It’s hard to believe we’re approaching the Season 2 finale of House of the Dragon. Sh*t is effectively hitting the fan as Team Black positions themselves to strike. Meanwhile, Team Green might have a few surprises up their sleeves, especially if Aemond (and Vhagar) has anything to say about it.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 8 Predictions
Judging by the Season 2 Episode 8 preview, I’m super excited to see Tessarion the Blue Queen. I always thought she was the prettiest (along with Sunfyre) based on her book description. I’m guessing we won’t glimpse good ole Daeron the Daring until Season 3, but that’s okay.
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Sunday isn’t as far away as it seems, praise be to the old gods and new. To tide us over until then, I’ve compiled a list of 10 predictions for Season 2 Episode 8.
As always, the night is dark and full of spoilers from the show and Fire & Blood, so proceed at your peril.
Team Black Will Seize King’s Landing
In the Season 2 Episode 8 preview, Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) hosts dinner with her dragonriders — Baela (Bethany Antonia), Addam (Clinton Liberty), Jace (Harry Collett), Hugh (Kieran Bew) and Ulf (Tom Bennett). She believes they now have the advantage and must strike while the iron is hot.
Fire & Blood tells us that Team Black eventually seizes control of King’s Landing. Now, this transpires after the brutal Battle of the Gullet, but rumor has it that it has been moved to Season 3. So, we’ll see TB unseat Team Green in the finale. With their dragonriders and Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint) and Alyn (Abubakar Salim) leading the Velaryon fleet, TB undoubtedly has the upper hand (for now).
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Side note: What if the season ended with Rhaenyra getting cut while sitting on the Iron Throne?
Larys Will Help Aegon Escape the City
Larys’s (Matthew Needham) interest in King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) is complex. I believe he genuinely feels for the latter regarding his disabilities. However, Larys is infamous for his ulterior motives. He might empathize with Aegon, but he also sees the king as someone easier to manipulate. Larys tried to pitch himself as Aemond’s (Ewan Mitchell) hand, and when that plan crashed and burned, he turned to Aegon.
In the episode eight promo, we see a carriage departing what looks like King’s Landing. Right after that, Larys informs Aegon that Aemond is furious. There’s no telling what he’ll do. I believe Larys will smuggle Aegon and Jaehaera out of King’s Landing (in the book, this also would include Maelor, but he doesn’t exist — yet) before Rhaenyra can capture them. In Fire & Blood, Aegon makes his way toward Dragonstone; however, I think we’re too early in the narrative for that. Perhaps Aegon will continue convalescing elsewhere before he takes Dragonstone.
Rhaenyra Will Legitimize Alyn and Addam
I thought this would happen in the penultimate episode, but hey, you can’t get ’em all right. Rhaenyra will discover that Addam and Alyn are Corlys’s bastards, so she’ll legitimize them in the Season 2 finale. That allows Corlys to name Alyn his heir while Addam fights for Rhaenyra on Seasmoke. Now, I should note that in Fire & Blood, Corlys initially names Addam as his heir. However, the show seems to be leaning toward Alyn as the next Lord of the Tides, skipping over that initial naming.
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Alicent Will Ensure Helaena Doesn’t Join Fight With Dreamfyre
The episode eight preview shows Aemond ordering Helaena (Phia Saban) to hop on Dreamfyre and join the fight. If you recall, Aemond and Vhagar followed Ulf and Silverwing back to Dragonstone in episode seven. There, they spy Rhaenyra’s new dragon squad. Obviously, the prince regent realizes Team Green is at a disadvantage on the dragon front, even with the mighty Vhagar.
However, Alicent (Olivia Cooke) will put her foot down. Protecting Helaena is a priority for her. The promo depicts a heated scene between Alicent and Aemond as Helaena stands behind them, looking anxious. Alicent speaks her piece, stating that Aemond (I’m paraphrasing) brings death and ruin as a ruler. Alicent will ensure Aemond doesn’t continue pressuring Helaena to ride. Could Helaena be pregnant with Maelor, and that’s partially why Alicent is hellbent on keeping her out of the Dance (Helaena’s fragile mental state aside)?
Rhaenyra Will Take Alicent and Helaena Captive
When Rhaenyra and Team Black seize King’s Landing, Alicent and Helaena are taken captive (while Aegon and his kids are smuggled out). Rhaenyra spares Alicent, but Otto (Rhys Ifans) and Gwayne (Freddie Fox) aren’t so lucky. That said, we know book and show canon are two different things, so I believe Otto and Gwayne could survive the season finale. I hope so; I want to see them interact.
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Anyway, in Fire & Blood, Alicent proposes that Rhaenyra and Aegon split the realm so they could rule their respective kingdoms. Of course, Rhaenyra declines this offer. Episode seven sees Alicent flee King’s Landing for the quiet of the Kingswood to contemplate her place in this world. I don’t think she’ll defect, but she will do everything in her power to halt the war in its tracks.
So, we might see Team Black take Alicent and Helaena captive, but I can’t imagine they’ll be mistreated. Here’s hoping we get more juicy Rhaenyra/Alicent scenes.
The Battle at the Red Fork Will Take Place
The season has been building toward this one. At this point, having the Battle at the Red Fork in the season finale feels inevitable. Admittedly, though, I was torn between this battle and the Battle by the Lakeshore based on the appearance of the Winter Wolves in the Season 2 Episode 8 preview.
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However, that doesn’t mean the show won’t tweak the narrative to insert the Winter Wolves into Red Fork. And who knows? House of the Dragon didn’t show Battle of the Burning Mill. Perhaps the episode will include both Red Fork and Lakeshore, or we’ll only see the aftermath.
Regardless, Daemon (Matt Smith) has raised an army of rivermen, and Jason Lannister (Jefferson Hall) marches toward the Riverlands with his westermen. It makes sense to have this battle take place in episode eight.
Aemond Will Meet Alys Rivers After Taking Harrenhal
Hopefully, in the finale, Daemon will check out of Harrenhal’s House of Horrors and make a beeline for King’s Landing. When he does, Aemond will see an opportunity to seize a defenseless Harrenhal with Murder Granny Vhagar. There, he’ll meet Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), everyone’s favorite barn owl-turned-human healer. In Fire & Blood, they become lovers. Full disclosure: I’ve been eagerly waiting for these two to meet.
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Alfred Broome Will Fan Flames of Daemyra Conflict
In the season finale promo, Alfred Broome (Jamie Kenna) throws Rhaenyra under the bus by telling Daemon that she “faltered” while he rallied the troops. Methinks Ser Alfred deserves one of Rhaenyra’s slaps. Anyway, the rift between Rhaenyra and Daemon has been forming since episode one of this season. Rhaenyra might decide to do more with Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) besides kissing her, which could cause further discord with Daemon. I like this reversal, and who knows? Daemon might also rekindle a romance with Mysaria down the line.
All this to say, Alfred’s not helping things. His remarks might harden Daemon’s heart regarding Rhaenyra. I don’t think he’ll rise against her; that would undo all that free therapy. But when Daemon and Rhaenyra reunite, they won’t be on good terms. I expect fire and—wait for it—blood.
Tyland Will Fail to Negotiate With Free Cities
Aemond orders Tyland Lannister (Hall) to sweet talk the Free Cities and get the Triarchy on their side to help them destroy the Sea Snake’s blockade in the Gullet. In the Season 2 Episode 8 preview, Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn), a Lysene admiral who commands the Triarchy fleet, seemingly has fun with a bearded someone in the mud. My guess is this is Tyland, and he will ultimately fail to negotiate with Sharako. Fire & Blood tells us that Otto attempted this feat; his efforts bore fruit.
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So, I predict Otto will save the day when Tyland fails. We already know Aemond wants his grandsire back in King’s Landing, but Otto winning over the Free Cities will make him an invaluable asset to the Greens again. Considering this alliance leads to the Battle of the Gullet, I’m guessing we won’t see it go into effect until next season.
Rhaena Will Finally Claim Sheepstealer
Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) is prolonging her stay in the Vale, whether Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin) likes it or not. In episode seven, she leaves Aegon the Younger and Viserys, who are bound for Pentos, to search for the enigmatic wild dragon wreaking havoc on the poor, unsuspecting sheep.
She’ll stumble upon Sheepstealer (who should be at Dragonstone, but I digress) and finally have a sky lizard to claim. I’m so excited to see the famed Sheepstealer. So far, the designs for each dragon have been incredible (Silverwing is gorgeous).
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Rhaena could take Sheepstealer to Dragonstone and join Team Black as they seize King’s Landing. Although, I imagine Rhaenyra might have some words about Rhaena abandoning her small boys.
What are your predictions for House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 8? Sound off in the comments below.
House of the Dragon airs its Season 2 finale on Sunday at 9 pm on HBO and Max.
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