House of the Dragon episode 8 images introduce the show’s latest recastings. After five episodes of setup, House of the Dragon episode 6 featured a 10-year time jump, which brought the multi-generational story one major step closer to the war of succession known as the Dance of the Dragons. The time jump also resulted in major characters being recast, including Princess Rhaenyra and Queen Alicent, who represent opposing sides of the intensifying conflict. The fan-favorite stars, Milly Alcock and Emily Carey, were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, respectively.
Following the 10-year time jump, Rhaenyra had given birth to three boys – Jacaerys, Lucerys and the newborn Joffrey. Alicent and King Viserys also have three children – Aegon, Aemond, and Helaena. Meanwhile in Pentos, Daemon and Laena have twin daughters, Baela and Rhaena, though the mother dies while trying to give birth to a third child. In House of the Dragon episode 7, conflict erupts between these children at Laena’s funeral when Aemond claims her dragon, Vhagar, as his own, which her daughters take issue with. This leads to a scuffle in which Luke slashes Aemond’s eye with a knife. Once Alicent demands an eye for an eye and Viserys refuses, the lines between the greens and the blacks are clearly drawn for the first time.
Now, HBO has released new House of the Dragon episode 8 images. The episode will feature yet another time jump, this one for an indeterminate amount of time, though the images introduce new actors playing Aegon, Aemond, Jacaerys, Lucerys, Baela, and Rhaena, who have all been aged up. Check out the new images below:
Is HOTD Finally Finished Recasting Characters?
By all accounts, House of the Dragon episode 8 should be the show’s last major time jump of the season, and possibly the series. With Rhaenyra, Alicent, and Daemon’s children all grown up, these should be the actors sticking around for the long haul, and the ones fans can finally get attached to. Though considering the show’s frequent deaths and the civil war on the horizon, it would be wise not to get too attached to any of these characters. Nevertheless, the recastings include Dunkirk‘s Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon, The Last Kingdom‘s Ewan Mitchell as the one-eyed Aemond, Doolittle‘s Harry Collett as Jace, newcomer Elliot Grihault as Luke, Get Even‘s Bethany Antonia as Baela, and Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena.
Other than these recastings, the House of the Dragon images tease the events ahead. As revealed by the episode’s title, “The Lord of the Tides”, and its preview, Lord Corlys has been wounded fighting in the Stepstones, and his successor must be determined, especially after his son Laenor’s “death.” Since it is well-known that he and Rhaenyra’s children are actually bastards, their legitimacy will likely be called into question by Rhaenys, seen sitting on the Driftwood Throne in the image above. It appears the Sea Snake’s succession will be the next point of contention on House of the Dragon that brings the greens and the blacks one step closer to all-out war.
