House of the Dragon Episode 7 “Driftmark” ended with a tantalizing tease of the doom that’s about to come. Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) is shoring up her team, the Blacks, by marrying Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and cultivating an aura of danger around herself through faking the murder of Laenor (John Macmillan). Meanwhile, Alicent (Olivia Cooke) has quietly embraced Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) as an ally while her son Aemond (Leo Ashton) has claimed Vhagar, the most dangerous dragon alive, for the Greens. So what’s going to happen next? When will the eventual war between Team Rhaenyra and Team Alicent break out? What does HBO’s House of the Dragon Episode 8 preview tease?
The House of the Dragon Episode 8 preview shows us our next — and I presume last — major time jump of the series. Those trouble-making kids are now trouble-making teenagers. Aemond is sporting an eye patch and is now taller than his big brother, while Rhaenyra’s kids are still “plain-featured.” But the big news is that a succession crisis has finally occurred, only not the one we’ve been waiting for. The Sea Snake (Steve Toussaint) is gravely injured, forcing the issue of who will inherit the Driftwood throne. Beyond that, tensions with the kiddos have grown worse, while Alicent and her team now basically rule in King’s Landing.
Still puzzling over the House of the Dragon Episode 8 preview? Here’s your extremely detailed breakdown…
What’s In The House of the Dragon Episode 8 Preview?
A ship is sailing to King’s Landing as Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) holds court, standing in front of the Iron Throne, declaring: “As Hand, I speak with the King’s voice on this and all other matters.” We then see Rhaenyra chafe at this with what appears to be teen Jace (Harry Collett) and teen Baela (Bethany Antonia) behind her. When we cut back to Otto, he is now seated on the Iron Throne (because Hands can do that).
A worried-looking Rhaenyra stares at Team Green — teen Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), teen Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), teen Helaena (Phia Saban), Alicent, and Otto — while Rhaenys (Eve Best) says in voiceover, “Tomorrow, the Hightowers land their first blow.” We see Aegon smirk and Alicent running the Small Council while Rhaenyra tells Daemon, “Those vipers rule in my father’s name.” There’s one more quick shot of Otto on the Iron Throne before we hear Daemon’s response: “To King’s Landing then.”
We then see someone approaching a figure in bed. A maester takes a medical instrument. Rhaenys stands in front of a wall of candles. Daemon says in voiceover, “The Sea Snake has taken a grave wound in battle in the Stepstones.” Vaemond Velaryon (Wil Johnson) looks oddly happy about this news. There’s a quick cut to Aemond fighting with Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) in the training yard before we go back to Rhaenys on the Driftwood throne. Vaemond asks, “Who will take the Driftwood throne?”
An off-screen Viserys (Paddy Considine) says, “The crown cannot stay strong if the House of the Dragon remains divided.” There’s an exterior shot of the Red Keep, followed by gates being opened teen Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) looking concerned. Someone says, “This is a matter of blood, not ambition” while Daemon selects a dragon egg, Otto rises from the Iron Throne, and Jacerys bangs his hands on a dinner table (with Aegon next to him).
Then a hooded figure approaches Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) in a garden. Rhaenyra says, “This is a trap,” and we go back to the shot of Lucerys looking nervous, but now Aemond — blade in hand — says, “Nephews?” There’s then a shot of Rhaenyra’s kids and Alicent’s kids fighting at the dinner table. Otto says, “The threat of war looms,” and the last shot is of Vaemond arriving somewhere with Velaryon soldiers.
Where Should I Pause the House of the Dragon Episode 8 Preview?
- Oh, wait. We paused it for you. Yup, that is a screenshot of Alicent, Otto, and her three now grown-ish kids. Note that Aegon got a haircut, Aemond now has a nifty eyepatch and Helaena is still doing her own thing.
- It’s worth noting that since claiming Vhagar, Aemond is no longer a shy little boy, but a bold warrior. Nowhere can we see this already manifesting itself clearer than in how he’s fighting Ser Criston in the yard. Ser Criston has busted out his morningstar so you know this is no longer a boring task for him.
- So Daemon is gathering a dragon egg…why? Could it be? Could there be a liddle widdle baby in Daemon and Rhaenyra’s future?
What is the House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 8 Release Date?
House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 8 will premiere on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, October 9 at 9 PM ET.