WARNING! SPOILERS ahead for House of the Dragon season 1 episode 8House of the Dragon fans share their thoughts on the passing of the latest major character in the Game of Thrones prequel. Since the early episodes of the season, the death of King Viserys I has been foreshadowed due to his worsening illness, which Considine confirmed was leprosy. The king's death is a matter of huge importance in the series, setting up the future civil war over Viserys' controversial choice of Rhaenyra as his heir and questions of the legitimacy of her children. The series has featured several time jumps, one of which spanned ten years, and though the king seemed to be rapidly decaying, he lasted much longer than fans expected.

After the events of House of the Dragon season 1 episode 8, "The Lord of the Tides," Viserys has finally succumbed to his illness. His death is a tragedy that has far-reaching implications, since his last breaths saw him confuse his wife Alicent for his daughter Rhaenyra, which will lead Alicent to renew her quest to put her son on the throne. This misunderstanding, as well as the king's passing, are likely to have fatal consequences, which were teased in the episode 9 trailer and have elicited complicated feelings from viewers.

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House of the Dragon fans were quick to voice their thoughts on the matter of the king's death, even getting "Viserys" trending on Twitter. Some tweets published after the episode's fateful ending expressed devastation over the king's passing, while many focused on his unwavering support of his daughter, voicing frustration that his last words are doomed to be misinterpreted by his wife. See the various reactions above.

How Viserys Won House Of The Dragon Fans Over

King Viserys Targaryen sits on the Iron Throne

Due to the king's increasingly decrepit state, his death didn't come as much of a surprise to fans of the series, many of whom were expecting Viserys to die in each House of the Dragon episode after the ten-year time jump. Despite his death being expected, the frustrating circumstances around it, as well as his actions prior to his death, have clearly elicited strong reactions from viewers. After a rough start in the pilot episode, in which Viserys chose to try and save his unborn son at the expense of his wife Aemma during her troubled childbirth, he wasn't a favorite among audiences. However, the king's steadfast support of his daughter's claim to the throne, even after having sons of his own, and his handling of his often problematic family members clearly earned him back some favor in the eyes of House of the Dragon fans.

Now that Viserys has died, the problem of succession that hung over the series until this point has become an urgent matter. The House of the Dragon season 1 episode 9 trailer made it clear that the fallout of the king's death will be swift and intense, with Alicent wasting no time in making his misunderstood last words known. As viewers gear up for an action-packed House of the Dragon episode next Sunday, it's possible that the death of yet another major character is on the horizon.

Next: Key Details You Might've Missed In House Of The Dragon Episode 8

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