon urges Viserys to support Lucerys's claim over Vaemond's, but Viserys confusedly remarks that Alicent and Otto attend to court business. A child crying out behind them draws Viserys's attention, so Rhaenyra introduces her father to his youngest grandsons from her marriage to Daemon: Aegon and Viserys. King Viserys is delighted to meet his grandchildren, joking the younger has a name fit for a king. The children start to wail, and Viserys, stricken by a sudden onset of pain, insists he needs his tea, pointing to a cup by his bedside. Once he has drunk, Daemon takes the cup from his brother and sniffs it, frowning as he recognizes the scent of its contents.

Meanwhile, in the queen's apartments, Alicent's lady-in-waiting, Talya, presents the queen with a weeping girl, Dyana, one of Princess Helaena Targaryen's maids, confirming no one else has seen her. At Alicent's request, Dyana tearfully explains that when she tried to serve Prince Aegon wine, he drunkenly forced himself on her. Alicent is sympathetic to the girl, confirming she believes that Dyana is telling the truth, but buys Dyana's silence with a pouch of gold and forces her to drink moon tea, noting that others might dismiss her testimony. Afterwards, a furious Alicent confronts a drunken Aegon in his chambers, berating him for his assault on Dyana, only the latest of many, bringing shame on her and his wife with his conduct, disgustedly declaring Aegon no son of hers. Aegon feebly protests at the weight of expectations placed upon him and the fact nothing he does ever satisfies his parents, but Alicent is unsympathetic. When Helaena, unaware of what has happened, enters the room and asks if anyone has seen Dyana, Alicent breaks down in tears and embraces her daughter.

In Viserys' room, Rhaenyra and Daemon discuss the extent of his deterioration when Alicent enters the room. The couple outright accuse her and Ser Otto of keeping Viserys stupefied on milk of the poppy so that they can rule in his name without interference. When Alicent protests that Viserys' condition leaves him in agony and the maesters recommended such treatment, Daemon sarcastically asks if the maesters also prescribed stripping the castle of Targaryen heraldry. Alicent piously retorts such devotional displays are meant only to remind the court of a higher authority. When Rhaenyra questions which authority will decide on her son's right to his own inheritance, Alicent smugly replies that will be her, and her father in his capacity as Hand. Meanwhile, in the training yard, Jace fondly reminisces about their youth while Luke is more self-conscious of the stares of the courtiers, aware that his resemblance to Ser Harwin rather than Laenor undermines his claim to Driftmark. The brothers notice a crowd forming around a sparring match; to their shock, they see Criston Cole duelling their uncle, Prince Aemond Targaryen, who has grown into a formidable warrior since they last met. Aemond defeats Cole, who compliments the victory, remarking Aemond will swiftly be winning tourneys before long. Aemond makes clear he has no interest in such things before noticing his nephews in the crowd, asking Jace and Luke if they've come to train with a menacing edge in his voice. Jace and Luke are saved from having to answer by the arrival of Vaemond Velaryon, who is being escorted by his retinue and several Hightower guardsmen.

Later that afternoon, Ser Vaemond meets privately with Otto and Alicent, pledging the Velaryon fleet to support them in return for acknowledging him as heir to Driftmark. Meanwhile, in the Red Keep's godswood, Rhaenyra meets with Princess Rhaenys, accompanied by Rhaena. Rhaenys is delighted to see her younger granddaughter, but less so Rhaenyra, who asks Rhaena leave to let the older women talk privately. Rhaenyra concludes Rhaenys is in King's Landing to advocate for her own claim to Driftmark, rather than in support of Vaemond. Rhaenyra insists that the proceedings are a trap engineered by Otto and Alicent meant to insultingly denounce Lucerys as illegitimate; an angry Rhaenys snaps Rhaenyra did worse when she cuckolded Laenor. Rhaenyra insists that she loved Laenor in her own way and that she was not involved in his death. She then offers Rhaenys a proposition to betroth her sons Jace and Luke to Rhaenys’ granddaughters Baela and Rhaena. Rhaenyra asserts that this would allow Baela to become queen upon Jace’s ascension to the throne and would also ensure the rule of Driftmark will pass through Laena's line by Rhaena, as Rhaenys originally had wished for. Rhaenys, however, seemingly rebuffs the offer, remarking that she must stand alone.

That evening, as a storm batters King's Landing, Rhaenyra sits at her father Viserys' bedside. He awakes and briefly mistakes her for Queen Alicent before Rhaenyra corrects him. Rhaenyra then asks her father if he believes the Song of Ice and Fire, the prophetic dream of Aegon the Conqueror, is a true prophecy. She reminds Viserys that he once told her that it was their duty to hold the realm united against the return of a coming evil, but warns his naming her heir divided the realm and she has found the burden of that duty a hard one to bear. An emotional Rhaenyra then tearfully pleads for her father to defend her and her children if he believes the dream true, but Viserys is too delirious from pain, illness and medication to respond. Rhaenyra weeps at the realization that even her beloved father has forsaken her to fend for herself. The following morning, as Grand Maester Orwyle and several acolytes tend to Viserys' affliction, the lucid king orders Otto Hightower to arrange a supper that night with all of his family in attendance. Viserys insists upon this, as if aware that he has little time left to spend with his kin. He also refuses milk of the poppy in order to remain coherent for the day.

Later that day, in the throne room, Ser Otto is seated on the Iron Throne, holding court in lieu of Viserys' absenc. Due to his role as Hand of the King, Otto presides over the succession of Driftmark in the event of Lord Corlys Velaryon’s death. Ser Vaemond speaks first, citing House Velaryon's history as a survivor of the Doom of Valyria, as well as citing himself as Corlys’ closest kin and a true heir of Velaryon blood. Rhaenyra scornfully accuses Vaemond of serving nothing but his own ambition in undermining the succession of Laenor's trueborn son and Corlys' preferred successor, only to be silenced by Alicent. Once Vaemond's petition is concluded, Ser Otto invites Rhaenyra to speak on Lucerys's behalf. She begins by denouncing the entire proceeding as a farce, but before she can speak further, the throne room doors open and, to the incredulity of all present, Viserys hobbles into the throne room, clearly in pain but determined to support his daughter one last time. Viserys declares his intention to sit the throne and preside over the ruling, forcing Otto to withdraw. He struggles to climb the steps of the Iron Throne, initially dismissing the offer of Ser Erryk's help, but when he stumbles a second time, out of breath from exertion, his crown falls from his head and another figure steps forward to help. Viserys is about to rebuff them, when he realises it is Daemon, his face drawn by concern for his older brother, and Viserys allows Daemon to help him up the steps and place the crown upon his head once more.

Once settled upon the throne, King Viserys declares his confusion as to why a settled succession is being debated, noting the only person fit to give further insight into Lord Corlys' wishes would be his wife, Princess Rhaenys. To the shock and anger of Alicent, Otto and Vaemond, Rhaenys steps forward and asserts that her husband has always wanted Prince Lucerys to succeed him as the Lord of Driftmark, a decision that she herself supports. Rhaenys is confident Corlys would support her decision to accept Rhaenyra's proposal to betroth Jace and Luke to Baela and Rhaena. Viserys declares the matter settled, reaffirming Lucerys as heir to Driftmark and the next Lord of the Tides. An outraged Vaemond furiously snaps that Viserys has no authority to decide House Velaryon's fate when he broke centuries of tradition and Westerosi law to install his daughter as heir, angrily denouncing Lucerys as no true Velaryon. Angered by Vaemond's presumption, Viserys coldly reminds Vaemond he is nothing more than a second son, whereas Lucerys is the king's truborn grandson. Vaemond refuses to be silent, raging that he will not allow House Velaryon to end on account of Lucerys, holding his tongue before openly calling the boy a bastard. Daemon, glaring at Vaemond, dares him to say the word that will damn him, and Vaemond, too blinded by rage to hold back, bellows that Rhaenyra's children are bastards and she is a whore. As the court murmurs at this outburst, an apoplectic Viserys rises to his feet and draws his dagger, vowing to take Vaemond's tongue for the insult to his daughter's honor. Before he can, Daemon slices off the top of Vaemond's skull with his Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister. He then quips that Vaemond "can keep his tongue," before casually cleaning and sheathing his sword. Otto bellows at the Kingsguard to disarm Daemon. The shock and exertion eventually overcomes Viserys, who then collapses in pain on the throne. A panicked Rhaenyra and Alicent plead to Viserys for medical assistance, but he refuses, insisting that he must make things right with his family.

Later that evening, Rhaenys Targaryen solemnly watches while the Silent Sisters prepare Ser Vaemond's body for burial. Grand Maester Orwyle urges her to leave the room, noting it is considered bad luck to look upon the face of death. However, Princess Rhaenys dismisses him, remarking that the Stranger, who has come for her family so many times, no longer cares if her eyes are open or closed to him.

Later that evening, in his personal chambers, King Viserys dines with both sides of his family, exclaiming through pained breaths his appreciation for coming together. He eventually raises a toast to his grandchildren, proudly affirming the union between Jacaerys and Lucerys to their newly betrothed, Baela and Rhaena. The king also boasts his grandson Lucerys when calling him the future Lord of the Tides. Meanwhile, under his breath, Prince Aegon attempts to aggravate Jacaerys when he remarks that now he’ll finally sleep with a woman, condescendingly asking Jace if he knows how the “act is done”. Jacaerys curtly informs Aegon that he can jest all he likes, but will hold his tongue around his betrothed. King Viserys then rises from the table with as much energy as he can muster, claiming to his family that looking upon their faces gladdens his heart but also brings him much sorrow considering how far apart they’ve grown over the years. Removing his mask to show the extent of his missing eye and severe facial decay, Viserys states that he wishes to be seen as he is, not just their king but their father and grandfather. After predicting that his time will run out shortly, Viserys direly confesses that the Crown can not stand strong if the House of the Dragon remain divided. He then beseeches for his family to reconcile their grievances, both for the sake of unity in House Targaryen and out of love for him. After Viserys sits down, Rhaenyra tries to break the tension when she raises a toast to Alicent , stating her gratitude for loyally tending to her father with “unfailing devotion, love and honor”. She then offers Alicent an apology, who acknowledges to Rhaenyra they are both mothers who love their children. Alicent tells Rhaenyra that they have more in common than they sometimes allow. She then raises her cup to Rhaenyra and announces that she will make a fine queen. Viserys is moved by the exchange between Rhaenyra and Alicent, as the table then toasts to each other. Afterwards, Aegon refills Baela’s cup and makes a leery pass at her all the while continuing to insult Jace. Much to Jace's annoyance, he rises in anger and slams his fist down on the table. After calming himself, Jacaerys acknowledges his grandfather's wish for peace and reconciliation and chooses to toast his uncles Aegon and Aemond in remembrance of his fond memories of their shared childhood. Princess Helaena then offers a toast to Baela and Rhaena over their prospective marriages, as well as making a subtle jab at her brother Aegon regarding their own. Much to the amusement of some at the table, Helaena chides that being married is not so bad as mostly she is ignored by her husband when not drunk. At Viserys’ request several musicians in the corner then begin playing for the family while Jace then invites Helaena to dance with him, which she happily accepts. King Viserys smiles contentedly as both sides of his family enjoy themselves, before retiring to his chambers for the night. Unfortunately, once Viserys makes his exit, the re-conciliatory mood is ruined when Lucerys, amused by the memory of Aemond being teased by his brother Aegon with "the Pink Dread", can't help but snigger when a suckling pig is set on the table before Aemond. Infuriated by the reminder of his childhood humiliation, Aemond quickly rises to his feet and slams his fist down on the table, which abruptly seizes the musicians from playing. Aemond raises his cup and sarcastically toasts Jace and Luke, calling them "wise, handsome, and Strong". Aware that Aemond is insulting them and their lineage, Jacaerys and Lucerys promptly get into a fight with Aemond and Aegon, before Daemon eventually separates them. Alicent scolds Aemond while Rhaenyra sends her sons back to their quarters. Aemond eventually acquiesces and exits the room after Daemon stares his nephew down. Aemond recognizes that it is not worth picking a fight with a man who has already demonstrated his willingness to use lethal force in defense of his stepsons. Once the room clears, Rhaenyra and Alicent briefly commiserate over the antics of their sons, having both just set aside their own differences moments before. After Alicent tries to convince her to stay in King’s Landing a while longer, Rhaenyra promises to later return on dragonback once she's seen her family safely back to Dragonstone. While holding Rhaenyra’s hand gently, Alicent remarks that she and the King would both like that. Later that evening, the handmaiden Talya visits a lavish manse within the city belonging to Mysaria, and informs her true employer about the evening’s events that had taken place.

Very late into the evening, inside the Keep, Alicent comes to Viserys' chambers and helps him take medicine for his pain. Confusing Alicent for his daughter, Viserys continues his earlier conversation with Rhaenyra regarding the prophecy of “A Song of Ice and Fire”. He deliriously insists to Alicent that he believes Aegon the Conqueror's dream was a true vision and that “she” must be the one to prepare Westeros against the coming darkness. Unaware that he is mistaking her for Rhaenyra, Alicent hears her husband say Aegon’s name without mentioning “Conqueror”. She misunderstands him, believing that Viserys has had a change of heart with Rhaenyra and is nominating their son Aegon as his successor instead. Once Alicent affirms her understanding, she exits his chambers while Viserys then utters his last words in a pained hush. He calls out to "my love," his late wife Queen Aemma Arryn. Entirely unaware of the chaos he has unwittingly just sowed upon his rivaling family, King Viserys Targaryen takes his last breath.

*Episode descriptions from GOT Wiki