House of the Dragon, the new Game of Thrones prequel TV series, is off to an excellent start with season 1 bringing in nearly 30 million viewers per episode. The show takes place 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and tells the story of House Targaryen’s downfall. Each episode in season 1 came with its fair share of twists and turns that left viewers begging for more. Now that season 1 has finished, here is our official ranking of season 1 episodes *Spoilers ahead*
#10: Episode 2 - "The Rogue Prince"
In this episode, we see the first of the many dreadful time jumps to come throughout the season. The episode takes place 6 months after the death of Rhaenyra’s mother Queen Aemma. Rhaenyra chooses Ser Criston Cole to join the Kingsguard and Daemon steals a dragon egg which Rhaenyra easily takes back by the end of the episode. Everyone is surprised when King Viserys chooses to marry Alicent and it causes Lord Corlys Velaryon to ally with Daemon out of pure anger. The episode is considered pretty uneventful in the world of Game of Thrones and can be considered more of a supporting episode that helps build the plot.
(Daemon holds the stolen dragon egg)
#9: Episode 4 - "King of the Narrow Sea"
After returning back to King's Landing, Daemon convinces Rhaenyra to sneak out into the city with him one night. As the night goes on, Daemon brings Rhaenyra to a brothel and they share a kiss. Then after sneaking back home Rhaenyra convinces Ser Criston Cole to sleep with her. The next day Otto tells the King that a trusted source has seen Daemon and Rhaenyra having sex. As a result, Viserys sends Daemon back to his wife at the Vale and removes Otto as the Hand of the King. Queen Alicent confronts Rhaenyra about it and she lies to her best friend's face and acts insulted by the accusation. The episode focused more on the drama that ensued from Rhaenyra’s risqué night out rather than typical Game of Thrones combat. It simply serves to show the rising tensions between the Greens and the Blacks.
(Rhaenyra sneaks out into the city with Daemon)
#8: Episode 1 - "The Heirs of The Dragon"
In this season premiere, viewers get their first look at Westeros and all the new House of the Dragon characters, and even better… their dragons. After setting the stage viewers are thrown right into the action as we see King Viserys sacrifice his wife to try and save what would have been his firstborn son. The scene sets the tone for how intense this season will be. At the end of the episode, Rhaenyra is named heir to the throne and the stage is set. Although this episode enchants the audience and meets the high expectations of Game of Thrones fans, the episode being introductory lacks the thrilling action that we find later in the season.
(Fans first look at Kings Landing and a dragon)
#7: Episode 3 - "Second of His Name"
In King's Landing, King Viserys is celebrating his son, Aegon’s second birthday with a royal hunt. After being berated by her father Rhaenyra rides off into the forest only to be followed by Ser Criston Cole. They spend the night together in the forest and are attacked by a wild boar that comes out of nowhere. The next morning Rhaenyra spots a white hart: an omen of who should rule. Meanwhile in the Stepstones Daemon comes up with a master plan to draw the Crabfeeder out and ultimately slay him. Now although this episode gives viewers their first taste of blood in Daemon’s outnumbered battle with the Crabfeeder, the uneventfulness back in Kings Landing drags the episode down.
(Daemon after his grueling battle with the Crabfeeder)
#6: Episode 9 - "The Green Council"
King Viserys is announced as dead and Otto’s plan to make Aegon king is a go. Both Otto and Alicent send out people to find Aegon and return him. On their hunt to find Aegon viewers are shown exactly why he should not be king. The parties look for him in places like brothels and at children fighting pits where we discover he has several illegitimate children that compete. After returning him to his mother, Alicent convinces Aegon as to why he deserves to be king even though he knows his father would have never wanted it. He is crowned that day and near the end of the ceremony, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen crashes through the Red Keep’s floor on dragonback, presumably killing hundreds of civilians and escaping Kings Landing. Although quite an eventful episode, everything that happened seemed to come with no surprise to viewers, and that’s why we are placing it at our number 6 spot.
(Aegon after being crowned king)
#5: Episode 6 - "The Princess and The Queen"
Starting with a 10-year time jump, the episode feels like you’ve started a whole new show, introducing some brand new characters and even bigger problems. Rhaenyra's three children are introduced and their appearance makes it obvious to everyone they are not Laenor’s. Queen Alicent and Ser Criston’s hate for Rhaenyra burns brighter over the years. Out of fear for her children Rhaenyra and Laenor leave for Dragonstone and Ser Harwin (Rhaenyra’s baby daddy) and his father Lord Lyonel Strong (Hand of the King) head back to Harrenhal. In the night Larys Strong sneakily sets fire to Harrenhal killing both Lord Lyonel and Ser Harwin. Laena Velaryon, Daemon’s new wife, kills herself via dragon breath after not being able to give birth to her third child. When will the awkward time jumps end!? Just as people were getting used to the show and its characters, poof, everything you think you know is out the door. Many fans were displeased with the recasting selections as well. However, this episode did bring some spice as several supporting characters were killed off quite dramatically.
(Laena prepares to die a dragon rider's death)
#4: Episode 5 - "We Light The Way"
Rhaenyra and Laenor agree to marry and they come up with the secret agreement that they will fulfill their duties as husband and wife but will see whoever they wish on the side. After Larys tells Alicent about Rhaenyra’s contraceptive drink, Alicent confronts Ser Criston to see if he knows anything about it. Ser Criston accidentally confesses to sleeping with Rhaenyra and Alicent is taken back realizing that her best friend has lied to her. Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding party comes to an abrupt ending when Ser Criston Cole bashes in Ser Joffery’s (Laenor’s Lover) head in the middle of the dance floor. Rhaenyra and Laenor have a quick private ceremony ending with the dying King Viserys collapsing to the ground. In the final scene, Ser Criston Cole is preparing to end his life after what he has done. This episode is a pivotal point in the season as it changes the way Alicent thinks of her once best friend and it makes her realize her only ally now is herself. Not to mention many of the main characters come so close to death.
(Ser Criston Cole prepares to take his own life)
#3: Episode 10 - "The Black Queen"
Princess Rhaenys arrives at Dragonstone to report that King Viserys is dead and Aegon has been named king. Due to the shock of the news, Rhaenyra goes into labor early which ends with a heart-sinking stillbirth. Meanwhile, Daemon quickly seizes control and prepares to go to war. Before Daemon can do anything drastic, Rhaenyra is named Queen, giving fans what they have been waiting for this whole season. Seeking allies, Rhaenyra sends her boys to separate locations as messengers. At Lucerys’ first stop, Aemond is waiting for him with his newly pimped-out eye and wants revenge. Just when Lucerys thought he had made it home free he is faced again with Aemond but now on dragonback. The inexperienced boys both lose control of their dragons which causes the much bigger Vhagar to eat both Lucerys and Arrax. Yikes! In the final scene, we can see the enraged Rhaenyra who looks ready to go to war over her son’s death. This episode perfectly sets up the seasons to come and gives fans a new queen to root for. Lucerys’ death is also one of the most impactful deaths of season 1.
(Vhagar eats Lucerys and Arrax)
#2: Episode 7 - "Driftmark"
The thrilling episode takes place at Laena's funeral in Driftmark. While everyone is mourning the loss of both Laena and Ser Harwin, Aemond sneaks away in the middle of the night to claim Laena’s dragon, Vhagar. Jace, Lucerys, Baela, and Rhaena catch Aemond, and a bloodthirsty battle ensues. It ends when Luke slashes out one of Aemond’s eyes. All the adults are woken by the commotion and Alicent demands Luke’s eye as retribution. King Viserys tells her to calm down but she does quite the opposite. She goes to attack the young boy but slices Rhaenyra’s arm instead. The scene goes to show the real danger that Queen Alicent has become and that she is willing to go to extreme measures for her family. Laenor fakes his death and escapes across the narrow sea which is enough to make a grown man cry. Finally, Rhaenyra and Daemon are married in some weird blood ritual that they make the kids watch. The action-packed episode comes in at number two because the intense battle between both the children and adults marks the official start of the war between the Greens and the Blacks.
(Queen Alicent attempts to attack Lucerys but is stopped by Rhaenyra)
#1: Episode 8 - "The Lord of The Tides"
Coming in at our number one spot is King Viserys final episode on House of the Dragon. In this emotional episode, the dying King Viserys comes to sit on the iron throne for the final time and defends his daughter. After calling Rhaenyra’s children bastards and her a whore, Daemon gruesomely beheads Vaemond in front of everyone. King Viserys then brings his whole family together one last time to have dinner together. What starts as a wholesome scene quickly turns sour as the children begin fighting once again. In his dying breath, King Viserys, thinking he is speaking to his daughter Rhaenyra, begins reciting Aegon’s dream, the Song of Ice and Fire, which Queen Alicent interprets as him wanting her son Aegon to be king. The emotion King Viserys is able to provoke from the audience is why we must place this episode in the number one spot. His performance in this episode is truly Emmy-worthy and serves as a perfect reminder as to why the Game of Thrones franchise remains undefeated.
(King Viserys takes the iron throne for the last time)
This wraps up our House of The Dragon Season 1 Ranked Episodes list! Let us know in the comments below if you agree or disagree with our rankings. Be sure to follow our Instagram and TikTok where we post additional exciting content!
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