To paraphrase a well-known saying, this is how a king’s reign ends: not with a bang, but with a whisper.
Curtain Call: Paddy Considine
Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
King Viserys I Targaryen was not a great man. He was a rather reluctant monarch who tried to maintain the peace forged by his grandsire, Jaehaerys I, but failed to live up to his greatness; instead his ineffective leadership helped sow the seeds of division in his house. He could have been an utterly forgettable, perhaps even unlikeable character. In House of the Dragon, however, Paddy Considine achieved the greatness his character could not – bringing Viserys to life with nuance and pathos, making us empathize and understand him in a way the pages of Fire and Blood never could.
Author George R.R. Martin seems to concur, as Considine recounts that he received a text message from him saying “Your Viserys is better than my Viserys.” Throughout the season, Considine showed us Viserys’ love for his family, his desire to be a good man and a good ruler, and his concern for the legacy he’d leave behind. And in his emotional final episode, he showed us the heavy price he paid.
Promo photos for House of the Dragon’s ninth episode, “The Green Council”!
It’s difficult to believe, but the end of the season is almost here! HBO has just officially released the first promotional stills for the penultimate episode of this first year of House of the Dragon, ominously titled “The Green Council”!
Glass Candle Dialogue: House of the Dragon Season 1, Episode 8 – The Lord of the Tides
In our “The Lord of the Tides” dialogue, Petra and I discuss the glimpse at what could’ve been at that beautiful feast, the evolution of Alicent’s character, the coming war hinging on a “misunderstanding”, the lack of positive religious characters and whether that’s a problem, and just how cool and scary Aemond is.
The Lord of the Tweets: A House of the Dragon Twitter Recap
Is that a dagger in your eye or is it just non-stop tears from the latest episode of House of the Dragon?
This week’s episode, “The Lord of the Tides,” drew strong reactions on Twitter for the two big deaths- one shocking and gory, the other elegant and emotional. One thing everyone agreed on: all the Emmys for Paddy Considine!
In Defense of Aegon Targaryen, Second of his Name
In the eighth episode of House of the Dragon – “Lord of the Tides” – King Viserys Targaryen died of his long-standing illnesses (or whatever was going on with that poor guy), following an eventful family dinner where the king begged his family to reconcile. To reconcile if not for the realm, but for him.
With the king’s passing, the previously stable political environment in Westeros was poised to plunge into a totally normal peaceful transition of power. After all, Viserys had clearly and publicly established his daughter Rhaenyra Targaryen as his heir, and so she should simply take in hand the reins of power and guide the realm, serviceably.
Or mayhaps, there would be the political chaos that had been long predicted.
House of the Dragon Post-Mortem of “The Lord of the Tides”
Tensions were high on last night’s “The Lord of the Tides” as the legitimacy of Rhaenyra’s children was once again called into question, and as Viserys made one final attempt to mend the division in his house during an awkward family dinner. With only two episodes left in the season, the drama and conflict is sure to reach new heights before the finale. Let’s not lose our heads like Vaemond just yet though – it’s time to check out today’s interviews and videos!
House of the Dragon Review/Recap Roundup Season 1 Episode 8 – The Lord of the Tides
We’re entering the home stretch of House of the Dragon season 1, as we barrel full sped ahead into episode 8! Remember me? It’s me from just last week! Unlike last week, you can physically see me this time, in extremely vivid color, so there’s no excuse for missing out on this week’s review/recap roundup. Every week, for each new episode of HOTD, I’ll be deconstructing the multitude of reviews out there, boiling them down to one short summary sentence that will perfectly encapsulate what the original author was saying, no questions asked…and by that I mean that I will deconstruct whole essays down to one sentence apiece, often quoting them verbatim.
What I will do is attempt to summarize the original review as best I can, and if my tease whets your appetite for their style of review, you are encouraged to head over to their site and let them know…after of course letting us know your thoughts in the comments below. At the bottom, I will summarize my review of the reviewers’ reviews.
All squared? Jolly good, let’s dive in.
House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 8 “The Lord of the Tides” Recap
Listen, as far as Westerosi family dinners go- this was far from the worst. I’ve had meals back home in Worcester that were more unpleasant and aggressive. I’m just saying.
Spoiler Note: This recap and the comments section may contain mild spoilers from George R.R. Martin’s novels and Westeros histories, whether or not that material has appeared on the show yet. If you have not read the books and wish to remain completely Unsullied, we encourage you to check out our non-book-reader recap by Oz of Thrones!
House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 8 The Lord of the Tides – Open Chat
With a bit of a mind flip
You’re into the time slip
And nothing can ever be the same…
Let’s do the Time Warp agaaaaain!
Episode title: “The Lord of the Tides”
Written by Eileen Shim
Directed by Geeta V. Patel
Runtime: 67 minutes
Content Warnings: TV-MA: Adult Content, Adult Language, Graphic Violence, Nudity
Episode 8 Video Preview
Episode 8 Preview Photos