House of the Dragon is setting up Rhaenyra to repeat Game of Thrones’ biggest mistake

House of the Dragon is setting up Rhaenyra to repeat Game of Thrones' biggest mistake

As a seasoned gamer and a connoisseur of epic fantasy narratives, I find myself captivated by the intriguing character arc of Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon. While the series delivers an immersive escape from our contemporary woes, it’s the hopeful alternatives presented that truly resonate with me.

Fantasy stories like House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones can provide a temporary escape from reality. For an hour or so at a time, we can imagine ourselves tethered to dragons rather than the darkness of our daily newsfeeds. Some of the best fantasy stories, however, don’t seek full escape from the darkness of the real world, but a more hopeful alternative. For me, that has been the appeal of watching Rhaenyra Targaryen throughout season 2 of House of the Dragon. She’s a queen on the precipice of war who tries everything in her power to avoid it.

In contrast to a previous season that delved deeply into the harsh and violent aspects of medieval life, Rhaenyra’s storyline in season 2 was quite refreshing. She grappled with every loss and courageously took risks to minimize further conflict, which made it seem as though the writers behind “House of the Dragon” were inspired by the compassionate character development seen in “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”

Throughout Season 2, Rhaenyra consistently chose thoughtful and empathetic actions. Contrary to expectations, she didn’t immediately retaliate against Aemond Targaryen for killing her son Lucerys with swift, brutal force. Instead, she dedicated an entire episode to mourning her son’s death (though her grief unfortunately culminated in a child’s beheading). For the next six episodes, Rhaenyra avoided any direct confrontation with the Greens until even Mysaria, her confidante, urged her to take action. (Her exact words might have been slightly different.)

Despite Rhaenyra’s tendency to hesitate during the series, her actions were both frustrating yet charming to watch. Critics have noted that the pace of season 2 was slow, partly due to Rhaenyra’s lack of decisive action. However, she offered a relatable character who evoked feelings of sympathy, compassion, and wisdom. Throughout the first seven episodes of season 2, Rhaenyra displayed qualities of “The Good Queen,” “The Right Queen,” and “The Queen We’re Rooting For.”

Then she committed to reigning dragonfire on scores of innocent people.

Sound familiar?

House of the Dragon is setting up Rhaenyra to repeat Game of Thrones' biggest mistake

Is Rhaenyra Targaryen heading towards the same fate as her descendant Daenerys?

Should you find yourself reading this text, it’s likely that no warning is necessary, but just in case: Following nearly eight seasons of being hailed as “The Queen Worthy of Our Cheers” in the epic series Game of Thrones, Daenerys Targaryen, in a surprising twist, essentially jokes and then decides to burn King’s Landing and its inhabitants on the back of her dragon, transforming herself from “The Queen We Were Rooting For” into “The Mad Queen.”

The stories of Rhaenyra and Daenerys share striking similarities, with the most notable being the heavy burden of history that both characters shoulder. In the finale of ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2, it became evident that Rhaenyra feels a strong sense of duty to uphold the past, leading her to consider seizing the Iron Throne by any means possible. During a meal with her new dragonriders, she expresses the need to attack their enemies, suggesting they should incinerate them completely. Her actions in confining several aspiring dragonriders with Vermithor the episode prior also hint at her growing readiness to act ruthlessly. The final scene of the episode, where Rhaenyra is seen through an empty slot at the bottom of a shelf filled with scrolls recording Targaryen lineage, suggests that she may be overwhelmed by history instead of being exalted by it.

Oh my goodness, Rhaenyra is overwhelmed by the burden of history, while Alicent now finds herself liberated amidst the vast expanse of the sky and sea.
— lamb of god 🩵 (@faiIwife) August 5, 2024

Indeed, Daenerys experienced just that, including a fatal blow from Jon Snow’s dagger. The hardships and mistreatment she faced, along with some arguing over her innate tendency towards madness, ultimately led Daenerys down a path of vengeance, ruthlessness, and into the arms of her dagger-bearing lover and nephew.

As a gamer, I ponder if the message from these tales is meant to remind us all that we can’t shake off history’s burden. It’s like the age-old adage: “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” These are themes worth contemplating, and in Rhaenyra’s journey, there’s a haunting sense that war and power inevitably force us to commit atrocities. These are the necessary moves to conquer the game of thrones. Even Rhaenyra isn’t immune to this reality.

1. In my understanding, that fits with what I know. And as I ponder deeply about Daenerys’ decision to torch King’s Landing, it aligns too. Yet, I remained skeptical. However, wouldn’t a queen who has consistently strived for peace and avoided conflict choose actions that reduce casualties? Instead, Rhaenyra seemed to leap directly towards, “I suppose now is the time for some destruction” (Adjusted phrasing).

As a dedicated gamer, I’d rephrase it like this: Rhaenyra believes that making tough decisions now, even if they mean hurting a few innocents, will ultimately lead to greater good in the future. Yet, what makes Rhaenyra stand out is her careful and compassionate approach to each situation. It’s hard not to admire her for her unique blend of wisdom and courage. However, I can’t help but wonder if a queen as respected as she is for her thoughtful and sometimes deliberate actions could come up with a more convincing argument than simply “Act now! Save later!”

With her decision, Rhaenyra steps out of the pure, shining light we’ve seen her in this season. Her hands, her reputation, and her legacy are about to get dirty. It should make for great television, just as Daenerys’ descent should have been the final, thrilling twist in a series that kept us on our toes every episode. The biggest problem with Daenerys becoming the Mad Queen was that it undermined so much of the character Game of Thrones built. Her twist felt like a regression rather than an unfortunate progression. I hope the House of the Dragon writers don’t repeat that mistake. I hope they treat Rhaenyra’s character with the same care and patience Rhaenyra herself has shown, even if she ends up earning the title that, until now, has been a false label: Rhaenyra the Cruel.

2024-08-16 17:41

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