It’s coup o’clock on “Home of the Dragon.”
Spoiler alert for Season 1 episode 9 of “Home of the Dragon.”
On “Sport of Thrones,” the penultimate episode of every season was usually the hour when the s–t hit the fan. That’s when, of their respective seasons, Ned Stark misplaced his head and the bloody Pink Marriage ceremony unfolded. Spinoff prequel collection “Home of the Dragon” following in its footsteps in Sunday evening’s next-to-last episode.
It facilities round a coup: Rhaenyra Targaryen’s throne has been stolen. Rhaenyra and Daemon are each benched for the hour (they’re nonetheless dwelling in Dragonstone with their household, oblivious to what’s happening). The motion is targeted on King’s Touchdown, the place Alicent and Otto Hightower and their household seize the Throne that Rhaenyra is supposed to inherit after her father’s death.
Collectively, Alicent and her father Otto set up her oldest son Aegon on the throne, in a transfer that Lord Beesbury (one in every of their fellow Small Council members) calls “theft” and “treason.”
(Persevering with his pattern of now being terrible, Criston Cole murders him shortly thereafter. RIP Lord Beesbury).
Alicent desires to place Aegon on the throne as a result of she believes it’s Viserys’ final want after misunderstanding his deathbed ramblings (which was in regards to the prophecy, not about her son Aegon – there are too many Aegons in Westeros!)
Her dad Otto merely desires energy and proximity to the throne, and he’s delighted that Viserys’ deathbed “want” offers him the trimmings of a purpose for an motion he was already planning to take.
Alicent and Otto disagree about whether or not or to not kill Rhaenyra, with Alicent advocating in opposition to it.
They don’t come to a decision, because the bulk of the episode is spent in a “The place’s Waldo?”-type search, as Prince Aegon is nowhere to be discovered. It’s arduous to make somebody king after they’re MIA. Alicent sends Criston and Aemond to seek out Aegon and produce him to her. In the meantime, Otto additionally sends twin members of the Kingsguard (named Erryk and Arryk, which isn’t a joke) out attempting to find the wayward Prince Aegon, with the directions to deliver the boy to him.
Whereas everyone seems to be out within the streets, attempting to find Aegon at varied brothels, the dual members of the Kingsguard go to a toddler battle membership that Aegon apparently likes to frequent. Simply in case Aegon raping a servant lady final episode didn’t hammer in that he’s not a great man, this episode actually desires to make that clear! They even name him “not match for the throne” and his personal brother Aemond describes him as a “wastrel” who doesn’t care about his “birthright.”
After Aegon is lastly positioned, he says that he doesn’t even wish to be king. He gives to board a ship and vanish into a brand new life (just like how Rhaenyra’s gay husband Laenor did that), however to no avail. He’s too vital because the Hightower’s pawn, in order that they proceed to crown him and proclaim him because the King within the Sept, in entrance of a cheering crowd.
Too dangerous for Alicent, Otto, and the newly topped King Aegon, although, there’s a wrench of their plan: Rhaenys, the previous mother-in-law to each Daemon and Rhaenyra, and the grandmother to most of their youngsters, is round. She’s nonetheless Rhaenyra’s ally, and he or she’s not pleased.
She flies her dragon into the Sept, bursting by way of the wall, inflicting chaos (and recalling the “Sport of Thrones” Season 6 episode “The Winds of Winter,” when Cersei blew up the Sept).
No phrases are exchanged as Rhaenys faces down Alicent and the newly topped King Aegon. However as Rhaenys departs on her dragon, certainly flying off to warn Daemon and Rhaenyra about what occurred, the message is obvious: conflict is on.
