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Zach Moser
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Zach Moser is a Philadelphia native who loves films, television, books, and any and all media he can get his hands on. Zach has had articles published on satirical sites such as Points In Case, Slackjaw, and McSweeney's.
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Spoilers ahead for Fire & Blood and House of the Dragon!House of the Dragon season 3 is on its way, and the direction showrunner Ryan Condal decides to take Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) in could risk raising the specter of another once-proud Targaryen queen. House of the Dragon has been renewed through 2028, ensuring the Dance of Dragons will be shown in its entirety.
Fire & Blood readers will know that we are only just getting started. Don't worry, the end of season 2, with armies and dragons gathering across Westeros, is no tease. Big things are coming, including Rhaenyra having to make some more difficult decisions, decisions that could align her too closely to Daenerys' arc in GOT if the show isn't careful.
Rhaenyra Will Be In A Dark Place In House Of The Dragon Season 3
Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon season 1 finale
At the end of season 2, Rhaenyra has the upper hand. She has three new dragon riders on her side, and possibly a fourth if Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) ends up claiming Sheepstealer, the rivermen and Starks are marching towards King's Landing, and the Iron Throne is vacant after Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) flees.
The crown is hers for the taking, but as she tells Alicent (Olivia Cooke), the actions that have led to this moment now require bloodshed for her to not only ensure her rule, but the safety of her family. If Aegon II or any other pretenders live, her life and her children's lives will always be in danger.
Season 3 will almost certainly see Rhaenyra invading King's Landing and sitting atop the Iron Throne; however, her rule will be far from secure. As most of Rhaenyra's enemies are outside of King's Landing, Rhaenyra's reign becomes a paranoid, claustrophobic one, at least in Fire & Blood.
This will be a dark time for Rhaenyra. In the books, the deaths of those close to her drive Rhaenyra to behave even more erratically and vindictively. That same fire and insanity present in Daemon (Matt Smith) begins to appear in Rhaenyra's actions, and threaten to break her rule, driving her further into fear and madness.
House Of The Dragon Is Hinting At Rhaenyra Being More Of A Warrior In Season 3
Rhaenyra Targaryen with a defiant look in House of the Dragon season 2Image via HBO
Some posters spotted at HBO Max's Upfront in São Paulo allegedly showed Rhaenyra brandishing a sword, as if she were fighting someone, though the pictures have been taken down online. While Rhaenyra carrying a sword isn't anything notable, her wielding one is a different story.
Rhaenyra is a lot of things, but one thing most people don't accuse her of being is a warrior. Even on her dragon, Rhaenyra seems to prefer diplomacy to threats of violence. In fact, it's one of the reasons her lords often dismiss her; they don't think she's capable of thinking like a battlefield commander.
Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon is a much more competent and kind ruler than the Rhaenyra in Fire & Blood, who has more moments of viciousness than her show counterpart. Having that character wield a sword would not be unbelievable, but something notable must have happened for show Rhaenyra to pick up a weapon.
It could be that House of the Dragon will push Rhaenyra into more of the warrior archetype, which isn't the worst plan for her, considering how quickly her allies begin dying off. However, Condal will need to write this change carefully or risk making the same mistakes David Benioff and D.B. Weiss made with Daenerys Targaryen.
Rhaenyra's "Evil Queen" Arc Must Be Handled Carefully To Avoid GOT's Daenerys Problem
Daenerys attacks King's Landing in Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones fans will remember (even if they don't want to) Daenerys' "evil queen" arc and how poorly that was executed. There's a distinct possibility that Rhaenyra will grow more, if not evil, at least more tyrannical, and Condal should look at Daenerys' arc to avoid making the same mistakes.
In Game of Thrones, Daenerys's evil turn wasn't exactly out of nowhere, but there was not nearly enough buildup. At the beginning of the six-episode season 8, she was risking herself and her dragons, who she considers her children, by the way, to save Westeros and the people she had only just met.
She loses Jorah (Iain Glen), one of her dragons dies in the North, she faces plenty of pain and loss in Essos, but she never shows signs of turning evil. It's only after her other dragon dies and Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel) gets executed that it seems like she will go "Mad Queen Targaryen".
She turns evil because people and dragons she loves die. That's not really enough of an excuse in something like George R.R. Martin's world, where beloved friends and family are dying left and right. Condal and House of the Dragon are going to need to do more if they're going to make Rhaenyra break bad.
They've given themselves a good start, though. Rhaenyra truly seems to believe that it is best for Westeros and the future of its people that she rules. There are certainly elements of her wanting power, but the series has taken great strides to show she actually could be a great queen.
So if those around her begin to doubt or betray her, Rhaenyra could view that as tantamount to betraying Westeros. Her turn into something more dark and vicious in House of the Dragon could be Rhaenyra coming to view that as the only way to save her kingdom, which would offer more tragedy than what comes in GOT.
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House of the Dragon
10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-MA Drama Action Fantasy Release Date August 21, 2022 Network HBO Directors Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel Writers Gabe Fonseca Franchise(s) Game of Thrones
10 Images
Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) in armor in House of the Dragon season 2
Rhaenyra wearing a crown and looking sad in House of the Dragon
Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) in a green dress in House of the Dragon season 2
Sam c Wilson in House of the Dragon
ryam redwyne leading a group in house of the dragon
Matt Smith as Daemon placing his hand on the weirwood tree while Alys River stands behind him in the House of the Dragon season 2 finale
Alyn (Abubakar Salim) in armor sails out to the fleet in House of the Dragon season 2 Episode 8Image via Max
Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) standing on Dragonstone with Syrax, Vermithor, and Silverwing in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 7
Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) covered in ashes after the dragon attack in House of the Dragon season 2 episode 4
Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen's baby sons in House of the Dragon season 2 episode 2Image via MaxClose
Cast
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Matt Smith
Prince Daemon Targaryen
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Fabien Frankel
Ser Criston Cole
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House of the Dragon
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