This List Contains Spoilers For The Season 1 Finale of House of the Dragon!The storm has broken and now dragons dance following the riveting season finale of Game of Thrones spin-off series has enthralled viewers for the past 10 weeks, expanding the various histories from George R. R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. While the show has been criticized for its rushed pacing from several jarring time jumps, they were enacted to strongly establish the characters and their respective relationships to each other and power.
The story could’ve been spread out over multiple seasons, but they raced through over 20 years to get to this moment at the episode’s end, to show the true catalyst for the Dance of the Dragons – the murder of Lucerys Velaryon. Naturally, every moment along the way got fans talking. From the intimate moments between a mother and her sons to the terrifying chase in the sky, fans were reacting to it all on Twitter, leading to these great and funny tweets.
Emotional Damage
While the season premiere garnered as many excited responses on Twitter, those were more about the joy of returning to Westeros rather than the tragic tale unfolding before their eyes. On top of the overtly heart-wrenching moments like Rhaenyra’s miscarriage, there are some incredibly emotional beats and callbacks to previous episodes that altogether amped up the breadth and weight of the finale.
One moment that sticks out is when Daemon held Rhaenyra’s crown – his brother’s crown – wrestling internally with the reality of Viserys’ death right after the funeral of his daughter, Visenya. The episode did what Game of Thrones excelled at. It ripped out its viewers' hearts and crushed them, all the while guaranteeing those viewers would return for more.
All Hail The Queen!
The finale saw the full coronation of Rhaenyra Targaryen as Queen, and though she showed restraint and resilience in not going to war immediately, that’s not going to be the case in season 2. She’s been put through the wringer recently as the death of her father was not only followed by the greens usurping her proclaimed birthright, but also the tragic deaths of two of her children.
The stellar performances Milly Alcock and Emma D’Arcy have given throughout the season – on top of some softening relative to descriptions of her characterization in Fire & Blood – have earned Rhaenyra the adoration of fans. Many are noting the season’s final shot of her face and how they’ve seen it before on Daenerys in season 8 of Game of Thrones. This time the fans the simmering rage and the dark acts Rhaenyra will do in revenge.
RIP Lucerys
For those familiar with the text, they probably saw the signs and knew the battle over Shipbreaker Bay was how the season would conclude. That didn’t lessen the impact of the sequence at all. Lucerys was a loyal and kind soul, innocently thrust in the throngs of war. This death hit hard, not only for how terrifying the chase was through the storm but even more for how brutal it was, with Vhagar tearing Arrax in pieces in mere seconds.
Lucerys’ dragon, Arrax, finally ed the fray, but it could never last long. Even in such a brief appearance, the show established a deep connection between dragon and rider. Luke noticed how nervous and agitated Arrax was in the storm and near Vhagar. Arrax wouldn’t let the taunting by Aemond and Vhagar stand and chose to strike back, dooming them. Now, the war has officially begun.
Don't Anger Vhagar
From the moment Vhagar raised her head at Storm’s End, viewers had an inkling nothing good was about to happen. Now, Vhagar has ed the likes of Criston Cole, Otto Hightower, and Aegon II Targaryen in the running for the most reviled character in House of the Dragon. Many tweets added her to the burn book from Mean Girls, but this tweet, while very funny also speaks to the importance of this moment.
In Fire & Blood, Lucerys’ death is unequivocally described as being enacted on the orders of Aemond – he didn’t have it planned from the start, but he saw an opportunity to exact revenge and took it without thinking about the consequences. However, the dragons acted of their own accord. One for its rider and the other out of anger for getting hit by fire. While some might say it goes against the text, it doesn’t for as Viserys’ said, ‘the idea that we control the dragons is an illusion.”
Aemond's Dilemma
Despite the change, it actually shouldn’t alter the subsequent story at all. Aemond now has to explain himself to his mother and Otto once he arrives back at King’s Landing. However much he might claim to be innocent, he also can’t reveal that Vhagar is insubordinate as that would diminish his authority and claim.
Furthermore, no one will likely believe him that it was out of his control. In the eyes of the realm, Aemond Targaryen struck first and started the Dance of the Dragons, and that’s how the history books will tell it. This will be a very interesting dynamic to watch in season 2 – whether he’ll tell the truth or put on a façade and let his guilt fester.
Westerosi Idol
While all this was happening in Storm’s End, Daemon was eager to ensure his side had all the power available to it, butting heads with Rhaenyra along the way. He decided to act against her wishes and get more dragons under their yolk. He goes to the Dragonmont and finds Vermithor, the great bronze dragon once ridden by King Jaehaerys I and the second-largest dragon alive. The moment is made all the better by the little tune Daemon sings to lure him out.
On top of being a fun way to showcase another of Matt Smith’s impressive talents, this interesting sequence could help reveal the mysteries of dragonbinding. This goes in conjunction with the shots of Syrax during Rhaenyra’s miscarriage, showcasing the depth of their bond. There are suggestions that dragonbinding is similar to warging, so perhaps this song has magical importance.
After All These Years?
The finale was all about the Blacks, but the Greens did get a little cameo when Otto Hightower visited Dragonstone to audaciously demand their obeisance. There is a big callback to the series premiere as he shows the page young Rhaenyra ripped out of the book Alicent was reading. She kept it all this time. Despite how strained their relationship got, much due to her own accord, Alicent still held on to hope.
The deep connection between Rhaenyra and Alicent is a show-change that massively improved the story from Fire & Blood, which would have readers believe they hated each other from the moment they first interacted. Many fans quickly read between the lines to note that Alicent truly loved Rhaenyra as more than a friend. That time has ed now, and the two shall be mortal enemies from here on out.
Rhaenys, Expert Lurker
Amidst all the heightened stakes and drama there were some brief moments of levity if viewers were paying attention to the background. While everyone else quickly showed their obedience, Rhaenys did not. Instead, she stuck around as an observer, analyzing Rhaenyra to learn if she is worth her loyalty.
She’s noticed a change in Rhaenyra, and despite the ill will she harbors for Laenor’s “death," Rhaenys respects her as a leader. When the Queen and Daemon began to spat in front of everyone, Rhaenys even smirked at Rhaenyra’s reaction demanding everyone out of the room she would’ve loved to watch them fight. Overall, Rhaenys could’ve done with more screen time in season 1, but with the final two episodes, it was nice to see her feature more.
To The North!
Unlike Game of Thrones, which showcased stories and characters all over Westeros, House of the Dragon has thus far only taken place in a few locations – King’s Landing, Dragonstone, Driftmark, the Stepstones, and Pentos briefly. However, they teased some great expansions to come in season two as the war unfolds, bringing in forces from around the Seven Kingdoms, including the ever-popular Starks of Winterfell.
Prince Jacaerys is traveling north on Vermax delivering the summons to the Arryns in the Vale and the Starks, who Otto thinks are on his side. Many are excited to return to the cold stomping grounds of Winterfell, and soon they’ll be introduced to, frankly, one of the coolest characters in the story of the Dance of the Dragons – Cregan Stark. This alone will keep many interested throughout season 2.
What's Next?
As ever, with any season finale, there’s a lament for the wait to come. Season 2 is set to begin filming in the new year, which likely means that the earliest House of the Dragon could return is Spring 2024. While the wait might be long, the desire to see Rhaenyra, Jacaerys, Daemon, and even Rhaena exact revenge for Lucerys’ death will keep fans going.
More spin-offs are supposedly in development, including ones focused on Nymeria – the legendary Princess of the Rhoynar whose tale was told in the page Rhaenyra tore – and Corlys Velaryon with his nine great voyages around the world. As such, there are many exciting things on the horizon for the World of Ice and Fire.
