Was a masterclass of a performance, Paddy used to be "One of the Andy's from Hot Fuzz" but he's gonna be Viserys Targaryen whenever I see him from now on.

Paddy Considine's performance has been a masterclass in performance - not just in this episode only, but throughout. Give that man an Emmy now! We may be watching the finest show on tv this year.

My favorite aspect of HOT D is that they don’t assume their viewing audience are slobbering fools. Unlike Rangs of Powarr, this show has layers and continues to provide enjoyment even after viewing.

When Viserys entered the throne room I got chills! Whatever his shortcomings as a ruler, at that moment he proved he was a true dragon and blood of the Conqueror!

I have but one thing to say only: *KING VISERYS OF HOUSE TARGARYEN, THE FIRST OF HIS NAME. KING OF THE ANDALS AND THE RHOYNAR AND THE FIRST MEN. LORD OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS AND PROTECTOR OF THE REALM.* That's it. Give Paddy an EMMY. What an episode, had me crying like a baby. This was beautiful.

Loved this episode. Not only for when Viserys climbed those steps, but also when Daemon helped him. No jabs, no snarky or degrading remarks. Just a brother helping his brother. Moved me to tear up more than a bit

Viserys having one of his strongest and most leaderlike moments at his absolute weakest was truly beautiful

Bro, I actually did. Not like weep but there we’re definitely tears. That poor old man, he just wanted everyone to get along. Family’s all that matters to him and it’s tearing itself apart .

Showing such a strength in the most weakest state possible is the the pinnacle of a true manhood.

Daemon felt a bit if guilt. He called his brother weak. Then saw, after all the time was spent, that his brother was loving and strong

I really hope Viserys actor gets an award for his performance. I nearly cried and gave me chills on his dinner table speech and his last moment. What an awesome character and heart breaking story line

1:11:29, Falling of Viserys's crown was not in the script, it actually fell by mistake. And it turned into symbology! That's so unbelievably beautiful.

Everyone whenever the camera panned to him: Say the line, Aemond! Aemond: These three Strong boys. Everyone: *YAAAYYYYYY!*

Alicent thinks the King is talking about HIS OWN DREAM - which he shared with her way back during the hunt scene, when Aegon was a baby. The dream Viserys had of having a boy that would be crowned. I'm very slightly amazed how few people remember this.

As a person with debilitating chronic illnesses and constant pain, watching Viserys suffer and push himself past his limits just to accomplish things that most people take for granted really hit home. Paddy did such a great job!

I loved that moment when Daemon helps his brother to the throne and places the crown on his head, and Viserys seems to realize that his brother was always there for him, despite what his advisors were always telling him.

I love how King Viserys basically turned into an NPC from a Miyazaki game. The rotten teeth and skin, basically no hair, the fucked up poportions, basically just a shambling corpse dressed in ridiculously fancy clothes.The golden mask, the cape, even his pyjamas look like an Elden Ring armour set. His wheezing and groaning in pain fit so perfectly too *chefs kiss*

During that scene with the Strong boy and Aemond fighting, where Daemon stepped in - I also think that Daemon saw a lot of himself/younger self in Aemond, the pride and ambition, but also skill and worthiness. A respectable foe in other words.

Daemon picking up the crown, helping his brother and recognizing his strength to fight his disease for the kingdom and his family when we know he always considered him weak and unfit to rule before. Oh boy.

For what it's worth, in the book it is mentioned that Aemond trained very long and very hard with Criston Cole to teach himself to fight with one eye. So GRRM at least recognized it as an issue, and I think the fact that he is sparring with Criston here is meant to call back to that.

This was easily the best episode so far. It felt like a true live action rendition of Crusader Kings 2 or 3. I too nearly cried seeing Viserys being helped by Daemon and him being happy with his family.

I teared up when Viserys saw his grandson had his name, I cried when daemon helped his brother, and I broke down when Viserys smiled at his family’s happiness. Unbelievable storytelling. Greatest episode of tv I’ve seen in a decade

Daemon stepping in at the end was kind of a challenge as well. As I read it it was his way of telling Aemond: "You want to continue to escalate things - it's gonna involve me as well; are you willing to take a chance?"

Just want to say before starting this video, i did cry my eyes out, it so refreshing to finally find a show in modern times that provokes genuine emotional reactions, Paddy deserves and Emmy, Rings of power could neverrrrrrr

That crossing the hall to take the throne had more emotional impact and quality performances than has been found in the entirety of Rings of Power. It was brilliantly played. Paddy Considine deserves all the awards for this. And the moment with Daemon…perfect. He shows his love for his brother, not just as a king but as his flesh and blood, by helping him to the throne and then he hesitates not even one second to replace the crown atop his head. Everything about this scene was perfect. And the episode as a whole just soars.

Imagine having a "big" battle then a volcano eruption, and seeing the competition make an old man's walk more epic than that.

I was holding it back the whole episode, but that "My love." broke me.

The death of Viserys hits because its the death of a good, moral and virtuous man - an inspiring archetype and a disappearing kind in TV shows and movies. He was beautifully fleshed out, strong yet flawed, he aspired to do what was morally right for his family and the realm. He buried his beloved wife and newborn son and grieved them deeply. He was thorn apart by his duties and emotions while being eaten by leper, taking away his physical abilities and the stature expected from a king. He fought to do good all his life and died fighting. He was the embodiment of righteousness and likeability among conspirators and vicious factions - and when such a paragon dies, you can't help but feel empathy for him. And of course, he was perfectly portrayed by Paddy Considine.

With a billion dollar budget and all its flash and glitter, Rings of Power could not even produce a single second on screen that would come even remotely close to the power of an old sick man walking across the room in HotD.

As everyone has noticed the scene of Viserys limping to the throne had more emotional weight and gravity than the entirely of ROP. The writing so far has been excellent and I can't wait to see more.

Daemon is such a fun character, now that we have Aemond; essentially two Daemons now, it's double the fun.

The potent cocktail of emotions as Ramin Djiwadi’s score plays while Viserys looks around at everything he ever wanted, his family enjoying each other’s company and breaking bread together, all with the knowledge that this won’t last was enough to bring tears. Ramin Djiwadi captured the bitter sweetness so perfectly as he always does. The mvp of both got and hotd, this man deserves endless accolades.

25:00 - The thing about Alicent as a parent is, imo, she was not ready to be a mother. I think in one of the previous episodes there's a scene where she stands in front of a window with Heleana, trying to comfort the baby, and she looks so miserable and uncomfortable. Alicent did her duty from the start and she never got the freedom to live her life before that. And I think that made her being a parent feel like a cage to her and in turn made her a less good parent then she perhaps otherwise could've been.

Paddy deserves an Emmy.....

a good king? no. a good man? yes.

If any parts of the soundtrack sound average or underdeveloped, that’s only because Ramin had to devote all his time and energy into making sure Viserys crossing the throne room sounded as epic and heartfelt as was humanly possible. 🥺 😢

Okay if it’s this emotional, I will start watching the House of Dragon

This show is a damned greek tragedy. Paddy better get a emmy.

When Viserys delivered his speech at the family dinner and said something around the lines "...if not for your king but for your grandsire who loves you all very dearly". That crushed me. I guess it was his delivery - you could feel the pain, the emotion and the raw feelings. Man Paddys acting was on freaking point.

Also a funny detail: the king was essentially continuing his conversation with Rhaenyra from earlier, not knowing it was Alicent. But if you go back to his scene with Rhaenyra, you see he first asks "Alicent?" And then Rhaenyra says her name, and the king acknowledges her and starts about the song of ice and fire. So it makes perfect sense for him to think he is talking to Rhaenyra, because in his mind, Rhaenyra just TOLD him it was her a few seconds ago.

Worthy. A truly worthy production. I hope the remaining cast can carry the next two episodes even half as well as Paddy carried this episode.

I think Daemon sees a bit of himself in Aemon. They're both second sons. Both are good fighters and with this reckless and bold demeanor. It was almost like he was looking at a mirror when they were staring each other down.

I did cry because he reminded me of my father who had cancer (he had surgery just a few weeks ago) and the way he acted before being escorted was eerily similar to how my father was. Paddy Considine is such a stellar actor

It’s crazy how moving that scene was. It’s even crazier that the whole show is so full of time jumps and it still managed to make you feel so invested in that moment.

The scene where seeing the whole family together and in a single moment, are happy. The king finally seeing it, and knowing he can now die in peace- Chocked me up

The most pragmatic king that was tested on his very last moments, which eventually took his life. Will he be remembered as a good king? Even if Westeros won't, we will. All hail King Viserys!!! "House of the Dragon and The Rings of Power spend millions of dollars filming each episode, and yet no dragon or balrog has been able to compete with the sheer epicness of a dying old man determined to sit in a chair".

Also, the moment where Daemon picked up the crown for Viserys was improvised bye Matt Smith when it fell and they went with it. Great job Matt.

I could see how Shad, being a family patriarch, with a good sized family, would be so moved by Viserys's plight, having to watch your children and grandchildren be at eachother's throats constantly, hating eachother. Rhaena and Baela Targaryen were step siblings and first-cousins once removed to Jacearys and Lucerys Valeryon through Daemon and Rhaenyra, and also third-cousins through their grandparents King Viserys I and Rhaenys Baratheon, who were first cousins.

What happened to Viserys is even more tragic once you realize that the daughter he loves so much and have always defended, didn't visit him for 6 long years even though Dragonstone is so close to King's Landing and that she has a dragon.. She only finally paid him a visit once she needed his political backing. And what's so beautiful about that is that Viserys didn't mind it at all. Just like most parents are. They always forgive or ignore the faults that their children do to them.

You know it's a good show when an old man hobbling across a room is a truly badass scene

That was one powerful episode of television. I'm loving this show.

I definitely teared up multiple times. My biggest moment was when Daemon helped Vicerys up the steps. That was such a beautiful moment, and you could tell Vicerys had been waiting for Daemon to show him love like that

There was more power, emotion, and storytelling in Viserys struggling to get to his throne than in the entire Rings of Power series combined.

I was in tears most of the episode. It was amazing seeing Viserys come back up Rhaenrya even though he could barely walk.

The scene between Deamon and VIserys is my favorite scene in the series so far. I teared up a little, I have a good relationship with my younger brother, and moments like that are so emotional.

Loved your point that Otto brought about the coming storm even more than Viserys did. Otto had his meddling “hand” in everything that ended up being most disastrous for Viserys & his family. RIP Viserys.

My father was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer in July of 2015.. he passed November second of that year at 85 lbs from 170. So this was by far the hardest episode of House of the dragon, or Game of Thrones for that matter. It was really really tough watching what happened to Vicerys. Because i watched my father wither away to nothing..

I was in tears a number of times. Viserys really showed his strength and devotion to his family. It was beautiful and moving. I've lost both of my parents, my dad passed slowly from a rare form of Leukemia, so this hit home for me. Paddy's acting was absolutely wonderful. Excellent episode.

Paddy Considine deserves every award out there for his acting in this show, his performance was amazing and I hope his performance gets recognition from the arts.

1:33:55 let’s also remember that Otto was constantly sending his daughter, Alicent to “help the king with his grief”

I was weeping, making all sorts of embarrassing sounds, it hit me directly in my little heart.

I heard the crown falling off his head was actually not in the script. The crown fell off accidentally and Matt Smith decided to pick it up and help him up the throne. If that’s true, it was probably the most film magic moment in history even comparing to vigo breaking his toe kicking the helmet.

He defended his daughter until his lats ounce of strength. He heard her crying in his bedroom...and he helped her one last time. Yeah, I cried. A lot, actually. Fantastic performance by all the cast in this episode. Rhaenys, Alicent, Rhaenyra, Daemon and especially Viserys. I will miss him a lot. In his final moments, he looked like a very slender, thin thread that was keeping everything together. All hell will break lose now and it''s gonna be another fantastic ride.

Loved it when Veserys entered the room and you could read on the Queen, Otto and Vaemond faces the realization that their plan instantly failed and they could do nothing about it and that they f`ed up

He was just trying his best to keep his family together. Truly a good man imo.

I cried not just once but 3 times this episode. The first is when Viserys did his walk to the throne and the crown fell off and Daemon picked it up and crowned him. The second is when Viserys removed his mask and gave his speach and the third is when he looked around and saw his family happy

It probably helps that I wasn't expecting much from the get-go, but yeah, House of the Dragon is way better than it has any right to be. Especially in this current media landscape. RIP Good Viserys :'(

Courage and valor need not be seen just on the battlefield.

Everyone's talking about the throne scene, but for me the dinner scene did it. I shed tears, it was almost otherwordly watching him try and make peace in his family, and Rhaenyra and Alicent actually listening.

This episode has cemented Viserys (the elder) as my favourite character in the show. When he entered the throneroom, I was as awestruck as the cast in the scene. He really made the impression of an old rock by the shore, battered for thousands of years, almost crumbling, but still standing strong despite everything. And you can feel in the last supper how much he truly loves all his relatives.

Also of note: the handmaid who gave Alicent the moon tea for the girl was the same person who later turns out to work for Mysaria. So it is possible in theory that it wasn't real moon tea and Alicent is being deceived, while Mysaria gets her hands on a royal bastard.

Hear, hear. When Viserys struggled up the steps and felt a hand try to help him for a second time - only to see it was Damon - definitely moved me to well Up. As did the brief moment of familial reconciliation at the family supper. What a wonderful character, beautifully written and perfectly performed.

What deserves to be called out is Matt Smith's amazing acting when Daemon visits the bed and sees his brother. As you say, Daemon goes directly to business, but he actually stutters a few times and has to recover. Have we ever seen Daemon stutter before? This shows very subtly that he is trying to project a facade of strength, like he always does, but he is hurt so much by seeing his brother in this situation that he barely manages to keep it up this time. I think it's just brilliant how Matt Smith manages to show us all that just by having his character stumble over his words a bit. I always love it when an actor is so good that he can have his character be an actor in his own right, but then deliberately introduces slight imperfections in the character's acting to give away that his thoughts and feelings really are very different.

29:29 - I think part of Daemon getting to the business immediately is also that he can't really deal with the state his brother is in. This is where Matt Smith's acting is really good at getting us into Daemon's head. He can barely even look at his brother. He looks really uncomfortable with the state he's in. He looks pained about it. I think he got to business immediately in part because he was kind of trying to block off those emotions of love because he can't handle seeing his brother this way. And he doesn't want to think about that. He just wants to say "Let's get to business, let's do this."

Viserys really broke the you have to be a soldier to be a good king narrative.

People say he was a weak king but his 20 year reign saw a Kingdom that never knew famine or war. His family was large with 20 plus dragons. He left that nation the richest in the world and people listened when he gave a command.

I cried my face off when daemon came to his brother’s aid

6:47 - I completely agree. Viserys this episode genuinely got me to thinking about my own life and the people in my own life and being better towards them. And that's always a magnificent thing for a story to be able to do. And it was also just so very emotional. Viserys hears his daughter's tearful plea. And even though she thinks he doesn't, the next day he refuses the milk of the poppy and despite his incredible suffering, despite barely being able to walk, for his daughter, to defend her, he makes the long walk and climb to the throne. For her. Incredible stuff. I pretty much never actually cry, but I did tear up a little bit when he looked at Rhaenyra, I may or may not have yelled at my screen "Go Viserys!" at loud when he entered the throne room and when Daemon actually helped him walk up those stairs after having been estranged for so long, I did have an actual tear in my eye. So great stuff. Very powerful.

Daemon is actually helping his brother, the King, to carry the crown. That's what Daemon said in one of the earlier episodes and now he's literally doing it. Or at least, that's how I see it.

Everyone is talking about Daemon and Viserys making it up the throne. What did it for me was that scene where Rhaenyra admits to Viserys she doesn't want the burden of ruling anymore but if he wants her to she needs him to help defend her and her children's succession. And to see that little look Rhaemyra amd Viserys share during his agonizing walk literally on his last day in the world Viserys gave all the energy he had in him to defend Rhaenyra one more time giving her and his grandson a reaffirmation of his belief in their ascension. In layman's terms Viserys believes in his daughter till he left his mortal coil.

If Paddy doesn't receive all the awards I will riot. Also, having dealt with family ravaged by cancer and wanting to be together at the end it hit home very hard. I cried the entire dinner. Especially the smile he gets when he thinks they are getting along and like he knows he can die because he feels at peace 😭😭😭😭😭

Daemon: You dropped this, King 👑

They took Aemonds eye out for being called a name! I think those kids deserve his wrath.

I love how unashamedly joyous Sir Shad is in regard to his enjoyment of this program.

Daemon is one of my favorite characters In this show. Not just because he’s a badass. But because he loves his brother so much. He hates seeing him weak and in a position for people to take advantage of him. Through all their differences he wants to see his brother strong and it really shows the amazing complexities of Daemon

Come on Shad? Only blaming Alicent? You don't think the kids seeing their own father constantly favor his very obviously bastard grankids over them time and time again might have something to do with thr men they become? I blame Viserys much much more! I too would much rather have Daemon to father me than Viserys.

Man and the way he said "My love..." at the end it made me feel like he saw his first wife in the final moments. Did anyone else get that impression?

2 scenes that litterally tear me apart emotionally in this episode: - the throne room scene (as a whole and especially the king and Daemon interaction) - the end when the king dies in his bed saying "my love", ideally rejoining himself with his long dead first wife.

I think Rhaenys never changed her mind on Corlys' succession, she's just "agreeing" with Corlys' position now because she is loyal to him. She herself would still prefer Laena's daughters to be the heirs and now that Corlys is apparently on his deathbed, she gets a unique chance to push through her own desires and pretend they were Corlys', and no one would ever know the lie. But instead of doing the selfish thing, she stays true to her husband and makes sure that his seat passes to the person he wanted to be his heir, setting aside her own desires in favor of those of her dying husband. I actually loved that, it gave her character a moral integrity that is quite rare in Westeros.

Why is Alicent given the full blame for how Aegon and Aemond ended up when Viserys never paid a second of attention to them 🤔 hmm

I cried watching it the first time, and I cried every time I watched Viserys and Daemon in the throne room while getting ready to review the episode. It was masterfully done.

The throne room scene was so moving. I actually cried. They got the perfect writers in my opinion. They really know what they’re doing.

After 8 episodes out of 10 I think is safe to say that they absolutely nailed this season...what will happen in the future noone knows...but for now this is absolutely a wonderful show that sets itself WAY UP above anything else available at the moment on TV...

They fully realized and earned all the payoffs for Vicerys this episode. The walk of desperation to the throne to help his daughter, Daemon helping him to the throne, his last speech to his family, him drinking in the last time he'll see his family in the non dialog moment, and even his last words (presumably). What an absolutely sensational and compelling character.

1:34:00 First I wanna say I agree with everything you've had to say in the video. If I remember right from the book, it kind of starts with Baelon, Daemon and Viserys' father, and the nature of his death leading to Otto replacing him as hand of the King. The same thing happened with Jaehaerys where he got really ill and Otto took over ruling in his stead and had Alicent "nurse" him. After Viserys became king, Otto did everything he could to undermine Daemon and set the brothers at odds with each other. Something Daemon saw very clearly and loathes Otto for. So you are very right. Everything that has plagued this era of Westeros from within the small council IS Otto's doing. I also want to say I do love how they flesh out and portray Daemon WAY better in the series than they did the book. GRRM tends to really ignore Daemon and Rhaenyra in the book leaving them to just meander around not doing anything while things happen around them. There are entire areas of the book where they just vanish. There are parts where they are in the scene but not there. I like how we see Daemon clearly in this and who he is. Like there are parts of the book where (when he is depicted) he does some really contradictory things. Which I won't spoil, but go toward his nature. In this his nature is very clear. It's that odd instance where the series is far superior to the source material. And the original author's participation in the series is only bettering the material and not fucking things up. I love it :)

Aemond's evil eye is so intense. Definitely love it. Him and Matt Smith make this for me.

Well I did tear up. What a moment for Viserys. His arc was really good. Being taunted by Daemon as a weak man in the beginning. And yes what a show of strength in the end. Wow.

I gotta say I love the 'Otto Golf Clap made Damon chuckle' during the dinner. But otherwise epic episode and the King stole the show.

Now im on Shads side wen he say Viserys is the best character......what an emotional episode

Rest in peace, Your Grace. Paddy Considine is a legend.