What the hell was that House of the Dragon finale?

Spoilers ahead!

My jaw dropped multiple times during the episode. I screamed, I laughed, I damn near almost cried. All of that happened during the birthing scene alone, of course, but also the rest of the episode.

Morning-after non-chronological thoughts on the episode:

• Aemond is an all-time great character and so, so, so perfectly cast.
  He’s got a sapphire in his eye now, very villainous and cool. And his face, that moment of remorse, when he realizes…