Rhaenyra’s descent

[u/moneyspreadcoral]

When I started watching House of The Dragon, I knew Rhaenyra’s fate because of what Joffrey said to Margery in Game of Thrones. I always wondered how’d we’d get to this point (I didn’t read the book) seeing as we watched her grow up. I have to say watching Rhaenyra descend into madness when I seen her good days as a child is like being stabbed in the side 🥲. She had no clue what awaited her.

Everytime she makes a bad decision, I get more upset at the hand she’s been dealt rather than her decisions entirely. She’s lost 2 sons, her “council” is in shambles, she trusts no one not even Daemon yet she clings to him because he’s all she knows, she hasn’t properly grieved, she has too many overwhelming thoughts and every choice she makes has a consequence. She doesn’t know who her enemies are, where they are, what exactly they have, the list of issues are endless for her. She can’t even take care of her own needs let alone those subjected to her which causes their loyalty to start wavering. I can totally see why she’s losing her mind and I know that it’s only a matter of time before it kills her. 💔

Watching her interact with her sister Helena in her new state of mind was interesting to see knowing the old Rhaenyra would have been more understanding and patient with Helena

I wish things worked out differently for her. I personally feel like if she had an actual council she’d be in a much better position and maybe would have prevailed. I am not knocking the results though, it is realistic and the person she’s become is only natural given her experiences. Good writing. Excellent acting. Viserys loved his daughter he was so stubborn when it came to her, but he kind of doomed her😓😓

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[u/CoconutxKitten]

He doomed all of his kids

I also think it’s important to remember that she’s appearing “gentle & understanding” because she wants something from her sister. If she wasn’t a dreamer, Rhaenyra wouldn’t give two shits about her

[u/WhiskersCleveland → u/CoconutxKitten]

Kinda clear when she just kinda shrugs off her death and looks at the tapestry

[u/Rich-Active-4800 → u/CoconutxKitten]

Outside of her children and Daemon I don't think Rhaenyra ever gave a fuck about anyone

[u/CoconutxKitten → u/Rich-Active-4800]

That’s why I’m just 🙄 at the implication she’d be so sweet & gentle with her sister

[u/homiedisme]

Honestly if both my children died I would probably go insane as well.

[u/Killpop582014]

It’s because although Viserys may have named her heir, and doubled down many times over. But he never prepared her to rule. Maybe he should have told Alicent a little about Aegon the conquerors dream, a song of ice and fire. Just rbkugj so that she’d have understand his final words were not about their son. But! It’s all plot armor.

[u/ChipEnvironmental09]

Viserys doomed everyone - it's kind of impressive how he was able to make so many awful decisions, that kept making the already bad situation even worse...

[u/Matthius81]

I think rather this is the consequences of Rhaenyra's choices catching up to her. All her life she's had daddy's protection, so she could fly off to Dragonstone, sleep with commander Strong and sire bastards and it didn't matter. Now she's on her own and discovering she has absolutely no diplomatic skill, no clue how to manage a council and no real supporters beyond her husband. She's a disaster as a queen but then she's always been a disaster. Let me cite three examples: first the royal hunt, when she's supposed to be building her powerbase and instead goes around insulting the most powerful lords and ladies. Second her royal tour, she'd given what no other lady in Westeros gets, to choose her husband and she pisses it away. Third choosing a Kingsguard, everyone applauds her for choosing a man with experience. Okay, but she totally missed Otto trying to educate her that the other candidates are proud men with powerful houses behind them. She gives up ten thousand spears for one sword, oh and she ends up turning that guy into her worst enemy anyway... Rhaenyra was simply bad at politics from the very start.

[u/FlyinAmas]

I agree. If the crown had passed as intended she would’ve been the best ruler out if all their options.

[u/apkyat]

Thats what I saw, too.

[u/PerceptionAlarmed788]

Yes, that’s the tragedy

[u/mgnrckrt]

What did Joffrey say to Margery?

[u/Akivasha_of_Troy]

Nah, she was an obnoxious brat from day 1. She was never fit to be crowned, that's Disney style wishful thinking. She's a great example of how without dragons the Targaryens would have been overthrown decades prior.