Every episode of House of the Dragon season 1, ranked worst to best

3. “Driftmark” (Episode 7)

There’s a reason that House of the Dragon’s seventh episode, “Driftmark,” featured prominently in the show’s marketing. This episode gathers all of our lead characters in one place to witness a brutal showdown between Alicent and Rhaenyra involving a Valyrian steel dagger. (It was also one of the first episodes films, so that probably also had something to do with it.)

“Driftmark” is the final episode of House of the Dragon directed by season 1 showrunner Miguel Sapochnik, and the visionary filmmaker brings all his talents to bear for his last outing. If “The Princess and the Queen” introduced the next generation of Targaryen children, “Driftmark” makes it clear that the grudges of their parents had trickled down to poison them. The long sequence where Aemond dukes it out with his nephews and cousins, has his eye accidentally slashed out, and then everyone tensely debates what to do about it in the great hall of Driftmark is one of the standout moments of the season. This is family drama dialed up to eleven.

And let’s not forget Aemond’s first flight on the dragon Vhagar. While we’d be remiss not to mention that many viewers had difficulty watching the sequence due to how dark it looked, the sequence is exhilarating. Aemond may have become a villain by the end of the season, but his first time riding a dragon taps into the magic of a young boy riding a freaking dragon for the first time. It’s helped along by a fantastic performance from Leo Ashton, who literally dangles from the saddle while alternating between screams of terror and elated whooping once he finally got the hang of things.

“Driftmark” is also a big turning point for Daemon and Rhaenyra’s relationship. After losing both of their lovers, the two consummate their long-simmering attraction in the ruin of a beached ship. But it’s not all roses; it happens on literally the same day as Laena Velaryon’s funeral and it marks the beginning of the end of Rhaenyra’s marriage to Laenor. (And it’s incest, but that’s House of the Dragon.)

Speaking of Laenor, he introduces a complication into the episode. Unlike in Fire & Blood where he’s killed outright, House of the Dragon allows him to row off into the sunset with his lover Ser Qarl Correy. It’s a nice way to end Laenor’s story, but also felt a little like the show pulling a punch by making Daemon and Rhaenyra out to be sympathetic instead of ambitious murderers. It works, but I can understand why some people were conflicted about it.