Does Aegon become the king in House of the Dragon Episode 9?

Though last week’s episode of House of the Dragon, “The Lord of the Tides,” was pretty peaceful as King Viserys (Paddy Considine) brought his family together for what became his last dinner, everything’s changed in Episode 9, “The Green Council.”

Sure, the kids were fighting in Episode 8, but the fact that Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) were able to put their differences aside was a pretty big deal. Alicent even said in her dinner speech that Rhaenyra would “make a fine queen,” a statement her father Otto (Rhys Ifans) clearly disliked. But the final scene last week put Alicent in a very complicated situation as she misinterpreted a conversation with Viserys on his deathbed. This week, she very much believes Viserys wanted their son Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) to be King, which is going to cause a lot of drama and death.

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon Episode 9!

Thinking that she’s leading with honor, Alicent reveals Viserys’ apparent dying wish, which leads to the greens usurping the throne. When Alicent confides in the Small Council, she discovers that the men had been plotting behind her back to get Aegon on the throne anyway, so now they have an even stronger reason to make it happen. Otto wants full control of the situation, but Alicent finally pushes back.

At the end of the day, however, Alicent decides to honor what she believes Viserys wanted and helps plan the coronation under her terms. Aegon will wear Aegon the Conquerer’s crown and wield Blackfyre. Not a bad deal, if only he wanted it.

Aegon II is named King in House of the Dragon Episode 9

Ultimately it doesn’t really matter what Aegon wants, and he’s crowned King. The coronation takes place pretty seamlessly all things considered, though Rhaenys (Eve Best) does interrupt it. She bursts through the floor riding Meleys, killing people along the way. All that just to make a statement to the greens. She flies away without causing more harm.

Where are Rhaenyra and Daemon in House of the Dragon Episode 9?

Now that Aegon II sits the Iron Throne, I’m sure the question on everyone’s minds is how Rhaenyra, the real heir, will react. She and Daemon (Matt Smith) do not appear in Episode 9 at all, which was a miss in my opinion. I’m biased because I love them, but how could the penultimate episode not feature the two most important characters?

Rhaenyra and Daemon travel back to Dragonstone with the kids at the end of Episode 8, so they’re presumably still traveling in Episode 9 or just getting back home. Considering not a lot of time passes in the new episode, there’s a chance they’re still on their way back. That said, Rhaenyra tells Alicent she plans to return to King’s Landing on dragonback, and of course once she hears the latest news, she and Daemon will have to make a move. What that’ll be, however, is up for speculation.

It all comes to an end next week when the House of the Dragon season 1 finale premieres on HBO.

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