#hotd 1x10 spoilers

[arabian-bloodstream]

The Object of Your Ire

Oh, Daemrya fam! We were blinded by the chemistry and the gorgeous love story (which I still firmly believe is intact and still totes there), but oh, oh, oh, the scenes that played out in the final episode, including the infamous choking scene, ah, they were all carefully set up!

Episode 1 -  Our first scene with Daemon? HE was sitting on the Iron Throne and it was Rhaenyra that came to him, and he talked of himself being the heir. Later we saw him listening in on the Small Council meeting, clearly showing an interest in the goings-on of the realm, the interplay. Later, he made it clear to Viserys that the fact that Viserys had never relied upon him, asked him to be Hand, trusted in him hurt him deeply. He was removed as heir, and banished.

Episode 2 - Daemon stole the egg meant for Baelon, the "heir for the day." Rhaenrya challenged him and she told him that she was the "object of his ire" as she was the heir to the Iron Throne. He acquiesed, because as we all know, haha, he is putty in her hands. He brought members of the City Watch with him to Dragonstone because they were loyal to him, not the crown.

Episode 3 - He was off in the Stepstones with Corlys attempting to fight and win a war to gain his own legitimacy and name on his own. When Viserys offered help, Daemon was all fuck that shit and almost single-handedly did it on his own. He needed that legitimacy to back himself up. And he got it.

Episode 4 - He returned to King's Landing as "King of the Narrow Sea." Daemon took Rhaenyra out on the town in "disguise" but once they got to the brothel, he removed her hat so that her identity was clear to all who might be paying attention, and of course, people would be paying attention. Later, when Viserys wailed on him, Daemon said he wanted Rhaenyra, wanted to restore House Targaryen to its former glory. Viserys was not down for that, reminding him that (a) he already had a wife, and (b) he didn't want Rhaenyra, he only wanted the throne. And he banished him again.

Now about this, the Inside the Episode featured the showrunners saying that Daemon had taken Rhaenyra on their little adventure to get back at Viserys, to get under his skin, and that, of course, if he were to marry Rhaenyra, it would get him closer to the throne, and the Daemyra fam (including myself) pish-poshed that notion. Nuh uh, we all said. Daemon doesn't care about the throne, he wants Rhaenyra. Viserys is a blind fool, and the showrunners are talking crack. But, erm, nope, taking off my pretty Daemyra-colored glasses, the two things can both be true. Yes, Daemon realized that he wanted Rhaenyra, because, duh, obviously he did. But he still wanted the throne. He did.

Look at Episode 1-4. Daemon was introduced ON THE IRON THRONE. He reminded Rhaenyra he was the heir. He listened in on the Small Council meetings in private to keep apprised of what was going on. He established his own personal little army essentially with the City Watch. He made his own name for himself, fighting (and eventually) winning the war (for a time) in the Stepstones, and being named King there. He arranged to compromise Rhaenyra and had he succeeded in sleeping with her it is very likely that Daemon would have been able to convince (with a besotted Rhaenyra) to convince Viserys to set aside his unconsummated marriage to Rhea so that he could marry Rhaenrya. Boom, Daemon is now King Consort heir.

Episode 5 - He gets rid of the wife, makes his way back just before she is to wed, he's got six days to upend that, right? Alas, things goes South.

Episode 6 - Of all the women in Westeros, who does he marry? The daughter of the second most powerful man (arguably THE most) in Westeros, Corlys Velaryon. The only problem, and this is where the love story comes in because, yes, Daemon and Rhaenyra DO have this love story. It's NOT just that Daemon wants to restore House Targaryen to its former glory. It's not just that Daemon wants to be respected by Viserys. It's not just that Daemon wants the throne. Nope, Daemon also is in love, madly in love, with Rhaenyra. So, we have the ten years of a Daemon Targaryen who is a shadow of the man he was. He no longer burns. Because he can not flicker, light up without his other half. He just cannot. Just as she cannot.

Episode 7 - They reunite. They burn. Just as they are meant to.

Episode 8 - All of the feelings, all of the love that Daemon felt for Viserys come to the fore. All of the love, all of the desire for the Targaryen glory to burn rise as the signs of it have been stricken from the Red Keep. The only softness we see from Daemon, the only sign of the good in him is the love for Rhaenyra, Viserys, and the children, but the violent, bloodthirsty anger is there, seething beneath the surface.

Episode 9 - The Greens do their thang.

Episode 10 - It all comes to a head. Look back, look at what we've seen with Daemon throughout the series' run so far. He was the heir, introduced on the Iron Throne. He wanted to be at Viserys' side the whole time. He wanted to be TRUSTED by Viserys. Rhaenyra, "the object of his ire," was made heir fourteen years -- at the least -- long after he had been heir. He was pushed around from position to position, moved like a worthless piece that Viserys didn't have time for while his brother trusted fucking Otto Hightower and Daemon did what he could in each role, never being trusted, never being regarded as worthy. He loved Rhaenyra for years. He lost ten years with her because Viserys didn't trust him, didn't listen to him. Rhaenyra's favor at court, reputation was damaged nearly irreparably, constantly having to be defended because Viserys wouldn't allow him to wed her. All because Viserys thought him unworthy.

And he wanted it. He DID want it. We know that. We know that from episode 01. We saw that. And here we are, the moment they find out, Daemon was ready, Daemon was decisive, making plans, sending out ravens, doing what needs be done, for Rhaenyra, for the Targaryen House glory, acting as a king would do. But as Jace reminded him--which he ignored--and then Rhaenyra reminded him by standing down his orders, which he did listen to--he was not the king. She was the queen. She was the one that Viserys found worthy. She was the one that Viserys trusted. Not him, never him. And then, ah, and then, it all came to a head.

Rhaenyra casually mentioned the Song of Ice and Fire dream. She mentioned it to him as if she expected him to know because, of course, he did. He had been the heir to the Iron Throne for years. Of course, Viserys had told him. Daemon was heir to the throne. Daemon was Viserys' heir, he must have trusted him. He *must* have told him. But. He. Had. Not. Because Viserys didn't trust him. He thought he was unworthy. A dishonorable man. And the person standing there, telling him this, bringing this final act of knowledge to him, the last "gift" from his brother, the last thing he would ever learn from Viserys now that he was dead was Rhaenyra, the one who knew, the one Viserys found worthy, the one that Viserys trusted, the object of his ire.

Daemon was awful and wrong and terrible for what he did to Rhaenyra. Daemon is also wild and turbulent and a violent man who is suffering through the most chaotic couple of days of his entire life.

His brother--who he deeply loved and deeply hated in equal parts--just died.

Daemon believed that same brother was slain by the people who stole his wife's crown.

His wife's throne was usurped. A throne that has been in his family for generations. Nevermind that technically the usurper is also his family, their Hightowers, damnit!

His wife also had a stillborn baby which is terrible enough on its own, but his last wife also would have had a stillborn baby--had she not surrendered herself to dragonfire.

He was this close to killing Otto Hightower. Thisclose! But Rhaenrya wouldn't let him. Fuuuuck! THISCLOSE!

It's been a chaotic crazy few days. Even for Daemon Targaryen. He forgot himself. He was very bad. Daemon is a very, very bad boy. We know this. It doesn't mean he doesn't still love Rhaenrya. After all, he was the one who came to her with news of Luke. Held her hand for a long, long moment. Stood beside her. And I have little doubt he will continue to stand beside her. Because he loves her. We've seen that plainly throughout the run of the series' so far. Just as we've seen that he also wanted the throne. But, you know what? He has given that up... FOR Rhaenyra. Again, because he loves her.

So, yeah, for anyone who thinks that everything that happened in this episode hasn't had the seeds lain? They have. They most definitely have.

#hotd 1x10 spoilers #hotd 1x10 #hotd spoilers #daemon targaryen #house of the dragon spoilers #daemyra positivity #daemyra

[aemondssapphire]

FINALLY AEMOND’S SAPPHIRE EYE

1x10 spoilers ⬎

#on my knees #hotd spoilers #hotd 1x10 spoilers #aemond targaryen #the sapphire eye? the scar? those lips? #so hot and for what #ewan mitchell #house of the dragon #house of the dragon spoilers

[theitaliansalad]

spoilers for that scene in 1x10 under the cut.

so. that scene. the choking “kink” scene. 

Daemon doesn’t grab Rhaenyra by the neck because he doesn’t love her or because he wants to hurt her. he grabs her by the neck because Daemon is a fucked up human being. he’s violent and chaotic and messy. he is incapable of dealing with his own emotions. he has no control over himself.  

he acts insane throughout the whole episode. Rhaenyra herself says so. he tries to keep his mind occupied at all times, preparing for war, because if he lets himself feel, he’s gonna crumble. 

it’s not that he doesn’t feel. it’s that he feels too much and doesn’t know what do to about it. 

he grabs her by the neck because in the mist of grief and anger and desperation, he just found out that the brother he loved so dearly and that he so insistently tried to protect - Viserys, his big brother, he’s never trusted him. never. never had any intention of trusting him. not once. not at all. 

Daemon is the kind of person who kills his wife by smashing her head with a rock. 

so he grabs Rhaenyra by the neck. and she kind of laughs when she realises that Daemon doesn’t know. he does not know because his own brother kept their family secret from him. 

Daemon grabs her by the neck but it’s not about Rhaenyra and Daemon as a couple. 

it’s not about Rhaenyra at all.

#HE'S NOT DEFENDABLE OF COURSE #NOR HE IS JUSTIFIABLE #HE IS SIMPLY INSANE #house of the dragon #house of the dragon spoilers #hotd spoilers #hotd 1x10 spoilers #don't stop to the surface #daemyra #daemon targaryen #rhaenyra targaryen #daemon and rhaenyra #viserys targaryen #let's just stop living of fanfiction guys #i still loved them so much #they're not ruined #they're simply insane #team black #team targaryen #i'm begging guys

[daemyrarule]

Daemon Targaryen and Rhaenyra Targaryen holding hands through the years

#hotd #house of the dragon #hotd spoilers #hotd 1x10 #daemon targaryen #daemyra #daemon x rhaenyra #matt smith #emma d'arcy #theyre still parents TO ME #she deserves sm better tho #him holding her hand at last i see hes back to malewifing #as he should #gifs #hotdedits #mine #rhaenyra targaryen #rhaenyra #i will go down (MORALLY) with this ship

[hotcupofdragons]

Me: I’m not going to get attached to ANYONE cause it’s GoT.

Also me: *gets overly attached to Luke*

Me during the finale:

#house of the dragon #game of thrones #hotd spoilers #rhaenyra targaryen #hotd #asoiaf #daemon targaryen #house targaryen #aemond targaryen #hotdcentral #lucerys velaryon #hotd 1x10 #I am positively DISTRAUGHT

[basedaemond]

yeeah ima need ser erryk and his brown leather man-purse to come slut me out.

#bby walks with a limp #bcuz his jewels are heavy #ser erryk cargyll #erryk cargyll #hotd #house of the dragon #rhaenyra targaryen #daemon targaryen #hotd 1x10 spoiler #hotd finale #asoiaf #hotd 1x10 #aemond targaryen #daemon x rhaenyra #daenyra #house of the dragon spoiler #hotd season 1 #hotd season finale #alicent hightower #otto hightower #criston cole #lucerys velaryon #jacaerys velaryon #aemond one eye #aemond #vhagar #arrax #hotdedit #my gifs #hotd gifs

[somefirewhiskeyfortheway]

#house of the dragon #hotd #hotd spoilers #hotdedit #hotd gifs #vhaegar #aemond targaryen #viserys targaryen #lucerys targaryen #hotd parallels #hotd 1x01 #hotd 1x10 #hotd the black queen #rhaenyra targaryen

[not-great-not-terrible]

Aemond gave big “I’m sorry! You’re fine, you’re FINE! Please don’t tell mom” vibes

#hotd spoilers #hotd #house of the dragon #aemond targaryen #hotd 1x10 #Aemond

[theobjectofyourire]

DAEMON SINGING IN HIGH VALYRIAN THIS IS IT BESTIES THIS IS HOW I GO

#IM UNWELL #IM NOT FINE #SEND HELP #house of the dragon #daemon targaryen #hotd #hotd spoilers #hotd 1x10 #matt smith

[unoccasionallyshiki]

I cannot wait to see the looks on the Green's faces when Aemond walks in to King's Landing and has to tell them "Heeyy...so I may have just started an all out war. But it isn't my fault. Honest. I only meant to maim the child, not kill him."

#aemond targaryen #aemond one eye #game of thrones #house of the dragon #lucerys velaryon #alicent hightower #house of the dragon 1x10 #Oops did i just accidentally a war #hotd spoilers #hotd #hotd 1x10

[lisarowes]

RHAENYRA & DAENERYS House of the Dragon | 1.10 - The Black Queen Game of Thrones | 8.04 - The Last of the Starks

#gotedit #got #hotdedit #hotd #rhaenyra targaryen #daenerys targaryen #daenerystargaryenedit #rhaenyratargaryenedit #hotd spoilers #hotd 1x10 #house of the dragon spoilers #gameofthronesdaily #targaryensource #*gifs

[arabian-bloodstream]

No, it’s not an ACCIDENT.

Just because Aemond didn’t “mean” to kill Lucerys doesn’t make what he did an “accident.” I’m sorry, but this is coming across like nitpicking to find something to attack the show for now.

If someone stabs someone in anger and “accidentally” kills them. They are STILL charged for murder. Because, you know what? It’s FUCKING MURDER!

That’s what Aermond did. It was intent. He INTENTLY went after Luke. He INTENTLY went after him on his MUCH, MUCH, MUCH larger dragon. He INTENTLY wanted to hurt him. He INTENTLY wanted revenge. He INTENTLY chased after him.

The result of what happened whether he gave the direct order to Vhagar or not doesn’t make Aemond any less culpable. It wasn’t a fucking “accident!”

Aemond is responsible bar none, period, hands-down. We saw multiple shots of Syrax reacting to Rhaenyra’s feelings throughout the episode showing the connection between rider and dragon. Vhagar has that connection with Aemond.

It was not an accident. Was he shocked afterward that it went that far? Sure, but he still did it. He still went after Luke WITH INTENT. it’s still HIS FAULT. He is STILL TO BLAME. He STILL has started this. PERIOD! All this did was give a little more grey and nuance to the character.

#aemond targaryen #hotd 1x10 spoilers #lucerys velaryon #hotd 1x10

[aemondssapphire]

The only good things about the season finale are Aemond’s sapphire eye reveal / speaking High Valyrian. Highly upset about everything else.

#aemond targaryen #house of the dragon spoilers #hotd 1x10 spoilers #house of the dragon #aemond one eye #ewan mitchell #how can you manage to ruin everything in one single episode #aemond rhaenyra and daemon deserved better

[azpiiicueta]

#hotd spoilers #house of the dragon #house of the dragon spoilers #hotd #hotd 1x10 #rhaenyra targaryen #rhaenyra #emma darcy #THIS SEASON FINALE SO GOOOD I HAD TO MAKE NYRA GIFSET W HER LIL CROWN #yeah i watch the leaked #mine*

[daemyrarule]

Jacaerys “I’m my mama’s son” Velaryon

#hotd #house of the dragon #jace velaryon #rhaenyra targaryen #jacaerys velaryon #hotd gifs #hotd spoilers #gifs #mine #milly alcock #team black #targaryen family #jacaerys targaryen #HIS MAMAS BOY #A REAL MANS #hes sm similar to young rhae it makes me emotional #hotd edits #hotd 1x10

[prideprejudce]

i also actually like the idea that the dance of the dragons officially began because the men in both rhaenyra and alicents life were pushing for a brutal violent war when both of them wanted to have peaceful negotiations instead. i like that much better than the “uwu two women queens couldn’t get along and we went to war and that’s why we should never have women in charge of anything” patriarchal bs route we could have gone down.

the real tragedy though is that this was the lesson that the characters from GoT took from this story

#hotd spoilers #house of the dragon spoilers #house of the dragon #hotd #hotd 1x10 #rhaenyra targaryen #alicent hightower #rhaenicent