Even though Aemond claimed and flew Vhagar in House of the Dragon episode 7 — which took place years prior to the season finale — he struggled to manage the beast's actions in the heat of the intense chase. Far too powerful to be kept at bay by an inexperienced dragon-rider such as Aemond, Vhagar reacted to Arrax's offensive in the most devastating manner. Ultimately, Aemond learned the hard way of the destructive capabilities and immense willpower that House of the Dragon's winged beasts possessed.

Related: How Powerful Is Vhagar, Really? Can Any Of HOTD's Other Dragons Beat Her?

Aemond Not Controlling Vhagar Made Lucerys' Death Better

Lucerys' death was unexpected and tragic, given that Aemond only intended to scare him. The shellshocked expression on Aemond's face as scraps of Arrax's body fell toward the ground evidence his awareness of the Earth-shattering and potentially war-precipitating event he had caused. Interestingly, Lucerys' death presented Aemond's first moral conflict of the series, calling into question whether he will own the fact that he inadvertently killed Rhaenyra's son. The sequence also reminds viewers that Vhagar was the biggest dragon known in House of the Dragon's universe and that it made sense for the beast to act out of control.

What Does Aemond Not Controlling Vhagar Mean For HOTD's Future?

Given that most of the incident's aftermath had been left to address in House of the Dragon season 2, it carried major implications for the series' future. Rhaenyra's broken yet determined expression in the finale's closing seconds all but guaranteed that her faction will seek revenge for the slaughter of her son. Aemond and Vhagar's quarrel with Lucerys and Arrax firmly established both the power and unpredictability of dragons, as, in this case, both Vhagar and Arrax acted against the commands of their riders.

In House of the Dragon's forthcoming civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons, battles between winged beasts will inevitably transpire. Thus, the season 1 finale's shocking dragon chase served as a reminder of the fire-breathing creatures' true nature. Dragons will not automatically bend to the will of the individual on their back. Rather, they possessed their own minds that will respond to threats regardless of their owner's commands. As the largest and most powerful beings in Westeros, no dragon can be absolutely controlled in any circumstance. As seen in Lucerys' staggering demise, one quick, impulsive, or sporadic behavior from a dragon can breed extreme consequences.

Next: How Big Is Vhagar Compared To Balerion & Drogon?

All 10 episodes of House of the Dragon season 1 are available to stream on HBO Max.