Season finale of Dragon’s House season 1 was delivered more based on the show’s title than any other episode in the show’s run, with a dragon-focused duration. Drama and conspiracy. Have dragon storedragon recruitment (through song!), and finally our first dragon-vs.-dragon battle in the Thrones TV universe.
And it’s just as intense prophecies foretold. It will be a Game of Thrones prequel if no one dies?
[Ed. note: Major spoilers for the House of the Dragon finale]
In “Black Queen”, Rhaenyra sent her eldest sons out to recruit potential ally inside The coming Targaryen Civil War. Jacaerys was sent to visit Arryns and the Starks, while Lucerys was sent to Storm’s End to meet Lord Baratheon. Lucerys, who earlier in the episode expressed concern to his mother about his future responsibilities as heiress, receives a small talk from her and a stern reminder not to start. any problem.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24133801/elliot_grihault_emma_d_arcy.jpg)
Photo: Ollie Upton / HBO
Lucerys rides his dragon Arrax to Storm’s End, and as he lands we can see the massive presence of Vhagar, Aemond’s colossal dragon, lurking in the background. When Lucerys entered the castle, Aemond there, smirkingmade a deal with Lord Baratheon-loyalty to Aegon in exchange for Aemond marrying one of Lord Baratheon’s daughters.
A brief conflict broke out. Aemond calls Lucerys a “Strong Lord” and asks the young prince to take his own eye. But Lucerys refused (naturally), and placed it, on Arrax, and attempted to fly away in stormy weather. Aemond and Vhagar followed, their presence revealed in a jaw drop, with Vhagar lurking among the clouds below Arrax like a colossal sea monster ready to dash through the waves.
As Vhagar and Arrax approached, the two young inexperienced riders lost control of their winged steeds. Against Lucerys’ command, Arrax spewed fire at the much larger Vhagar, which didn’t faze the giant dragon. And then, in the episode’s climax, Vhagar devours both Arrax and Lucerys in one bite, as Aemond powerlessly tries to stop his dragon from retaliating.
Image: HBO
It’s a great moment for the show’s first dragon battle, really posing the risk of using these creatures in war – something Rhaenyra mentioned earlier in the episode, out of concern about Rule an empire of ashes if she uses the dragons to take back King’s Landing. It’s been a full-blown moment for Aemond and Lucerys’ arc this season, Aemond originally lost his eye after stealing Vhagar years (and episodes) ago. Now, their conflict has become even more iconic on the show: Although war seemed inevitable with last week’s coup, it has now inevitably escalated thanks to two Targaryens , who could not hope to control the beasts they appeared to have tamed.
It’s also appropriately brutal, with fragments of Arrax falling from the sky as Vhagar tore the much smaller dragon apart, along with Aemond being shocked by the situation and his inability to control Vhagar. Now he has a decision to make when he returns to King’s Landing – does he stand proud?has taken down one of his brother’s key opponents for the future of the throne, or will he walk away meekly, embarrassed for inadvertently causing a major escalation in this conflict?
Either way, it’s a big RIP for Lucerys, the latest casualty of Dragon’s Housegreater conflict. Maybe you’re around (probable) dad now.
