House of the Dragon Season 2 has ended, and viewers want to know what happens in episode 8 or the season finale. With three new dragonriders on their side, Rhaenyra and her allies have an edge over their enemies, prompting the Greens to become desperate. After the eventful penultimate episode, things simmer down in the finale, as armies and dragons move across Westeros and beyond for the inevitable confrontations. Daemon has one last vision in the godswood of Harrenhal, and it sets the course of his future endeavors. Here is the ending of House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 8 explained featuring spoilers.
What happens at the end of House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 8?
In the Season 2 finale, Tyland Lannister meets the Triarchy leadership hoping to convince them to break the Velaryon blockade. They agree on the condition that the Triarchy will get the heavily-disputed Stepstones. Tyland is also introduced to the leader of the Triarchy’s navy, Admiral Lohar, portrayed by Abigail Thorn, and is told that he must convince Lohar to go with him, which he ultimately does.
After realizing that the Blacks have recruited three new dragonriders, Aemond burns Sharp Point, a castle and town governed by a family that has been loyal to House Targaryen since the Conquest. Aemond’s actions make everyone around him deeply concerned about what he will do next. While Larys convinces Aegon II to leave Westeros for Essos, at least for now, Alicent tries to thwart Aemond’s attempts to pull Helaena and her dragon Dreamfyre into the war. She later visits Rhaenyra in Dragonstone asking for safe passage for herself and her daughter. Her old friend agrees, though she rejects the very idea of sparing Aegon. Toward the end of the episode, we see Alicent standing on a cliff. It is implied that she might jump, though that is unlikely.
Meanwhile, Cregan Stark’s army of greybeards crosses the Twins. Corlys has a tense interaction with Alyn of Hull, who makes it clear that he has no intention to be the former’s heir, and joins the blockade, just as Tyland and Admiral Lohar head toward them. In Westeros, Daemon looks over the Riverlands army he has gathered. The Lannister and Hightower hosts march as well, the latter with Daeron and his dragon Tessarion. And Rhaena finally comes to face to face with Sheepstealer.
Why Daemon bends the knee to Rhaenyra Targaryen?
At Harrenhal, with Alys’ help, Daemon has a vision of what is to come. He sees Bloodraven or Brynden Rivers, who is most likely to appear in the upcoming Game of Thrones spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. He also sees the army of the dead, led by a White Walker; dead dragons; and what appears to be the aftermath of the Battle of the Trident, which would mark the end of the rule of House Targaryen in Westeros. The vision shifts then and Daemon sees Dany’s three dragons and their births. The vision shifts again, and Daemon now sees Rhaenyra on the Iron Throne.
Helaena appears in his vision and urges him to recognize what his role is in the story. When Rhaenyra arrives at Harrenhal after receiving an alarming message about potential treason, Daemon bends his knee to her, having realized what his and Rhaenyra’s parts are in the prophecy of the Song of Ice and Fire.
Who imprisoned Otto Hightower in House of the Dragon Season 2 finale?
It is not confirmed who imprisoned Otto Hightower in the season finale but there are a few possible individuals who could be responsible for this.
Although he was deposed as the Hand, Otto Hightower is still a very powerful and influential individual in Westeros. So, it must have come as a shock to some of the viewers when it is shown that he has been locked in a cell all this time. Perhaps, Larys is behind all this. However, even though he is an ambitious man, he is intelligent enough to know that this will be a bad idea in the long run. Aegon is another possibility or even someone who wants to curry favors with him, especially after he removed Otto as the Hand. In the concluding minutes of the episode, someone seems to approach Otto’s cell. If this is the Red Keep, this person can be Orwyle on Alicent’s behalf.
Alternatively, it’s also possible that Daeron Targaryen put his grandfather in jail, or one of Rhaenyra’s allies imprisoned Otto.
