You’ll do the time jump again when you watch House of the Dragon episode 8 online this week. HBO's Game of Thrones prequel is fast-forwarding some years, based on the recasting of the children of Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Queen Alicent (Emma Cooke).
House of the Dragon episode 8, titled "Lord of the Tides," brings Rhaenyra and her second husband and uncle Daemon (Matt Smith) to King's Landing. Considering how the last family reunion turned out, we fully expect a lot of tension and possibly some brawling. The next generation of Targaryens are older, now teens and young adults, but not seemingly much wiser. Hopefully, this new cast is as great as the other recent new additions, as they nailed the House of the Dragon recasting.
Hand of the King Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) is ruling on behalf of the still-ailing King Viserys (Paddy Considine). He welcomes the arrival of Ser Vaemond Velaryon (Wil Johnson), whose brother Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint) has been gravely wounded in a Stepstones battle. Whatever Vaemond's agenda is, it likely won't be helpful to Rhaenyra and the blacks.
Here is everything you need to watch House of the Dragon episode 8. Plus, check out a preview video:
How to watch House of the Dragon episode 8 in the U.S.
In the U.S., House of the Dragon episode 8 is set to air today (Sunday, October 9) at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.
Season 1 consists of 10 episodes in total, releasing at a pace of one per week every Sunday.
If you haven't signed up for HBO Max, what are you waiting for? It's our top pick among the best streaming services.
How to watch House of the Dragon episode 8 in Canada
While Canadians don't have access to HBO or HBO Max, they can still watch House of the Dragon episode 8 at the same time as the U.S. airing. Crave, the usual source for HBO shows in Canada, has the rights.
The streaming service has a seven-day free trial. After that, the Movies + HBO package costs $19.98 CAD per month.
If you're an American traveling abroad and want to access all your paid services, you'll need to look into the best VPN services, such as Express VPN.
How to watch House of the Dragon episode 8 online in the UK
Since Brits also don't get HBO or HBO Max, they will watch House of the Dragon episode 8 on Sky Atlantic and NOW. It will air Monday, Oct. 10 concurrently at 2 a.m. BST and again at the more reasonable time of 9 p.m. BST.
Sky TV packages start at just £25 per month.
Every episode will debut the day after its U.S. airing.
How to watch House of the Dragon episode 8 in Australia
Aussies can stream House of the Dragon episode 8 on Binge. It should arrive on Monday, Oct. 10.
House of the Dragon episode schedule
House of the Dragon episode 1: August 21 @ 9 p.m. ETHouse of the Dragon episode 2: August 28 @ 9 p.m. ETHouse of the Dragon episode 3: Sept. 4 @ 9 p.m. ETHouse of the Dragon episode 4: Sept. 11 @ 9 p.m. ETHouse of the Dragon episode 5: Sept. 18 @ 9 p.m. ETHouse of the Dragon episode 6: Sept. 25 @ 9 p.m. ETHouse of the Dragon episode 7: Oct. 2 @ 9 p.m. ET- House of the Dragon episode 8: Oct. 9 @ 9 p.m. ET
- House of the Dragon episode 9: Oct. 16 @ 9 p.m. ET
- House of the Dragon episode 10: Oct. 23 @ 9 p.m. ET
House of the Dragon cast and characters
The House of Dragon cast is a big ensemble, including:
Paddy Considine as King Viserys I: He's described as being "chosen by the lords of Westeros to succeed the Old King, Jaehaerys Targaryen, at the Great Council at Harrenhal. A warm, kind, and decent man, Viserys only wishes to carry forward his grandfather's legacy. But good men do not necessarily make for great kings."
Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the king’s first-born child and heir. She rides the dragon Syrax.
Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen, younger brother to King Viserys and Rhaenyra's second husband. He rides the dragon Caraxes.
Olivia Cooke as Queen Alicent Hightower, Viserys' second wife and daughter of Otto Hightower.
Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, Hand of the King (twice).
Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon aka "The Sea Snake," lord of Driftmark and head of House Velaryon. He is a notorious nautical adventurer.
Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Velaryon, Viserys' cousin and wife of Lord Corlys Velaryon who was passed over for the throne at the Great Council. She rides the dragon Meleys.
Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole, a member of King Viserys I Targaryen's Kingsguard.
Matthew Needham as Larys Strong, the lord of Harrenhal and a confidante to Queen Alicent.
Tom Glynn-Carney as Prince Aegon Targaryen, Viserys and Alicent's eldest son. He rides the dragon Sunfyre.
Phia Saban as Princess Helaena Targaryen, Viserys and Alicent's eldest daughter who is betrothed to Aegon. She rides the dragon Dreamfyre.
Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen, Viserys and Alicent's second son who lost an eye. He rides the dragon Vhagar.
Harry Collett as Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, Rhaenyra's eldest son publicly by Ser Laenor Velaryon. He rides the dragon Vermax.
Elliot Grihault as Prince Lucerys Velaryon, Rhaenyra's second son publicly by Ser Laenor Velaryon. He rides the dragon Arrax.
Bethany Antonia as Lady Baela Targaryen, the elder twin daughter of Prince Daemon Targaryen and Lady Laena Velaryon. She rides the dragon Moondancer.
Phoebe Campbell as Lady Rhaena Targaryen, the younger twin daughter of Prince Daemon Targaryen and Lady Laena Velaryon.
Wil Johnson as Ser Vaemond Velaryon, younger brother to Lord Corlys Velaryon
House of the Dragon plot
House of the Dragon is set several hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones. It's based on Martin's novel "Fire & Blood," which chronicles the rule of House Targaryen from the beginning. The story starts with Aegon I Targaryen's conquest of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.
House of the Dragon will focus on a particular part of the Targaryen history: The Dance of Dragons. It was a bloody and brutal Targaryen civil war that takes place 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. (That's a little more than a century after Aegon I's conquest.)
Star Olivia Cooke has revealed that House of the Dragon won't have the gratuitous graphic violence against women that was commonplace on Thrones. She told The Telegraph that "I wouldn’t feel comfortable in being a part of anything that has just egregious graphic violence towards women for no reason whatsoever, just because they want it to be tantalizing in a way that gets viewers."
King Viserys I's death sets off a struggle for succession between his daughter from his first marriage, Princess Rhaenyra, and his son from his second marriage, Aegon II. Princess Shireen Baratheon recounted this story in a fifth-season episode of Game of Thrones.
"Brothers fought brothers, dragons fought dragons," she reminded her father, Stannis. "By the time it was over, thousands were dead."
As Shireen noted, the conflict took its toll on the Targaryens, as almost all of their dragons died in the war. The beasts remained extinct for a century and a half, until Daenerys Targaryen hatched her three dragons in Game of Thrones.
Next: I thought I’d hate House of the Dragon’s recasting — but HBO nailed it. Looking for something good to watch apart from House of the Dragon? Check out the 7 best new HBO Max movies that are 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes.
