The family feud in the series House of the Dragon escalates to such proportions that a whole war ensues to secure one of the potential heirs to the Iron Throne or to keep them there. All of this is based on a prophecy that, according to the showrunner, is completely irrelevant at that time.
After the death of King Viserys, a war ignites between the Targaryens. Rhaenyra was publicly chosen by her father as the heir to the throne. However, due to a rather confusing conversation with Viserys, Alicent believed that her son Aegon should be on the throne. In the background of this feud is also the prophecy about the prince who was promised.
Rhaenyra believes that she is the one (which she also clarifies in a speech in the last episode). However, the showrunner of the series, Ryan Condal, emphasized in an interview: She is not the chosen one, no one in House of the Dragon is.
A prophecy that is only meant to be fulfilled 200 years later
Who is the prophesied prince? In an interview with Business Insider, Ryan Condal spoke about the prophecy. He clarifies that Rhaenyra is not the chosen one:
We know that Rhaenyra is not the chosen one. If there is a chosen one in the story, a ‘promised prince’, that is 200 years in the future. It is either Jon Snow or Daenerys, depending on how you interpret the prophecy. But of course, Rhaenyra and Daemon cannot possibly know that.
Only with the events of the series Game of Thrones is the prophecy meant to come true. This is also quite fitting, as it is only about 200 years after the events of House of the Dragon that the threat from the White Walkers becomes palpable and real.
But even Game of Thrones does not provide a concrete answer to the prophecy. The novels are not far enough along, and in the series, it is never defined whether Jon or Daenerys is that prince. This makes the war and the accompanying fate for the Targaryen and the dragons all the more unnecessary.
In the interview, Condal also addresses the parallels between Daenerys and Rhaenyra. Both initially only want the good, but the world and their own convictions change them. Regarding the parallels between the two, Condal says: I therefore find it important to highlight these connections to remind people that these two eras of history are closely intertwined.
What does MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes say about the prophecy? As a story element, I find the promised prince very interesting because it is not just a prediction for the future. Several strands unfold from it. On one hand, the growing megalomania of Rhaenyra, which makes the once benevolent woman become more ruthless, and on the other hand, the consequences for the Targaryens.
The prophecy that portrays the Targaryens as great protectors of the world ultimately leads to the downfall of the once-mighty house. Of course, it is also questionable whether the prophecy dreamed of by Aegon the Conqueror is real.
Who it is now remains unknown to this day, and a message told over the years can also be changed many times. Ultimately, the prophecy is somehow irrelevant because it is about the same thing it always is: Who sits on the throne? Who has the power?
But what do you think about it? Who do you think is the promised prince and which side are you on in House of the Dragon? Feel free to write it in the comments. Also in Game of Thrones, there is a lot of chaos and terrible events: Game of Thrones: The 10 most terrible moments from the series that you probably will never forget
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