‘Why ruin the finale just wait people,’ one angry fan lamented (Picture: HBO)
HBO has issued an ‘aggressive’ response after the House of the Dragon season 2 episode 8 finale ‘leaked’ online.
In just a few days’ time, fans of the HBO series – a prequel spin-off to Game of Thrones – will discover what will unfold next in the battle between the Blacks and the Greens, led by Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) respectively.
However, some apparently already know pivotal elements of the plot, after a variety of clips circulated on TikTok and X.
It’s been claimed by ComicBook.com that the footage from episode eight was captured by someone filming a screen with another device, and it’s unclear how the TikTok user had access to the instalment.
According to the outlet, more than half of the videos that were uploaded by the account – which had not shared any videos before the ‘leak’ – accumulated more than 100,000 views before they were taken down.
The last episode saw Rhaenyra try to recruit new dragonriders to her forces (Picture: HBO)
Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen has spent the majority of the second season at the haunted castle of Harrenhal (Picture: HBO)
HBO has since issued a statement, revealing that the company is ‘aggressively’ taking down the leaked clips.
‘We are aware that clips from the House of the Dragon season finale have surfaced across social media platforms,’ they told the publication.
‘The clips were posted after an unintentional release from an international third-party distributor.
‘HBO is aggressively monitoring and removing clips from the internet, and fans can watch the episode in its entirety this Sunday night on HBO and Max.’
In 2022, the House of the Dragon season one finale was also leaked online before it was due to air.
‘It appears to have originated from a distribution partner in the EMEA region,’ an HBO spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter at the time.
‘HBO is aggressively monitoring and pulling these copies from the internet.’
While there are some fans who have inevitably been clamouring to watch whatever leaked footage they can find, others have expressed their disappointment over the breach.
‘Why ruin the finale just wait people,’ @IsaacGonzalezX wrote on X.
‘Leaks suck. Leaks need to go away,’ @nerds4nerds remarked.
Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew) is one of the Targaryen descendants who was put forward by Rhaenyra to try and claim a dragon (Picture: HBO)
Many fans are choosing to avoid the leaks so they can watch the final episode on its scheduled air date (Picture: HBO)
‘Why would anyone watch it there? Just wait for it to come out, it’s not that long. Don’t rob the people who worked on it of their views,’ @OvrlyCritikal33 wrote.
Meanwhile, @peterpercivhal took their upset out on their least favourite character played by Fabien Frankel, quipping: ‘Blame it on Ser Criston. I don’t care.’
