Season 1

Complete listed story — includes the ending

S1E1 · The Heirs of the Dragon

With both his sons dead, old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen convenes a Great Council to choose an heir. The Westerosi lords select Jaehaerys's eldest grandson, Prince Viserys, over Princess Rhaenys, the eldest grandchild. Nine years later, King Viserys organizes a tournament to celebrate Queen Aemma Arryn's pregnancy, confident she carries his long-awaited male heir. The Small Council disregards Master of Ships Lord Corlys Velaryon's warning that the Triarchy, an alliance of Essos's Free Cities, threatens to cripple Westerosi shipping lanes. Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower, criticizes Viserys's brother and heir, Prince Daemon, for his brutality as the City Watch commander, in response to Daemon and his men dismembering and/or murdering seemingly random commonfolk. At the tournament, Ser Criston Cole, a young common-born knight, outcompetes Daemon. Meanwhile, Viserys sacrifices Aemma in childbirth, authorizing a C-section. Their newborn son, Baelon, then dies. Viserys refuses the council's pleas to appoint a new heir until Otto reveals that Daemon mockingly styled Baelon as "The Heir for a Day." Outraged, Viserys banishes Daemon from King's Landing and appoints his only living child, Princess Rhaenyra, heir to the Iron Throne, revealing to her Aegon the Conqueror's dream that inspired him to unify Westeros.

S1E2 · The Rogue Prince

Six months later, Daemon has illegally occupied Castle Dragonstone. Prince-Admiral Craghas Drahar, known as the Crabfeeder, menaces the Stepstones archipelago at the Essos Triarchy's behest. The Small Council dismisses Rhaenyra's suggestion to show force and instead relegates her to appoint a new Kingsguard knight. Ignoring others' advice, she chooses Criston, the only knight with actual battle experience. Ser Otto sends his teenage daughter, Lady Alicent, to console the grieving king; she advises Viserys to discuss his kingly duty to remarry with Rhaenyra. Lord Corlys and his wife, Princess Rhaenys, propose that Viserys unite their Valyrian houses by marrying their twelve-year-old daughter, Laena. Meanwhile, the Small Council learns that Daemon, proclaiming himself the true heir, stole a dragon egg and intends to marry his mistress, Mysaria, as a secondary spouse. Otto and a small detachment sail to Dragonstone to retrieve the egg. Rhaenyra follows on her dragon, Syrax, and forces Daemon to renounce his false claims and return the egg. Viserys announces his intention to wed Alicent, angering Corlys, who proposes an alliance with Daemon.

S1E3 · Second of His Name

For three years, Lord Corlys and Prince Daemon have battled the Crabfeeder and his forces in the Stepstones without the Iron Throne's support. Meanwhile, King Viserys plans a great hunt to celebrate his and pregnant Queen Alicent's son Aegon's second birthday. Rhaenyra resents her father's excessive attention towards her half-brother, Aegon. The ailing king insists that Rhaenyra, now seventeen, must marry to form a strong alliance and protect their lineage. Many suitors are considered, including two-year-old Prince Aegon. Lord Lyonel Strong recommends Ser Laenor Velaryon, Lord Corlys's son, as a potential match to mend the rift between the two houses. Overcoming previous doubts, Viserys assures Rhaenyra she remains his heir and can choose her consort. Meanwhile, brothers Hobert and Otto Hightower secretly scheme to make Aegon the successor, furthering their family's power and prestige. After Ser Vaemond Velaryon pleads for the king's help, Viserys sends aid to the Stepstones. Seeing his brother's support as ending his chance to prove himself, Daemon acts as bait to ambush and kill the Crabfeeder, winning the ensuing battle before the crown's forces arrive.

S1E4 · King of the Narrow Sea

After an unsuccessful months-long tour to choose a consort, Rhaenyra returns to King's Landing. Daemon also returns after conquering most of the Stepstones. Now called "King of the Narrow Sea", Daemon swears allegiance to Viserys and hands over his crown. As the reunited brothers celebrate, Alicent and Rhaenyra reconcile. After dark, Daemon and Rhaenyra sneak out to explore King's Landing, attend a bawdy play, and visit a brothel. Daemon seduces a willing Rhaenyra, but unable to consummate their affair, he abandons her there. Returning to the Red Keep, Rhaenyra seduces Criston. Informed by the White Worm's spy, Otto informs the king about Daemon and Rhaenyra's carousing. Alicent overhears and privately questions Rhaenyra, who swears she is still a maid. Viserys confronts a hungover and disheveled Daemon, who seemingly confirms the rumors and proposes that he wed Rhaenyra. Viserys claims Daemon only wants the crown and exiles him to the Vale. To avoid scandal and strengthen the throne, Viserys orders Rhaenyra to marry Laenor. Viserys dismisses Otto as his Hand after Rhaenyra accuses Otto of manipulating him for his personal gain. Grand Maester Mellos gives Rhaenyra a precautionary abortifacient tea at Viserys' request.

S1E5 · We Light the Way

In the Vale, Daemon murders his wife, Lady Rhea Royce. Before departing King's Landing, Ser Otto warns Queen Alicent that Rhaenyra becoming queen would make Alicent's two sons a threat to the crown. Rhaenyra and Laenor are betrothed, mollifying Lord Corlys. Understanding Laenor's homosexuality, Rhaenyra proposes fulfilling their royal duties to produce heirs, then pursue their own lovers. Criston is humiliated when Rhaenyra declines his proposal to elope to Essos and assume new identities; she prefers their current sexual liaison. Alicent questions Criston about Rhaenyra and Daemon, but after misunderstanding, he confesses to being Rhaenyra's lover. During Rhaenyra and Laenor's betrothal celebration, Alicent enters, interrupting Viserys's speech, wearing a green gown, the signal color for House Hightower's call to arms. Daemon also unexpectedly attends. Confronted by Rhea's cousin, Daemon denies murdering her and wishes to assert his claim to inherit her lands. Laenor's lover, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, surmises Criston is Rhaenyra's paramour. When Criston believes Joffrey is threatening blackmail, he brutally kills him, devastating Laenor and horrifying guests. Rhaenyra and Laenor are privately wed late that night. Viserys collapses after the ceremony. Alicent intervenes as a disgraced Criston is about to commit suicide.

S1E6 · The Princess and the Queen

Ten years later, Rhaenyra has three sons: Jacaerys ("Jace"), Lucerys ("Luke"), and newborn Joffrey. All lack the signature Valyrian platinum hair, but King Viserys rejects Queen Alicent's assertion that Ser Laenor is not their father. Alicent tells Aegon that, as Viserys's firstborn son, he must prepare to dispute Rhaenyra's claim to the throne. Daemon and his wife, Laena Velaryon, reside in Pentos with their daughters Baela and Rhaena. The prince of Pentos offers them a lordship in exchange for an alliance against a resurgent Triarchy. After agonizing labor leaves her unable to give birth, Laena commands her dragon, Vhagar, to incinerate her. Criston, now serving Alicent, goads Ser Harwin Strong into attacking him by implying Harwin fathered Rhaenyra's children. To ease family strife, Rhaenyra proposes that Jace marry Helaena, Alicent's daughter; Alicent refuses. Lord Lyonel Strong, Hand of the King, escorts his son Harwin to Harrenhal Castle. It is implied that Harwin fathered Rhaenyra's sons. Alicent confides to Lyonel's younger son, Larys, that she wishes her father, Ser Otto, was still the King's Hand. Larys recruits three criminals to set a fire at Harrenhal, killing Lyonel and Harwin. Rhaenyra moves her household to Dragonstone, also bringing Laenor's lover, Ser Qarl Correy.

S1E7 · Driftmark

King Viserys and his court attend Lady Laena's funeral in Driftmark. Viserys fails to reconcile with Daemon, but Rhaenyra and Daemon reunite and have sex. Prince Aemond claims Vhagar as his dragon, causing an altercation with his cousins and nephews in which Luke slashes Aemond's eye with a knife. As revenge, Queen Alicent lunges at Luke with Viserys's Valyrian steel dagger. Rhaenyra blocks Alicent but injures herself. Viserys decrees that anyone claiming Rhaenyra's sons are bastards will be punished. Later, Otto Hightower, who has been reinstated as Hand of the King, assures Alicent they will prevail, while Rhaenyra and Daemon unite against Alicent and her family. Qarl appears to murder Laenor, leaving behind a charred body. Daemon and Rhaenyra privately marry in the old Valyrian Dragonlord tradition to perpetuate the Targaryen bloodline. Laenor, having faked his death, escapes Driftmark with Qarl.

S1E8 · The Lord of the Tides

Six years later, Lord Corlys Velaryon is wounded fighting in the Stepstones. His brother, Ser Vaemond, petitions King's Landing to name him Corlys's heir, asserting Rhaenyra's sons are illegitimate. To defend their claim, Rhaenyra and Daemon return to the capital. King Viserys is now bedridden, disfigured, and mentally muddled. Queen Alicent and the king's Hand, Otto Hightower, oversee all royal matters. Alicent covers up Prince Aegon's rape of a handmaiden. Rhaenyra proposes two marriage arrangements with House Velaryon to gain Princess Rhaenys's support. She implores Viserys to defend her succession, quoting Aegon the Conqueror's dream about the Prince That Was Promised. Vaemond's petition is presented at court, and Viserys reaffirms Luke's position as the heir to Driftmark. Daemon beheads Vaemond when he denounces Rhaenyra and her children. The family appears to reconcile during a feast, but Aemond later incites a fight. Meanwhile, Alicent's lady-in-waiting, Talya, regularly provides Daemon's former mistress, Mysaria, with information. Viserys, near death and mistaking Alicent for Rhaenyra, mutters parts of Aegon the Conqueror's dream, which Alicent mistakenly believes refers to Prince Aegon.

S1E9 · The Green Council

After Viserys's death, Ser Otto and the Small Council plot to crown Prince Aegon. Criston unintentionally kills Lord Beesbury, who opposed the scheme. Kingsguard Lord Commander Harrold Westerling resigns in protest. Otto keeps Viserys's death a secret to fortify the council's position, then coerces the noble houses to switch their allegiance to Aegon. Those resisting are imprisoned or hanged. Otto and Alicent discuss whether to kill or exile Rhaenyra and separately rush to find and influence the missing Prince Aegon: Otto sends Kingsguard brothers Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk Cargyll, while Alicent tasks Criston and Prince Aemond. The Cargylls find Aegon first, but Criston and Aemond forcibly take him. Lord Larys tells Alicent that spies, including Lady-in-Waiting Talya, are within the Red Keep. Alicent approves of eliminating the head spy. Alicent persuades a resistant Aegon to claim his birthright. King's Landing citizens are herded into the Dragonpit to witness Aegon's coronation. Princess Rhaenys, refusing to support Aegon's claim, is held captive. Erryk frees her, and she enters the Dragonpit caverns. Astride her dragon, Meleys, she violently breaches the grand hall, causing mayhem, death, and threatening the royals; Rhaenys then flees King's Landing on Meleys.

S1E10 · The Black Queen

Princess Rhaenys arrives on Dragonstone to announce King Viserys's death and Prince Aegon's ascending the throne; the news shocks Rhaenyra into a premature stillbirth. Daemon pressures Rhaenyra to go to war. When Ser Erryk brings Viserys's crown, Rhaenyra is declared queen. Otto presents King Aegon II's terms for Rhaenyra's concession, including retaining her royal title and Dragonstone and her son's rights to inherit Driftmark; Daemon is angered when Rhaenyra considers conceding to unify the realm against the Northern threat foretold by Aegon the Conqueror's dream. Corlys pledges House Velaryon's allegiance to Rhaenyra's "Black" faction; Daemon plans to recruit more dragonriders and awakens a large dragon hibernating in a cave. Princes Jace and Luke are sent as envoys to secure Houses Arryn, Stark, and Baratheon as allies. Luke meets with Lord Borros Baratheon and discovers Prince Aemond is also there to secure the Baratheons as allies for Aegon II. King Aegon II offered Borros a political alliance through marriage between his daughter and Aemond, while Rhaenyra offered nothing. Luke leaves on his dragon, Arrax, but Aemond pursues him on Vhagar. The fractious dragons defy their riders; Arrax burns Vhagar; Vhagar then devours Luke and Arrax, stunning Aemond. Rhaenyra is devastated and enraged upon receiving the news.