Driftmark, the seventh episode of House of the Dragon, has aired, and things don’t seem much better for Westeros. It really is a disaster, doesn’t it? Beginning the episode was the burial of Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell), which set a sombre tone for the rest of the hour. The funeral couldn’t hide the animosity amongst the family members who were fighting. In the course of the episode, Prince Aemond (Leo Ashton) has a close relationship with Vhagar, but he loses an eye, which causes a rift between his step-sister Rhaenyra (Emma D’ Arcy) and his mother, Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke). Ser Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan) abdicates his post to pursue happiness across the Narrow Sea after Driftmark ended with the marriage of Rhaenyra (Matt Smith) and Daemon (Matt Smith).
HBO has provided a sneak peek of the upcoming eighth episode of the series, titled “The Lord of the Tides,” and it depicts the consequences of those choices. Based on the teaser, it appears that King Viserys’ (Paddy Considine) health is deteriorating rapidly, allowing the ever-scheming Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) to play king. To combat what she terms the “vipers” who have taken over the kingdom, Rhaenyra has asked her husband Daemon to accompany her to King’s Landing. In addition, Tom Glynn-Carney and Ewan Mitchell will play older versions of Princes Aegon and Aemond, marking the series’ fourth and final time leap. Carney’s Aegon, however, has already got the King Joffrey air about him. Leaving his birthright behind, Ser Laenor looks poised to provide a major challenge and a fresh power struggle in Westeros.
Lord Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake (Steve Toussaint), his father, had been mortally wounded in the battle. No one appears to know if he is dead or alive, but the struggle to become his successor has begun. Corlys’ brother Ser Vaemond (Wil Johnson) will assert his claim with Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) defiantly opposing him, despite the fact that his heir is probably beyond the Narrow Sea. Whoever wins the title of Lord or Lady of the Tides will play an integral role in the plot. At Laena’s funeral, Vaemond was overheard making sarcastic remarks about Rhaenyra and her boys. However, Rhaenys, who is not Rhaenyra’s biggest admirer, may be convinced to stand with her due to their shared kinship in the impending conflict.
According to Viserys’s narration, “a house divided against itself will never survive,” and this scene may herald the resumption of violent hostilities between Ser Criston (Fabien Frankel) and Prince Daemon. At the conclusion of the preview, Rhaenyra will warn Vaemond about a trap he has set, while Vaemond will make a move of his own. The young princes’ old animosity for one another will resurface, both in the training courtyard and at mealtimes. This is only a dry run before the real thing, and Ser Otto is right to sound the alarm: “The prospect of war looms.” On HBO on Sundays, you can catch House of the Dragon. HBO Max subscribers may also watch episodes online.