Viserys The Peaceful died at the end of episode 8 of House of the Dragon season 1. He did so after having his final wish fulfilled; a family dinner. Soon after HOTD fans were bewildered by Daemon chopping off Vaemond’s head scene, a calm dinner sequence followed. During the final wish of King Viserys, people toasted each other, some in love and some in enmity. But during all the chaos, what House of the Dragon fans may have missed is that the showrunners left many easter eggs and hidden messages.
Viserys’ death is quite important in the series and sets the stage for Aegon II usurping the iron throne. Alicent’s misunderstanding of Viserys’ words, a major change from Fire & Blood ended the episode’s drama with yet another bang! Either way, here are the top three hidden symbolic meanings that were shown in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 8, that you may have missed.
The Top Three Hidden Meanings
1. Viserys Sits With Alicent on His Right & Rhaenyra on His Left
King Viserys Targaryen’s face was rotting due to a fictionalized form of leprosy, which is an illness that eats the body from within. Due to this, the right side of his face started to rot. Viserys sits with Alicent on his right side, which makes the rotting side of his face towards the rotting side of the family, i.e; The Greens. And the healthier side of his face faces (pun intended) the family he would side with (if he were looking down at the Targaryen civil war from heaven), i.e; his daughter, Rhaenyra’s family.
This could also mean something else entirely. It could mean that Alicent always only got to see the rotting side of Viserys. While Rhaenyra on the other hand received only his love. Even though Viserys has decided to let Otto Hightower head the throne, he tortured himself to, in his own words, “set things right,” because of his love for Rhaenyra.
2. Aemond May Have a Liking For Helaena
As Jacaerys Velaryon and Alicent’s daughter Helaena Targaryen dance, a modest yet essential event happens. Aegon, Helaena’s brother and spouse doesn’t at all turn in his chair to see them, despite the fact that they are doing so to annoy him. Nevertheless, Aemond does. Aemond reportedly stated that if Alicent had betrothed Healaena to him instead of his brother Aegon, he would have definitely married her.
Aemond seemed to resent his brother more than the fact that Aegon will become king just one episode later. And, for the time being, Jacaerys irritates Aemond more than Aegon.
3. Lucerys Velaryon Laughs At The Pig
After Viserys departs the dinner, unable to stand the grief, the cooks lay a whole roasted pig in front of Aemond… as Lucerys laughs. If you think about it, the rationale is apparent, as when younger, Aemond was teased by Lucerys, Aegon and Jacaerys by presenting him with ‘The Pink Dread,’ a pig named after Balerion The Black Dread, the largest dragon to have existed.
