The first season of HBO's House of the Dragon is approaching its end, and the latest episode of the Game of Thrones prequel series featured several notable developments that have generated a lot of discussion among viewers.
While Vaemond Velaryon losing his head and the death of King Viserys Targaryen arguably proved to be bigger talking points as the civil war known as the Dance of Dragons looms, it was a quieter scene between the dying king and his estranged brother Daemon that really seemed to resonate with fans.
As the now decrepit Viserys makes his way to the Iron Throne for the last time, his crown slips and crashed to the floor. Daemon picks it up, helps his brother to the throne, and places the crown back on his head.
It's a powerful moment between two siblings who have had more than their share of ups and downs, and shows that despite his outwardly aloof disposition, Daemon really does care for and respect his big brother.
Now, it's come to light that the entire thing was improvised!
“When we were shooting that — I think the rehearsal again, the first day — the crown fell off of Paddy’s head and Matt picked it up and we just kept going. We didn’t stop [filming],” director Greeta Patel tells EW. “There was a discovery there of this moment.”
Unfortunately, this reconciliation comes far too late for Viserys, who finally succumbs to his mysterious leprosy-like disease in the episode's final moments. The king's death sets the stage for what promises to be a brutal civil war between the "Greens" and the "Blacks," which reaches shocking levels of treachery without the honorable monarch doing his best to maintain peace.