House Of The Dragon Season 1 Ending Explained In Full (2024)

WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for George R.R. Martin's book, Fire & Blood, and potentially House of the Dragon season 2!

House of the Dragon’s season 1 finale, "The Black Queen," ends with a shocking death and the loom of war in Rhaenyra’s eyes, setting up season 2’s catastrophic battles. Following the Greens’ usurpation of the Iron Throne in House of the Dragon episode 9’s ending, the season finale depicts the Black party’s response to the treason as they strategize to confirm their allies and contemplate whether Rhaenyra should declare war. Though Rhaenyra initially wavers on taking revenge due to her responsibility to Aegon’s dream, the deaths of two of her children in the span of 24 hours change her outlook.

House of the Dragon's main characters reveal increasingly complex sides in the season 1 finale, including a more volatile depiction of Daemon and Rhaenyra’s marriage. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra’s sons travel as envoys to potential allies, with Lucerys Velaryon going to Storm’s End while Jacaerys heads to the Vale and Winterfell. Jacaerys’ fate is left unknown, but Lucerys is killed by his uncle Aemond Targaryen and Vhagar, marking the first blood between the Greens and Blacks. After decades of betrayals, conspiracies, and irreparable feuds, Rhaenyra’s eyes say one thing in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 10's ending: War is here.

Why Lucerys Dies & What It Really Means

Considering Lucerys was the more hesitant of Rhaenyra’s sons to embrace royal duties, his death becomes all the more tragic in House of the Dragon season 1's finale. Luke ignored Aemond’s taunts and tried to flee back to Dragonstone on Arrax, but his small dragon was no match for Aemond and Vhagar. Unlike in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, Aemond didn’t mean to kill Lucerys at Storm's End in House of the Dragon. He meant to frighten him, bully him, and take his eye as revenge, but Aemond’s face when seeing the carnage indicates murder wasn’t his intent.

Luke’s death will have a massive impact on the Dance of the Dragons. Rhaenyra was considering accepting Otto’s terms, but Luke's murder proves peace is out of the question. Though she wants unity in the realm as part of her duties to ensure Aegon's dream is upheld, the terror of her son being killed as an envoy makes this impossible within House Targaryen. Aemond is also apt to tell Aegon that he murdered Luke on purpose rather than on accident due to his inability to control Vhagar – he would rather be interpreted as evil and unforgiving than weak.

The circ*mstances of Luke’s death also serves as proof that a line from Viserys in House of the Dragon’s series premiere was correct. The King had previously warned Rhaenyra under Balerion the Black Dread's skull that the Targaryens' control of dragons is a dangerous illusion, with Aemond's lack of control leading to Luke's unintended demise. Nevertheless, Lucerys’ death is what will bring the war from a race of alliances and pacts to a realm where fire and blood reign.

What The Final Shot Of Rhaenyra Means

In House of the Dragon episode 10’s ending, Rhaenyra is informed by Daemon that Lucerys has been killed, leading the new Queen to walk toward the fire, clutch her stomach, nearly fall to her knees, and stare at the camera with tears and fury in her eyes. Daemon had become increasingly frustrated with Rhaenyra’s restraint, but Lucerys’ death ignited a wave of burning anger inside her that will not be extinguished by peace terms.

Alicent’s message about remembering the love they once shared now means nothing after her son killed Luke. While Daemon was previously frustrated by Rhaenyra resisting his encouragement to show strength and a quickness to reclaim the Iron Throne from the Greens, it wasn't until learning of Luke's death that she accepted this was the only path. The final shot of Rhaenyra says one thing: “War it is.” When House of the Dragon season 2 arrives, there will be no acceptance of peace terms, only the fight for the Iron Throne.

What Happens Next To Jacaerys On His Mission

While his brother’s mission to Storm’s End culminated in tragedy, Jacaerys’ travels fare better. The ending of House of the Dragon season 1, episode 10 doesn’t explain what happens to Jace, but he’s confirmed to be heading to the Vale to treat with Jeyne Arryn. After this trip, Rhaenyra's eldest child will fly to Winterfell to appeal to Cregan Stark.

According to Fire & Blood, Jace successfully gains House Arryn's support, but sources differ on how exactly he achieves this. One salacious narrator claims that Lady Arryn tells Jace that he can have her support if he satisfies her sexually, but another source says she agrees because of her support of women in rule and the blood they share through Rhaenyra's mother, Aemma Arryn. In exchange for House Arryn’s knights, Rhaenyra has to send dragonriders to defend the Vale.

Jacaerys’ mission in Winterfell is even more successful as he forms a bond with Cregan Stark. One Fire & Blood narrator suggests they hunt, drink, and train together before swearing an oath of brotherhood bound in blood. Jace is also rumored to sleep with Cregan’s bastard sister, Sara Snow, who tells an angry Cregan that they wed under the heart tree. However, this story is likely false, since Jace was already betrothed to Baela. Before leaving Winterfell, Jace seals the Pact of Ice and Fire with Cregan, which states that Jace’s firstborn daughter must marry Cregan’s son and heir, Rickon.

What Daemon’s Dragon Scene Sets Up HOTD’s Future

While Rhaenyra strategizes with the recovering Corlys Velaryon, Daemon sings to and attempts to tame the dragon Vermithor. Daemon knows that the Blacks have more dragons than the Greens, but still require more dragonriders. Daemon trying to tame the riderless Vermithor thus hints that the dragon is meant for his daughter Rhaena, whose own dragon egg never hatched. However, it actually sets up an important event for next season known as the “Sowing of the Seeds.”

Based on Fire & Blood's accounts, House of the Dragon season 2 will see the Blacks recruit Targaryen and Velaryon bastards known as “dragonseeds” to attempt to tame the dragons, with a few being successful. Vermithor is one of the dragons claimed by a silver-haired rider, with the "Bronze Fury" having been previously ridden by King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. Once the Sowing of the Seeds happens in House of the Dragon, the Blacks reclaim their dragon power after the deaths of several key riders.

The Greens & Blacks As We Know Them After HOTD Season 1’s Ending

Following House of the Dragon’s season 1 ending, the Green and Black Targaryen factions are further solidified. However, many more pacts and alliances will be made in House of the Dragon season 2 as the battles truly commence. It's important to note that, similar to how Game of Thrones' wars progressed, the various houses' allegiances seen at the end of season 1 are not all permanent.

So far, the major houses confirmed for the Greens are Alicent and her Targaryen children, House Hightower, House Lannister, and House Baratheon. There are a few other significant houses loyal to the Greens who bend the knee in episode 9, including Houses Redwyne and Bracken. The Greens' strength also includes Ser Criston Cole, Jasper Wylde, Lord Larys Strong, Grand Maester Orwyle, and Ser Arryk Cargyll. Of course, as more alliances are forged, the Greens' support across the realm will continue to grow in season 2.

Meanwhile, the Black party's major players consist of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen, their children, House Velaryon, and Rhaenys Targaryen. Rhaenyra also has the support of Ser Erryk Cargyll, House Celtigar, House Massey, House Bar Emmon, House Darklyn, House Staunton, Maester Gerardys, Ser Lorent Marbrand, and presumably Mysaria. Rhaenyra was only just beginning to confirm her alliances when House of the Dragon season 1 ended, so the notoriety and power of the Blacks' supporters will grow immensely in season 2.

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Set Up: Dance Of The Dragons Begins

First blood has been drawn with the deaths of Prince Lucerys Velaryon and Arrax, meaning the real battles begin in House of the Dragon season 2. Rhaenyra and Daemon reject Otto and Alicent’s terms, indicating war will be waged as the Blacks attempt to take King’s Landing. Rhaenys is already heading to the Gullet, where a major battle in the Dance of the Dragons will take place. Before this, there will be a civil war in the Riverlands between the houses that pledged to Aegon and those that declared for Rhaenyra.

The Dance of the Dragons will then escalate as full-scale battles take place between Black and Green dragonriders, and such conflicts will cause mass destruction. Vengeance will be sought on both sides for their respective losses, with mercy largely being absent after House of the Dragon’s season 1 ending. Now that the Dance of the Dragons is here, it’s best to learn from Game of Thrones and expect that very few House of the Dragon characters will survive the war.

The Real Meaning Of House Of The Dragon Season 1’s Ending

While the reception to House of the Dragon season 1’s many time jumps was divisive, the meaning of the debut season was an exploration of how a family can slowly be torn apart through irreparable rifts. The usurpation of the Iron Throne by King Aegon II Targaryen wasn’t a sudden power grab, but a methodical seizure of the crown that could have been prevented had Viserys been more proactive in defending Rhaenyra. He did so in House of the Dragon episode 8, but one final stand wasn’t enough to repair the damage from two decades’ worth of inaction.

Rhaenyra attempted to grant her father’s wish for peace, but it was King Viserys' weakness that already put the family in this position. Misunderstandings, bitterness, and generational trauma led to the declaration of war in House of the Dragon, with devastation being inevitable once Rhaenyra and Alicent's kids inherited their resentments. Despite attempts to delay it, war was clearly coming either way – Lucerys’ death simply washed away any hesitations Rhaenyra held. Now at a point of no return for the Greens and Blacks, House of the Dragon’s season 1 finale sees the entire realm suffer from House Targaryen’s grievances.

How House Of The Dragon's Showrunner Explained Season 1's Ending

House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal has given his own explanations for the shocking moments and turns in season 1's ending. In regard to Luke's death and Aemond's culpability, Condal explained to THR that Aemond's intent was to show "his rival that he will not be intimidated and trifled with" and he wasn't simply "trying to become a kinslayer." The showrunner elaborated that while Aemond isn't blameless, he's generally still calculated in his actions and has a "logical line of thinking," so he wouldn't intentionally make the mistake of immediately trying to kill Rhaenyra's son.

Diving deeper into Rhaenyra's personal dilemma regarding the Iron Throne's usurpation and its relation to Aegon's dream of Ice and Fire, Condal explained that she was confronted with a major paradox. While letting Aegon keep the throne avoids war and maintains Targaryen sovereignty, which aligns with the dream, Condal clarifies, "Rhaenyra is focused on the fact that she sees herself as uniquely capable of ruling without stoking war and keeping the realm united." Rhaenyra doesn't trust Aegon to keep the realm united or fulfill such duties, whereas Viserys trained and entrusted her with this since naming her heir.

Additionally, the showrunner says her decision for war is personally influenced by the fact that her birthright was stolen from her, as her biggest gift from her now-deceased father is ripped out from under her. While trying to prioritize maintaining peace and serving humanity at large, it became impossible for Rhaenyra to ignore how much was stolen from her, whether perceived or in reality, by the Greens. Rhaenyra's father, daughter, son, birthright, and entrusted duties were all gone, and regardless of the Greens' intentions, such deaths were their declaration of war in House of the Dragon season 1's ending.

House of the Dragon

Release Date

August 21, 2022

Cast

Fabien Frankel , Graham McTavish , Olivia Cooke , Gavin Spokes , Sonoya Mizuno , Steve Toussaint , Matt Smith , Matthew Needham , Rhys Ifans , Emma D'Arcy

Franchise

Game of Thrones

Characters By

George R.R. Martin

Source: The Hollywood Reporter