Episode 10 of House of the Dragon kicks off this thrilling finale with Rhaenyra stumbling upon Luke, transfixed by a map of Westeros. His heart heavy, he confesses his reluctance to see the Sea Snake perish and his reluctance to cede Driftmark to him. Rhaenyra, a woman hardened by experience, gently reminds him that patience and acceptance of one's fate are hard-earned lessons.
Their conversation is abruptly interrupted by news of Rhaenys' arrival. Rhaenys strides in, her face grave, and announces the shocking news that Viserys has passed away. What's more, Aegon has been crowned as his successor. Daemon's anger boils over, accusing Rhaenys of not going all out in their war. But Rhaenys counters fiercely, reminding him that this conflict was not of her making.
"The Greens are closing in on you, Rhaenyra. You must flee immediately," she pleads. But flight is not an option for Rhaenyra, as she is in the throes of childbirth.
Meanwhile, Daemon frantically marshals soldiers along the perimeter, attempting to give the appearance of a stronger force than they truly are. Time is ticking, and Jace and Luke are summoned to Rhaenyra's side. She reveals to them the turn of events, leaving them stunned.
Jace, aware of his rightful claim to the throne, approaches Daemon during a discussion of strategy. While Daemon muses about flying to Rivermark to secure Lord Tully's support, Jace offers a different perspective. He points out that Rhaenyra doesn't want any rash actions taken, but Daemon brushes him aside, his mind made up.As for Rhaenyra, the birth of her child was a heart-wrenching tragedy, the babe arriving lifeless into the world. Daemon, catching glimpses of the aftermath, descended to the beach, overwhelmed by sorrow as he burned the newborn beneath the fiery breath of his dragon.
Amidst this sorrow, Ser Erryk arrived, swearing his loyalty to Rhaenyra, who stood resolute, surrounded by her crown and loyal subjects. Although her forces paled in comparison to the formidable might of Alicent and Aegon's command in King's Landing, it was a start, a spark of resistance in the darkness.
Within the heart of Dragonstone, the map glowed with a cool, orange light as Daemon updated them on their numerical strength. Thirty knights, a hundred crossbowmen, and three hundred men-at-arms; a formidable force on paper, but in the realm of conquest, it was but a mere drop in the ocean. Ravens had been dispatched to the farthest corners of Westeros, but men alone were powerless against the beasts of the sky.
Daemon counted thirteen dragons to their name, a mere four to their enemies. Yet, there were wild dragons lurking in the shadows, untamed beasts that could tip the scales in their favor if tamed. Before they could delve deeper into their strategy, a ship bearing Alicent's banner appeared on the horizon, Otto Hightower at its helm.
Daemon intercepted him, and once again, as in earlier encounters, the tense standoff on the battlements was interrupted by the arrival of a dragon. As the two sides exchanged terms, the atmosphere was tense and fraught. Finally, Rhaenyra, unable to bear the sight of Otto any longer, threw the pin of the Hand of the King off the edge of the battlements, accusing him of treason.
However, Otto was unfazed, pulling a page from Alicent's playbook as he attempted to sway her, reminding her of the love they once shared. Rhaenyra, torn between her emotions and the weight of her responsibility, agreed to deliberate on Otto's terms for peace, which included her sons serving as cupbearers. She told Otto that King's Landing would have an answer by the morning.Rhaenyra pondered her choices with utmost deliberation, exercising restraint amidst the widespread longing for war that permeated the air. Lord Corlys beheld her with admiration, and shortly afterwards, accompanied by Rhaenys, he entered the chamber to find Daemon absent. Corlys emphasized that Rhaenyra had the unqualified backing of his house and its formidable fleet. However, Rhaenyra was not yet inclined to embark on a warpath; instead, she opted for a strategic waiting game.
Corlys revealed that he commanded the Stepstones and Narrow Sea with absolute authority. This granted them control over the trade and travel routes leading to King's Landing. Moreover, they held the potential to besiege the Red Keep and compel the Greens to capitulate.
To execute this intricate plan, Rhaenyra must ascertain who her allies truly were. This entailed dispatching messages to Winterfell, the Eyrie, and Storm's End. Instead of relying on ravens, Jace and Luke deemed it more persuasive to harness the power of their dragons. With her sons dispersed and the gears of war set in motion, the melodies of Game of Thrones, particularly Ramin Djawadi's Targaryen theme, swelled, as the dragons soared across the vast landscape of Westeros.
Meanwhile, Daemon embarked on a perilous journey to tame a wild dragon, while Luke arrived at Storm's End. Unfortunately, they were confronted by a dragon of unparalleled size and ferocity. It was none other than Aemond's dragon, and to their dismay, Aemond himself was present within the royal chamber.
As Lord Borros observed from a distance, his mockery of the lineage hung heavily in the air, casting a pall of unease over the proceedings. Aegon had arrived with a marriage pact intended to solidify alliances, while Luke had come with a simple yet stark reminder.
"Go home, pup," he sneered, but Luke's departure was not an option. Aemond, though reluctant to engage in a physical altercation, threw a knife at him and demanded he surrender his eye. Fortunately, Lord Borros intervened, preventing the situation from escalating into a bloody massacre. Luke seized the opportunity to flee, hurrying towards his dragon.
In the skies above, the drama unfolded with breathtaking intensity. Luke was hunted by Aemond and his dragon, a beast that dwarfed the size of his own. Initially, Aemond's intentions were merely to taunt the boy, but he soon lost control of his dragon as a burst of dragonfire erupted from Arrax. Chaos reigned supreme as the situation spiraled out of control. In the end, both Luke and his dragon fell victim to the carnage, slain by the relentless fury of the dragons.
Daemon returned to Dragonstone, where Rhaenyra received the news with a face turned in anger. The tragedy had struck close to home, and her emotions were raw and unfiltered.
