In most shows, deaths are an emotional affair. But in the GOT universe, it’s just another Tuesday. For better or worse, these deaths act as butterfly events that can change the course of history itself.
Since we’re gearing up for the Targaryen civil war, death will be a constant in House of the Dragon.
So let’s get into which poor characters failed to please the Old Gods and the New, and got their time cut short. Here’s a list of everyone who dies in HOTD S1:
How does Aemma Arryn die in HOTD Ep 1?
Most of Aemma’s scenes in House of the Dragon have depicted her pregnant. It’s time and again reinforced that a Queen has little function other than being a “royal womb.” Aemma has had several pregnancies ending in stillbirths and miscarriages.
Although she has failed to give Viserys a male heir, she declares to him that she does not have the strength to get pregnant once again, even if her current pregnancy does not result in a son.
She begins going through her labor during the Tourney of the Heir but suffers from great pains as the baby is in breech (that is, feet-down position). For a time that does not enjoy the benefit of modern medicine, this is not good news.
The maester informs the king that he has a choice to make: Either risk losing both Aemma and the child, or cut open Aemma (killing her in the process) and save the child. Believing the child would be a boy, a sorrowful Viserys chooses the latter.
It is a horrific scene to watch, and somehow Aemma’s silence as she passes away is much scarier than her shrieks of pain while being cut up.
Although the scenes with the Gold Cloaks and the Tourney do feature deaths of common folks, this is House of the Dragon’s first major character death. Like GOT’s premiere that began with the death of Jon Arryn, HOTD too follows suit.
Does prince Baelon Targaryen die?
So Viserys is right in that his newborn would be a boy. This would settle the debate of the heir once and for all, and even makes his cruel act of sacrificing Aemma worth it.
Except… His son Baelon is not all that fortunate and dies within 24 hours of his birth, garnering him the name “Heir for a Day,” courtesy of his uncle Daemon. The cause of his death is not known but is believed to be natural.
His tragedy rightfully warrants Rhaenyra’s bitter sentiments when she says, “I wonder, during those few hours my brother lived, my father finally found happiness.”
Does anyone else die in HOTD?
It is GOT tradition to have a large body count, so it is expected that we may see some more major deaths. With each passing episode, this article will be updated — Don’t forget to come back and check it out!
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.
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