'House of the Dragon' Ending Explained: Loss of a child makes heartbroken Queen Rhaenyra wage war

The Realm's delight has experienced nothing but undelightful situations since she was proclaimed as her father's heir to sit on the Iron Throne
UPDATED OCT 24, 2022
Elliot Grihault, Matt Smith, Harry Collett, Emma D'Arcy, and Phoebe Campbell in 'House of the Dragon' (IMDb)
Elliot Grihault, Matt Smith, Harry Collett, Emma D'Arcy, and Phoebe Campbell in 'House of the Dragon' (IMDb)

'House of the Dragon' has been one of the highly anticipated series of this year. The series which started on August 21, 2022, concludes on October 24, 2022, with an unexpected and twisted ending. The fantasy series has taken fans on a roller coaster ride, whether it be the birth-giving scene of Queen Aemma (Sian Brooke) or the introduction of Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) and Daemon (Matt Smith) being involved in an incestuous relationship. In the last episode of Season 1, 'The Black Queen', there are some unexpected plot twists and some scenes which can be quite vivid for the fans. 

However in the ninth episode of 'House of the Dragons,' fans witnessed after Viserys' death, Ser Otto and the Small Council plot to crown Prince Aegon. Ser Criston kills Lord Beesbury, who protests Rhaenyra being usurped. Kingsguard Lord Commander Harrold Westerling resigns in protest. Otto keeps Viserys's death secret to fortify the council's position, then coerces the noble houses to switch their allegiance to Aegon. Those resisting are imprisoned or hanged. Aegon resists being king, but Alicent persuades him otherwise. King's Landing citizens are herded into the Dragonpit to witness Aegon's coronation. Princess Rhaenys, refusing to support Aegon as king, is held captive but eventually freed by Erryk. She enters the Dragonpit caverns and astride her dragon Meleys breaches the grand hall, causing mayhem and confronting the royal usurpers before leaving on the dragon's back.

RELATED ARTICLES

'House of the Dragon' Episode 10 LEAKED, HBO 'disappointed with unlawful action'

'House of the Dragon' Episode 9: Fans mortified after 'disgusting' foot fetish scene between Alicent and Lord Larys

'House of the Dragon' Episode 10, 'The Black Queen's Ending Explained:

Episode 10, starts with Rhaenys coming to Rhaenyra to inform her about the unfortunate coronation of her little stepbrother, after her father's death. After listening to the horrendous situation Rhaenyra enters labor while Daemon prepares for retaliation. She commands her sons to stop Daemon while refusing any aid. Rhaenyra's helpers were offering her help but she was too stubborn to agree to it. Finally, Rhaenyra gives birth herself, but the child is born dead as the child was prematurely born out of the stress and pure agony that Rhaenyra experienced. During the burial, Ser Erryk brings Rhaenyra, her father, Viserys' crown from Kings Landing and swears his allegiance to her, as do all present except Rhaenys. Otto Hightower brings terms of truce on Queen Alicent's behalf, which Rhaenyra agrees to consider. Daemon entertains the suggestion of waging war with dragons but Rhaenyra insists on holding peace, just as her father did.

Meanwhile, the recovered Lord Corlys Valeryon sides with the Blacks and suggests a blockage on the trade route to King's Landing, weakening the capital and allowing them to strike at the right time. Lord Corlys only did this as Rhaenys explained to him how Rhaenyra was trying to hold the realm together peacefully when everyone else was waiting with bated breath to go to war. Rhaenyra decides to recognize her allegiances before taking them to war so she appoints Jacaerys to ride for the Eyrie and Lucerys for the Storm's End while on an oath to no fight, as Daemon awakens the second largest dragon alive, Vermithor. In Storm's End, Lucerys is antagonized by Lord Boros Baratheon to offer a proposal for one of his daughters, as has already been done by the present Aemond. But Lucerys informs him about his engagement, to which he denies his allegiance. Aemond intervenes in Lucerys' departure to avenge his eye and chases him and his dragon, Arrax, on Vhagar. However, due to lack of submission, caused Arrax to attack Vhagar. The latter (Vhagar) retaliates, killing both Arrax and Lucerys by chewing them up when they were in mid-air as Aemond watches in horror as Aemond never expected Vhagar to be unpredictable and dangerously heinous. When Rhaenyra is informed of Lucerys' death by Daemon, she decides to declare war as she didn't expect her son to be dead while only going as a messenger.

'House of the Dragon's episode 10, 'The Black Queen,' is now streaming on HBO Max or Disney+.

RELATED TOPICS HOUSE OF THE DRAGON (2022)

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis star in Prime Video's next crime thriller, 'Scarpetta,' based on Patricia Cornwell’s bestselling book series.
13 hours ago
The sophomore season of 'The Pitt' has so far depicted the rise of generative AI in medicine as well as the ICE.
16 hours ago
The sequel series 'Marshals' continues Kayce's story as he leaves his ranch life behind to join the U.S. Marshals.
17 hours ago
Michael B. Jordan, Noah Wyle, and more took home prestigious awards during the ceremony on March 1
18 hours ago
The Season 4 finale seemingly sets up Henry (Kit Harington) and Whitney's (Max Minghella) fates in the financial drama
19 hours ago
The sequel series sees Kayce Dutton charting new territories as a US Marshal after experiencing a devastating loss
22 hours ago
The previous episode saw Colter and Keaton's car dangling from a cliff, leaving their fates undecided
1 day ago
World-renowned actors are set to take the stage at the 98th Academy Awards as Hollywood gears up for a glittering night on March 15
1 day ago
Netflix made intentional attempts to keep the suspense throughout Episode 6
2 days ago
A key Intelligence officer is missing from the ‘One Chicago’ crossover, leaving fans bracing for an emotional reunion later on.
2 days ago