RECAP of Every House of the Dragon Episode (So Far)

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re heading back to Westeros as we recount every episode of the first season of House of the Dragon. Be prepared for practically all the spoilers! Are you Team Black or Team Green? Let us know in the comments!

“The Heirs of the Dragon”

Right off the bat, we’re told that this prequel takes place well over a century before the likes of Daenerys Targaryen and her quest for the Iron Throne. It’s here we’re introduced to the Targaryen Dynasty at the height of its power, but, as per usual, fractures have already started to form due to a lack of a clear successor. So sure of his unborn child being a boy, King Viserys organizes a tournament at King’s Landing to celebrate. It’s here we meet the main players that will occupy this tale of war and strife, including the likes of Princess Rhaenyra – a free spirited dragon rider, her longtime friend Alicent Hightower, as well as her father Otto Hightower – the hand of the king. Things really get shaken up with the return of Viserys’ younger brother, Prince Daemon, a ruthless warrior unafraid to antagonize and brutalize any who cross him. Amidst the jubilation, Viserys suffers a terrible loss as his wife and Queen dies from blood loss due to complications with the birth, promoting the most gruesome of C-Sections. Only for his newborn son to die swiftly afterwards. A few choice words about the so-called “Heir for a Day” see Daemon banished, while Viserys chooses Rhaenyra as his heir, whilst also confiding in her about the prophecy of King Aegon, and the coming of the White Walkers.

“The Rogue Prince”

Despite being named heir, Rhaenyra’s words fall on deaf ears among the higher ups, though she does find herself given the choice to select a new Kingsguard – ultimately selecting Criston Cole, the winner of the tournament. Violence has since broken out between Westeros’ forces and the Essos Triarchy, who in turn have appointed a fearsome warrior known as the Crabfeeder to help them take an archipelago known as the Stepstones. Alliances are both broken and formed following the demand for Viserys to take a new wife, all the while Daemon causes further trouble by taking a Dragon Egg and making a home for himself on Dragonstone. To avert bloodshed (and flex her own influence) Rhaenyra arrives on dragonback and convinces Daemon to return the egg. Though whatever high she might have been on comes crashing down with the announcement that Viserys will take Alicent as his new wife, shattering the trust of his daughter as well as the allegiance of the Velaryons.

“Second of His Name”

After choosing to ally themselves with Daemon, both he and House Velaryon find themselves locked in a stalemate against the Crabfeeder’s forces. Back in Westeros, tensions and animosity have continued to mount between Rhaenyra, her father, and his new Queen Alicent, who is already pregnant with another child. In celebration, a great hunt is arranged, along with potential partners for Rhaenyra to wed. Outraged, she ventures out into the wilds followed by Ser Criston, where the two not only grow closer, but they discover the mythical White Hart – a deer closely associated with royal splendor. Meanwhile, Daemon, in a bid to show his worth before his brother’s reinforcements arrive, enacts a daring plan, using himself as bait before taking the Crabfeeder’s head in a bloody act of victory.

“King of the Narrow Sea”

Returning triumphant from his battle in the Stepstones, Daemon seemingly mends the rift with Viserys. Just when things are seemingly looking up for the Targaryen household, a night of scandal follows – as Daemon and Rhaenyra indulge in a raunchy outing throughout King’s Landing, coming dangerously close to…uh…keeping the bloodline pure, as it were, only for Daemon to back out before fully committing. Spurned by this, Rhaenyra seduces Ser Criston into her bed. This eventually comes back to bite everyone, as after one of Otto’s spies relays the information, Viserys puts everyone on blast. Daemon is once again exiled, Rhaenyra is forced into marriage arrangements with a member of House Velaryon, while Otto is removed from his position after being outed for his manipulation of the king’s grief.

“We Light the Way”

It doesn’t take long for Daemon to start causing trouble, starting with the murder of his wife from the Vale. While both reluctant to fully give themselves to their arranged marriage, Rhaenyra and her consort to be Ser Laenor Velaryon agree that both should be free to pursue their own passions on the side, given Rhaenyra’s attraction to Criston and Laenor’s current liaison with his lover Joffrey. This in turn sows the seed of a disaster, what with Criston being less than thrilled at the prospect of just being a side piece for the princess. He’s so distraught by this he inadvertently reveals the truth to Alicent, and in doing so exposes Rhaenyra’s lies. The celebration for the wedding ends up taking one nasty turn after another: Daemon returns, Alicent shows her growing malice by wearing green, and in a fit of insanity, Criston beats Joffrey to death. Oh, and Viserys is succumbing to disease. Just another day in King’s Landing.

“The Princess and the Queen”

Que one hell of a time-jump, as ten years have now passed since the Green Wedding, and things are not well in the kingdom. Rhaenyra and Laenor have continued their agreement, with Rhaenyra now a mother of three following her not so secret affair with Ser Harwin Strong. Rhaenyra’s relationship with Alicent is at an all time low, with the latter constantly pushing to have the illegitimacy of Rhaenyra’s sons exposed, all in an effort to safeguard her own children and their claim to the throne. Things take a turn for the worst when Larys Strong fills out Alicent’s request to have her father return to power in a rather…roundabout way, via the assassination of Harwin and his own father. The scandal and slaughter prompts Rhaenyra and her family to take up residence in Dragonstone. As for Daemon, things aren’t easy for him either. Despite getting wed to Laena Velaryon, having two children and enjoying a life of luxury in Pentos, a last second complication with the birth of their third child leads Laena to end things the Targaryen way – with dragon fire.

"Driftmark”

Needless to say, having all the powerful Houses in one place makes for an awkward funeral, especially when the bad blood becomes impossible to ignore. Rhaenyra’s sons Jacaerys and Lucerys are still reeling from the loss of Harwin Strong and the duties expected of them, Otto is back in power as Hand of the King, Laenor is overcome by grief, and Daemon is…being Daemon. A beach-side stroll leads to Daemon and Rhaenyra picking things up from where they left off ten years ago by consummating their passions. All the while, Alicent’s youngest son Aemond finds a way to claim Laena’s dragon for himself. This leads to Laena’s daughters lashing out, with Jace and Luc coming to their aid. The ensuing scuffle turns bloody when Luc takes out Aemond’s eye. The aftermath divides all factions in two, with Alicent and Rhaenyra coming to blows. Knowing conflict is imminent, Rhaenyra and Daemon wed, all the while giving Laenor and his lover a chance at freedom to live their own lives – all it takes is a boat, a haircut and an arranged murder.

“Lord of the Tides”

Another six years on, and once again the legitimacy concerning Rhaenyra’s children comes into question. With Lord Corlys Velaryon wounded, his conniving brother Vaemond uses his allegiance with Alicent and the Hightowers as a way to petition his right to rule over Driftmark, putting him in direct competition with Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys for the title of Lord of the Tides. Things have also taken a terrible turn for Viserys, whose body and mind are falling apart due to his affliction. Not that it stops him showing an absolutely stunning show of strength during the meeting. Despite Vaemond’s arrogant yet technically correct claims of legitimacy, his and the Hightowers' plans go up in flames when Viserys arrives to oversee matters personally. Luc’s legitimacy to Driftmark is restored due to the endorsement of Princess Rhaenys, along with a marriage announcement between her granddaughters and Rhaenyra’s sons. Vaemond…does not take it well, warranting instant retribution by Daemon and his sword. A feast between family members prompts the ailing king to beg for peace, reminding them of the love they once shared…and it surprisingly works. At least until Aemond decides to let his bitterness show. Whatever bridges Viserys was trying to build are well and truly broken when his dying words are misinterpreted by Alicent, confusing the dream of King Aegon the Conqueror with their less than mentally sound son.

“The Green Council”

Now believing the deceased king’s final wish was to put her son Aegon upon the throne, Alicent decides to push to revoke Rhaenyra’s claim, only to be shocked that her father and other members of the Small Council have already been making plans in secret to ensure the Hightower bloodline takes control. Though this plan of action isn’t without its dissenters – Alicent is horrified at Otto’s willingness to have Rhaenyra and her family assassinated, while Ser Criston reveals his true psychotic colors when he brutally murders an elderly council member for disagreeing. From there, the Hightowers start to take over, imprisoning or killing those who don’t swear fealty to Aegon – leading to Princess Rhaenys being restrained in her room. Larys also goes out of his way to inform Alicent of the spies located through the keep, which he is willing to remove…so long as she’s willing to show a little ankle. After a lot of convincing, the wayward Aegon accepts his new role as ruler of the seven kingdoms, though his coronation is somewhat via a dragon bursting through the floor. Having been freed by a sympathetic Kingsguard, Rhaenys reclaims her dragons, drops in like a boss, and while she’s given ample opportunity to burn the Hightowers to ash, instead chooses to make her escape.

“The Black Queen”

It doesn’t take long for news of the insurrection to reach Dragonstone. Rhaenys’ regaling of Aegon’s ascension as well as the death if Viserys turns out to be too much for Rhaenyra to handle, leading to her losing her unborn child. In the wake of her grief, the arrival of Ser Erryk, the Kingsguard who freed Rhaenys, brings a glimmer of hope as he swears loyalty to her, along with Viserys’ crown. Reinvigorated, Rhaenyra gathers her armies and prepares a counterattack, which is substantially bolstered by the return of Corlys Velaryon. The only thing left to do is to remind the lords of the land of the oaths they once swore, a task Rhaenyra entrusts to her two sons. What could go wrong? As it happens, Lucerys isn’t the only one trying to curry favor. Encountering Aemond at Storm’s End, things quickly turn sour as Aemond demands penance for the eye that was taken to him. While bloodshed is forbidden inside the castle walls, outside amongst the thunderous skies, it’s a different story. Hunted by Aemond and his colossal dragon, Lucerys seemingly manages to make a getaway…that is until their dragons start to rebel. Tragically, this spells Luc’s doom, as a now uncontrollable Vhagar devours him and sends his remains falling from the sky. Eventually, word of her son’s death reaches Rhaenyra, and while nothing is said, the look she gives says it all – peace is off the table, and the dance of the dragons is about to begin.