What happens in episode seven, Driftmark?
WARNING: Spoilers for Driftmark ahead.
King Viserys, Queen Alicent, Princess Rhaenyra, the children and his court head to Driftmark to reunite with Daemon upon the death of Laena, but the family reunion is far from a happy one.
While Rhaenyra and Daemon’s reunion is intimate, the bad blood between Viserys and his brother remains unhealed.
There’s also a growing rift between Rhaenyra’s three children and Alicent’s three children – with dragon-obsessed Aemond making a bold move to claim Laena’s dragon, Vhagar, as his own to the heartbreak of her daughters.
His decision starts a fight between the children, Aemond gets into a brutal scrap with Lucerys (Luke), who at one point gains the upper hand and cuts through his eye.
Alicent is enraged by the accident, with Aemond now partially blinded, causing a new fight between her and Rhaenyra in front of the court as she demands justice.
Instead, Viserys continues to be a pacifist, even in arguments among his family.
Knowing Rhaenyra’s children are not Laenor’s, Princess Rhaenys and Lord Corlys make new plans for the future of the family, as disaster seems to strike Laenor in battle.
The divide between the Hightowers and Targaryens widens, with Otto and Alicent staying strong against Daemon and Rhaenyra – who later privately marry.
How to claim a dragon, explained
Aemond unwittingly gains an upper hand in this episode when he finally gets the dragon he’s so desperately desired - and one of the biggest in the land, no less.
Unlike his siblings, he hasn’t got a dragon, with Aegon even mocking him about it.
So to get Vhagar is a massive coup for him, even though it costs him an eye.
Leo Ashton, who plays Aemond, said: “Aemond is quite an introverted, sad kid who's gone through many hardships.
“Obviously, when he gets that dragon, his mood changes and he feels like he can do anything he wants, and that's where that villain comes into play.”
Standing in front of the dragon, he declares the ownerless pet as his own, heading off on a flight to the fury of the Velaryon children.
Greens vs. Blacks explained
In what will become a recurring theme throughout the series, after Aemond’s accident the house is divided into ‘Greens vs Blacks’.
In a showdown among the parents in the Hall of Nine, while Viserys feebly tries to keep the peace between his wife and daughter, Alicent and Rhaenyra’s friendship is fractured forever.
Luce is defended by Rhaenyra, Daemon, Rhaenys, and Corlys, while Alicent’s vengeance has the full support of Ser Criston and her father Otto.
Alicent eventually violently lunges at Rhaenyra with a catspaw dagger, intending to get blood for the loss her son suffered – a literal eye for an eye.
Instead, she gets Rhaenyra, who steps in front of her son Luce and defiantly defends him.
Emma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra, added: “I don't think Rhaenyra is scared of violent pain. And so she's in a position to kind of goad Alicent towards the outcome she's seeking.”
Hightower family colours are greens, while Targaryen’s are red and black.
What happened to Laenor?
Knowing he will never be free from speculation over his sexuality and state of his marriage, Laenor opts to fake his death.
John MacMillan, who plays Laenor, explained: “There is a shift that happens with the death of his sister when someone you love dies and you start to think about your own life and what you want the rest of it to be.
“And I think he does have this moment of clarity where he goes, I'm going to be the person that I thought I was going to be.”
Ryan Condal added: “What Laenor really wanted was to be set free. And freedom to him is freedom from the bonds of his nobility.
“So if he was thought to be dead, that would mean he could go live a free life however he wanted.”
He’s last seen sailing off into the sunset with his lover, Ser Qarl Correy, presumably to start an anonymous life in Essos.
Daemon and Rhaenyra’s relationship explained
Without Laenor, Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne is once again under threat and considered weakened and she needs a new husband.
In secret, she and Daemon get married in a bid to further establish their claim to the throne.
But this also comes after years of sexual tension between uncle and niece, in a family where incest is considered normal in order to maintain a ‘pure’ bloodline.
With Alicent reunited with her father Otto, they need each other more than ever.
D’Arcy explained: “Rhaenyra and Daemon are made of the same stuff. It's why they're a terrible match. Added to which, when Rhaenyra is made heir, she essentially takes everything from Daemon and yet her attraction goads her to go to the heart of that envy as a dangerous chemistry.”