Breaking down House of the Dragon’s many new children and parents

It is crucial to understand how time jumps work. House of the DragonIt tells the story of an enigmatic moment in Targaryen’s history. None of those time jumps are as important as the 10-year leap that episode 6, “The Princess and the Queen,” takes. Episode 8 is a six-year jump to the future, which seems almost as big. While there aren’t quite as many new characters this time around, plenty of the young actors have been recast so the children of Alicent, Rhaenyra, and Daemon, may look a little different than you remember — plus there are a few new ones.

To help you keep track of all the children that appeared in this episode, here’s a breakdown of Rhaenyra and Alicent’s respective families:

Rhaenyra’s children

Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett)

Jace is the oldest son of Rhaenyra and Laenor — or maybe of Rhaenyra and Ser Harwin Strong, depending on who you ask. Jace, who is 7 years old, is the heir of the Iron Throne. In episode 6 we see him almost beat Aegon Targaryen in a bout with wooden swords, despite Aegon’s advantages in size and age.

By episode 8 Jace is well into his teenage years and while it’s clear he’s still ready for a fight, he doesn’t have much to do outside of attend feasts just yet.

Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault)

Lucerys Velaryon standing with his family including Rhaenyra Targaryen, Daemon Targaryen, Rhaena Targaryen, and Jacaerys Velaryon in the throne room of the Red Keep in House of the Dragon

Also known as Luke, Lucerys is Rhaenyra’s second child, and is mostly unremarkable in episode 6. He does happen to bear a striking resemblance to Ser Harwin Strong, his mother’s closest friend and notably not her husband. Unfortunately for all involved, this “coincidence” is noticed by literally everyone in King’s Landing, drawing Luke’s legitimacy into question.

By episode 8 it’s clear that Luke is still pretty sensitive about his resemblance to Harwin, even if he doubles down on his claim to Driftmark in episode 8 and therefore his legitimacy as a trueborn Targaryen. Just as importantly, Luke also gets engaged this episode, thanks to his mother’s promise to marry him to Baela Targaryen.

Joffrey Velaryon (some toddler)

Born at the start of episode 6, Joffrey is Rhaenyra’s youngest child, for now, and only a baby — and therefore pretty unremarkable on his own terms. Also, he is likely to be a Bastard who was fathered probably by Ser Harwin Strong. Joffrey is named in honor of Laenor’s late lover, Joffrey Lonmouth, who was beaten to death at their wedding by Rhaenyra’s former lover, so there’s a lot going on there.

Episode 8 features Joffrey as a toddler who plays near the fire on the ground. That’s it.

Viserys Targaryen (baby)

Viserys, Rhaenyra’s second-born son is Viserys. Viserys was presented to King Viserys Targaryen, his grandfather/uncle.

Aegon Targaryen (Aegon the Younger). (baby)

Aegon is Rhaenyra’s first-born son. Aegon is kind of in the background while Viserys is introduced to the man he’s named after.

Alicent’s children

Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney)

Tom Glynn-Carry as Aegon II Targaryen sitting at a table with a feast on it holding a win cup in House of the Dragon

Aegon was one of the children we saw before this episode. Aegon is Viserys Targaryen’s oldest child. Aegon is an unusual name for a Targaryen child. Anyone with any knowledge of Targaryen history will know that. The name of the Westerosi dynasty’s first king, Aegon always carries with it a certain implication of earned (or conquered) kingship. This episode shows Aegon as a spoiled brat, not the conqueror.

In episode 8, Aegon graduates from spoiled brat to genuine monster in a way that’s fairly recognizable from the worst of the royals and nobles in Westeros. Aegon seems more interested in using his privilege and abusing anyone he wants than pursuing an ambitious goal like fighting power or combat skill.

Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell)

Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon raising a glass in mocking toast with his eyepatch on

Aegon’s younger brother, Aemond, is Alicent’s second son. Think of him as the Prince Daemon of this family, except without any of ambition, rashness, or martial prowess that make Daemon who he is — at least not yet. This episode shows that Aemond doesn’t have a dragon. A fact that Aemond is very conscious of throughout his life.

Aemond’s Daemon connection got a lot stronger in episode 8 as we see just how hot-headed he’s become, and how dangerous with a sword. He’s already better than Ser Criston Cole and he seems formidable enough to take on almost anyone in the Seven Kingdoms. Most dangerously though, it’s clear that despite losing an eye and gaining a dragon, Aemond doesn’t quite think the score is settled between himself and Rhaenyra’s “Strong boys.”

Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban)

The second oldest of Alicent’s children, Helaena is a strange girl who, in this episode, we see playing with a large bug and counting its legs.

Helaena barely appears in Episode 8. However, she’s older.