Top 10 Tragic Moments in HOTD
These "House of the Dragon" moments shocked audiences and left a gaping hole in their hearts. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the saddest and most tragic moments in the first two seasons of “House of the Dragon.”
Transcript
00:00My family has just been destroyed, but instead of being by my side or Rhaenyra's,
00:07you chose to celebrate your own rise!
00:10Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks
00:13for the saddest and most tragic moments in the first two seasons of House of the Dragon.
00:30If there's one theme that permeates House of the Dragon, it's family infighting.
00:42It occurs between the Blacks and the Greens, and it even seeps down to their knights.
00:55Erik and Erik Cargill are brothers, the former a Kingsguard of Aegon and the latter a Queensguard of Rhaenyra.
01:01Their rivalry comes to a head when Kristen Cole orders Erik to invade Dragonstone and assassinate the Queen.
01:14This results in a brutal fight between the two brothers, and it ends in both of their deaths.
01:20It is a haunting reminder of the personal costs of war,
01:23and how the drama between one family can reverberate to another.
01:39The entire first season is steeped in tragedy, as we're forced to watch the slow degradation of King Viserys.
01:45The kind ruler contracts an undisclosed illness, which is implied to be some type of leprosy.
01:51His physical condition gets worse and worse throughout the season,
01:54and viewers are forced to watch every agonizing minute of it.
02:02By the end, he's left frail and weak, with half of his face concealed by a mask.
02:07It makes for some very disturbing and uncomfortable viewing,
02:10and it's almost a relief when he finally passes away. Almost.
02:24It's still incredibly tragic, especially coming on the heels of that awkward family dinner.
02:30The defining characteristic of Aemond Targaryen is his black eyepatch,
02:34which certainly gives him the allure of a menacing villain.
02:37However, it also adds a nice layer of depth to what could have been a one-dimensional baddie,
02:42as we actually feel a small degree of sympathy for what has occurred.
02:50A young Aemond is confronted by a small army of children, including Jace,
02:54and it's in said scuffle that Luke slashes Aemond's face with a knife,
02:58effectively taking out his eye.
03:05It's a tragic outcome of the simmering family tension,
03:08and it signals a horrific shift into physical violence.
03:25I may have lost an eye, but I gained a dragon.
03:33While serving as Lord Commander of the City Watch,
03:36Harwin Strong develops a physical relationship with Rhaenyra
03:39and fathers Jacerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey.
03:42Rumors of his paternity spread across King's Landing,
03:45and he eventually resigns, returning to Harrenhal with his father, Lyonel.
03:49Your intimacy with the Princess Rhaenyra is an offense that could mean exile and death.
03:55For you, for her, for the children!
03:59Meanwhile, Alicent wants Otto to become Hand of the King,
04:02the position currently held by Lyonel.
04:05I would then ask Liev to take my son from court
04:07and escort him back to the family seat at Harrenhal.
04:10He is my heir, and will be Lord of Harren's Castle one day.
04:14It is time he assumed his duties there.
04:16So, her good buddy Larys Strong decides to give her what she wants.
04:20Larys proceeds to commit a double act of patricide and fratricide,
04:24having both Harwin and Lyonel burned to death inside of Harrenhal.
04:28This ploy is highly reminiscent of the political machination seen in Game of Thrones,
04:33however tragic they may have been.
04:35The Queen makes a wish.
04:38What servant of the realm would not strive to fulfill it?
04:42Number six.
04:43Joffrey is killed by Kristen Cole.
04:45We didn't care so much when another Joffrey died.
04:48This time, it's a little different.
04:50You'll need a sworn protector.
04:56Joffrey Lonmuth has a loud mouth,
04:58and he gossips with Laenor Velaryon at the latter's wedding.
05:01He correctly deduces that Laenor's new wife Rhaenyra
05:04is secretly sleeping with Kristen Cole.
05:07Joffrey approaches Cole and covertly mentions this affair,
05:10and Cole interprets this as a form of blackmail.
05:13Ser Laenor is quite dear to me,
05:16as I know the princess is to you.
05:21We should swear to each other to guard them and their secrets,
05:26because if those are kept safe,
05:30then so are we all.
05:32So, he viciously beats Joffrey to death in front of the entire wedding,
05:37and it proves to be one of the show's most shocking sequences.
05:41Not only is it horrifically violent,
05:43but the pained cries of Laenor are almost too much to bear.
06:00You must send me your grace.
06:04Maelys is your largest dragon and no stranger to battle.
06:10I will meet Cole.
06:12The Red Dragon and the Gold was the big action episode of Season 2,
06:16depicting the battle at Rook's Rest.
06:18Rhaenys agrees to fight on behalf of Rhaenyra,
06:20using her dragon Maelys to defend the seat of House Staunton.
06:27This is the first major skirmish of The Dance of the Dragons,
06:30and it does not disappoint.
06:32Unfortunately, there is major collateral damage in the form of Rhaenys and Maelys,
06:37who are attacked by Aemond atop Vhagar.
06:46The massive dragon crushes the neck of Maelys,
06:49and she falls into Rook's Rest with a contented Rhaenys accepting her fate.
06:53It's a huge blow to both the Blacks and the fans,
06:56who perhaps wish that Rhaenys stuck around just a little bit longer.
07:02Aemond kills Lucerys.
07:20One of the most iconic, oh crap, faces in TV history belongs to Ewan Mitchell,
07:25who perfectly conveys Aemond's conflicted feelings after killing Lucerys.
07:29Luc and Arrax fly over to Storm's End, hoping to parley with Boros Baratheon.
07:34Unfortunately, Aemond beats him to it.
07:36After a failed meeting, Aemond demands that Luc cut out one of his eyes in retaliation for his own.
07:42A literal eye for an eye.
07:44No. I want you to put out your eye.
07:51It's payment for mine.
07:55One will serve.
07:56Luc flees, leading to that fateful chase that ends in disaster.
08:09It's the perfect way to end the season.
08:11The visual of Arrax's battered corpse signaling the start of the dance.
08:18Riders have an intense and personal bond with their dragons,
08:22which makes it even more upsetting when they're involved in their deaths.
08:25I was without one until I was 15 years old.
08:29And now I ride Vhagar, the largest in the world.
08:34This is what happens with Laena Velaryon,
08:36who suffers terrible complications in her pregnancy.
08:42Knowing that she is likely to die,
08:45Laena goes out on her own terms and decides to have Vhagar incinerate her.
08:59She approaches the dragon and orders it to kill her,
09:02which she does with great reluctance.
09:05We mourn not only Laena and her unborn child,
09:08but the soul of poor Vhagar,
09:10who is clearly hesitant to follow her rider's order.
09:16House of the Dragon follows in its predecessor's footsteps,
09:19displaying some of the most vile and grotesque acts of violence
09:22ever seen on television.
09:24I want Aemond Targaryen.
09:27One of the worst comes in the premiere of season two,
09:30when Daemon orders the assassination of Aemond.
09:33This is my friend.
09:35Tonight he's going to be your friend.
09:38You're to find and slay the Prince Aemond Targaryen.
09:41Unable to find him,
09:42Blood and Cheese turn their attention to young Jaehaerys,
09:45who is soundly sleeping in his cot.
09:47We don't see the murder itself,
09:49but the sound design and the look of complete terror on Helene's face
09:52are more than enough to fill in the gaps.
09:54No.
09:57She's telling the truth.
09:59Even by Game of Thrones standards,
10:01this is shocking stuff,
10:03and we are unlikely to forget it anytime soon.
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10:25House of the Dragon received some criticism regarding the death of Emma.
10:28They're going to bring the baby out now.
10:31For some,
10:32the visuals of the Caesarion,
10:34compounded with the general trauma of the scene,
10:36was simply too much to bear.
10:38It's a devastating sequence and is deeply tragic,
10:41especially owing to the terrified reaction of Emma,
10:44whose agency in the matter is completely stripped away.
10:47It's alright.
10:48Sirus, please.
10:49It's alright.
10:50No, I'm scared.
10:51Don't be scared.
10:52What's happening?
10:53Don't be scared.
10:54Unfortunately, her son Baelon also dies not long after.
10:57Their resulting funeral is incredibly difficult to watch
11:00and packed with emotion.
11:02The acting is spectacular,
11:04the visuals are heartbreaking,
11:06and the music swells with sorrowful notes.
11:08It's quite a bold way to open a show,
11:11but this franchise is nothing if not bold.
11:31Which scene upset you?
11:33Let us know in the comments below.
11:35They killed the boy.
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12:00Thanks for watching.