House Of The Dragon Episode Eight Review - 8 Ups & 2 Downs

When the end finally came, it is likely that no person in Westeros was gladder of the fact than Viserys Targaryen.

House of the Dragon did not flinch in bringing Viserys' decline to life whatsoever; the King literally resembles a cadaver in The Lord of the Tides, to the point where it appears inconceivable that he is even still alive. Viserys' eye has wasted away, leaving an empty ghoulish cavern, but that's just the headline. The Targaryen monarch's teeth have fallen out, his fingernails are bloody pockmarks and his body is covered in great decaying patches of flesh.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of all is the fact that the King lies alone in his chambers, sedated to the point of oblivion and waiting anxiously for death. It is legitimately upsetting to see Paddy Considine in this state; the actor's moans of pain are so convincing that it makes for harrowing viewing every time he appears on-screen. The effect of Viserys' sorrowful plight on the cast is not lost either; the usually unflappable Daemon is noticeably ashamed as he tells his brother about the current chaotic state of affairs and Rhaenyra is brought to tears by her realization that she can no longer count on the support of the King.

Paddy Considine has been absolutely first-rate during his eight episode run on House of the Dragon and it is only fitting that Viserys' final moments were brought to life with the typically dedicated flair that audiences have come to expect from the veteran character actor.