How THAT ending sets up the Dance of the Dragons.
When the finale begins, Rhaenyra and her family are settled in Dragonstone with their thoughts still on the events on episode 8. Her secondborn Lucerys is nervous about being the heir to Driftmark, but Rhaenyra comforts him and says she will help prepare him for his future lordship. The sweet moment is brief before Rhaenys arrives with the news of Viserys' death and Aegon's Dragonpit coronation.
The Green party is led by Otto, and Daemon meets him outside on the Dragonstone steps. In a callback from Episode 2, Rhaenyra arrives late on dragonback, with Syrax landing behind the Greens. Otto has a stacked offer if Rhaenyra steps down and supports Aegon: she and Jace get Dragonstone, Luke gets Driftmark, her allies get pardoned, and she and Daemon's young sons receive places in Aegon's court.
) and Laenor's deaths. She also tells him of his brother's death, which came courtesy of Daemon in episode 8. When Luke arrives at Storm's End on his dragon Arrax, Vhaghar is parked outside. Instead of turning and running, the brave prince still goes inside, where Aemond is waiting after arriving with a head start and a marriage pact. Ser Borros Baratheon is rude and refuses to read, asking Luke which of his daughters he will marry.