Westeros finally has its first queen and the rightful successor of Viserys on her throne. A certain Daenerys could learn a thing or two from that.
Daenerys lacked what Rhaenyra has: A doer by her side
For two seasons, I have repeatedly suffered because the Black Queen kept trying to uphold peace. In itself, she has nothing against her younger siblings, and a war was never in her interest. But while she hesitated and wavered, Team Green simply created facts.
It is so sad that two of her sons had to die for Rhaenyra to finally get into the right mindset to take the initiative. Sure, in episode one, her initiative was simply taken away when she wanted to rush to her fleet’s aid.
But this is exactly the Rhaenyra who doesn’t let herself be walked over constantly. That is the one I missed. Now she has created facts herself.
This is also something that annoyed me about the last seasons of Game of Thrones: Daenerys had three fairly large dragons. At the time of House of the Dragon, the walls of the Red Keep were still fortified with crossbow-shooting scorpions, but not during Tommen Baratheon’s reign. If you don’t give Cersei time to arm up, it’ll stay that way.
Dany could simply have flown to King’s Landing and taken the city. Sure, she did not want to be a conqueror. But as Olenna Tyrell said: The lords of Westeros are sheep. Are you a sheep? No. You are a dragon. Be a dragon.
Unnecessary cruelties should of course not be inflicted. Otherwise, one would not be any better than the rest of the world. But, to quote Sunzi:
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
Sunzi, The Art of War
Daenerys knew her own forces – the 8,000 fully trained Unsullied, about 100,000 Dothraki warriors, between 300 and 400 ships, and at least three medium-sized dragons. If I remember correctly, she also knew what Cersei had. Namely the Lannister army, the Golden Company, the Iron Fleet, and the City Watch.
All in all, Dany could have probably ended the conflict over the Iron Throne relatively easily and early, to then deal with the problem in the North.
But she did not want to be a conqueror who burned everything down. She didn’t have to. At least at the beginning, she still had a whole bunch of very clever tacticians in her advisory board. They would have sorted it out for her. A little siege, a little flap with the dragons – done.
What Daenerys lacked was probably just a doer, like Rhaenyra has with Daemon by her side. Daemon can be a really bad husband at times. But when it came to finally getting his wife the seat that is rightfully hers? Wow, did he deliver!
A doer doesn’t have to be a man, of course. Rhaenyra just happens to have a husband who creates facts. That could have been Oleanna for Daenerys. Just a person who doesn’t hesitate and wait, but stands up and says, “we’re doing this now, let’s go” and then brings results.
She has the crown, now she must prove herself worthy of it
My favorite murder hobo Daemon has now helped his queen to her crown and realm. Now she just has to prove that she is worthy of it all. Making wise decisions, for example.
In the books, she is referred to as Rhaenyra the Cruel. Of course, it is possible that she will make a 180-degree turn now that violence has brought her back to the Red Keep. After all that has happened to her so far, I must admit that I am ready to overlook one or two things.
How exactly her reign will look, we will probably see in the third episode. I’m already looking forward to it, even if I naturally still have to wait a few days for it. You can read more about it here: House of the Dragon Season 3: When does Episode 3 come out? – All dates for the new season
Unnecessary cruelties should of course not be inflicted. Otherwise, one would not be any better than the rest of the world. But, to quote Sunzi:
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
Sunzi, The Art of War
Daenerys knew her own forces – the 8,000 fully trained Unsullied, about 100,000 Dothraki warriors, between 300 and 400 ships, and at least three medium-sized dragons. If I remember correctly, she also knew what Cersei had. Namely the Lannister army, the Golden Company, the Iron Fleet, and the City Watch.
All in all, Dany could have probably ended the conflict over the Iron Throne relatively easily and early, to then deal with the problem in the North.
But she did not want to be a conqueror who burned everything down. She didn’t have to. At least at the beginning, she still had a whole bunch of very clever tacticians in her advisory board. They would have sorted it out for her. A little siege, a little flap with the dragons – done.
What Daenerys lacked was probably just a doer, like Rhaenyra has with Daemon by her side. Daemon can be a really bad husband at times. But when it came to finally getting his wife the seat that is rightfully hers? Wow, did he deliver!
A doer doesn’t have to be a man, of course. Rhaenyra just happens to have a husband who creates facts. That could have been Oleanna for Daenerys. Just a person who doesn’t hesitate and wait, but stands up and says, “we’re doing this now, let’s go” and then brings results.
She has the crown, now she must prove herself worthy of it
My favorite murder hobo Daemon has now helped his queen to her crown and realm. Now she just has to prove that she is worthy of it all. Making wise decisions, for example.
In the books, she is referred to as Rhaenyra the Cruel. Of course, it is possible that she will make a 180-degree turn now that violence has brought her back to the Red Keep. After all that has happened to her so far, I must admit that I am ready to overlook one or two things.
How exactly her reign will look, we will probably see in the third episode. I’m already looking forward to it, even if I naturally still have to wait a few days for it. You can read more about it here: House of the Dragon Season 3: When does Episode 3 come out? – All dates for the new season
Westeros finally has its first queen and the rightful successor of Viserys on her throne. A certain Daenerys could learn a thing or two from that.
Daenerys lacked what Rhaenyra has: A doer by her side
For two seasons, I have repeatedly suffered because the Black Queen kept trying to uphold peace. In itself, she has nothing against her younger siblings, and a war was never in her interest. But while she hesitated and wavered, Team Green simply created facts.
It is so sad that two of her sons had to die for Rhaenyra to finally get into the right mindset to take the initiative. Sure, in episode one, her initiative was simply taken away when she wanted to rush to her fleet’s aid.
But this is exactly the Rhaenyra who doesn’t let herself be walked over constantly. That is the one I missed. Now she has created facts herself.
This is also something that annoyed me about the last seasons of Game of Thrones: Daenerys had three fairly large dragons. At the time of House of the Dragon, the walls of the Red Keep were still fortified with crossbow-shooting scorpions, but not during Tommen Baratheon’s reign. If you don’t give Cersei time to arm up, it’ll stay that way.
Dany could simply have flown to King’s Landing and taken the city. Sure, she did not want to be a conqueror. But as Olenna Tyrell said: The lords of Westeros are sheep. Are you a sheep? No. You are a dragon. Be a dragon.
Unnecessary cruelties should of course not be inflicted. Otherwise, one would not be any better than the rest of the world. But, to quote Sunzi:
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
Sunzi, The Art of War
Daenerys knew her own forces – the 8,000 fully trained Unsullied, about 100,000 Dothraki warriors, between 300 and 400 ships, and at least three medium-sized dragons. If I remember correctly, she also knew what Cersei had. Namely the Lannister army, the Golden Company, the Iron Fleet, and the City Watch.
All in all, Dany could have probably ended the conflict over the Iron Throne relatively easily and early, to then deal with the problem in the North.
But she did not want to be a conqueror who burned everything down. She didn’t have to. At least at the beginning, she still had a whole bunch of very clever tacticians in her advisory board. They would have sorted it out for her. A little siege, a little flap with the dragons – done.
What Daenerys lacked was probably just a doer, like Rhaenyra has with Daemon by her side. Daemon can be a really bad husband at times. But when it came to finally getting his wife the seat that is rightfully hers? Wow, did he deliver!
A doer doesn’t have to be a man, of course. Rhaenyra just happens to have a husband who creates facts. That could have been Oleanna for Daenerys. Just a person who doesn’t hesitate and wait, but stands up and says, “we’re doing this now, let’s go” and then brings results.
She has the crown, now she must prove herself worthy of it
My favorite murder hobo Daemon has now helped his queen to her crown and realm. Now she just has to prove that she is worthy of it all. Making wise decisions, for example.
In the books, she is referred to as Rhaenyra the Cruel. Of course, it is possible that she will make a 180-degree turn now that violence has brought her back to the Red Keep. After all that has happened to her so far, I must admit that I am ready to overlook one or two things.
How exactly her reign will look, we will probably see in the third episode. I’m already looking forward to it, even if I naturally still have to wait a few days for it. You can read more about it here: House of the Dragon Season 3: When does Episode 3 come out? – All dates for the new season
After two seasons of waiting, House of the Dragon is finally making solid progress. MeinMMO editor Sophia Weiß knows: Rhaenyra is finally what she has always meant to be, and Emma D’Arcy deserves all the acting awards in the world.
I predicted this myself and I was absolutely right: The first two episodes of House of the Dragon season three completely shattered me. The battle in the throat was already absolutely gripping. Now the series creators have raised the stakes even higher.
First, without any spoilers: Emma D’Arcy’s portrayal of Rhaenyra in this episode is excellent. No matter if you are on Team Black or Green. Regardless of whether you watch the series at all. D’Arcy’s performance reaches completely new heights and is incredibly captivating.
What excites me the most is that the character Rhaenyra is finally becoming what I have been waiting for since two seasons. Oh, what am I saying? What I have been waiting for since Daenerys landed in Westeros with her three dragons!
Finally, here she is, the Black Queen we’ve all been waiting for
At the end of episode one, Jacaerys Velaryon, Rhaenyra’s eldest son and heir to Team Black, dies. Episode two continues this plot almost seamlessly: Baela, Jace’s fiancée, brings him home. Rhaenyra approaches the dead and seems not to understand what has happened at first.
She asks her son what he has done. Again and again. At some point, she shakes his lifeless body and has to be pulled back by her own bodyguard. The bodyguard, who ignored his queen’s orders in the previous episode and locked her up at the behest of the now-deceased prince.
In the following moments, the grieving mother’s facial features become distorted. She weeps. She screams. She accuses her court of treason because everyone in the room knew about Jace’s orders, which should never have taken precedence over Rhaenyra’s own. Had they – as they should have – listened to their queen, perhaps the prince would not be dead now.
The scene itself is an acting masterpiece of the highest caliber. I have never felt emotions of sorrow, anger, and helplessness so intensely through the television. Emma D’Arcy does not play Rhaenyra as a beautifully crying female lead, as one might expect from television, but rather as a broken, real woman. For that, I am very grateful to her.
Afterward, Rhaenyra first sinks into deep mourning. It takes her husband Daemon and some encouraging words in Valyrian to pull her out of her slump:
Her two sons have died to secure her the throne. To give up now and not secure the iron thing would be a waste of these two sacrifices.
Together with Daemon and the dragon seeds, the queen finally does what I and I believe many others have long wanted from her and also from Daenerys: She flies to King’s Landing and captures the Red Keep.
This only works because Alicent kept her word and literally opened the gates. Inside the Red Keep, Daemon is having the time of his life: He clears the way of Team Green soldiers and cuts down anyone who stands in their way. In the throne room, the Goldcloaks come to their aid. Thus, King’s Landing and the royal seat finally belong to the rightful queen.
As his first official act, the conspirator Otto Hightower loses his head at the hands of Rhaenyra. He had sent Alicent to Viserys in season one and had repeatedly pushed Aegon as the crown prince behind the scenes.
Then the moment arrives: Trembling but finally at her destination, Rhaenyra takes her seat on the throne, the sword of her deceased son Jace at her side.
A doer doesn’t have to be a man, of course. Rhaenyra just happens to have a husband who creates facts. That could have been Oleanna for Daenerys. Just a person who doesn’t hesitate and wait, but stands up and says, “we’re doing this now, let’s go” and then brings results.
She has the crown, now she must prove herself worthy of it
My favorite murder hobo Daemon has now helped his queen to her crown and realm. Now she just has to prove that she is worthy of it all. Making wise decisions, for example.
In the books, she is referred to as Rhaenyra the Cruel. Of course, it is possible that she will make a 180-degree turn now that violence has brought her back to the Red Keep. After all that has happened to her so far, I must admit that I am ready to overlook one or two things.
How exactly her reign will look, we will probably see in the third episode. I’m already looking forward to it, even if I naturally still have to wait a few days for it. You can read more about it here: House of the Dragon Season 3: When does Episode 3 come out? – All dates for the new season
Unnecessary cruelties should of course not be inflicted. Otherwise, one would not be any better than the rest of the world. But, to quote Sunzi:
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
Sunzi, The Art of War
Daenerys knew her own forces – the 8,000 fully trained Unsullied, about 100,000 Dothraki warriors, between 300 and 400 ships, and at least three medium-sized dragons. If I remember correctly, she also knew what Cersei had. Namely the Lannister army, the Golden Company, the Iron Fleet, and the City Watch.
All in all, Dany could have probably ended the conflict over the Iron Throne relatively easily and early, to then deal with the problem in the North.
But she did not want to be a conqueror who burned everything down. She didn’t have to. At least at the beginning, she still had a whole bunch of very clever tacticians in her advisory board. They would have sorted it out for her. A little siege, a little flap with the dragons – done.
What Daenerys lacked was probably just a doer, like Rhaenyra has with Daemon by her side. Daemon can be a really bad husband at times. But when it came to finally getting his wife the seat that is rightfully hers? Wow, did he deliver!
A doer doesn’t have to be a man, of course. Rhaenyra just happens to have a husband who creates facts. That could have been Oleanna for Daenerys. Just a person who doesn’t hesitate and wait, but stands up and says, “we’re doing this now, let’s go” and then brings results.
She has the crown, now she must prove herself worthy of it
My favorite murder hobo Daemon has now helped his queen to her crown and realm. Now she just has to prove that she is worthy of it all. Making wise decisions, for example.
In the books, she is referred to as Rhaenyra the Cruel. Of course, it is possible that she will make a 180-degree turn now that violence has brought her back to the Red Keep. After all that has happened to her so far, I must admit that I am ready to overlook one or two things.
How exactly her reign will look, we will probably see in the third episode. I’m already looking forward to it, even if I naturally still have to wait a few days for it. You can read more about it here: House of the Dragon Season 3: When does Episode 3 come out? – All dates for the new season
Westeros finally has its first queen and the rightful successor of Viserys on her throne. A certain Daenerys could learn a thing or two from that.
Daenerys lacked what Rhaenyra has: A doer by her side
For two seasons, I have repeatedly suffered because the Black Queen kept trying to uphold peace. In itself, she has nothing against her younger siblings, and a war was never in her interest. But while she hesitated and wavered, Team Green simply created facts.
It is so sad that two of her sons had to die for Rhaenyra to finally get into the right mindset to take the initiative. Sure, in episode one, her initiative was simply taken away when she wanted to rush to her fleet’s aid.
But this is exactly the Rhaenyra who doesn’t let herself be walked over constantly. That is the one I missed. Now she has created facts herself.
This is also something that annoyed me about the last seasons of Game of Thrones: Daenerys had three fairly large dragons. At the time of House of the Dragon, the walls of the Red Keep were still fortified with crossbow-shooting scorpions, but not during Tommen Baratheon’s reign. If you don’t give Cersei time to arm up, it’ll stay that way.
Dany could simply have flown to King’s Landing and taken the city. Sure, she did not want to be a conqueror. But as Olenna Tyrell said: The lords of Westeros are sheep. Are you a sheep? No. You are a dragon. Be a dragon.
Unnecessary cruelties should of course not be inflicted. Otherwise, one would not be any better than the rest of the world. But, to quote Sunzi:
If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
Sunzi, The Art of War
Daenerys knew her own forces – the 8,000 fully trained Unsullied, about 100,000 Dothraki warriors, between 300 and 400 ships, and at least three medium-sized dragons. If I remember correctly, she also knew what Cersei had. Namely the Lannister army, the Golden Company, the Iron Fleet, and the City Watch.
All in all, Dany could have probably ended the conflict over the Iron Throne relatively easily and early, to then deal with the problem in the North.
But she did not want to be a conqueror who burned everything down. She didn’t have to. At least at the beginning, she still had a whole bunch of very clever tacticians in her advisory board. They would have sorted it out for her. A little siege, a little flap with the dragons – done.
What Daenerys lacked was probably just a doer, like Rhaenyra has with Daemon by her side. Daemon can be a really bad husband at times. But when it came to finally getting his wife the seat that is rightfully hers? Wow, did he deliver!
A doer doesn’t have to be a man, of course. Rhaenyra just happens to have a husband who creates facts. That could have been Oleanna for Daenerys. Just a person who doesn’t hesitate and wait, but stands up and says, “we’re doing this now, let’s go” and then brings results.
She has the crown, now she must prove herself worthy of it
My favorite murder hobo Daemon has now helped his queen to her crown and realm. Now she just has to prove that she is worthy of it all. Making wise decisions, for example.
In the books, she is referred to as Rhaenyra the Cruel. Of course, it is possible that she will make a 180-degree turn now that violence has brought her back to the Red Keep. After all that has happened to her so far, I must admit that I am ready to overlook one or two things.
How exactly her reign will look, we will probably see in the third episode. I’m already looking forward to it, even if I naturally still have to wait a few days for it. You can read more about it here: House of the Dragon Season 3: When does Episode 3 come out? – All dates for the new season
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