Can you believe it’s been two years since HBO dropped House of the Dragon? As someone who’s been hooked on the original show for ages, I was both pumped and a bit anxious to see if this new series could live up to the epicness and political drama that made Game of Thrones such a hit. But man, did House of the Dragon deliver in its first season!
For all you Targaryen history buffs out there, this season was like diving into the juicy backstory before the big Dance of the Dragons showdown. We got to see King Viserys I ruling and the tensions brewing among his family, setting the stage for the epic civil war that’s coming. From the controversial heir decision to the simmering tensions between Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower, who went from BFFs to fierce rivals, it was all about ambition, betrayal, and sibling drama.
Now, like every fan eagerly waiting for season 2, let’s rewind and relive the epic moments from that killer first season.
The Reign of King Viserys I
So, after the passing of the wise old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, the realm gathered for a massive Great Council to figure out who would take the throne next. Now, despite being the eldest grandchild and a strong contender, Princess Rhaenys got passed over for Jaehaerys’ grandson, Prince Viserys. The lords and ladies of Westeros thought Viserys would bring stability and good governance to the realm, so they crowned him king.
In the early days of his rule, King Viserys was all about securing the future of his dynasty. He even threw this huge tournament, hoping his queen, Aemma, would pop out a baby boy to carry on the family name. Unfortunately, things took a tragic turn during the birth. Viserys had to make this heart-wrenching choice between saving his wife or their newborn son, Baelon. He went for a risky surgery to save them both, but sadly, it ended in double tragedy. Aemma and Baelon didn’t make it.
Imagine the grief and weight on Viserys’ shoulders. He was left with only one surviving child, Princess Rhaenyra. Feeling the pressure to secure the succession, he named her as his heir. Seems like a straightforward move, right? But hold on, here’s where the plot thickens.
Rhaenyra being named heir didn’t sit well with everyone, especially not with her half-brother, Prince Aegon. This decision set off a chain reaction of power struggles, alliances, and betrayals that would culminate in the epic Dance of the Dragons. Viserys thought he was doing what was best for the kingdom by ensuring a smooth transition of power, but little did he know, he was lighting the fuse for a full-blown Targaryen civil war.
The Rogue Prince and the Stepstones Conflict
Now, King Viserys I’s time on the throne wasn’t just about family drama and succession struggles. It was also marked by a fiery relationship with his younger brother, Prince Daemon. As the City Watch commander, this dude was known for his brutal tactics and sky-high ambitions, which often clashed with Viserys’ vision and the advice of his Small Council. Viserys’ Hand, Otto Hightower, wasn’t shy about voicing his concerns, warning the king that Daemon was a threat to the stability of the realm.
But Daemon wasn’t one to sit idly by. Oh no, he decided to make a bold move by taking over Castle Dragonstone, the ancient seat of House Targaryen. Calling himself the “Rogue Prince” and claiming the Iron Throne as his birthright from this stronghold, Daemon basically slapped Viserys in the face with defiance. This move didn’t exactly mend their already strained relationship. Viserys, feeling the need to assert his authority, sent troops to Dragonstone to retrieve a dragon egg that Daemon had allegedly stolen.
Now, while all this family drama was unfolding, trouble was brewing in the Stepstones archipelago. These islands had fallen under the grip of the Crabfeeder, a notorious troublemaker backed by the Triarchy, a powerful alliance of Free Cities in Essos. Despite initial hesitations from the Small Council to get involved, Viserys eventually decided to lend a hand to Lord Corlys Velaryon and his old troublemaker of a brother, Daemon.
Daemon, being Daemon, saw an opportunity to shine. He pulled off this daring solo mission that completely shifted the tide of the Stepstones conflict. His bravery and strategic genius not only crushed the Crabfeeder but also earned him a new title: “King of the Narrow Sea.”
Rhaenyra’s Coming of Age
As the designated heir to King Viserys, Princess Rhaenyra had quite the responsibility on her shoulders – to find a suitable match and secure the Targaryen line. But finding that perfect consort proved to be a challenge. Viserys, being the strategic planner he was, arranged for Rhaenyra to marry Ser Laenor Velaryon, son of the influential Lord Corlys Velaryon. Now, here’s where things get interesting.
Rhaenyra, being aware of Laenor’s sexual preferences, came up with a rather pragmatic arrangement. She and Laenor would carry out their royal duties as a married couple but would also be free to pursue their own romantic interests on the side. Sounds like a modern twist on royal marriages, right?
But trouble brewed under the surface. During a secretive rendezvous in King’s Landing, Rhaenyra found herself entangled in a passionate affair with her own uncle, Prince Daemon. Talk about a scandal waiting to happen. And happen it did, as Alicent Hightower, daughter of the Hand of the King, caught wind of this forbidden romance. Her subsequent questioning of Rhaenyra’s morals and virtue began to create a deep rift between the once-close friends.
As time passed, Rhaenyra gave birth to three sons – Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey. However, their appearance, lacking the distinct Valyrian features, sparked whispers and rumors that Laenor might not be their true father. Queen Alicent, ever the opportunist, seized on this uncertainty to cast doubt on Rhaenyra’s children’s legitimacy, aiming to undermine Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne.
The Rift Between Rhaenyra and Alicent
As the years passed, the once-strong bond between Princess Rhaenyra and Queen Alicent crumbled under the weight of political ambitions and familial loyalties. Alicent, influenced by her father Otto Hightower’s warnings and driven by her son Prince Aegon’s potential claim to the throne, began to see Rhaenyra’s succession as a direct threat. This shift in allegiance tore apart their friendship, leaving behind a trail of mistrust and animosity.
Adding fuel to the fire was a bitter dispute over the Velaryon family’s succession. When Lord Corlys Velaryon proposed a marriage between his granddaughter Baela and Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys to secure the Velaryon line, it sparked controversy. Corlys’ brother, Ser Vaemond, seized this opportunity to challenge the legitimacy of Rhaenyra’s children, deepening the rift within the Targaryen ranks.
Amidst this turmoil, Prince Daemon, always one to defend his family’s honor and claim, returned to Rhaenyra’s side. Together, they stood firm against the mounting pressures and threats to their legacy.
The divide between the Greens, led by Alicent’s faction, and the Blacks, Rhaenyra’s supporters, intensified. The tension reached a boiling point at the funeral of Laena Velaryon, where a violent clash between the children of these two powerful women erupted. In a shocking and dangerous turn of events, Alicent nearly launched an attack on Rhaenyra using King Viserys’ Valyrian steel dagger. This blatant display of hostility shocked the realm and pushed the realm closer to the brink of an all-out conflict.
The Green Council and Aegon II’s Ascension
As King Viserys’ health took a nosedive, the Hightower crew saw their chance to shake things up. Led by the former Hand, Otto Hightower, and Queen Alicent, they cooked up a sneaky plan to block Rhaenyra’s path to the throne. Keeping Viserys’ passing hush-hush, they hurried to crown Viserys’ son, Prince Aegon, as the new big boss before Rhaenyra could even blink.
Once Viserys was out of the picture, the Green Council wasted no time making moves for Aegon. They strong-armed noble houses into swearing loyalty to the new king and didn’t play nice with those who dared to question Aegon’s claim—talk about playing hardball. Even Viserys’ own Kingsguard got split down the middle, with some knights like Ser Criston Cole throwing in their lot with the coup against Rhaenyra.
But just when Aegon’s coronation was about to be the grand finale, enter Princess Rhaenys, breaking free from her Green Council captivity like a dragon-powered wrecking ball. Riding her dragon, Meleys, she crashed the ceremony in epic fashion, causing chaos and mayhem but ultimately saving the lives of the royal contenders. Rhaenys’ daring move kicked off the Dance of the Dragons, plunging the realm into a full-blown Targaryen civil war about to turn everything upside down.
Rhaenyra’s Retaliation and the Loss of Lucerys
When Rhaenyra received the earth-shattering news of Viserys’ passing and Aegon’s swift coronation, it hit her hard—so hard that she suffered a premature stillbirth. This personal tragedy served as a wake-up call, pushing Rhaenyra to claim her rightful title as the “Black Queen” and gear up for a showdown against the Greens who had snatched the crown.
Her husband, Daemon, wasted no time pushing for action, eager to strike back against the usurpers. But Rhaenyra, torn between grief and the desire for peace, initially entertained Aegon’s proposals for a peaceful resolution. She hoped to avoid plunging the realm into further chaos and bloodshed, even as tensions simmered on both sides.
However, any hopes of a peaceful settlement were shattered when Rhaenyra sent her son, Lucerys, on a diplomatic mission to House Baratheon. Little did she know that this move would trigger a tragic chain of events. Lucerys crossed paths with his cousin, Prince Aemond, who was on a mission of his own to win Baratheon support for the Greens. Their encounter quickly escalated into a deadly confrontation, with Lucerys fleeing for his life on his dragon, Arrax.
But fate had other plans. Aemond, riding the fearsome Vhagar, pursued Lucerys relentlessly. Their airborne chase ended in a devastating clash that claimed the lives of both the young dragon and its rider. The news of Lucerys’ brutal demise shattered Rhaenyra, fueling her grief and igniting a fierce thirst for vengeance.
This tragic loss marked a turning point, pushing Rhaenyra and the Blacks into the full fury of war against Aegon II and his Greens. The Dance of the Dragons had officially begun.
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