As Rhaenyra’s story continues in House of the Dragon, the HBO show risks repeating Game of Thrones season 8’s most controversial story. House of the Dragon is based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, which covers centuries of House Targaryen history in Westeros. The series covers the period known as the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war that divided the country and marked the beginning of the end of the Targaryen dynasty. While House of the Dragon is set roughly 200 years before Game of Thrones, comparisons between the shows are inevitable.
There are a series of parallels between House of the Dragon’s characters and the ones from Game of Thrones, both from a story perspective and an in-universe one. For example, it is difficult not to compare the journeys of Daenerys and Rhaenyra Targaryen. Both characters had to fight for their birthright, and while the circumstances of their claims to the throne were very different, they had to engage in war against usurpers. Rhaenyra is not “House of the Dragon’s Daenerys,” but her story will mirror Dany’s season 8 journey in a lot of ways.
House Of The Dragon Sets Up Rhaenyra Taking King’s Landing Using Her Dragon
Rhaenyra Wants To Leave Dragonstone And Fight The Greens
Rhaenyra does not necessarily win the Dance of the Dragons, but she does take over King’s Landing and sits on the Iron Throne for a brief period. The taking of King’s Landing by Team Black is one of the most important moments in Fire & Blood and has already been set up in House of the Dragon. Season 2 has been precisely about Rhaenyra wanting to take action instead of just waiting for the war to be won, which is also something Daemon wants to do. They will eventually fly to King’s Landing and take the city.
Considering House of the Dragon has focused on Rhaenyra’s wish to join the battle, she might have an even bigger role in the Fall of King’s Landing than her book counterpart.
This happens when Regent Aemond Targaryen and Ser Criston Cole march to Harrenhal hoping to kill Daemon and up an end to Rhaenyra’s efforts on the Riverlands once and for all. However, Daemon knew that they were coming and left the castle just in time. Without Vhagar and Ser Criston Cole’s men, King’s Landing was left with no significant protection and was taken relatively easily by Rhaenyra and Daemon. Considering House of the Dragon has focused on Rhaenyra’s wish to join the battle, she might have an even bigger role in the Fall of King’s Landing than her book counterpart.
House Of The Dragon Makes More Parallels With Rhaenyra & Daenerys
Rhaenyra Is Being Told That King’s Landing Will Welcome Her With Open Arms
Another important parallel between Rhaenyra and Daenerys that sets up the former’s taking of King’s Landing is how they were both told the smallfolk would see them as heroes. Mysaria tells Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5 that “To the discontented, rumors feed,” suggesting that the people of King’s Landing are waiting for a savior to take down King Aegon and improve things for everyone. This is similar to the stories Viserys would tell Dany when they were growing up. According to Daenerys’ brother, the people of Westeros whispered about the Targaryens in secret.
Despite having heard so many stories from her brother, Daenerys was smart enough to understand that the people of King’s Landing and Westeros as a whole were not waiting for a lost Targaryen to return and save everyone. Still, in Game of Thrones season 8, Dany’s takeover of the capital was far more disastrous than anyone could have imagined. The infamous, divisive bells scene marked Daenerys’ transition into a more vicious character who had no problem burning the innocent and destroying the city if it meant taking down Cersei Lannister.
Will Rhaenyra Take King’s Landing Be As Controversial As Daenerys?
Rhaenyra Sits On The Iron Throne For Six Months
In one of the most controversial TV storylines of all time, most of the city and even some of Daenerys’ allies turned against her after she used Drogon to attack King’s Landing. Daenerys’ rule only lasted a few hours, as Jon Snow decided that the Dragon Queen had to be stopped and killed. Rhaenyra’s taking of King’s Landing will likely not be as controversial, as it happens without too much bloodshed. Between the absences of Aemond and Vhagar and the fact that Gold Cloaks were working for Daemon, Rhaenyra had a relatively easy victory at the capital.
| House Of The Dragon’s Upcoming Episodes | Release Date |
|---|---|
| Episode 6 | July 21 |
| Episode 7 | July 28 |
| Episode 8 | August 4 |
The beginning of Rhaenyra’s rule was also positive, mostly because the smallfolk were unhappy with Aegon and were happy to have a new monarch. However, Fire & Blood points out that Rhaenyra cut her arms and legs while sitting on the Iron Throne for the first time, which was believed to be a bad omen. With the war still happening, Rhaenyra’s rule turned out to be a very complicated one, leading up to the Riot of King’s Landing. The queen had to flee the city, an event that should happen toward the end of House of the Dragon.
