House of the Dragon’s Rhaenyra-Mysaria relationship rights one of the great wrongs of Game of Thrones

As a longtime fan of George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment when it comes to the omission of Daenerys Targaryen’s relationship with her handmaid Irri in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Having read the books multiple times, I hold dear the moments where Daenerys grapples with her sexuality and grief.

As a passionate fan, I can’t believe we’re almost at the end of season 2 in “House of the Dragon.” The tension is building up rapidly. Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) is preparing to induct a fresh batch of dragonriders, while Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) gives the order for his troops to advance towards Harrenhal’s crumbling fortress. The stage is being set for another mind-blowing confrontation that I just can’t wait to witness!

As a gamer, I’m always excited about the larger storylines in my favorite shows, but sometimes the smaller, unexpected moments can steal the scene. In “House of the Dragon,” Rhaenyra’s (my character) tale took an intriguing turn with Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno). At first, they were just colleagues, but as the season progressed, their friendship grew into something deeper.

The unexpected nature of Rhaenyra’s romantic connection with Mysaria in the show is due in part to its absence in George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood.” In the book, their relationship isn’t explicitly stated. Instead, Rhaenyra is suggested to have had a romance with another woman in the novel, which was omitted from season 1 of the adaptation. This creative choice not only aligns with the show’s current storyline but also reintroduces an aspect of Rhaenyra’s character that seemed unlikely to be included in the “Fire & Blood” TV series. Consequently, it resolves a long-standing issue for me regarding Rhaenyra and her descendant Daenerys Targaryen from “Game of Thrones.”

To talk about certain topics, we’ll need to delve into spoilers from “Game of Thrones” (A Song of Ice and Fire) and “Fire & Blood”.

A brief history of the love life of Rhaenyra Targaryen, from Fire & Blood

Rhaenyra Targaryen, as depicted in “Fire & Blood,” is believed to have had a special bond with her cousin, Laena Velaryon. Laena was Daemon Targaryen’s second wife. The text suggests that Rhaenyra developed strong feelings for Laena beyond friendship. As Federica Bocco of “WinterIsComing” observes, Martin uses the phrase “became fond and more than fond” to subtly indicate that there was a deeper connection between these two women.

From the viewpoint of a maester in Westeros delving into ancient records, we come across hints suggesting that Rhaenyra and Laena’s dragons mated, producing eggs, reflecting their close bond. These signs include their frequent long meetings on different islands and Rhaenyra’s lingering presence by Laena’s deathbed for three days. However, “Fire & Blood” only offers a few vague indications of their relationship, leaving much to the reader’s interpretation – a classic Martin touch.

The “House of the Dragon” series depicted Laena Velaryon and Rhaenyra’s relationship differently due to time constraints. In the show, we only had one adult episode featuring Nanna Blondell as Laena in “The Princess and the Queen.” This episode was packed with significant events, including Daemon’s marriage to Laena and Rhaenyra’s wedlock with Laenor, along with her secret affair with Harwin Strong. Regrettably, adding another relationship between Rhaenyra and Laena within this tight timeframe proved impossible.

The loss of Rhaenyra’s bond with Laena significantly impacted her life as it may have been a romantic connection. Fans noticed that “House of the Dragon” introduced potential tension between Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) and her childhood friend Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey). However, since Alicent and Rhaenyra are on opposing sides in the Targaryen civil war, any romantic development between them is unlikely due to the storyline’s current direction.

Mysaria serving as a stand-in for Rhaenyra’s romantic storyline in “House of the Dragon” was a clever solution, as actor Sonoya Mizuno reveals. The writers seemingly planned for this role before Mizuno’s casting in season 1. It seems they recognized that the Laena romance wouldn’t be feasible and prepared an alternative to effectively portray this significant aspect of Rhaenyra’s character.

In the book, following Rhaenyra’s conquest of King’s Landing, Daemon and Mysaria resume their romantic connection with Rhaenyra’s approval. Although they are still married, Rhaenyra permits Daemon to spend most of his time with Mysaria. This plotline gains more depth in the show as Rhaenyra’s emotions towards the situation become a significant factor.

Could the relationship between Rhaenyra, Daemon, and Mysaria evolve into something more complex than a fleeting romance? Perhaps once Rhaenyra ascends to the throne in King’s Landing, they may explore a polyamorous dynamic involving all three. The potential outcomes are intriguing, and I believe this romantic setup offers an excellent opportunity for the series. In my opinion, this is a wise choice that corrects a past mistake from “Game of Thrones” when handling similar storylines.

Daenerys Targaryen and the bisexual erasure of Game of Thrones

In the “Song of Ice and Fire” book series, there’s an abundance of queer-identified characters, including Loras Tyrell, Renly Baratheon, and Oberyn Martell, who were faithfully portrayed on screen. However, one character, Daenerys Targaryen, delved deeper into her sexuality in the books compared to the television adaptation.

In “A Storm of Swords,” the third novel in the series, Daenerys is deeply mourning the loss of her husband Khal Drogo as she approaches the slave metropolis of Astapor. There, Daenerys’ trusty knight, Ser Jorah Mormont, impulsively kisses her without her permission, significantly altering their connection. This unexpected gesture triggers a response within Daenerys; despite her reservations about wanting a romance with Mormont and his disregard for her consent, she finds herself unable to ignore the physical attraction that arises from her prolonged solitude since Drogo’s demise.

In the stillness of the night, Irri, Dany’s handmaid, observes her queen engaging in a private act. This moment between Daenerys and Irri is devoid of passion and carries an undertone of servitude rather than romance. However, it holds significant meaning for Dany. In her grief over the loss of her husband Khal Drogo, she finds comfort in unexpected places, allowing this scene to mark a pivotal moment in her thought process. It foreshadows the gradual transformation in Dany’s perspective towards utilizing her servants for her personal needs.

If only that particular scene stood alone, I believe “Thrones” could have made a valid choice to delete it. Nevertheless, throughout the fifth book, “A Dance with Dragons,” Dany persists in sharing a bed with Irri. Following her involvement with Daario Naharis and his departure for war, she finds solace in Irri’s faithful embrace. The text implies that these nights spent together are numerous and recurring over the given time frame.

The relationship between Dany and Irri raises concerns about Dany’s understanding of consent. It’s problematic that Dany, who liberates slaves in Slaver’s Bay, uses her handmaiden for sexual gratification without considering Irri’s feelings. For Dany, these encounters are a matter of duty rather than passion. However, the repetition of this behavior also sheds light on Daenerys’ openness to both male and female partners and the evolution of her ruler mentality, which may foreshadow her future downfall. It’s essential to acknowledge that Dany has been with a woman, as it adds depth and complexity to her character rather than diminishing it.

The times have changed…but maybe not too much

In the end, we can merely ponder the reason behind Game of Thrones‘ choice to omit Dany’s storyline involving Irri. I was taken aback by those sequences when I initially encountered them; they spark debate among “A Song of Ice and Fire” devotees, yet in my opinion, they enrich Daenerys’ persona with a depth that was lacking in the series.

Maybe HBO was apprehensive about including that storyline for Daenerys due to potential backlash. After all, “Thrones” initially premiered in 2011; Hollywood has made significant strides since then in portraying queer characters on screen. However, the “House of the Dragon” episode featuring this plotline currently holds the lowest ratings and has been criticized on IMDb. It’s worth noting that this is also the first episode to confirm Rhaenyra Targaryen as a queer character by having her share a kiss with another woman, which could explain the controversy.

Luckily, “House of the Dragon” continued Rhaenyra’s new romantic storyline despite criticism. While “Game of Thrones” managed to move past Dany’s bisexuality without significant repercussions, I believe “House of the Dragon” would have suffered if it neglected this significant aspect of Rhaenyra Targaryen’s character development. I appreciate the writers’ decision not to shy away from this inclusion, even after removing Rhaenyra’s romance with Laena Velaryon in the show’s initial season.

It’s intriguing to see how the stories of Rhaenyra and Mysaria unfold from hereon. Let’s hope for some revealing answers in the upcoming final two episodes of “House of the Dragon” season 2.

Read More

• MANA PREDICTION. MANA cryptocurrency
• LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
• Silver Rate Forecast
• VET PREDICTION. VET cryptocurrency
• Wicked: Part Two release date, cast, plot and everything you need to know
• EUR CNY PREDICTION
• GMX PREDICTION. GMX cryptocurrency
• XAI PREDICTION. XAI cryptocurrency
• Jennifer Lopez hides wedding ring finger under gigantic sleeve as she shows off her Hamptons style in pink sports bra… after Ben Affleck skipped her 55th birthday bash
• Kong: Survivor Instinct is a Video Game Follow-Up to 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong Coming to Xbox This Fall

2024-07-25 02:42