Top 10 Things You Missed in House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 8

“House of the Dragon” and “Game of Thrones” have this annoying knack for making us feel sorry for characters who’ve done terrible things. In this scene between Larys Strong and Aegon, the burnt King mentions that a valuable piece of his anatomy has been scorched off, cooked like sausage. In “Thrones,” Theon Greyjoy had the same body part cut off by Ramsay Snow. Ramsay taunted Theon with a piece of pork sausage, implying that Theon’s lost appendage had become lunch. Theon eventually overcame his suffering and rediscovered a sense of purpose: something that Larys is encouraging Aegon to do here. Aegon even considers some honorable nicknames: an uplifting callback to his struggle in choosing a suitable moniker on the season premiere.

On Prince Aemon’s orders, Tyland Lannister finds himself engaged in shaky negotiations with some Triarchy pirates. He ends up mud wrestling with Admiral Sharako Lohar. The sailor keeps mistakenly referring to the Lannister as “Tywin,” a name you’ll likely remember as the fearsome “Game of Thrones” antagonist who helped orchestrate the Red Wedding. After their tussle, Lohar offers Tyland an unsettling meal and makes a quip about the visitor’s hesitance to accept. The exchange could be a subtextual reference to “guest right,” an informal Westerosi law that hosts and their company may not harm each other once food and drink are exchanged. Tywin Lannister and Walder Frey unforgettably got comeuppance for violating this law. Fortunately for Tyland, Lohar’s suggestion appears to be a simple joke.

“Game of Thrones” began its story with the Starks of Winterfell, but we’ve yet to see much of them in the prequel series. Most notably, we met Cregan Stark on the season premiere, when he offered Prince Jacaerys support for the war. During a montage, we now get a quick glimpse of those Stark soldiers crossing the Twins and waving the emblematic direwolf sigil. Jace made this march possible during his conversation with Cregan and also during his negotiation for passage across the Twins, a few episodes ago. Without using this bridge, the northern armies would need to take a roundabout path and would likely have arrived too late to participate in battle. Their appearance here excitingly teases more of the Cregan Stark storyline.

Helaena can usually be counted on for a prophetic vision, and again she doesn’t disappoint. When Aemond insists that Helaena ride her dragon into battle, Helaena presciently declares that Aemond’s rule–and perhaps his life–won’t last much longer. She claims that Aegon will once again be king, and she curiously describes his throne as “wooden.” Since wood is much more fragile and more easily burned than the metal of the Iron Throne, this might suggest that any victory Aegon will have would be temporary, lacking in foundation and easily challenged. It could also refer to his injuries, since sitting on the Iron Throne might not be too comfortable in his current state. It seems likely that neither Targaryen brother has long to wear their crowns.

Criston Cole’s spirits have definitely been down since the battle at Rook’s Rest. He doesn’t even put up much of a fight when confronted by Gwayne Hightower about his past deeds. Somewhat nihilistically, he suggests that perhaps true and honorable men do not really exist. His complicated breakdown of morality sounds like Jaimie Lannister’s speech to Brienne in “Game of Thrones”, when he defeatedly expressed his frustration with “honor.” Both men understand that justice in their world is not black-and-white, and flawless purity of character is probably a pipe dream. You might also notice the handkerchief he cradles that Alicent had previously given him before he headed off to battle. As ethically ambiguous as he might be, it seems Ser Cole can certainly be heartbroken.

Yes, the finale gave us an awesome first-look at a wild dragon, but there was another one that you might not have noticed. At one point, we get a short sighting of the Hightower army, marching towards future plot events. If you look at the background skies, you can spot a dragon flying along with them. We’ve already talked about Alicent’s yet-unseen son Daeron, and the significant part that he may end up playing. He’s been alluded to multiple times, so the animal that we’re seeing here is most likely Daeron’s dragon, Tessarion. Tessarion might not be as big as some of the other dragons, but seeing her flying with the Hightowers could be setting up some major showdowns.

The final minutes of Season Two once again put Alicent and Rhaenyra together. This time, Alicent wants to help Rhaenyra take back the Iron Throne. But whether out of naïveté, optimism or a mother’s love, she struggles to accept that this can never happen without the death of her first-born. When Rhaenyra makes this clear, she name-drops the same phrase that also served as the title for this season’s premiere episode. It’s fitting to bookend the season this way, since the loss of sons has catalyzed so many conflicts on the show. Season One ended with the death of Lucerys Velaryon, and Season Two began with the death of Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen. Should the pattern continue, who might we lose when Season Three begins…?

In one of their favorite spots for contemplation, Rhaenyra and Mysaria discuss the casualties of war. As they do, we can see two dragons aerially circling each other, perhaps “dancing” in a visual allusion to the “Dance of the Dragons” civil war. When Mysaria asks about those who truly will pay the price of their conflict, the camera moves to the horizon and focuses on the flying steeds. If you think about it, you could include the dragons themselves among the innocents who are collaterally harmed by the fighting. They have no political motivations, after all, but rather are animals being used for their power. If it’s the innocent that “pay the price,” this subtle imagery invites conversation about exactly who the “innocent” consists of.

Daemon’s season of nightmares concludes with the busiest vision yet. In this scene at the weirwood tree, he’s hit with a montage of images that resembles Daenaerys’s journey into the House of the Undying. You might have caught the obvious ones, like the white walkers, but did you spot the three-eyed raven? Other recognizable appearances are Dany with her hatchlings and the colored dragon eggs. Before the manifestation even begins, you can see a soldier with an antler-like helmet walking in the darkness. Bookreaders will know this resembles Robert Baratheon’s battle armor, which he would later wear when defeating Rhaegar Targaryen at the Trident. And afterwards, when Daemon goes on to speak with Rhaenyra, he recites those famous Stark words.

There’s a subtle motif in the final episode, with multiple characters referencing a “story” of which they all are a part. Helaena cites the “story” as a warning to Aemon, and Daemon refers to the “end” of his story when swearing allegiance to Rhaenyra. If it sounds familiar, it’s because Tyrion Lannister gives an impassioned speech about the strength of narratives on the “Game of Thrones” finale. Tales are indeed powerful weapons in Westeros, as they determine who has noble birth and who holds power. Heroes and villains are perceived by the way history writes them, and it’s no accident that the first series ended with a nod to its source material. If Westerosi lore remembers you well, perhaps you’ve won the game of thrones.


What did you catch that we missed? What was the biggest Easter egg of the season? Let us know in the comments below!