S1E1
The Heirs of the Dragon
⚠ Spoiler alert This recap gives away what happens in this episode.
Episode Summary & Review
Summary
Viserys hosts a tournament to celebrate the birth of his second child. Rhaenyra welcomes her uncle Daemon back to the Red Keep.
Our Take
A solid setup hour that leans hard on politics and family tension, which mostly works thanks to Paddy Considine’s weary king and Matt Smith having a blast as Daemon. The tournament offers some spectacle but runs long, and the pacing drags in the middle. Worth your time if you’re patient with the setup, since the closing scene finally gives the episode its teeth.