Emma D’Arcy: Jace is right to feel offended by Rhaenyra’s decisions on House of the Dragon

As a long-time fan of George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series and a devoted viewer of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” and its prequel, “House of the Dragon,” I have grown accustomed to the complexities of the Targaryen dynasty and the role that faith plays in their lives. Rhaenyra Targaryen, the current heir to the Iron Throne, has always believed that she is destined for the throne due to her lineage from Aegon the Conqueror. Her recent actions, as portrayed in “House of the Dragon,” have led me to question if she can truly be considered a religious fanatic.

Is Rhaenyra Targaryen considered a religious zealot? She firmly believes that her fate is to rule the Iron Throne, as she claims to possess knowledge of Aegon the Conqueror’s prophetic dream. Recently on HBO’s House of the Dragon, she has frequently referenced the gods in support of her strategy for recruiting Targaryen bastards to become new dragonriders. When her son Jace objected to this plan in the most recent episode, she responded by saying, “I cannot deny what the gods have set before me.”

From the very beginning, Rhaenyra has carried an aura of preordained greatness about her. Recall in the initial season when she and Criston Cole were the sole witnesses to the mystical white hart in the forest, and Rhaenyra chose not to capture it? Rhaenyra believes she is meant to rule on the Iron Throne. However, as we’ve learned from Daenerys Targaryen’s storyline on “Game of Thrones,” harboring a messianic belief can lead to perilous outcomes.

1. Jace’s issue with hiring dragonseeds is that it could cast doubt on his own right to the throne, since he himself is a bastard and has faced such questions throughout his life. Although he shares this secret, he never openly admits it; instead, people have questioned his legitimacy due to his physical resemblance to Rhaenyra’s lover Harwin Strong rather than Laenor Velaryon, her first husband. Still, Jace can ride a dragon, an ability usually associated with Targaryens. However, if other Targaryen bastards are permitted to ride dragons as well, he fears his claim to the Iron Throne after Rhaenyra will once more be called into question, and the whispers about his legitimacy will begin anew.

As a devoted fan of George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” I was struck by the emotional depth and authenticity of Rhaenyra’s character concerns, even though Jace doesn’t seem to share them in the book. Emma D’Arcy, who brings Rhaenyra to life on screen, echoes my sentiments. In her own words to The Wrap:

Jace has every reason to feel deeply compromised by his mother’s choice. Ultimately, she will choose herself, really, above anyone. And here she chooses herself and her divine right over her son and her son’s legitimacy. I don’t think it’s an easy decision — we’ve seen Rhaenyra, over years, fight vehemently for the legitimacy of her children. We’ve seen her fight petitions. We’ve seen her stake all of her reputation, protecting those boys.

But in this case, she feels she’s received divine permission. Jace says — and Harry Collett plays it so beautifully in the episode — all these issues with how I look are silenced by the fact that I’m a dragon rider, and you are willing to give that license that I own away, and he’s right that she doesn’t shut down his argument, which I feel is the only respect she can show him, right?

1. In response to Jace’s assertion that the dragonseeds might challenge his lineage again, Rhaenyra doesn’t refute him directly but instead focuses on moving forward due to divine guidance. After all, the dragon Seasmoke selected Addam of Hull as its new master. Is it wise to question a creature like Seasmoke, which possesses the ability to fly and breathe fire? Given that dragons are the last remaining magical entities from the ancient city of Valyria, it seems prudent to trust their choices.

To clarify, the dragonkeepers share our opposition to Rhaenyra’s proposal due to their belief that dragons are sacred beings. Allowing Targaryen bastards to attempt riding them, in their perspective, is a desecration of this revered status. Recall the reactions of the common folk during a recent episode when the head of the dragon Meleys was displayed in King’s Landing. One bystander expressed surprise, remarking “I thought they were gods,” while another responded bluntly, “They’re just meat.”

how does it play out when your deities are made human? When do you prioritize faith – in yourself or in your religion, possibly interchangeable for Rhaenyra – over family ties? Discover the answer this Sunday in the finale of “House of the Dragon” on HBO and Max.

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2024-07-30 19:43