Warning: spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon episode 9.
In the aftermath of the death of King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine), King’s Landing is in a chaotic state in House of the Dragon episode 9.
While some still support the late king’s former wish for Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) to ascend the Iron Throne, others – led by Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) – want the king’s second-born child and eldest son Prince Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) to take the crown instead.
Alicent and Otto set about putting this plan into motion in the latest instalment – but viewers couldn’t help but notice that Rhaenyra and her husband Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) were completely missing from the episode.
‘Don’t tell me Rhaenyra and Daemon aren’t in this episode?’ one forlorn fan tweeted, while another said: ‘I’m really just ready for Rhaenyra and Daemon to turn up next week.’
So where were the duo?
Where are Rhaenyra and Daemon in House of the Dragon episode 9?
During last week’s episode eight, Rhaenyra and Daemon paid a visit to King’s Landing after several years away.
They witnessed the deteriorated state Viserys had progressed into as he continued to suffer with his ill-health, while their children and Alicent’s – who were all more grown up – became acquainted once more amid growing tension between the families.
Rhaenyra and Daemon headed back to Dragonstone, where they live, with their respective broods, just before Viserys died in his bed.
Moments before his death, he uttered the words of the Prince that was Promised prophecy to Alicent, mistakenly believing that he was actually talking to his daughter, Rhaenyra.
This led Alicent to believe that her husband actually wanted her son Aegon to take the throne, jumping to the conclusion that this was his final wish on his deathbed.
When it emerges that Viserys has died, the news is initially kept as a secret known only to a very few people.
During an urgent King’s Council meeting, the majority of those in attendance agree that it’s time to place Aegon on the throne.
This plan is of course made easier for the Greens by the fact that Rhaenyra and Daemon are longer at King’s Landing, but are at their residence, Dragonstone.
Alicent tells her father that she wishes to make contact with Rhaenyra to request that she and her followers bend the knee to Aegon.
However, before doing so, Aegon has his coronation and is crowned for all of King’s Landing to witness.
Rhaenyra and Daemon presumably have no idea what’s going on – that is, until Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) smashes through the floor on her dragon before flying away to warn her of the war that’s to come.
So having Rhaenyra and Daemon missing from the episode just highlights how much in the dark the couple are about the treachery the Greens are committing in their absence.
Will Rhaenyra and Daemon be in the House of the Dragon season finale?
A trailer for the season finale of House of the Dragon has already been released and confirms that Rhaenyra and Daemon will be back next week.
The teaser shows Rhaenys warning Rhaenyra that the Greens are coming for them, before her clan start preparing for the battle ahead.
Dragons take to the sky, weapons are collated and the people of the realm declare their loyalties one way or the other.
While next week might be the final episode of the season, the dance of dragons is only just beginning.
When is the House of the Dragon season finale coming out?
House of the Dragon returns in the UK on Monday October 24 at 2am on Sky Atlantic and NOW for the season finale.
The episode will be airing in the US on the evening of Sunday October 23 on HBO.
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