House of the Dragon is brazenly barreling toward a tempestuous conclusion in the much-awaited season finale. Alicent & Otto decide to crown Aegon in direct contravention of King Viserys' wishes, enraging Rhaenyra and her allies. Decades of discontent and hostility reach boiling point and cascade into outright violence.

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As the Greens and Blacks challenge each other's claims to the Iron Throne, House Targaryen will finally demonstrate the true meaning behind its motto. The commonfolk of Westeros will be engulfed in fire and drowned in their own blood, forcing fans to look at the bigger picture. Does it really matter who wins the Dance of the Dragons when innocent lives are going to be snuffed out?

10 Rhaenys Takes A One-Way Flight To Dragonstone

Rhaenys emerging on her dragon in House of the Dragon

Otto Hightower browbeats several Great Houses into switching their allegiances, and brutally kills anyone who refuses to submit. Fortunately, Queen Alicent shows Princess Rhaenys the basic courtesy of not murdering the latter in her sleep. Rhaenys escapes the Red Keep with Ser Erryk's help, but promptly loses her bearings in the swarm of commoners being shepherded toward the Dragonpit.

As a pampered royal, Rhaenys clearly doesn't know how to deal with the tired, poor, huddled masses. However, she eventually makes her way to Meleys and invades Aegon's coronation. Rhaenys leaves the Dragonpit without incinerating her enemies, so she's probably on her way to warn Rhaenyra at Dragonstone.

9 Rhaenyra Becomes The Black Queen With Her Father's Crown

Rhaenyra Targaryen with King Viserys behind her in House of the Dragon

The tenth episode is titled "The Black Queen," a reference to Rhaenyra. According to George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, the Blacks are a group of hardened Targaryen supporters, whose identities have been redacted to avoid TV spoilers. The preview for the season finale shows Erryk bearing King Viserys' crown and pledging himself to Rhaenyra, effectively recognizing her birthright.

Rhaenyra's birthright won't be universally recognized, though, since many Houses have transferred their fealties to Aegon. With Westeros on the brink of civil war, fans are excited to see how Rhaenyra handles her new mission. If it's anything like the book, the Black Queen isn't going to be happy.

8 Criston Cole Is Finally Punished For His Insolence

Joffrey Lonmouth talking with Criston Cole in House of the Dragon.

Criston Cole was once a fan-favorite — a brooding but devoted member of the Kingsguard whose life's mission was to protect Rhaenyra. When she reminds him of her regal duties, however, Criston instantly transforms into a vengeful wretch. He blabs Rhaenyra's secret to Alicent, effectively sparking the conflict between the Princess and the Queen.

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Criston refers to his Rhaenyra using unprintable insults, torments Jace and Luke, kills both Lord Beesbury and Joffrey Lonmouth, to name a few of his egregious atrocities. After Aemond mentions Aegon's misogyny, Criston sanctimoniously declares that "every woman is an image of the Mother, to be spoken of with reverence." Criston is practically begging for punishment at this point.

7 An Assortment Of Assassins Converges On Dragonstone

Daemon Targaryen & Otto Hightower face each other in House of the Dragon.

Although Alicent is thrilled by the prospect of her son on the Iron Throne, she firmly refuses to hurt Rhaenyra and her children. Her father, the so-called Hand of the King, glibly announces that "the former heir cannot [...] be allowed to remain free and draw support." Outrageous or not, Otto's plan of action is logically sound.

On a positive note, the Queen is considerably softer and kinder than before. Alicent implores Aegon to "reject [his grandfather's] counsel," stating that he "must not rule with cruelty and callousness." Nevertheless, Otto's unpredictable thought process is likely to worsen the situation. Fans would not be surprised if a troop of assassins suddenly materializes on Dragonstone.

6 The Rapidly Deteriorating Relationship Between Alicent & Otto

House of the Dragon Alicent and Otto Hightower

Princess Rhaenys triggers Alicen't metamorphosis by posing a simple question: "Have you never imagined yourself on the Iron Throne?" Audiences were waiting a long time for the Queen to come to her senses, but Alicent may not possess the fortitude to reverse her father's meticulous brainwashing. And yet, the Queen is now aware of the Hand's malicious Machiavellianism, so she's arguably on the right path.

Alicent confronts her father for the first time in "The Green Council," where she accuses him of playing political mind-games. Otto unsuccessfully tries to re-condition his daughter, but Alicent simply doesn't have the time or energy to deal with his feeble attempts. This deteriorating relationship is liable to play a major role in "The Black Queen."

5 King Aegon Is Further Intoxicated By His Newfound Power

The Greens stand behind Aegon as he takes the throne in House of the Dragon

Aegon expresses his loathing for the Iron Throne on numerous occasions. In "The Green Council," he begs Aemond to let him leave Westeros, only to be forcibly hauled back to the Red Keep. Despite his overwhelming ignorance, Aegon's assessment is accurate — he truly has "no taste for duty."

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That said, fans have seen what happens to those who wear the Crown. Although Aegon complies with his family's wishes under protest, his eyes acquire a carnivorous gleam after the citizens of King's Landing cheer and celebrate his coronation. Among all the characters in Game of Thrones, Aegon is most similar to Joffrey Baratheon, a fundamentally terrifying thought.

4 Jace & Luke Velaryon Enter The Battlefield

Aegon, Aemond, Jacaerys, Lucerys

Jacaerys is next in line to the Iron Throne, but only if he survives the impending clash with his uncles. Meanwhile, Lucerys is supposed to inherit the Driftwood Throne through his "dead" father Laenor. In the trailer, Jace earnestly requests his mother to send him and his brother to the battlefield, eager to prove their mettle.

Rhaenyra might not enjoy risking her sons' lives, but she apparently doesn't have much of a choice because Luke and Jace are later seen at Storm's End. While their admittedly bold hearts are in the right place, these two boys are woefully incompetent warriors. Prince Aemond is singularly capable of defeating and killing his nephews, especially with the overpowered Vhagar under his command.

3 Where Do Larys Strong's Loyalties Lie?

Larys and Alicent in House of the Dragon

Larys Strong silently serves as the Queen's unofficial enforcer for several years. Alicent relies on Larys to do her dirty work, even if she refuses to address her own role in the outcome. The parameters of their relationship remain unclear, but there seems to be a sexual transaction involved. The Queen's hypocrisy is particularly noteworthy, given her overreaction to Rhaenyra's indiscretions.

At the same time, Alicent clearly doesn't know the whole story because Larys has been two-timing the Queen with her father. Anyone with the title of Lord Confessor is bound to have at least a few skeletons in the closet, and Larys is by far the most secretive character in House of the Dragon.

2 The Story Might (Temporarily) Shift To Winterfell

The castle of Winterfell on Game of Thrones' map.

Game of Thrones is centered around three major venues — the Red Keep, Castle Black, and Winterfell. The story begins with the Starks at Winterfell, which is also where the Night King meets his ultimate doom. House of the Dragon is yet to explore the Northern half of Westeros, but the season finale trailer briefly highlights Winterfell as a key location.

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This snippet of information, combined with House Stark's unyielding sense of honor, signifies that the narrative might shift (temporarily) shift to Winterfell. Fans will get to see what the ancient castle looked like 150 years before Game of Thrones, maybe even a few cameos of the Wall. That said, the North may not appear until Season 2. It's all conjecture at this juncture in the story.

1 The Dance Of The Dragons Will Scar Westeros Beyond Recognition

Lucerys Velaryon and Aemond Targaryen's dragons fight over Storm's End in Dance of the Dragons

A Dance with Dragons is the fifth installment in George R.R. Martin's epic saga. The Dance of the Dragons, on the other hand, is the historical name given to the upcoming war in House of the Dragon. King Viserys I Targaryen manages to hold the Six Kingdoms together for nearly three decades, a remarkable accomplishment considering all the factors working against him.

Unfortunately, his death plunges Westeros into a two-year period of nightmarish darkness. Countless battles scar the continent beyond recognition, leaving thousands dead, injured, homeless, orphaned, or worse. People should never have to pay the price for their leaders' ineptitude — to quote Samwell Tarly, "maybe the decision about what's best for everyone should be left to, well, everyone."

NEXT: 10 Game Of Thrones Characters Who'd Survive House Of The Dragon's Politics