‘Home of the Dragon’ recap: The 9 most WTF moments thus far forward of Season 2

Home of the Dragon Season 2 is on the horizon, and judging by the trailer it will be each bit as dramatic as the primary season.

However by way of sheer WTF issue, can Season 2 actually hope to prime Season 1? Let’s recap probably the most surprising moments in Home of the Dragon thus far, so we are able to set up the bench mark. (We have accomplished a separate recap for probably the most grotesque deaths within the sequence.)

1. Queen Aemma dying in childbirth (episode 1)

The primary key dying in Home of the Dragon units the tone for what’s to return. Queen Aemma Arryn (Sian Brooke) goes into labor on the finish of episode 1, however there are problems. Her husband, King Viserys (Paddy Considine), known as into the room and advised that the maesters could possibly save his son by finishing up a caesarean part, however the process will outcome within the dying of his spouse. Compelled to decide on, he tells them to go forward. It is a actually horrifying sequence made much more upsetting by the truth that the kid dies anyway shortly after the Queen passes.*

2. Otto Hightower encouraging his daughter to consolation King Viserys (episode 1)

Nothing says “creepy” fairly like sending your teenage daughter to consolation your a lot older pal, virtually instantly after the passing of his spouse. “He’ll be glad of a visit,” says ever-sneaky Hand of the King Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) to 17-year-old Alicent (Emily Carey), sending her to King Viserys’ chambers earlier than including: “You might wear one of your mother’s dresses.” Ick! Utilizing your personal daughter as a pawn to climb the ranks will not be it, Otto!

3. Daemon and Rhaenyra sneaking into city collectively (episode 4)

No, no, no, no. Look, we all know the Targaryens have been all concerning the incest, however that does not make 30-something Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) casually hooking up along with his 17-year-old niece Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) any much less disturbing. In episode 4, after serving to Rhaenyra sneak out of the Purple Maintain, Daemon proceeds to indicate his niece a few of King’s Touchdown’s seedier sights — and all of it ends in a brothel, precisely the way you assume it will. On the one hand, OK, we’re used to seeing this sort of factor within the Sport of Thrones world, primarily with twins Cersei and Jaime Lannister. However what makes this specific incest scene much more grim is the very giant age hole. Here is hoping they dial it again in Season 2.

4. Larys Sturdy murdering his household (episode 6)

We do not truly see Harwin Sturdy’s (Ryan Corr) dying, which occurs inside a fireplace at Harrenhal, however we do see the build-up. What pushes this one into WTF territory is the truth that Harwin’s father, Lord Lyonel Sturdy (Gavin Spokes), dies alongside him within the blaze — and what makes it even worse is the truth that Harwin’s personal brother Larys (Matthew Needham) was the one who organized for the constructing to be burned down, purely as a result of he thinks it will make Alicent (Olivia Cooke) completely happy. WTF, Larys?*

5. Laena Velaryon dying in childbirth (episode 6)

Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell), daughter of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen and Lord Corlys Velaryon (Eve Finest and Steve Toussaint), and Daemon’s spouse, endures probably the most grotesque, harrowing dying of Home of the Dragon.

Mashable High Tales

In yet one more horrifying childbirth sequence in episode 6, we as soon as once more see a maester giving a father unimaginable information after problems come up in labor: a deadly c-section is the one technique to probably save the infant. Daemon asks if Laena will survive the process, and when the reply is “no”, it is clear Laena hears the alternate. She decides to take her destiny into her personal arms. Laena staggers exterior and provides her dragon Vhagar one final order, “Dracarys,” which the dragon visibly struggles with, earlier than burning her and her unborn little one to dying. A really upsetting scene.*

6. Aemond shedding a watch (episode 7)

Bloodthirsty fights are fairly normal fare in Home of the Dragon, however the excessive ranges of violence are all the time nastier when kids are concerned. In episode 7 the battle is all kids, with a younger Prince Aemond (Leo Ashton) pummelling a number of cousins after he manages to tame Laena Velayron’s dragon Vhagar after her dying (see quantity six). Laena’s daughters Baela (Shani Smethurst) and Rhaena (Eva Ossei Gerning) take difficulty along with his perceived dragon theft and all hell breaks unfastened, culminating in Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), Rhaenyra’s son, slashing Aemond throughout the face with a dagger, leaving the boy with one eye and a variety of internalised anger.

7. Laenor Velaryon’s pretend dying (episode 7)

This one makes WTF standing purely due to its complexity. On the finish of episode 7, so as to perform their plan of marrying one another, Rhaenyra and Daemon (you realize, your favorite niece/uncle couple) seem to have Rhaenyra’s present husband Laenor Velayron (John MacMillan) killed. However all will not be because it appears. The ultimate scene within the episode is double-take worthy, as we see the nonetheless very a lot alive Laenor boarding a ship along with his lover Ser Quarl Correy (Arty Froushan) and fleeing to pastures new. You’ll be able to learn our full explainer right here, however in a nutshell the dying was faked — the actual sufferer was a servant.

8. Princess Rhaenys bursting by the ground atop a dragon (episode 9)

Speak about making an entrance. In episode 9, halfway by the coronation of King (shudder) Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), Princess Rhaenys (Eve Finest) — who has been semi-imprisoned within the Purple Maintain — decides to make issues just a little extra fascinating by smashing her means by the ground on the again of her dragon Meleys. It is not WTF within the gross means that many of those moments are, but it surely’s definitely surprising to observe a cheering crowd instantly changing into screaming dragon fodder.

9. Lucerys getting chomped (episode 10)

You have to really feel a bit sorry for Lucerys Velaryon. The minute he steps into Storm’s Finish and sees Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) — whose eye he obliterated years earlier (see quantity seven) — you realize issues aren’t going to finish nicely. Precisely how not nicely is made clear as soon as he tries to flee on his dragon Arrax, just for Aemond to provide chase on his considerably bigger dragon Vhagar. Arrax goes rogue and breathes hearth on the chasing dragon, just for Vhagar to resolve sufficient is sufficient: He goes towards his grasp’s needs and principally chomps each Arrax and Lucerys in two. One of many main moments of the Season 1 finale, it is not probably the most grotesque dying within the sequence – you do not actually see a lot gore – but it surely’s definitely a surprising one.*

*This blurb has appeared on a earlier Mashable listing.

Home of the Dragon Season 2 premieres June 16 on HBO and Max.

Need extra Home of the Dragon? Here is a recap of probably the most grotesque deaths from Season 1.

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Home of the Dragon