I think we can all agree that Game of Thrones‘ ending was a disappointment. Thankfully, House of the Dragon is making up for that. It has everything fans could want and is packed full of interesting and morally ambiguous characters. However, because of the gap between series, some may be wondering about Westeros’ wider lore. After this week’s episode, viewers are asking “what is milk of the poppy in House of the Dragon?”
Before we get into that, it’s important to explain the context of House of the Dragon within the wider Game of Thrones universe.
House of the Dragon takes place almost 200 years before its predecessor. The prequel series follows the heyday of the House Targaryen, back when they ruled Westeros.
The House Targaryen is led by King Viserys I. The series begins with his ascension to the throne before skipping forward nine years into his reign.
In House of the Dragon, Viserys is shown as being desperate for a male heir. He already has a daughter, Rhaenyra, but he hopes for a son to succeed him to the Iron Throne.
In the first episode, Viserys I’s wife, Queen Aemma, tragically dies in child birth. Their new son passed shortly after, too. This led to Verserys declaring Rhaenyra as his heir.
However, Viserys later had a son – Aegon – with his next wife Alicent Hightower. This brings Viserys’ succession into question.
In “The Lord of the Tides”, King Viserys is shown to be in terrible health. After years of steady decline, he has hit rock bottom. The King suffers from leprosy and it has even claimed his right eye.
To ease his suffering, the maesters give Viserys milk of the poppy. But what is milk of the poppy in House of the Dragon?
What is Milk of the Poppy in House of the Dragon?
Fans of Game of Thrones will be familiar with milk of the poppy.
However, for those new to the universe, it’s never explained what milk of the poppy actually is or what it does.
For King Viserys I, it is basically all that is keeping him from a life of constant suffering. However, Rhaenyra and Daemon seem to believe Queen Alicent is using it to keep him sedated so she can control his affairs.
So, what is milk of the poppy in House of the Dragon? Milk of the poppy is a powerful liquid painkiller and anaesthetic that is basically Westeros’ version of morphine. It is made from crushed poppy flowers, just as morphine and other opioid drugs are made from poppy plants.
Milk of the poppy has a long history in the Game of Thrones universe.
The medicinal drink first appears in season one of Game of Thrones when it is used to treat King Robert Baratheon after he is mortally wounded by a boar. Ned Stark also takes milk of the poppy after a guard pierces his leg with a spear.
Jaime Lannister famously refuses milk of the poppy when Qyburn amputates his infected hand.
Due to its sedative properties, the main side-effect of milk of the poppy is confusion. King Viserys is shown to mistake both Alicent and Rhaenerya for one another after consuming the medicine.
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