What happens in episode ten, The Black Queen?
WARNING: Spoilers for The Black Queen ahead.
Princess Rhaenys arrives at Dragonstone with news from King’s Landing.
The devastating stressful news results in Rhaenyra going into premature labour, just as she needs to show her strength to those around her most. The baby is stillborn.
New ally Ser Erryk arrives at Dragonstone to present Rhaenyra with the crown of her father, and she is declared queen.
Those around them now need to pick a side – The Blacks (Velaryon side of the family) or the Greens (Hightower side of the family).
At Aegon’s coronation back in King’s Landing, it was decided he would use the crown of Aegon the Conqueror, his namesake and the start of the Targaryen dynasty.
Ser Otto Hightower delivers a list of demands from King Aegon II, including Rhaenyra’s concession while keeping Royal titles.
Rhaenyra, aware of King Aegon I’s prediction of the future, knows that Westeros needs to remain united for the predicted future war and considers it.
Daemon starts to make plans to build an army in preparation for war, with Rhaenyra’s sons Princes Jacaerys and Lucerys sent out to acquire the support of the other noble houses.
But things turn sour when Lucerys arrives to visit the Baratheons, only to discover Aemond is already there to do the same for the Greens – coming with a proposal to marry one of his daughters to strengthen the political alliance between the two families.
As he leaves on his dragon Arrax’s back, Lucerys is chased by Aemond riding Vhagar, but things turn tragic when Vhagar dives through the clouds and eats both Arrax and Lucerys.
Losing her son and heir is too much for Rhaenyra to bear, and with that she has a new fire to take down the Greens for good.
Did Aemond mean to kill Lucerys?
It’s no secret there’s no love lost between Lucerys and Aemond, especially after Luc took his uncle’s eye while fighting as a child.
However, as Vhagar flew through the clouds, Aemond was clearly commanding his dragon not to - but it was too little too late.
Showrunner Ryan Condal explained: “I think what you're seeing in that moment there, is the last vestiges of the little boy that's left in Aemond. And maybe he was trying to scare Luc, but I don't think ultimately he intended to kill him.
“But now he's done it and he has to decide whether or not he's going to own it on his travel back to King's Landing, because obviously if the usurping of the throne, and them crowning Aegon in the Dragonpit wasn't the start of the war, certainly killing one of the Queen's sons is.”
Rhaenyra’s new motivation
Upon hearing the news of her son’s death, Rhaenyra is left devastated, before a closing shot sees her resolve stiffen, as if she’s ready for war.
It’s a new era for Rhaenyra, whose initial attempts to be more of a pacifist in her ruling were struck out at this moment.
Emma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra, explained: “What I think is really affecting about it, within a series where there is a lot of loss, a lot of death, there is lots of pain of different sorts, and yet somehow, I think this moves the goalposts for suffering.
“Once you've lost both your parents and you've lost a lover, maybe you think you know grief. And then I think what's so awful is that losing Luc tells us she knows nothing about grief and completely changes her outlook on the world going forward.”
Who’s on Team Black?
At the end of the first season, the lines have been drawn. Those in Team Black are:
- Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen
- King Daemon Targaryen
- Lord Corlys Velaryon
- Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
- Jacaerys "Jace" Velaryon
- Lady Baela Targaryen
- Lady Rhaena Targaryen
- Ser Erryk Cargyll
Who’s on Team Green?
- King Aegon II Targaryen
- Queen Helaena Targaryen
- Alicent Hightower
- Ser Otto Hightower
- Prince Aemond Targaryen
- Ser Criston Cole
- Ser Arryk Cargyll
- Lord Larys Strong
- Lord Jason and Ser Tyland Lannister