Rhaenyra Targaryen Commands Ser Laenor Velaryon | House of the Dragon | Max

A successful marriage requires communication and royal commands.
Catch up on the HBO Original Series #HouseOfTheDragon before Season 2 premieres June 16 on Max.
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[@andyh4518]

Rhaenyra's decision to leave King's Landing at the end of this episode was incredibly short sighted. It allowed Otto to stack the court in favor of Aegon.

[@manvirshergill1739]

Rhaenyra was stupid to get with Harwin in the first place at King's Landing aswell where Alicent is watching her every move.

[@leachimy24]

The children would have killed eachother.

[@joshuaadams6565]

Or Rhaenyra could have had a little “accident” if she stayed much longer. Remember how easy it was to lock princess Rhaenys up? Otto was willing to send his men to Dragonstone and make quick work of Rhaenyra, imagine how much easier it would have been if she shared a keep with him.

[@naeriontargaryen6818]

Reinstalling Otto as Hand was the biggest Mistake Viserys made. When that happened, Otto plotted with the Small Council in secret to Place Aegon on the Iron Throne against The Kings Wishes.

[@siddhantpurohit2350]

Had she stayed, Otto would've forced her to drop on her knee. Atleast while at Dragonstone, she has the chance to call for her banners and gather her allies...

[@charliecheadle9154]

1:02 I love the shift in the acting here. The complete loss of hope that they will ever fulfill their duties given to them…Rhaenyra is realizes this as her eyes begin to tear up. All she can do in the next following moments is accept that Leanor will never take the responsibility of having an heir or *fully* supporting her life at court, with a sad little grin. Maybe in a way to realize how ridiculous and unfortunate their situation is…. Emma’s acting is truly brilliant and I hope they get more and recognition for bigger parts in the near future!

[@HK-gm8pe]

yeah...I dont understand people who are whining about her getting emmy nominartion and not Olivia...Emma is a bit underrated in this show I feel like...even in the interviews they dont include them as often as other actors

[@yevgeniyaleshchenko849]

@@HK-gm8pe What do you mean, Emma and Olivia are included in every sort of interview, they are one of the most popular pairings.

[@Fhoebys16]

It's sad for both of them, if only they had one true child of their own everything would had been different.

[@princeali1932]

Especially if they had a daughter. Then they would marry her to Aegon and all their problems would've been solved

[@proudatheist2042]

​@@princeali1932no, Aegon would have been cruel and dismissive to her. Any resulting offspring would have been severely inbred and probably would of had terrible problems.

[@JR47846]

no it wouldnt in the books its not certain they are bastards and its exact the same only here they made them 100% bastards so having a true child would change nothing

[@shimanopetermann9068]

Even if they had 10 true born sons, they still would've had the same problem. Yes, Rhaenyra's boys having dark hair was unhelpful, but even if they would've been silver-haired, there still would've been talk about them being bastards because it was very well known that Laenor was gay. The Greens would've always used that fact to spread rumours and to question the legitimacy of Rhaenyra's kids.

[@TimelessChildWWTD]

Honestly, they should’ve had Rhaenys have black hair like she does in the book due to being half Baratheon (black hair, purple eyes) and that could’ve been used to explain why in the show Rhaenyra and Laenor’s kids have dark hair.

[@kylewilkins6149]

It’s hard to blame Rhaenyra for anything when her father made her marry THIS guy. They may have had an understanding, but it’s obviously not working in the long run. This is what happens when you force your children to marry someone wrong for them: disaster.

[@guisas123]

She could've easily picked Ser Harwin as her husband and this whole mess would've been avoided lol

[@MAstaKFC]

@@guisas123 Unfortunately Ser Harwin, in the pecking order, is a no-one. Princesses are expected for marry for political reasons, not love.

[@nyny.confidential74]

I believe both of them can be sympathized with. Their marriage is a result of Viserys neglecting his duty as king to marry the daughter of a second son (Alicent) instead of the daughter of the richest man (Corlys) and whom hails from the richest house in the realm (Laena).

[@ladytargaryen2786]

@@MAstaKFCthat would be true if rhaenyra didn’t do a tour around Westeros to chose her husband… she refused everybody and after that she was forced. Even though I love her, it true that she did have a chose once but refused and now lived with the consequences

[@MsSourabh108]

It's not that simple man

[@Wordlifematt]

Abandon fatherhood and wife to go party with your F buddy? Even his parents would tell Leanor that's a bad decision. Never abandon your spouse. You made a promise, i tell you.

[@enis020]

In the name of happiness and selfishness , they destroyed the whole kingdom which went into a civil war

[@Wordlifematt]

@@enis020 Rhaenyra didn’t have much of a choice. Leanor couldn’t impregnate Rhaenyra. Her claim to the iron throne would be lost if she didn’t have heirs.

[@RobinSmith-fo5wg]

⁠​⁠@@Wordlifemattshe did have heirs her family members was she did have a choice she chose to have them knowing it’s treason legally they can’t be heir

[@Wordlifematt]

@@RobinSmith-fo5wg no she did not. The part of the war mostly happen due to the illegitimacy of her children.

[@sanjaykarthicks1226]

​@@Wordlifemattno. The war was mostly because she was a woman. Even if she had true born children with Laenor, the war would've happened anyway

[@pikasalsachu]

Emma Darcy is so beautiful. ❤

[@feroniiia]

Indeed she is🥹

[@SouthernPrincipe]

And they are so handsome too

[@smellypatel5272]

Not at all

[@gezenews]

@@SouthernPrincipe nah. Just hot. Go ahead and hate me for it.

[@bollockjohnson6156]

@@SouthernPrincipe do you need an intervention?

[@objektifbilgeadam]

I think Velaryons were the strongest family in westeros until Laenor and Laena decided to marry with targaryens.

[@dominiceliakim4617]

😂

[@alex939709]

The Velaryons and Targaryens had intermarried for years. Indeed, if the Velaryons have become so strong, it is precisely thanks to the Targaryens. Not surprisingly, when the Targaryens fell, the Velaryons also ended up losing much of their strength.

[@sweettt321]

@@alex939709 it's funny how it feels like the show runners have made it seem like the marriage between Rhaenys and Corlys was the first Targaryen-Velaryon union with how Corlys said, "Unite our two Houses," to Viserys when they offered Laena as his new wife when they are essentially just one big family at this point

[@tristangabales549]

Aegon the Conqueror and his sisters are literally half-Velaryons

[@12gark]

They were the strongest family in westeros until Laena died. If Laena lived, the dance would have been either extremely short or not even happening. Aemond could have claimed whatever dragon he wanted, Laena and Daemon would fly to King's Landing and put an end to the green faction day 1 of the war. Now if Laenor lived as well, they would have probably let Rhaenyra take the crown, marry the twins to Rhaenyra's children and be happy. But if Laenor did die (in the books he's killed by his lover), and Laena had a healthy boy, Daemon could have usurped the throne himself.

[@taylorhanagan1876]

Him scoffing and saying “insinuations” would have me kill him. But WHOS fault is this? She did him too many favors.

[@jadawilliams2319]

He said that because they WEREN'T issinuatioms rhaenyras children are bastards and she chose to sleep with someone who didn't even closely resemble laenor. Laenor's obviously not fit to be the best father but the least Rhaenyra could've done is find someone black so their children would come out looking like Laenor but she chose to irresponsibility sleep around

[@gezenews]

@@jadawilliams2319 And he openly sleeps with men. They are both irresponsible and you cannot blame Laenor for not giving a crap about kids that are not family to him in any way, other than as a post.

[@user-jr9bu7em8s]

As people imagine that they have a platonic and open marriage and lived happily for ten years, this scene shows that it's wasn't easy at all.

[@30251]

@@jadawilliams2319 The blackness wasnt the issue. Laenor is mixed race, his kids coming out whiter skinned isnt too far fetched, look at people like Mariah Carey, Cameron Boyce, Halsey, etc. The issue is that they both had white hair and so did both their parents (in the show).

[@tmc31390]

@@30251agreed. The Valyrian silver-blond hair is dominant, so people knew something was up the moment Rhaenyra’s kids came out with hair other than silver blond.

[@walkerlamebrain]

This is one of my top favorite scenes from HotD s1

[@paldhakariya1947]

Leaving King's Landing was one of the worst decisions Rhaenyra ever made.

[@shiannesteele2191]

I hope we get to maybe see Laenor in the season 2. He actually was one of my favorites.

[@collinwatts9390]

Laenor here is like me during my meetings at work

[@marius7133]

I haven't been this excited about a season 2 of any TV show since... well... Game of Thrones season 2. HOTD to resurrect the GOT feelings and franchise.

[@mattcollins3591]

Omg this

[@a55tech]

Hopefully it don't do what GoT did in S2 putting ppl to sleep. So far so good tho.

[@quincysavala1297]

0:00 that facial expression

[@senister14]

Its a good thing Laenor isn't the boys real father, he would be very bad at it.

[@gezenews]

Lol as opposed to having a father they can't rely on or call on at all. Yes modernity is well at work I see.

[@bollockjohnson6156]

@@gezenews no he means the high level of m*lestation in a certain community

[@gabrielket4673]

he was a good father. he was just a bad husband

[@AlerieHightower]

HBO spelled Laenor wrong.

[@Cappellano]

She should have commanded him to conceive at least one child with her before having the Strong kids.

[@aiauka_wxxn9921]

She said they tried

[@ozzyc5122]

That's called r*pe but I guess it runs in the family.

[@sen.m7832]

I don't think it's that simple

[@1slummzzs]

@@aiauka_wxxn9921 she should have called harwin to the mix

[@alyssao517]

I’m pretty sure they tried but either he couldn’t finish since he isn’t attracted to women or he’s infertile

[@banan_woo]

I thought this was a season 2 clip and went feral for nothing 😒

[@aaronmartin8739]

Same

[@kimcottingham8043]

Same!!

[@AprilSunshine]

I cried when i thought he was gonna die 😭

[@user-nf5nd7kt2f]

He isnt

[@motherofunicornstargaryen4887]

WAR IS AFOOT RhAeNyRa

[@banan_woo]

Laenor made me so mad i swear

[@xxrieanrinei4922]

I mean its not his kids, she should have gotten their REAL FATHER to take the duty of protecting them, hes a trained warrior after all.

[@banan_woo]

@@xxrieanrinei4922 Yeah but Laenor was very irresponsible and careless, in that position even if they aren't his he is her husband so they are his responsibility.

[@xxrieanrinei4922]

@@banan_woo Realistically yes, he's their step-father which is still supposed to be a father but she went into this agreement knowing he had very little interest in both raising children and marriage. She chose poorly from the start hoping that she could counterbalance the situation by herself. Laenor is what he's always been a overindulging self gratifying noble, he never hid that fact but she chose to overlook it for political power and her own desires. She would have been better off choosing one of countless princes that came to propose to her. Both fathers and rhaenyra doomed those children. But at the end of the day rhaenyra is the one who involved both of them, so she is mostly to blame.

[@jayla.5062]

@@xxrieanrinei4922 this would be a wayyyy better argument if Rhaenyra chose to marry him, which she didn't

[@RobinSmith-fo5wg]

@@banan_woono they not his responsibility

[@EmiliusReturns]

She should have just married Harwin to begin with. His father was Hand at the time, he’s highborn enough. Daemon ended up marrying Laena anyway which would have pacified Corlys.

[@naominadah1237]

Ser Harwin was a Knight of the Kings Guard I believe and therefore would not marry or have children.

[@tylerwade6539]

Actually he was Captain of the Gold cloaks, there allowed to marry and hold lands.

[@SapphireCrusader1988]

@@tylerwade6539 Not to mention the heir to Harrenhal.

[@tracys169]

I think that all of us believe that, but then I learned that George's first draft was that Harwin was her husband and still same thing happened. The dance would've happened whomever Rhaenyra ended up marrying. It's her gender that made it hard to swallow for the realm to accept her as a ruling monarch esp. since Aegon was available.

[@naominadah1237]

@@tylerwade6539 ohh makes sense. Thanks for that insight

[@user-gl1en9jz7w]

Let's correct those names, please: RHAENYRA and LAENOR ☠️

[@nyny.confidential74]

Rhaenyra is spelled correctly

[@user-gl1en9jz7w]

@@nyny.confidential74 Now it is correct, but when they had just posted the video it was also spelled wrong

[@viktorblazeski7559]

Max, if you put the proper title of Laenor you could’ve put the proper title in front of Rhaenyra’s name. She’s not some common peasant. That’s Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen to you.

[@Alt-yg5ng]

She's not real

[@lol-oe1md]

touch grass my man

[@LileshBorkar]

Ser Laenor Velaryon voice

[@MsGemDoll]

im slightly obsessed with emma darcy :/

[@thedoctor4327]

Addam and Alyn of Hull >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Laenor

[@clarkjosephkent2876]

Sweet home alabama

[@Yue_Jin]

That's not a Velaryon.

[@mwvidz324]

"Our" sons :DDD She made her own bed.

[@mwvidz324]

Also does she even have the authority to command him yet? Since he is the husband and their society is patriarchal. Or does possessing dragonstone make him her bannerman? It is not like Rhaenys can command Corlys.

[@fayfox5009]

@@mwvidz324 She's princess and heir, he's her husband, but still, born lord, so yes, he actually can command him. Ofc if we count medieval rules of society i don't think she could have command him Rhaenys is not actually THE HEIR, she was, so she can't command Corlys and he doesn't need to obey her

[@AprilSunshine]

They slept together multiple times but it didn't work 🤷‍♀️ then, like adults, they agreed to sleep with people they actually wanted. The poor guy was gay. What more was he supposed to do? 😞

[@mwvidz324]

@@fayfox5009 Of course we count the laws of the society, since that was what my question was about. Also being an heir doesn't work like that. When Viserys was king Aegon for example wasn't highter ranked than Aemond, even if he is ahead in succession. Both are princes. Rhaenyra is a princess that is her rank, being an heir(arguably) is about succession not rank. Though possessing dragonstone might elevate the rank, so that is what my question is about.

[@danika9411]

​@@AprilSunshine You don't actually need to sleep with each other. He just need to give her his s****. Even in medieval times people knew that. No one is thinking they should force themselfs. Just sometimes it can take time until you get pregnant.

[@NemesisKing96]

Lol

[@jjs1300000]

Rhaenyra made such a bad decision by having bastards with Harwin. She could’ve asked one of the Velaryons for help. But instead, dug her own grave and downfall.

[@sanjaykarthicks1226]

Who would help her though? Vaemond would be annoying and he wouldn't agree Corlys is possible but she would end up angrying Rhaenys She had to have heirs as heir to the iron throne and she did it in the best way she can

[@yevgeniyaleshchenko849]

Not really. They would have still not accepted her as a heir because she's a woman in a medieval/feudal society and Greens would have still tried to usurp the throne.

[@Anon_Fox]

How hard would it have been for her to atleast use his seed for the offspring and keep Harwin as her side piece? That way ignoring the accusations anyway. Atleast in reality it would be that way lol

[@TimberlakeTigerGirl]

They tried to find ways to get Laenor's seed to create a child in Rheanyra, but nothing worked. In the books, if Laenor wasn't gay, it's implied that he might be infertile.

[@jackson857]

spellcheck

[@lawlietryuzaki4694]

Why didn't she choose Harwin Strong as husband?

[@NotRJ001]

1. She was forced to marry Leanor 2. Corlys was about to join an a alliance with the Triarchy. 3. Is was his father's idea to marry Rhea to Leanor

[@march1242]

Politics and greed by Otto and Viserys. Corlys was going to marry Laena to the son of the Sea Lord of Braavos and form an unstoppable trade and naval power with no ties to the Iron Throne. Vhagar, Sea Smoke and Meleys, 3 of the largest rideable dragons, would potentially be out of the domain of Westeros. At this point House Velaryon was already one of the richest families in Westeros, had command of the bulk of the navy, had control of the Stepstones and had more dragons than the Targaryens - that was too much power to be left unchecked. A counter move was required and Ser Laenor was the only highborn noble man available that could offset the move by Corlys. Ser Laenor would bind the Velaryons to the Iron Throne, whereas Ser Harwin offered nothing politically as House Strong was a minor House. These facts, plus Rhaenyra’s folly in the brothel, left her in no position to refuse the betrothal to Laenor.

[@adaezez8378]

@@NotRJ001 she was forced to marry him after she did not pick her own husband when given the chance and was caught with her uncle. If she would have married Harwin from jump, that would have solved atleast the issue of her sons parentage.

[@LukeKetchum7003]

I'm pretty sure this is a flashback to some time before her father's death.

[@yevgeniyaleshchenko849]

It's season 1 most of which DID happen before her father's death... Not a flashback.

[@AliSherrr]

"our sons" :D bro they are bastards of Lord Strong.

[@alvarizky713]

no i think rhaenyra is just terribly irresponsible but i love her flaw nevertheless

[@a55tech]

was he infertile or did they just never try?

[@Monk_Chud]

He chooses to be a homosexual instead

[@TimberlakeTigerGirl]

​@Magnonx I don't know if he was gay in the books. But it's also been implied he's infertile so that's a double whammy for him.

[@alexissimpson5819]

Rhaenyra haters in the comments 🥱

[@RobinSmith-fo5wg]

Who,re lover

[@alexissimpson5819]

@@RobinSmith-fo5wg She’s beautiful

[@RobinSmith-fo5wg]

@@alexissimpson5819 she mid

[@KNS1996DFS]

The casting makes this entire plotline laughably stupid.

[@davisj7973]

good luck commanding your new husband Rhae Rhae...loved you in the books, the show not so much

[@alexissimpson5819]

She’s better in the show than the book. Why do you call her Rhae Rhae?

[@davisj7973]

how on earth is she “better” in the show ?

[@EbonySeraphim]

This scene is thought out by idiots who think they know war and politics, but either don't really know it, or have to cave to the fact that the strong theme in this series is "women smart, men drunk and dumb." I'm sorry HoD, radical feminism understands that the message isn't the idea that all men are dumb and shallow creatures full of lust and violence -- yes, the pattern exists for many, but if someone holds a position in high power for long enough, it's highly unlikely they are that stupid to everything as Laenor is portrayed here. Robert Baratheon was the (TV) franchise's OG drunk and dumb leader, but he wasn't that dumb and was a comlete and consistent character. He was hard in love with someone else -- something in theory women should understand -- which is why he wasn't able to "do his duty" by his wife. It's consistent because the same Robert used that love-energy to wage a war, that he won. Was he bad a governing? Yeah, but he was wise enough to understand how to leave the kingdom's affairs to those who could manage it and that held things together for long enough. Only when someone plotted against him, from his wife's family no-less, was he taken down. Sure, a highly intelligent person in that position (like Tyrion) wouldn't have had that happen because he knew how to play the game to know and discover who was a friend or foe. However, Robert still knew the sense of battle and properly understood the real threat from beyond the sea in Daenyrs. Which, if he did die and things held stable in Westeros, he would have crushed Daenyrs when she came over eventually. Lucky for her, Westeros was extremely weak due to civil war for at least 5 years. Anyways, back to this scene: Laenor's point is valid, and Rhaenyra's doesn't have a valid counter point. She claims he is abadoning his "post"...which post? What is he serving just standing there by her side? If he is a warrior, it would serve their familial alliance for her husband to establish substantial battle experience and military reputation/power so enemies understand he's not to be messed with. If two armies are roughly equally provisioned and sized, on an open battle, people bet on the experienced commander. And his familiar brings dragons to the table -- many of them. So it's unfair, but he doesn't have to do much to be bringing a lot to the table FOR Rhaenyra. I know the show does a great job making you forget that reality and pretending Rhaenyra's stupid fantasies matter more because they sound good to the heart. Him physically sitting there in Kings Landing won't quell the validity of their sons, and it absolutely has no effect on the issues of Rhaenyra's claim to the throne. Laenor can't save that except for his military threat should anyone decide to challenge it. While anyone can plot to take King's Landing and hold it for a day, or weeks, but it's another thing entirely to hold it from the retaliation of those who didn't like what just occurred. I hate how these shallow emotionally heavy scenes do what emotions do: make us forget basic reasoning and logic. You "feel" that Rhaerya is right in the moment, but in the consistent fantasy political world set up by the same damn show, she is very underwhelming and quite stupid. Sending a boy that young to broker a serious war agreement without a substantially senior stateman? Goodness god damn gracious. Again, we know how this battle ends. She loses. Remember that. She's actually dumber than Ned Stark in season 1 of GoT. Ned Stark at least had reason to believe (he was decieved) he had control of the peace keeepers should conflict arise in King's Landing. Sure, you could say it was stupid to make an enemy of Cersei, but he didn't do it without considering "if she acts aggressively, what's my enforcement?" Rhaenyra is that dumb. The basics of shoring up allies isn't some clever play. Notice how bland that is and how GoT tried to convince us that Sansa was smart in the later seasons when her character was clearly not as intelligent as they kept telling us she was -- unjustly btw. I'm going to enjoy not taking terrible show seriously for about another season. Maybe there will be an interesting action sequence but my brain won't rot.

[@jamesduffy7549]

Ned as well is complete fish out of water in King's landing who wasn't even suppose to ever rule winterfell, his brother brandon was groomed for that. Rhaenyra is the King's daughter and has been raised as the heir. Attending small council meetings since childhood. Ned atleast has somewhat of an excuse for being naive

[@unclefracker3273]

Boring

[@jamien368]

AS ALWAYS Rhaenyra being selfish and using her political position to do what she likes, she has no right to force laenor to play a part in her cheap play, she should've never had those kids as bastards, and for what? so she could maintain her position as heir.

[@alexissimpson5819]

Laenor should have done his duty

[@jamien368]

@@alexissimpson5819As should rhaenyra

[@sen.m7832]

She and Laenor tried to have children, it didn't work out. That's not her fault. Do you expect her to remain celibate and childless forever whilst he sleeps with whoever he likes? And of course she can use her political position however she likes, she is the princess. It's her right to maintain her position as heir. You wouldn't have any issue if a prince/King did the same. I'm always amazed by how much people STILL hate women for doing things men do all the time.

[@march1242]

@@alexissimpson5819true, but it seems he liked men more than the potential for scandal and ruin. They tried to do their duty but he couldn’t perform. This was the exact same case with Renly and Margaery.

[@RobinSmith-fo5wg]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@sen.m7832having them was her fault at least she could have been truthful no man did what she did

[@SubFlow22]

Chick flick drama garbage.

[@Kamrulhasan-iz3co]

RHAENYERA is far far ADVANCE as DIPLOMATIC than anyone in 7 kingdoms. RHAENYERA is very calculative

[@toxicxhazard]

She's an impulsive dumbass what are you talking about, very calculating and diplomatic of her to be one of the instigators of a conflict that killed countless thousands and nearly destroyed her dynasty

[@jamien368]

not with those white black haired bastards she trying to convince everyone they're velaryons😂