By Chandraboli Majumdar
October 10, 2022
Episode 8 of House of the Dragon saw Princess Rhaenyra and her husband Prince Daemon return to King’s Landing. Here we could see King Viserys who is now only a skeleton. His face fell apart, his mind lost touch with reality, and his body chained itself to the bed. In the meantime, Queen Alicent and The Hand Otto Hightower took charge of the king’s affairs. Rhaenyra and Daemon, however, uncover some interesting discoveries that could cast suspicion on Otto Hightower.
King Viserys is skin and bones in House of the Dragon Episode 8
Rhaenyra and Daemon meet King Viserys in House of the Dragon episode 8
As we see, King Viserys had lost half of his face to the infectious rot that had invaded his body all these years. He lost the ability to move and remained tied to his bed. Viserys didn’t mind any of the king’s business either, as he was barely sane and couldn’t think straight most of the time. When Daemon and Rhaenyra first meet him, they make disturbing and suspicious discoveries. Maesters and Hightowers had kept King Viserys drunk on poppy milk. While Alicent claims it was done to ease the king’s pain and suffering, Daemon brings up another point. The Hightowers had slowly but effectively completely redesigned the Red Keep. They had removed all Targaryen heraldry and installed statues and stars instead.
How Otto Hightower may have played a part in his death
King Viserys foils the Hightowers’ plan
King Viserys surprises everyone when he manages to walk to the throne room and resume the proceedings regarding Driftmark’s legacy. Everyone watches in awe as the King somehow makes his way to the Iron Throne with the help of his brother Daemon. Here, he foils the Hightowers’ plans. This results in Lucerys becoming the future Tidal Lord and the death of Vaemond Velaryon at the hands of Daemon.
Otto Hightower is back as Hand of the King in House of the Dragon
It wouldn’t be surprising if the Hightowers decided to send the King on his way after the surprising turn of events that day. However, Alicent Hightower has nothing to do with it. Episode 8 of House of the Dragon showed Queen Alicent to be nothing but a kind and devoted wife to King Viserys. However Otto Hightower is surely capable of something so sinister. His displeasure when Viserys refused to drink the poppy’s milk was as evident as ever.
The Hightowers recruited support for the Greens
Additionally, in the six years Viserys has been absent from the small council, Otto Hightower has come on strong. He converted the entire Little Council and made them allies of the Greens. House of the Dragon episode 7 proved that Otto was quite capable of dastardly deeds. There was even a conspiracy theory in case of fire and blood where the Hightowers are said to have poisoned Viserys every day with his medicinal tea. In fact, even the maesters worked under the command of the Hightowers. Rhaenyra herself said she wanted Maester Gerardys to take a look at the king just to be sure. All of this is certainly enough evidence to suspect Otto Hightower.
