Content warning: this article includes an account of stillbirth and spoilers for the finale of House Of The Dragon.

For 10 episodes now, we’ve been left to ponder over how this premiere season of House Of The Dragon would wrap up. A Red Wedding-type massacre, maybe, or would we see further shocking betrayals? Perhaps Alicent and Rhaenyra might finally come to a mutual understanding, and live happily ever after as long-lost best friends?

Well, if you’ve been watching, you know that the latter is basically impossible (at this point in the series, at least).

Episode nine focused on Alicent’s plot to overthrow Rhaenyra’s rightful ascension to the Iron Throne and instead, make her own son, Aegon, King. It was a Rhaenyra and Daemon-less episode that clearly paved the way for a finale where we see the consequences of that betrayal play out in stomach-churning fashion for the Targaryen couple.

Though this finale is a fitting end to a tense series, it’s one that also highlights the fantasy universe’s obsession with female-centred suffering.

HBO’s House Of The Dragon finale review: an epic conclusion but yet another horrific childbirth scene