House of the Dragon Season Finale Predictions

House of the Dragon concludes its first season this Sunday, and, folks, it appears we’re in for a wild ride as Team Black deals with the fallout from Team Green’s swift usurping of the Iron Throne. Unfortunately, it was all from Alicent Hightower’s gross misinterpretation of her dying husband Viserys I Targaryen’s final words. I still think she was being willfully obtuse, cherry-picking certain words so that Aegon’s claim to the Seven Kingdoms appeared legitimate. 

While on his deathbed, Viserys thought he was speaking to his daughter Rhaenyra Targaryen, who he named his heir two decades ago before he had two sons with Alicent. He spoke of “The Song of Ice and Fire” prophecy (which Daenerys Targaryen learned about in season 2 of Game of Thrones at the House of the Undying) and “The Prince That Was Promised” (who Melisandre insisted was prophesied five thousand years ago). Rhaegar Targaryen, Daenerys’ older brother, thought he was The Prince That Was Promised. 

Viserys meant to tell Rhaenyra that this prince would descend from her line, a hero who would deliver the Seven Kingdoms from darkness and lead the realm against the White Walkers and the Long Night (both of which played out on Game of Thrones). Viserys talked about Aegon the Conqueror without mentioning that last bit. Naturally, Alicent heard this and assumed Viserys had changed his mind about naming Rhaenyra his heir and pushed for her son to become king immediately following Viserys’s death.

With “The Black Queen,” episode 10 of House of the Dragon, on the horizon, certain events will serve as the tipping point for the fabled Dance of the Dragons. Let’s break down what might happen in the highly anticipated season finale based on the books!

Beware: The flames of spoilers rage ahead.

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Rhaenyra Will Give Birth to Visenya 

During Aegon II’s coronation, Rhaenyra gives birth to Visenya (named after Visenya, Aegon the Conqueror’s wife), her third child with Daemon Targaryen. Unfortunately, in Fire & Blood, the child is stillborn, emerging “twisted and malformed, with a hole in her chest where her heart should have been, and a stubby, scaled tail.” Of course, this is the account of Mushroom the Fool, who’s not the most reliable historian. I don’t think we’ll see Visenya’s body, but we’ll see how it tears Rhaenyra apart in the aftermath. 

There have been a few instances on the show of Fire & Blood character dialogue plucked verbatim from its pages. We’ll most likely get this line from Rhaenyra: “She was my only daughter, and they killed her. They stole my crown and murdered my daughter, and they shall answer for it.” Admittedly, after the way the Greens treat Rhaenyra, it’s difficult not to be Team Black, primarily since Viserys remained steadfast in having Rhaenyra be his heir until his last breath. 

As seen in the preview trailer for episode 10, Rhaenys Targaryen will arrive on Dragonstone to impart the news of Viserys’ passing and Aegon’s secret crowning. Couple that with bearing a stillborn daughter, and you’ve got a recipe for fiery, bloody vengeance on Rhaenyra’s part. 

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Otto Will Dispatch Aemond to Storm’s End

Last week’s episode spotlighted Team Green with “The Green Council.” Since the finale shifts the lens to Team Black, it’s a given that we won’t see much of their foes. However, we will see Otto Hightower and Aemond Targaryen (and potentially Criston Cole). In the book, the Green Council determines which houses will throw their support behind Aegon ascending the Iron Throne. They conclude that House Baratheon will pose problems since Boremund Baratheon is Rhaenys’ uncle. Boremund staunchly supported Rhaenys’ claim during the Great Council of 101. At this point, Boremund has passed on, with his son Borros (whose descendent Robert brought an end to Targaryen rule) ruling the roost. 

Naturally, Team Green wants to win House Baratheon’s favor, so Otto dispatches his grandson to Storm’s End to woo one of Borros’ daughters. Aemond must win the hand of one of them to secure the Stormlands for Aegon. 

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Jace Will Depart for the Eyrie 

Jacaerys Velaryon, Rhaenyra’s eldest son, will become an envoy for his mother along with his younger brother, Lucerys. We’ll see Jace depart first for the Eyrie, where he’ll treat with the Lady of the Vale. Next, he’ll fly on Vermax to White Harbor to gain Lord Manderly’s support, with a final stop at Winterfell to bring Lord Cregan Stark (an ancestor of Ned Stark) over to their side. We won’t see him interacting with these influential figures of the realm in the finale, but the decision to have him embark on this journey will take place. 

In Fire & Blood, Rhaenyra initially rejects Jace and Luke’s pleas to assist her in this manner, citing their age and the dangers that could await them with Team Green watching their every move. However, Jace’s argument in favor of serving as an envoy will prevail. 

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Otto Will Go to Dragonstone

Now, I’m less sure about this theory, but judging by the preview trailer for the season finale, it appears that Otto will make a pitstop on Dragonstone to ruffle some Targaryen feathers. If you look closely at said preview, you can see Daemon whipping out his Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister, wielded initially by Visenya Targaryen (which we first hear about in season 2 of Game of Thrones, mentioned by Arya Stark while discussing Harrenhal with Tywin Lannister), in response to unwanted guests. In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, it appears Daemon is pointing his blade at Otto. We can only see a distant profile of him, but it certainly looks like the Hand of the King. 

Otto doesn’t venture to Dragonstone in the book, so my guess is he could be visiting because of Rhaenys’ stunt in last week’s episode when she crashed Aegon’s coronation on her dragon, Meleys. Mind you, Otto was initially campaigning to kill Rhaenyra and her family. However, perhaps he changed his tune after facing a dragon. Maybe he’ll try to talk things out. Doubtful, but still.

After Rhaenyra’s hasty coronation, she dubs Otto and Alicent “traitors and rebels.” I can see Daemon threatening to kill Otto following Rhaenyra’s declaration if the latter indeed arrives on Dragonstone.

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Dragonseeds

A “dragonseed” is a term referring to the bastards of House Targaryen and House Velaryon. When Rhaenyra assembles the Black Council, she and her supporters/members of court take stock of the dragons on their side. Unfortunately, Aemond flies Vhagar, whose first rider, Visenya, helped conquer Westeros. Vhagar might be old, but she’s the largest dragon in the realm and fierce in battle.

Thus, Rhaenyra proposes they find riders for three riderless dragons on the Dragonmont — Vermithor, AKA the Bronze Fury (ridden by King Jaehaerys), Silverwing (whose former rider was Queen Alysanne, Jaehaerys’s wife, mentioned by Samwell Tarly in season 3 of Game of Thrones), and Seasmoke (formerly ridden by Laenor Velaryon, Rhaenyra’s first husband). 

In the preview, we see Daemon climbing into the Dragonmont to sing what ostensibly sounds like a lullaby in High Valyrian. Then, Vermithor roars into view, lighted by the flames in Daemon’s torch. The book chronicles the trials and tribulations of finding a rider for these dragons, as countless smallfolk of Dragonstone would boldly claim they were dragonseeds even if they weren’t. To their detriment, of course — dragons don’t let just anyone ride them.

With the above three dragons at their side, Team Black will have nine dragons in their arsenal to Team Green’s four. 

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Aemond Will Chase Luke on Dragonback at Storm’s End

Luke will arrive at Storm’s End on his dragon, Arrax, to treat with Borros Baratheon and bring the might of his house over to Rhaenyra’s camp. Aemond will already be there on his campaign to woo one of Borros’ daughters. Even though Luke lands at the ancestral seat of House Baratheon with a peace banner, Aemond will stir up trouble because he’s Aemond. Remember when Luke took out Aemond’s eye all those years ago? Aemond will let Luke fly home if he gives up one of his eyes. A literal eye for an eye. 

A nasty storm passes through the area, so Luke quickly hops on Arrax to head home. Aemond takes Vhagar in pursuit, and … it gets ugly. Vhagar is considerably larger than the young Arrax, and she easily overwhelms him. Unfortunately, Luke and Arrax die in this unfair battle above Storm’s End. 

Luke’s murder will undoubtedly hit Rhaenyra where it hurts since he’s her baby. I think we’ll see a harder, serrated-edged Rhaenyra in season 2 as she will strike out in vengeance for her son. 

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What are your theories for the season finale of House of the Dragon? Join the conversation alongside other House of the Dragon fans in the Let Your Spoiler Sideshow Facebook Group, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!