HOUSE OF THE DRAGON - House HIGHTOWER History and Targaryan Rivalry EXPLAINED

House of the Dragon: The Greens, Explained. In this video we break down the symbolism of House Hightower, and break down exactly why they were always going to go to war with the Targaryans.
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Written by Brianna McLarty @briannatmclarty on Instagram and Tiktok!
Hosted by Ryan Arey ( / ryanarey )
Edited by Harriet Lengel-Enright, Randolf Nombrado, Brianna McLarty, and Lee Mazzio
#HouseOfTheDragon #GameofThrones #TeamGreen

[@clowheeler]

Helena is carrying the greens in likability

[@markgross6006]

Slight correction: There was one Hightower on Game of Thrones - Gerold Hightower (served on the Kingsguard for Aerys II Targaryen)- who was killed by Ned Stark outside the Tower of Joy in Dorne.

[@h.j.grande1194]

Margaery and Loras's mom is also a Hightower. Direct descendant of Rhaena Targ, doughter of Daemon. Add : Sir Jorah's ex wife was also a Hightower. He described her just looks like Danny.

[@markgross6006]

@@h.j.grande1194 The only issue I see with the Rhaena thing is that she and Garmund Hightower has six daughters, so presumably those daughters would have married out of House Hightower.

[@h.j.grande1194]

@@markgross6006 true, and I dont think anywhere in the books also mention that she was direct descendant of on of Rhaena's doughters, or that was just fan theory anyway. But even if we have to believe that, along down the line of their next generation technically still can married back to the Hightowers. And there are other houses other than the Targs who practice cousin to cousin marriage such as the Lannisters and the Starks, maybe the Hightowers practice it as well even with their cousin in a diferent houses. Sorry for my broken english.

[@markgross6006]

@@h.j.grande1194 I’m going to up the ante and make a speculation that will support your theory about House Tyrell even better: When Harlen Tyrell surrendered Highgarden to Aegon the Conqueror, Aegon exercised the Right of First Night with Harlen’s new bride (possibly at her initiation) and sired a bastard on her he immediately legitimatized as Theo Tyrell. So House Tyrell basically slept their way to the top of the Reach and have a Drop of the Dragon in them to boot. How else could the former stewards of Highgarden become Lords Paramount over House Hightower and the Faith of the Seven if not for being Aegon’s descendants?

[@bebopnola]

They weren’t completely left out. Just mostly.

[@ilovemesomme]

They killed their king, made former stewards their overlord, they upended their city as being the most important on the continent, and warred against the Faith of the Seven.

[@kap2652]

Tyrell

[@7eddiii]

also the targaryens are motivated by prophecy and magic the hightowers are more set in traditional knowledge and science plus theres theories the maesters were behind the destruction of old valyria so the hightowers vs targaryens is a beef thats existed over a thousand years since its really science vs magic

[@gooby214]

The VALYRIANS were behind the destruction of their own lands and Valyria. It got messed up by their own experiments. Maesters have no power to cause the doom and tsunamis.

[@mangos77129]

such a good explanation of the characters motivations! sooooo excited for s2

[@acolytesounds]

It's almost as if these two Houses are a perfect foil for each other. 😂

[@joshuahenderson3444]

This family drama kinda reminds me of the strife between House Lannister and House Baratheon involving the Starks in between except in this show will heavily focus on the Hightowers and House Targaryen in a similar fashion

[@ironrick95mcoc46]

How is allicent against incest when she allowed her son to marry his younger sister?

[@afcshahid]

She probably allowed for it to strengthen Aegon’s claim to the throne. Aegon and Helena would have pure targaryen children which people would get behind. Perhaps she forgot her faith for this

[@Alejojojo6]

Her sons are Targaryens, not Hightowers since they are the sons of Viserys. You inherit your house through your father. Most likely, it was Viserys idea and since they are under the doctrine of exceptionalism, they were allowed in a way. After all, no family would be good enough for them or it would be hard to find one to marry the future king. It would also strenghten the claim by marryng them together as a right to rule. Still, she allowed Aemond to be betrothed with a Baratheon.

[@alexandria1204]

She used her kids as pawns. The hightowers are very hypocritical. They will use whatever they can to prove their point! Being that the “queen” is incompetent, and that agone should rule and that the realm will never except a queen. they know they’re hypocritical, but they’ll never admit that. They will use whatever they can to gain power. And it ends up backfiring. Otto knows what he’s doing is wrong. He also knows that he’s hypocritical. He doesn’t care, he has second son syndrome. And he wants the power even though it cost so much.

[@eunomiac]

Absolutely brilliant fucking analysis, mad kudos. I can't wait to watch the rest of your back-catalogue!

[@HACKTACULAR.]

“Oh, Seven hells!” 😂😂 gets me every time!

[@thespringis]

Good video explaining a lot to me about family

[@Alejojojo6]

The duty applies to men too. They dont get to choose which woman they marry for the most part. Usually their marriage is prearranged and the bride is chosen for them by their father. At least the first wife. Like Edmure tully had to marry a Frey even though he didnt want to (He got lucky to have a pretty one but perfectly could have gone wrong and had to marry an ugly one). So its not just women. When you are at the top of society you have all benefits except the right to marry who you want and the constant that you have to do what is best for the house over what's best just for you.

[@holubowichb]

One thing I don’t understand is the Hightowers obviously don’t like incest. But then have their offspring of Alicent and Viserys(Aegon and Helaena )marry and have kids?????

[@rmellrobinson821]

This video has alot of incorrect information in it

[@jaquanpowell4605]

Hypocrites that’s why. The new Hightowers are power obsessed that’s why they forgo their religion for power.

[@jamiemohan2049]

I'd imagine Alicent had little say on who her kids married. They were Hightowers through maternal descent, not actual Hightowers. Alicents kids are Targaryens, they marry who their father wishes and are raised like Targaryens with their values and customs, not hightower ones. There is no way show Alicent actually wanted them to marry. They also maintain the inbreeding for dragons. Maybe they had to inbreed as they were already half hightower, so their bloodline couldn't afford to be more diluted.

[@sophiawilson8696]

Cousins marry are acceptable and something Uncle and Niece can marry for properties. Starks had once Uncle and Niece marry. Also Ned and Bejen and Brandon's were cousins.

[@gooby214]

@@jaquanpowell4605 The new Hightowers are not power obsessed. They're literally chilling in Oldtown. No, the Hightowers in HotD are OLD Hightowers. The current Hightowers are Lord Leyton Hightowers and his family, who are in A Song of Ice and Fire's books. They're ok.

[@theawesomeman9821]

George RR Martin was inspired by one of England's civil wars when he was writing HOTD: Matilda's civil war aka the Anarchy, where Princess Matilda and her children fought against her brother and his children for the English throne.

[@pckrichards7980]

He was actually her cousin, but yeah. That’s the gist of it!

[@olafharoldsonnii4713]

War of roses

[@whatchuptu]

Great video guys! Looking forward to HotD season 2 and more recap videos!!!

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

Thank you for this video Ryan love learning more about powerhouse in westeros aside fr om Lannister, tyrell , and martel it great you highlight how their actions differ from house of targaryan,and how that led to their postion in main series ,and in HotD because it tend to focus on less political strategies that overlook these flaw that influence the story.

[@eggmancorp]

Holy crap was that a deep dive! Shout outs to Brianna McLarty for this super detailed analysis 💯💯 It's always a joy for me to watch a show and enjoy it at a surface level, then come back here and enjoy it for a second time with analysis.

[@KrissTheUnicorn]

@ScreenCrush you guys should make a video on what are the 7 gods of the Faith, always entertained and love your videos and explanations.

[@floresarts]

2:42 Because having dragons in Westeros was like having nuclear weapons in our world. 🤯

[@Tarnished-bn5gq]

More like napalm or white phosphorus carpet combers.

[@djpgreek]

Great video, but I have to call out the missed opportunity in cutting to the scene from Caddyshack, where they yell doodie

[@kingpinpasta2934]

This is why Daemon is by far my favorite character, he calls out the Hightowers directly to their face what they are. Parasites

[@ElChris816]

Exactly. Daemon gives zero shits and can back up everything he says. For House Black!!!

[@SilkBuckets]

Your grace

[@LordSaull]

I like him but let’s not act like he didn’t just murder his wife in cold blood

[@Magdalena8008s]

​@@LordSaulloh, he's a monster. No question. We all acknowledge this. But doesn't change the fact he's a badass.

[@DanLanningPRTeam]

Hightowers represent the vast majority of Andals in Westeros. Targaryens are foreign conquerors.

[@dalanium98]

wow that was amazing, thank you brianna

[@themeanhornet1070]

Thank you that was very enjoyable.

[@evanschubert1113]

Brilliant video!

[@joshuahenderson3444]

The Hightowers can’t be any worse than the Lannisters i’ve already watched enough GOT to hate the Lannisters as for the Hightowers being the villains im not sure how i feel about em but i can’t wait for S2 HOTD

[@gonzommz1739]

Hightowers are not villiains... Targaryens are.

[@gooby214]

Hightowers aren't villains and are one of the most respected houses in Westeros. Targaryens are 1000 times more villainous. That's why they're gone, while the Hightowers are still there.

[@ryansmith2617]

Dude the script for this was beautiful

[@jasonck9635]

Great video 🙌

[@Nenernener123]

8:08 Rhaenyra clearly didn’t want to marry Laenor, but she did her duty! Come on keep it real!

[@chrystalamos8273]

Excellent overview

[@FRNZReturnz]

Eagerly hoping for a recap video catching us up since it’s been two years @-@

[@diva_muffin]

Love this breakdown

[@DuplexxSiren]

Nice. More house of the dragon videos please

[@DrBeauHightower]

The Hightowers are my favorites

[@leonh2589]

great breakdown

[@DianaHerrmann]

So amazing.

[@tfoxx17]

Can’t wait 🐉🐉🐉

[@Phbalancedshorty]

This video is so incredibly beautiful and well made. This is a masterclass, a thesis on the dynamics between the Hightowers and Targaryens. The difference in how the westerosi and valeryan cultures encompass women w non gendered linguistic breakdown was 🤯 ❤

[@Phbalancedshorty]

Brianna Mclarty did an INCREDIBLE JOB !! (I had a feeling a women wrote this) ❤️❤️

[@COOPERSCICHILDS]

Awesome

[@kap2652]

Hightowers do not hate Targaryen Gerold Hightower was lord commander of the kingsguard. And Hightowers was loyal to mad king Aerys In Robert’s rebellion.

[@gooby214]

Also, Lord Jon Hightower served as King Aegon IV's Hand. And Garmund Hightower married Rhaena Targaryen after the Dance, and had kids with her.

[@danbeaudet6718]

Wow, my head is spinning!

[@garyhall2770]

If my brother was King why would I want the Throne??? I could do pretty much anything I wanted to do. I would have a great home. I would have great food. I would have big boobed women, petite women, red heads, blondes, flexible women and any other kind of woman. The only thing I would have to do is not piss off my brother.

[@DagNeb_It]

Will you do a breakdown of the new Alien: Romulus trailer. It’s looks soooo good

[@alschroed1992]

Team „why do so many people have to die for two siblings fighting“ forever!

[@Alpha23TV]

lol… great review! More script errors than we’re used to, but still a great job

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

I love how alicent is written she is so relatable,and compelling character.

[@COOPERSCICHILDS]

Coooool

[@Nenernener123]

People supporting Team Green baffles me! Team Caraxes! ♥️🔥🖤

[@wilmaso]

Team Black Baby

[@jollygoodfellow3957]

Woah black baby bamalam

[@Rager2]

Make more videos about hotd

[@vishmohan_]

Omg, is that Hannah Waddingham at 6:18 as one of the shame nuns in GOT?

[@ToneWithTony]

I thought that was Fiona from Shrek by the thumbnail I'm like they're making a live action Shrek!??? 😂

[@jollygoodfellow3957]

She would fit the role lol. I thought the same.

[@janteo1]

Slight Correction: the flame on the top of the tower is red unless the House is at war, then it is green

[@jensherrig3000]

What happens in Season 2? Something will burn green😊 or somthing will burn, green😅

[@sebastianwilson1589]

💚

[@FernandoAR760]

Anyone else notice that the Greens had a brother and sister marry eachother even though they were Targaryans the ones who controlled them were Hightowers

[@thomasleonardis711]

I love this channel. But sometimes I struggle to figure out if your oversimplifying for casual viewers or genuinely don’t get the source material and just read a script…. The Hightower isn’t LIKE a lighthouse. It literally is. It is without a doubt the lighthouse of Alexandria of Westeros. The people who claimed it are one of the most ancient and influential families of the 7 kingdoms. They control so much of the Reach that they can openly oppose their liege lord without consequence.

[@JB77772]

Hi 👋🏻

[@sophiawilson8696]

Before Aegon Targaryen conquest the 65 years before Aner Targaryen decided to sail before of Doom Valyira.

[@Moqbelsaggar]

Thank you for not including any dog jokes. That was a really good video ❤

[@Nenernener123]

3:27 I am really bummed the show left out Alicent’s hypocrisy! They are pious until it comes to supporting her own children marrying each other to keep the crown under the Hightowers!

[@baron7755]

10:00 what is the source of this chart?

[@Hoeech]

David J. Peterson. He's the linguist for the show, having created both High Valyrian and Dothraki languages among others. He (with GRRM's guidance) defined how family relations worked in Valyria given that so many powerful houses kept marrying their own blood relatives. They had their own words for sister/wife, son/nephew and so on

[@paulmiller38]

Praise Garth 🥦

[@KrazyKobold]

I might care more though if this weren't a massive prequel, based on a history section of a book, that has us know so well what already happens making speculation largely moot

[@Hoeech]

I know that the sun will come up in the morning. That doesn't mean I don't like to watch it rise every now and then

[@jaquanpowell4605]

@@Hoeechthat’s some poetic shit 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@Hoeech]

@@jaquanpowell4605 - I can't post pics, but I'm doing my best "Bud Bundy - Grandmaster B" pose

[@JB77772]

Hi

[@sophiawilson8696]

The Daynes and Hightowers are from the Great Empire of Dawn.

[@davepowder4020]

I was surprised by the appearance of Mormon missionaries riding dragons in Part 2!

[@Alejojojo6]

???

[@Voltamart]

TEAM FREE FOLK

[@phanindrasai]

7 tala for reason 😂😂 5:15

[@nick3on]

if alicent is so religious then y the feet pics ?😜😂💀

[@Redjack10]

Ain’t nothin in The Seven-Pointed Star about feet.

[@nick3on]

oh boy ..i thought feet pic were bad ..just wached the 1st eps of season 2 ...

[@gengstar09]

Are you guys team: 🏴 or green 🇧🇷(green 😂)?

[@Akahoshi86]

13:40 seconds you can briefly see me behind Sam 😅😅

[@QuisyKing]

that's you?

[@Akahoshi86]

@@QuisyKing I'm stacking the books behind sam. I knocked them all over on the first take like an idiot 😆

[@QuisyKing]

@@Akahoshi86 That's so cool!

[@tomeik1421]

Who actually poisoned the king??

[@reneegriggs8553]

I thought it started when Viserys cut his hand with one of the swords on the iron throne.

[@rainstriderstreamflower5645]

Actually the Hightowers don't care that Rhenyra is female the reason why they're against the idea of Rhenyra becoming a ruling queen is because the know that the majority of houses are too traditional to accept a woman on the iron throne.

[@CosmicSmoke758]

Team Black

[@geogreable]

Breanna 😘

[@julioiglesias8067]

i mean. we kinda know what happens to the Hightowers in the end... somewhat

[@tclement619]

Cleaaarly bastards!! 😂😂

[@alexjenkins4066]

The hightowers come from the Andals who conqered the lands of the First Men and the Children of the Forest. Likely when the Andals arrived, they renamed Oldtown to what is it now and claimed it as the longest standing city and the center of all faith. It very likely is not the actual oldest city.

[@sophiawilson8696]

Hightowers are from Great Empire of Dawn.

[@sophiawilson8696]

The colour are Golden Dragon of Sunfyre that Aegon symbol.

[@alexjenkins4066]

@@sophiawilson8696 Not true.. They are Andals and they worshipped the seven. The Great Empire of Dawn are a cult of gods and we know that faith in the seven is very close to catholocism in our world, they expect full devotion and there is no room for other gods.

[@alexjenkins4066]

@@sophiawilson8696 The color Gold for Sunfyre was because he was always going to end up with the crown and gold is a symbol of royalty and ascension to the throne. Baratheon changed his banner when he took the throne, he added a crown and changed the color of the stag to Gold. Nothing more to read into there.

[@leongwaikit6658]

What do the Hightowers view the dragons? And what would do if they have a dragon?

[@gonzommz1739]

They against magic and dragons, the dragons are weapons of slavery and destruction.

[@gooby214]

@@gonzommz1739 Those are the maesters. The current Lord Hightower is said to read magic books.

[@andyw4432]

It would've been nice if a lot of this was just in the show

[@Redjack10]

It was…?

[@angelmelendez2468]

Team greens biggest claim is getting the juice from a Targaryen !

[@gooby214]

That's literally the same for team black. Rhaenyra is the son of a Targaryen AND a female Arryn.

[@souleimabasha3622]

So why were the hightowers omitted from game of thrones ?

[@gooby214]

Because D&D are bad writers who had no care about the story. They cut all the Hightowers in the books, and they cut the war between Lord Leyton Hightower and Euron Greyjoy.

[@Nenernener123]

9:16 Ok you are losing me, was this video written by the Maesters? This story really started with Jaehaerys, who treated his daughters as pawns unlike his sons!

[@chriswhorror6658]

Daemon experiment in incest, reason I don’t like that side. Don’t see why their butthurt when aegon was next to be king.

[@garywinnie6745]

So many dooties in this video lol

[@nicholasgarrick8855]

The hightower are the proto lannister but, without incest as far as we can reasonably assume)

[@jlopezb04]

I just want them to pay...

[@user-xi4wh9sx3d]

Team green

[@targlife2979]

Team Rhaenyra all day!

[@shortfatbigfoot]

Is it just me or in the thumbnail of the video does she not look just like Fiona from Shrek?

[@michaelward6950]

It must be nice for Ryan to be able to make content about a well written show, that’s respects its audience, and hires competent show runners, so he doesn’t have to cry and whine about review bombing.

[@Safaid862]

Alicent being religious and religion being a core part of her identity… cue 2nd season.

[@pampoovey6722]

I like the triangle. Rhaenyra wants Alicent, Alicent wants Cole, Cole wants Rhaenyra.

[@lemonscentedzombie9080]

It depends on how much bandwidth is available to you guys. But series like Bridgerton and the likes might bring audiences that could help the channel grow?

[@ThisIsMeAndNotYou]

445

[@jaredhartley]

Princess Fiona vibes

[@MarjanKaykavoosi]

The dragons are also gender neutral I think 🧐🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@Gideon_Clarke]

Why did this guy steal the voice of Meatwad?

[@yodon6867]

Becky Lynch as Red Witch she's not doing nothing right now.