Hotd 1×8 - Blog Posts

House of the Dragon, Episode 8:

Not Alicent thinking that Viserys was talking about her rapist firstborn while he answered Rheanyra's question on his deathbed, regarding her being the 'prince' that will unite them as one, especially mere hours after we see them being hospitable after years.

Syrax providing Daemon and Rheanyra's children with three eggs, for their three children, befitting their station as trueborn children of dragons.

Funnily enough, Daemon being a classy malewife and manslaughtering Vaemond Velaryon for badmouthing Rhaenyra (all true, by the way), screamed Will Smith Energy (not that I condone what he did in any way).

Lastly, wondering why Aemond Targaryen's actions seem so familiar, why his mannerisms are something that remind us of someone we've witnessed before? Me too! Each and every action, sly retort, and taunt, gives the viewers of Daemon Targaryen in his prime, impulsive, agitated, and having a keen taste of violence.

But where Daemon's actions reflect underlying hurt, and the urge to protect and safeguard his family, Aemond's actions are a result of his dysfunctional upbringing and the deep seethed wounds caused by the callous words of his own blood at the time he didn't have a dragon, and thus, no proper position as a dragon himself.

HotD episode 8 reminded me of thunder; when quiet, it's easy to forget it's there, but one must never mistake it's silence for weakness.

The entire episode was raging, in it's own subtle way. Littered with silent imagery and all in all was breathtaking.

We see that Rhaenyra, once again wears Daemon's necklace but only in his company, she always chose to wear a different one when in court as if change into battle gear.

When Viserys walks into the throne room, we see his hunched, bent figure which gives us a glimpse of Rhaenyra standing ahead, head high, in front of the throne. We see this again when Viserys steps down from the throne.

We see how Alicent stands outside Viserys' bedpost, only coming in to feed him milk to poppy, to Weaken him. While Rhaenyra sits beside him, to assure, to strengthen. The way Rhaenyra silently weeps while thunder roars behind her.

I LOVE how all the men around Rhaenyra know that the women are strong and capable but never hesitate to defend them. The way Viserys wanted Vamond Valarion's tongue but Daemon claimed his whole head as revenge for speaking against Rhaenyra, how Jace was ready to attack- no, tear apart Aegon for how he disrespected Baela but also, respected her enough to stop when she said so.

The episode also carries several ironies on various fronts.

The way alicent described the star symbols as a sign of presence of higher authority but in the end, after her conversation with Viserys, convinced herself to be the higher authority.

The way the entire scene with the toasts started as seeming genuine to becoming malevolent until the room boiled over with the words 'each of then handsome, wise and strong'

And finally, the way Viserys reach out to the heavens on his deathbed, seeming reaching for Aemma having only two words on his mind... my love.

I have not read the books and all my interpretations are based solely in the show.