The Queen Who Ever Was

This page is about the episode. For the short, see: The Queen Who Ever Was (short)

The Queen Who Ever Was
House of the Dragon
Season 2
Episode 8
Episode information
Air date	August 4, 2024
Run time	70 minutes
Written by	Sara Hess
Directed by	Geeta Vasant Patel
Chronological information
Year	132 AC
← Previous	"The Red Sowing"
Next →	Season 3, Episode 1

"The Queen Who Ever Was" is the eighth and final episode of the second season of House of the Dragon. It is the eighteenth episode of the series overall. It premiered on August 4, 2024 on HBO and Max. It was written by Sara Hess and directed by Geeta Vasant Patel.

Premise

As Aemond becomes more volatile, Larys plots an escape, and Alicent grows more concerned about Helaena’s safety. Flush with new power, Rhaenyra looks to press her advantage.

Synopsis

In Tyrosh

Tyland Lannister negotiates with the Triarchy for their fleet to help break the Velaryon shipping blockade. They agree but demand control over the Stepstones. Additionally, Admiral Sharako Lohar, a warrior woman referred to as "he," challenges Tyland to a mud-wrestling match before agreeing to sail with him. Tyland wins, earning Lohar's respect, and they set sail for Westeros with the Triarchy's fleet.

In the Crownlands

Enraged over Rhaenyra's new dragonriders, Aemond flies Vhagar to the Black-allied port city, Sharp Point, and incinerates it with dragonfire.

During the march toward Harrenhal, Gwayne sees Criston with Alicent's handkerchief and accuses him of breaking his Kingsguard vows. Despondent, Criston expresses regret over past choices, telling Gwayne he believes they are headed towards annihilation by Rhaenyra's dragons.

In King's Landing

Larys Strong tells Aegon about Rhaenyra's new dragonriders and Aemond's decimating Sharp Point. He also warns that Aemond's rage is an even greater threat to Aegon's life. Aegon wants Aemond imprisoned, but Larys argues Aemond and Vhagar are essential assets to fighting the war. Having moved the bulk of Harrenhal's gold to the Iron Bank of Braavos, Larys proposes that he and Aegon hide in Essos and return and reclaim the throne after Aemond and Rhaenyra have destroyed each other.

Aemond demands that Helaena ride her dragon, Dreamfyre, into battle. When she refuses, Aemond furiously manhandles Helaena, but Alicent intervenes, berating Aemond for being reckless and destructive. Later, Aemond tries gently persuading Helaena, but she again declines, revealing she knows he burnt Aegon and Sunfyre at Rook's Rest. She also says she has foreseen his death in the war and Aegon retaking the throne, and insists killing her, as Aemond threatens to in a moment of anger, will change nothing.

Later, Aegon and Larys secretly depart the city in a covered wagon.

At Driftmark

Corlys advises Rhaenyra to quickly utilize her new-found military advantage of more dragonriders. Corlys tries to bond with Alyn, who rebuffs his paternal attempts, rebuking Corlys for never showing interest in him and Addam when his legitimate children were alive, leaving the brothers to suffer as bastards; Alyn insists he will loyally serve Corlys in the fighting, but wants none of his help afterwards. Corlys and Alyn set sail aboard Corlys' flagship, the Queen Who Never Was to join the Velaryon blockade.

At Harrenhal

Ser Alfred Broome arrives as Rhaenyra's emissary and, surveying Daemon's large Riverman army, pledges to follow Daemon if he proclaims himself king. Overhearing their conversation, an alarmed Ser Simon Strong sends Rhaenyra a raven, warning that Daemon may be traitorous.

At night, Alys Rivers leads Daemon to the weirwood tree, saying he is ready to see his fate, if he wishes. Daemon touches the tree and sees visions of the future: Brynden Rivers becoming the Three-Eyed Raven, a White Walker leading an army of wights, a landscape of dead dragons, Daenerys Targaryen with her three dragon hatchlings, and Rhaenyra sitting on the Iron Throne. Helaena then appears to him, stating that Daemon now knows the full story and his role in it.

Rhaenyra and Addam arrive at Harrenhal on dragonback. Daemon reveals to Rhaenyra that he knows of "The Song of Ice and Fire," and reaffirms his loyalty to her, bending the knee to her alongside the Riverman army; Broome retreats into the crowd.

In the Vale of Arryn

Exhausted from scouting the harsh Vale countryside without sustenance or shelter, Rhaena finds the wild dragon as it devours sheep.

At Dragonstone

Angered by Ulf's insolence, Jace threatens to hang him if he displays disloyalty or incompetence. Baela later empathizes with Jace, and expresses her concerns about civilian casualties, as does Rhaenyra. Mysaria counsels her to remain strong as she has a major tactical advantage. During supper, Rhaenyra promises knighthood to Addam, Hugh, and Ulf if they serve her well; she announces they leave in two days to attack Green strongholds, Lannisport and Oldtown.

Late at night, Alicent secretly arrives at Dragonstone to meet with Rhaenyra. She admits to her faults that helped cause the conflict and offers to allow Rhaenyra to peacefully take King's Landing and the throne after Aemond leaves for the Riverlands. In exchange, she pleads for her and her children's lives. Rhaenyra insists she must take Aegon's life to end the war and secure the throne. Alicent seemingly acknowledges that and departs the castle, promising that King's Landing's gates will be open in three days time.

Across Westeros

In the Reach, the Hightower host marches north accompanied by Prince Daeron Targaryen on his dragon Tessarion. At the Twins, House Stark's army crosses south. In the Westerlands, Jason Lannister and Humfrey Lefford lead their host east. Daemon emerges from Harrenhal, armor clad and ready to lead the Riverlords to war in Rhaenyra's name. Somewhere unknown, Otto Hightower is held captive.

Appearances

Main page: The Queen Who Ever Was/Appearances

Firsts Admiral Sharako Lohar Prince Daeron Targaryen Tessarion Sheepstealer

Deaths Sunfyre (fate confirmed)

Cast

Starring Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen Emma D'Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen Olivia Cooke as Queen Alicent Hightower and Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole Matthew Needham as Lord Larys Strong Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II Targaryen Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen Phia Saban as Queen Helaena Targaryen Harry Collett as Prince Jacaerys Velaryon Bethany Antonia as Lady Baela Targaryen Phoebe Campbell as Lady Rhaena Targaryen Jefferson Hall as Ser Tyland Lannister / Lord Jason Lannister Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers Kurt Egyiawan as Grand Maester Orwyle Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull Kieran Bew as Hugh Tom Bennett as Ulf and Simon Russell Beale as Ser Simon Strong

Co-starring Paul Kennedy as Lord Jasper Wylde Phil Daniels as Maester Gerardys Max Wrottesley as Ser Lorent Marbrand Jamie Kenna as Ser Alfred Broome Vincent Regan as Ser Rickard Thorne Antonio Magro as Lord Petyr Piper Abigail Thorn as Admiral Sharako Lohar Jordan Long as a Lyseni captain Ben Turner as a Tyroshi captain Steven Meo as a Myrish captain Daniel Fathers as Lord Humfrey Lefford Joshua Ben-Tovim as Brynden Rivers Tom Cawte as Criston Cole's squire Eddie Eyre as Ser Axell Bulwer Uncredited Bill Best as a Tyroshi pirate Milos Bindas as a Triarchy pirate Paul Kasey as a White Walker Imogen Ruby Little as Daenerys Targaryen

Notes

• 23 of 25 starring cast members appear in this episode.
• Starring cast members Ellora Torchia (Kat) and Tom Taylor (Cregan Stark) are not credited and do not appear in this episode.
  • Tom Taylor was supposed to be featured in the episode during the scene with the Winter Wolves crossing the Twins at the end, but he was cut from it.
• Alex Cahill, Nick Chopping, David Collom, David Cronnelly, Matt Crook, Lawrence Hansen, Richard Hansen, Rowley Irlam, Leigh Maddern, Leona McCarron, Tilly Powell, Daniel Rawlins, Sam Stefan, Helen Bailey, Jessica Walker, Josh Wheeldon, Richard Wheeldon, Ben Wright, Martin Gordon, and Rob Hayns were stunt performers in this episode.

Behind the scenes

• House of the Dragon: Season 2 was initially planned as a 10-episode arc, like the first season. Script rewrites resulting in a shorter episode count led to this episode serving as the season finale.
• When asked about his favorite day on set for Season 2, Ryan Condal responded:

"Well, I can't talk much about it, but there is a scene in... in the finale that I actually did not write, that was written by my wonderful writing partner, Sara Hess, that is, I think, one of the best scenes we've made on this show. And, uh, it's... it's between two people, and it's very long, and it's, uh... I mean, brought us to tears on set. I mean, it's just... it's brilliant."

• The episode title is a play on Rhaenys Targaryen's sobriquet, "the Queen Who Never Was."
• With a run time of 70 minutes, this episode is the longest of the television series so far.
• This episode features book-accurate Tyroshi with dyed hair and beards. This detail of Tyroshi culture was absent from Game of Thrones; in the books, Daario Naharis dyes his hair and beard blue (later purple), and his mustache gold, whereas in the TV series his hair is always in its natural color.
• Tyland Lannister incorrectly states that he is the Master of Ships. "A Son for a Son" established that he is now the Master of Coin, and the office of Master of Ships is vacant.
• This episode marks the first time a character has appeared in both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. The Game of Thrones characters Brynden Rivers and Daenerys, as well as Daenerys's dragons Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion, appear in a vision sequence. A White Walker and wights are also featured.
  • Brynden is also likely to appear in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, as he is a major character in The Mystery Knight, the third Dunk and Egg novella.
  • Consistently with his appearance in Game of Thrones, Brynden has two eyes, whereas in the books he famously has one eye, having lost one in combat with Aegor Rivers during the Battle of Redgrass Field. However, he has his signature winestain birthmark resembling a raven, which is absent from Game of Thrones.
• Shortly before Daemon's vision sequence, there is a brief appearance of one of the green men, a mysterious order said to guard the nearby Isle of Faces.
• Daemon's vision of the White Walkers opens from the point-of-view of a direwolf running through the forest.
• During the filming of the dinner scene in which Ulf repeatedly demands "more of those little birds," actor Tom Bennett ate over 30 quails.
• In the Inside the Episode feature, Ryan Condal incorrectly states that Sharp Point is the seat of House Massey. "Smallfolk" establishes that it is the seat of House Bar Emmon, as in the books.
• Daemon's words "Winter is coming (the official words of House Stark) with darkness and doom," spoken in High Valyrian, combined with his vision about the Night King, may allude to the Great War, in which the Targaryens and Starks will fight together against the army of the dead.
• Alyn reminds Corlys the deaths of Laenor, Laena, and Lucerys; obviously, he had no idea that Laenor faked his death ("Driftmark").
• It is the second time (following "The Burning Mill") Alicent and Rhaenyra secretly meet during the war for the same purpose - to put an end to it; this time, Alicent is the one who initiates the meeting.
• Larys asks Aegon "When Rhaenyra descends on you with her seven dragons, and you, without Vhagar, what then?"; Corlys tells Rhaenyra "You have six dragons under your banner." At that point, before reconciling with Daemon, the dragons Rhaenyra has in disposal are Syrax, Silverwing, Vermithor, Vermax, Seasmoke, and Moondancer (Tyraxes and Stormcloud are too small to fight); perhaps Larys counted Caraxes too.
• Criston Cole tells Gwayne Hightower that Alicent saved his life twice, once from the headsman's axe and once from himself ("We Light the Way").
• The Myrish and Tyroshi captains refer to Sharako Lohar as a man, but they are dressed like a woman, and offers Tyland Lannister to have sex with their wives. The book gives no description of Sharako, just his gender. The show character is perhaps partly based on Racallio Ryndoon, whose physical description (but not his name) was mentioned by Laenor, that he "wears women's frocks" ("The Princess and the Queen"), and according to the book had multiple wives.
• The brutal burning of Sharp Point serves no purpose at all for the Greens; on the contrary, such a cruel atrocity may prompt people to join the Blacks. It could be a sign that Aemond suffers from the Targaryen madness.

Altered and deleted scenes

• In the raw filmed material of the Winter Wolves crossing the Twins, Tom Taylor as Cregan Stark is marching at their head. He was cut out in post-production.

In the books

Main page: Differences in adaptation/House of the Dragon: Season 2#"The Queen Who Ever Was"

This episode is adapted from the chapter "The Dying of the Dragons — The Red Dragon and the Gold" from Fire & Blood.

Gallery

Videos

House of the Dragon Season 2 / Season Finale Preview / Max

Inside the Episode - S2, Ep 8 / House of the Dragon / HBO

Rhaenyra Tells Alicent A Son For A Son / House of the Dragon / Max

Daemon Targaryen Sees The Future of House Targaryen / House of the Dragon / Max

Daemon Targaryen Bends The Knee To Rhaenyra / House of the Dragon / Max

Corlys Velaryon Makes An Offer To Alyn of Hull / House of the Dragon / Max

Images

Stills

Screenshots

External links

• The Queen Who Ever Was on A Wiki of Ice and Fire
• The Queen Who Ever Was on HBO
• The Queen Who Ever Was on IMDb
• The Queen Who Ever Was on Max
• The Queen Who Ever Was on Wikipedia