House of the Dragon E6 Ending Explained: Rhaenyra’s Lover Killed

Time jumps seem to be the norm for House of the Dragon, understandably so since a few decades have to be covered in the course of Season 1. 

Episode 6 was released this Sunday, seeing a ten-year jump in the season, the recasting of some characters, and one too many twists and deaths.

In this episode, viewers see matters worsening between the princess and the queen of Westeros, as suggested by the title. Following Episode 6’s end, Alicent makes a new ally in Larys Strong, Daemon may yet return to King’s Landing after his latest exile, and Rhaenyra flees with her family to Dragonstone.

Let us recap what exactly went down in the end and what it means for the upcoming episodes.

Alicent had previously shared with Larys that she coveted his father’s position for her father since if Otto Hightower were the King’s Hand, Alicent might still have an ally. Larys, power-hungry and tactical as he is, then kills his father and brother to gain a reward from the Queen.

Harwin Strong was also revealed as the father of Rhaenyra’s children in the new episode after the birth of her third son. The children didn’t even get to know Harwin as their father before Harwin was killed in the fire instigated by his brother Larys.

Rhaenyra’s children stand to lose their claim to the Iron Throne if Viserys were to admit that her sons were not Laenor’s, proving a win for Alicent, who wants Aegon on the Iron Throne after King Viserys. 

Rhaenyra’s fleeing to Dragonstone may prove to be disadvantageous in the future, even if it is fitting to escape facing the truth of her sons’ heritage. Now, Alicent will be more likely to crown Aegon as the King’s heir and reinstate Otto Hightower as the King’s Hand.

The other explanation necessary is the reason behind Lady Laena Velaryon’s most shocking death. 

Pregnant with her and Daemon’s third child, Laena had despised the lifestyle at Pentos and yearned to go back to Driftmark. She was tired of living the life of a peaceful country lord and wanted the adventure of a dragon rider’s life.

When her child dies in her womb, Laena is sure to follow, but if she has any say in it, she’d rather die a warrior’s death. 

That is why she rushes to her dragon and yells, “Dracarys.” Initially, the dragon is hesitant to kill its own rider, but Vhagar finally completes her desperate demand, burning her alive, along with her unborn child, while Daemon watched in despair.

With Laena’s death, Daemon may have a stronger reason to return to King’s Landing. With Laena and Harwin out of the way, the possibility of Daemon and Rhaenyra coming together solidifies with more clarity.

Thus, with the ending of Episode 6, Rhaenyra loses the father of her children, Alicent gains an unwanted ally, and Aegon is reminded of his duty to ascend the throne by outdoing Rhaenyra and her sons. Daemon is set to return to King’s Landing while things unravel at the Stepstones.

House of the Dragon will return with Episode 7 on October 2, 2022, on HBO Max.

About House Of The Dragon

House of the Dragon is the prequel series to HBO’s blockbuster Game of Thrones based on George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.

Set three hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will show Westeros under the Targaryen family’s rule before the dragons went extinct. It will follow the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war between siblings Aegon II and Rhaenyra, who fought for the throne after the death of their father, Viserys I.

Directed by Ryan Condall and Miguel Sapochnik, the show stars Paddy Considine as Viserys I Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Tom Glynn-Craney as Aegon II Targaryen, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Rhaenys Velaryon, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole, and Graham McTavish.

Source: HBOMax