House of the Dragon season 1 episode 7 recap: Driftmark

This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1 episode 7.

When Rhaenyra, Daemon, and Alicent’s children get into a vicious fight, the parents show their true colors in this episode of House of the Dragon season 1.

Catch up here on everything from the last episode!

The seventh episode begins with Lady Laena’s somber funeral on Driftmark. Vaemond Velaryon, Laena’s uncle and Corlys’ brother, is presiding over the ceremony and dropping not-so-subtle hints about how Prince Daemon’s children are more Velaryon than Rhaenyra’s ever could be.

During the reception, Princess Rhaenyra goes to her eldest son Jace to tell him to comfort his cousins after losing their mother. Jace explains how he wishes they were in Harrenhal mourning the Strongs.

Rhaenyra states these are their kin, the Lyonel and Harwin were not. Jace eventually goes over and all three comforts each other.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 7: Rhaenyra keeps up appearances

Prince Aegon II and Aemond are talking about how Aegon is disgusted by the fact their mother betrothed him to Helaena, their sister. His brother explains he would do it without question, but it is not his duty as a second-born.

Aegon ignores Aemond and continues to down cups of wine. Across the space, Rhaenyra and Daemon share longing looks at one another, hinting that their romance is far from over.

At the tides, Ser Laenor is mourning his sister. Lord Corlys sees this so he sends Ser Qarl to retrieve him.

King Viserys eventually goes to his brother to offer Daemon a spot in his court, asking him to come home. Daemon explains how he does not need anything from him, and that Pentos is his home now.

Ser Otto, who is not the Hand of the King once again, gives faux pity to Daemon as the prince storms away from his kingly brother. The evening is coming to a close, as Rhaenyra sends her boys to bed against their wishes.

King Viserys also goes to bed but not before mistaking Alicent for his late wife Aemma. A mistake that makes the Queen and her sworn protector Ser Criston Cole disgusted.

Noticing her grandson is drowning in wine, Ser Otto commands Aegon to get to bed so that he does not embarrass the family. Ser Qarl then helps the heartbroken Laenor to bed while he is drenched from the waters of Blackwater Bay.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 7: Love and Fire on the Beach

In High Tide castle, Corlys and Rhaenys are talking with the “Queen Who Never Was” being in denial when she states their maestors could have helped Laena more. Rhaenys goes on to state her wishes for Laena’s daughters to inherit Driftmark since they are true of Coryls’ blood.

Corlys states matter of factly, “History does not remember blood, it remembers names.” Walking on the shore, Rhaenyra and Daemon have an open conversation about Laenor, Harwin, and the fire at Harrenhal.

The princess does not believe Alicent would do that and makes some allusions to Daemon being responsible. He takes offense and the two have a showdown about who had the worst time since they departed all those years ago.

Rhaenyra explains how she was so hurt after being manipulated as a child by Daemon before he left. But they are together now and the two begin to make love on the beach.

At a different part of the beach, Aemond is out late looking for the dragons on Driftmark. King Viserys’ second-born son walks Driftmark’s beaches until he finds Laena’s dragon, Vhagar.

The boy tries to mount the dragon but the beast snarls and almost breathes fire until Aemond speaks High Valyrian. Vhagar obeys.

Aemond is then able to mount the dragon and rides off into the sky on his new beast. Baela and Rhaena Velaryon notice this and become upset since that is supposed to belong to them.

The two daughters along with Jace and Luke go down to see who was Vhagar only to find a smug Aemond.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 7: The Targaryen schism grows bigger

Baela and Rhaena attack Aemond for stealing their mother’s dragons but Aemond easily overpowers them. Jacaerys and Lucerys go after their cousin, but Aemond is barely able to handle the brothers while calling them bastards in the process.

This leads Jace to bring out his dagger which is dropped as Aemond begins raising a rock to his cousin. Jace then throws dirt in the face of Aemond which gives Luke enough time to pick up the dagger and slice up the right side of Aemond’s face.

Lord Commander Harrold Westerling arrives and breaks up the fight between the adolescent regents. In the Hall of Nine, Viserys is demanding answers from the Kingsguard but they have none.

The maester tells Queen Alicent that the flesh on Aemond’s face will heal, but the eye is lost. She takes this information and gets upset at drunk Aegon for not protecting his brother.

Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys arrive in their hall, followed shortly by Rhaenyra, to comfort their grandchildren and children, respectively, and to get answers themselves. This leads to a screaming match from all the kids giving their sides until Viserys ceases the yelling.

The king goes to ask Aemond about what happened to which Rhaenyra chimes in and explains vile insults about Jace and Luke’s true parentage was put into question. Viserys demands his son tell him where he heard this lie, to which Aemond eventually states he heard it from Aegon.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 7: King Viserys demands answers

When Viserys goes to his oldest, Aegon explains everyone knows just by looking at them. Viserys is shocked to hear this, so he demands everyone to make their apologies to put this issue to rest.

Alicent is unfulfilled with this development, demanding an eye from Lucerys. Her husband, appalled by this demand does not give in.

Alicent tries to have Ser Criston take the eye but declines since his duty towards the queen are just as her sworn protector. King Viserys decrees that anyone who speaks these lies again will lose their tongue.

Having snapped, Alicent takes Viserys’ dagger and runs towards Rheanyra ready to strike. With some help from Daemon, the Kingsguard restrain the clearly biased Criston Cole.

Alicent and Rhaenyra tussle in the middle of the Hall of Nine. Alicent voices all of her frustrations to Rhaenyra in front of everyone, about how she has had to make sacrifices as queen while Rhaenyra flaunts about ignoring her duties of being princess and heir.

Rhaenyra just reflects how Alicent has shown who she truly is. As they finally break apart after Viserys and Otto trying to cool off Alicent, the queen slices her former friend’s arm, drawing blood from the princess.

Silence covers the hall until Aemond states the exchange was fair, he lost an eye but gained a dragon. Viserys finally puts an end to the argument and scene and they all disperse.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 7: House Hightower gets stronger

In her chambers, Alicent is greeted by her father who only has praise for the queen. He knows that the passion she showed today will help them win the ugly game they are playing.

Otto agrees with Aemond that the cost of a dragon is worth a thousand times the price he paid for one eye. In the morning, Rhaenyra is receiving care for her sliced arm which is thankfully a flesh wound.

Laenor arrives from his rough emotional night to find his wife with a cut and his youngest son with a broken nose. The princess excuses the maester and her sons so she can talk with her husband.

She catches up with Laenor, mainly about Aemond calling their sons bastards. This leads to her husband blaming himself.

The princess tries to relieve Laenor since he is a good and honest man in a world where that is rare. Laenor explains that Ser Qarl is leaving for the Stepstones so he is pledging his services to prepare Rhaenyra to ascend the Iron Throne.

On their carriage ride to the pier, Alicent tries comforting her husband, as her father told her to, and is being penitent for her actions. Viserys wants to hear no more of it and just move on, maintaining his status by ignoring the issue of his daughter’s children.

Once they are on their boat, Lord Larys Strong approaches Queen Alicent and offers to retrieve the eye she desired from Lucerys. She declines but states she might need him one day, just as long he remains discreet with their partnership.

House of the Dragon season 1 episode 7: Rhaenyra and Daemon together

The episode ends with Rhaenyra and Daemon reconvening after their night of lust followed by their children fighting Alicent’s offspring. Rhaenyra remarks how they lost their beloveds to fire even though the fire has aided the Targaryens for generations.

The princess states how she needs Daemon in her efforts against “the greens” of House Hightower. Daemon is not turned off by this proposal, but they are unable to wed with Laenor still around.

To this, there is a plan schemed up to have Ser Qarl take out Laenor with Daemon giving Qarl payment for this act. Ser Qarl goes along with this plan to make it a quick death with witnesses.

This plan goes off without a hitch since when Laenor and Qarl took up swords in High Tide, a servant went to alert the guards. By the time Coryls and Rhaenys arrive in their great hall, a charred body is pulled out of their fireplace as the couple loses their last remaining child.

Now that Laenor is gone, Rhaenyra and Daemon have a traditional Targaryen wedding with his daughters and her sons watching on with their maester. As their celebration commences, a row boat escapes Driftmark with Ser Qarl and a head-shaven, and fully alive Ser Laenor Velaryon.

Do you think Laenor will be able to escape the eponymous game of thrones in Pentos? How do you think the new marriage of Rhaenyra and Daemon will shape the growing schism in King’s Landing? 

Let us know your answers and opinions in the comments below!

Watch the new episode of House of the Dragon season 1 next Sunday, only on HBO!