Why Rhaenyra SHOULDN’T be Queen | Anatomy of a Character

[@Mic-Mak]

8:25 This is where I take issue with the show's oversimplified writing. In the books, it is Rhaenyra who wants to take action and Daemon who cautions her to wait, precisely because he knows how wars can easily escalate. But the show wants to portray caution as feminine and good, and brashness as masculine and bad, which is ridiculous.

[@eW91dHViZSBpcyBjZW5zb3JzaGlw]

Didn't know

[@hafsahassan394]

Yes,. And Rhaenys as well. The show version looks surprising that she fights so well in the end. But in the book SHE was the one leading the war effort, giving the dragon count, their most experienced rider, and leading Black Council... She would Not get talked down by the likes of Alicent and Broome

[@NTNG13]

I mean there's even a stereotype irl of the feisty girlfriend and the chill bf. The whole feisty latina/black woman thing is all about them being loud and brash. Whoever tries to tell us women aren't capable of being action oriented is just plain disconnected from reality.

[@Dryhten1801]

@@NTNG13 Too much. Usually.

[@heirofslytherin3890]

Finally someone who pointed out the real weakling was Viserys.. WHo was not only a failed king but a failed father for ignoring his other sons with alicent

[@CorvoThan]

he also failed rhaenyra. her behaviour is the result of him protecting her against all consequences of her actions and never teaching her anything at all.

[@heirofslytherin3890]

@@CorvoThan yeah my dad would have sent me to our farmhouse to do manual farming as a punishment had I done anything remotely similar to what rhae did throughout the story

[@heirofslytherin3890]

@@CorvoThan but I respect him for his last act of standing up for his doter, despite of suffering severe pain

[@MrNinja543]

@@CorvoThanno it’s not her fault however it is her responsibility if she ever wants to be the queen she sees herself as.

[@user-bh2fz5sf5e]

Yeah ignoring them while also giving them all his attention and pushing rhaenyra out. He fucked up marrying Alicent

[@Elsneakakaze]

Rhanyra has basically ignored her duties and responsibilitys her whole life.

[@LH74]

And then acts entitled and expects the throne. She didn’t earn it. I’ll tell you who earned it though. Aemond the Prince Regent earned it.

[@queenxx1690]

And she made bustards instead drink moon tea

[@queenxx1690]

​@@LH74i used to like him now i hate him

[@rahmatmanurung8133]

​​@@LH74 I agree. He just needed a compassionate Queen that he's willing to listen to about small folk. Also great Hand that can cooperate well with him.

[@user-tr2ec1kz9g]

⁠​⁠@@LH74 thats how inheritance works. Lol. And before Aemond Aegon was chose cause he was entitled. No matter how bad Aemond was he would still become king after Aegon. Lol And Aemond did become king and what happened? He lost kings landing and got Criston cole and his army killed and got himself slained. If anyone in greens deserve the throne it was Daeron but he was too young but would make far better king than either of his 2 brothers

[@EmpressJusticeTarot]

All of this is EXTREMELY valid. After the end of Season 1, I was looking forward to a fiercer, more proactive and even more villainous Rhaenyra. I don't need to see women being the good guys. I need to see morally ambiguous women taken to the edge of their potential in a realistic way. This just ain't it. And this is coming from somebody who's Team Black.

[@jonniemckaig883]

This is a comment here I actually resonate with. The women on this show are all horribly written and very much seeming to be a monolith… it’s actually upsetting. 😭😂😪 Show Rhaenys was probably one of the worst character assassinations as well… and I adored Eve Best as her 😭🖤

[@aimanmarzuqi4804]

Yeah true. Because they tried to make Rhaenyra seem so much like a saint in the show, they actually remove her agency in the story. Instead of proactively moving the story forward, she could only react to the events happening to her in a reactive manner. Many of the great women rulers of history have been known to engage in political and military actions that would have been considered to be immoral in modern society. Yet because they engage in these acts, it allows them to accumulate the power necessary to be an effective ruler that stabilise and prosper their realm. Women rulers like Empress Wu Zetian, Queen Tamar, Al-Khayzuran Binti Atta, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Olga of Kiev and Pharaoh Hatsheput.

[@notgonnapay]

Same. I was really looking forward to a focused, Targaryen supremacist Rhaenyra, who wanted to take back her crown at all costs. I also wanted to see an Alicent who grew to despise Rhaenyra after a lifetime of doing her duties and serving the realm while Rhaenyra did whatever she wanted.

[@justink5000]

I saw a very interesting take on Rhaenyra from My Little Thought Tree. He completely disagrees that the narrative makes Rhaenyra a saint, instead, he argues that the narrative makes it easy for Rhaenyra to see herself as a hero and that makes her self-righteous. Remember that she sees herself as a hero because she feeds the people that are starving because of her blockade. She thinks getting even more dragons will bring peace to the realm. She's no good girl.

[@aimanmarzuqi4804]

@@justink5000 Ooh, interesting

[@TheHellyeahmen]

Rhaenyra as a character is not the problem. The problem is she's not a character. She's a tool for the writers. What I mean by that is she just doesn't make sense as a person. At all. The writers want her to be what they see as perfect and do all they can to show her this way. She said she doesn't want the throne and yet fights for it because duty. Only she doesn't want to fight either so she delays it as much as she can to REALLY show you how she doesn't want to go to war but she sooooo has to you guys! They repeat it over and over so that everyone can get it. Even though she can easily give it to Aegon along with the prophecy Oh and also she wants to fight personally because on top of being peaceful and caring she is also very brave but you see the people around her also say all the time how she can't do it herself so she doesn't. But not because she doesn't want to she wants it so much they'll say it in every episode. And she also is a victim of this horrible system that didn't prepare her to be a warrior. And it doesn't matter that she actually could become a warrior. She just never wanted to. But it's totally not her it's the system.

[@_antillas8674]

I agree, but what's so wrong with the system? What kind of warrior should "the system" have prepared Rhaenyra to be? Not a knight, obviously, a dragonrider? You don't have to do much to be a warrior on dragonback, but I'd think it's wise to prevent a Targaryen woman (and heiress) from ending up like Aegon II…

[@anarazh1844]

exactly my thoughts! i could never understand why rhaenyra feels so entitled to the throne and is willing to fight for it while crying about how heavy of a burden it is. why ignore all your duties and make poor political decisions right and left, and then keep saying how hard it is to be an heir?

[@witchking2063]

Well put. It is crap like this that the second season has lost my interest.

[@user-jr9bu7em8s]

Rhaenyra was like a believable character in season 1 but now just like you said she is a tool for the writers to tell a message over and over.

[@TheHellyeahmen]

@@user-jr9bu7em8s oh yeah. In season one she was likable and her behavior made sense

[@vizalloteafilter]

i would sum up rhaenyra as the following: she expects to receive all advantages of ruling while wanting none of the responsibilities…

[@rosameltrozo5889]

The perfect feminist

[@macleunin]

Having 3 bastard sons was incredibly irresponsible and insulting, especially when she would steal the Velaryon Household and cynically stood by that in Court, counting on daddy to defend her.

[@IkIk-rq4pk]

didnt she say that Laenor couldnt have children or something?

[@nostalgicisaac4657]

At the very least, she could have had children by Daemon while still being with Harwin Strong

[@blissinchains]

@@nostalgicisaac4657 While Daemon was in Pentos... how, exactly? Without making it plainly obvious. I'll wait.

[@s_shaleh]

Except that you are forgetting that the Lord of Driftmark himself was on board with the plan. So really who are you to be upset over it?

[@macleunin]

@@s_shaleh Laenor was only on board to hide his own secret and then faked his death and self exiled himself. His brother had every right to question the legitimacy of his nephews and to preserve his bloodline.

[@thesahel7218]

Rhaenyra just needed to deligate and she wouldn't have any problems. She can just tell Corlys and Daemon “Look, you're in charge of the field armies, update me once every week”, Rhaenys, Jace and Lord Broome are in charge of negotiations, writing letters and that sort of thing. And Baela and Mysaria are in charge of scouting/spying. This way if Rhaenyra disappeared everyone would know what to do. The best rulers know their limitations and delegate tasks to the experts.

[@darkestknightbrightestlich4690]

but Jace is a bastard wouldn't that lead to a civil war with Daemon's sons

[@lellenny]

​@@darkestknightbrightestlich4690 yeah, a succession crisis was almost inevitable at this point. jace's bastard status would make a lot of people upset and i doubt daemon would happily hand the throne over to anyone but his own sons.

[@Bayomeer]

You are making too much sense, I'll do the fucking opposite of everything you said! - Rhaenyra the Girlboss (probably)

[@narvaisthequiet7988]

I won't trust daemon to lead an army with my life. He is a fine warrior but not the best strategist. He is impulsive leading to irrational decisions that come back to bite him in the ass.

[@thiago292]

​​@@narvaisthequiet7988but he still won almost everything he fought on though, and he and Corlys have a good track record of winning wars together

[@cureforintroversion1262]

Whether it’s wishful thinking or not, Rhaenyra having the quality of desiring peace is a moot point when you consider who her role models are. She doesn’t admire her ancestor Rhaenys who was graceful and loved and seemed to have genuinely loved her brother-husband. Instead, Rhaenyra admired Visenya who was more fearsome and feared. While Visenya probably loved Aegon, she married him out of duty and usurped her nephew’s throne the second he was dead. Rhaenyra even names her daughter after Visenya. Rhaenyra may have loved her father - Viserys the Peaceful, but it’s Daemon’s advice she follows. All she values of her father is that he’ll defend her claim. But she values Daemon a whole lot more. “The smallfolk’s wants are of no consequence”, or to quote KZbinr Glidus, “I have a Dragon, therefore fuck you”. It’s Daemon she was always meant to burn with. Even after he murdered his 1st wife (there’s no way she wouldn’t have known about that forever), and consistently caused trouble with her father the King, as well as undermining her own dead brother. As the saying goes, what you praise, you will become. If Rhaenyra wants peace, she’s not representing herself. I can’t tell if she’s trying to be wise or wants be treated as a goddess but is on shaky ground due to her support being shaky at best, and the fact that she doesn’t have the biggest dragon. Sure Vermithor is pretty good competition against Vhagar, but what happens when Hugh and the other Dragonseeds get the idea that they’re nothing more than expendable pawns?

[@LanaMarie]

those are very good points!

[@cureforintroversion1262]

@@LanaMarie thank you

[@AquaticSoftwareSolutions]

I'm quite happy that a female fan points that she's failing as a leader instead of just being criticized for her sex. -She's been putting off raising an army for no other reason than to escalate the conflict? If that's even her logic. Which is catastrophic strategically, but even if she wants to avoid war it'd be smart to raise one "just in case" -She failed her followers, the lords & men who've put their lives, families, lands and legacies at stake for her are just ignored and left at the mercy of Criston's host, while she does nothing to protect them. -Leaves for days or weeks on end to go on extremely dangerous semi-suicidal peace mission to KL without even informing her generals. -She never counters her critics with a good strategic argument like "Because logically this, that..." its just some snarky personal jab along the lines of "Stfu" -Her main concern in the council is that she's criticized and "disrespected" rather than addressing their points. Those men wouldn't be criticizing her for her bad decisions if they didn't have her best interest in mind, they want her to win that's why they're angry at her. But instead she's more concerned with being talked to nicely instead of winning the war, implicitly meaning she wants sycophants and yes-men instead of competent lieutenants who can get her results. The showrunners made her to be essentially an extremely incompetent toxic manager whose only concerned with optics and boot-licking who eventually sinks the company.

[@liamwilson5670]

Every small council meeting has ended with Rhaenyra being questioned by her counsellors and she just scoffs and walks away and wonders why none of her council respects her

[@zypalitra8080]

Someone needs to tell Rhaenyra that there's nothing wrong with not knowing how to do something and it's not a problem that she's not been taught how to wage a war or command battles because that's what her WAR COUNCIL is there for!!! They're not there to slap about and belittle constantly, they're there to HELP YOU. I don't even think that the "well you wouldn't know because you're a woman" isn't even a critical remark against her. They're not saying it's a bad thing that she's a woman or that it's a bad thing that she's not been taught, they're sympathizing with her and saying "Yeah it's kinda screwed up that you don't know how to do that thing, I sympathize so let us help you figure this brand new thing out to you" but all they get is girlboss slapdowns from Rhaenyra and Corlys (and Rhaenys - well, she DID give them but doesn't now because she girl bossed too close to the sun). Knowledge is not a universal constant, nor is it universally applied, so it makes sense to employ people around you who make up for those gaps in intelligence. If Rhaenyra is unskilled and hasn't been taught about how to wage war, then it makes sense to listen to the advice of those who you surround yourself with, understand their advice, and then act upon it in the way you see fit. But no, go ahead and hit Bartimos Celtigar in front of everyone and emasculate him for, uh... trying to help? Also good job on telling one of your most loyal supporters and FELLOW VALYRIAN-descended family that "you should fear me". Great job, that completed nothing and ruined lots for you.

[@zypalitra8080]

"The first step towards knowledge is to know that we are ignorant. " - Richard Cecil

[@itsyagirl6549]

Ever since Season 1, she's shown no qualities proving she'd be a good Queen. And now were seeing those nonexistent qualities this season and it's only gonna get worse

[@tracys169]

THIS. The only way she'd make a "good" queen is if she's continuing the status quo (so there's no war, it's peace time). She's so far failing the Blacks...and it's been really 'ugh' to watch.

[@Leo_ofRedKeep]

Rhaenyra never understood or accepted the need for support. Otto Hightower, and Jaehaerys before him, did. A council was called to ensure acceptance of whatever decision was taken. Rhaenyra behaves as if her father's word is enough. She does not cultivate support of any kind, only goes away and expects to be called back and welcomed when the throne becomes vacant. Rhaenyra incarnates blind entitlement and childish belief in an order that keeps itself.

[@user-bh2fz5sf5e]

So does aegon and aemond! 😂

[@user-dk6cj9ve7f]

@@user-bh2fz5sf5e Reeeel

[@aeririahelmold]

@@Leo_ofRedKeep Aegon is still infinitely worse

[@khaalmalki4039]

@@aeririahelmold Aegon is not worse than her. Both are bad but he isn't worse. At least he cares to help people even if it is for a selfish reason. Rhaenyra doesn't give a fk about the smallfolk and called them irrelevant once. She also the reason they are starving. The only time she even thought about them was when it became possible for them to be dragon riders which another decision that will fk her.

[@aeririahelmold]

@@khaalmalki4039 Aegon is one of the dumbest and cruelest people. The guy literally had bastards and had them fight in the pits and fires Otto then hire criston. All he cares about is his own ego and daddy problems. Even everybody on his side knows he's a loser.

[@frankvandorp2059]

I think the first scenes of episode 3 of season 1 drive this point home very good. First Rhaenyra sits alone sulking in the royal carriage, while outside Viserys is proudly presenting Aegon to everyone. Instead of getting out there, making friends and making sure everyone remembers she's the heir, she isolates herself of the people she needs to win over and lets them get used to Aegon as the future king instead. And the next scene, she walks into a room full of high born ladies who try to get her to join their conversation about the problems with the Crab Feeder. But while Alicent participates, Rhaenyra insults people and storms away. Showing that at that point already, Alicent is investing her time in politicking and winning allies for the future, while Rhaenyra isolates herself because she either doesn't see the need in having allies, or because she feels so entitled to their support that she expects them to just give it for free. And later in the episode, it's Alicent who convinces Viserys to finally take action against the Crab Feeder, not Rhaenyra. Alicent participates, Rhaenyra isolates herself. The lady Rhaenyra insulted there was a Redwyne, and House Redwyne is now a staunch ally of the greens in the Reach.

[@sabgogo7393]

excellent analysis

[@nont18411]

It seems like Rhaenyra’s moral compass is closer to those of Cersei than those of Daenerys🤔

[@stwartic4296]

​@@nont18411 Correct but only the entitlement part. Cersei was much more competent and strategic than Rhaenyra will ever be

[@thisisdevin111]

“Once daddy was gone, she will need others in her corner” 👏👏👏

[@Mic-Mak]

9:27 1000% agreed! It is weird that Rhaenyra seems to completely trust Mysaria in a such a short time, and doesn't confide in her closest family members.

[@Male_Ficent]

It's because Mysaria feeds into her need for validation which the men around her don't (which is pretty valid cause she haven't shown any sort of competence in the war efforts). She basically wants a bunch of yes-men instead of intelligent allies who can aid her victory in the war.

[@Mic-Mak]

@@Male_Ficent Saying that Rhaenyra wants a bunch of yes-men, implies that the men in her council are giving good advice, and are not being sexist in any way.

[@khaalmalki4039]

@@Mic-Mak Their advice are much better than no idea and no actions from Rhaenyra. They may not be smart but at least they are attending the council and presenting idea. She is skipping it and ignoring problems.

[@stwartic4296]

​@@Mic-MakTheir job is not to make Rhaenyra feel good but to win the war. This sexism bullshit you all like to talk about is unimportant in the grand scheme of things

[@javierlopez9789]

Because Mysaria is telling her what she wants to hear, and Rhaenyra is dumb enough to fall for it.

[@hafsahassan394]

I do agree. Viserys' marrying Alicent so soon after Aemma's death, completely breaking Targaryen rules as she was not Valyrian, set about Rhaenyra as unworthy successor. Instead of supporting her, cementing her as Heir, he sired three sons, gave them dragons, then gave all the power to their mother and grandfather Otto. What a stupid way to ensure succession. Did he really expect that they would just hand over the Throne to her because he asked?

[@LiveGame555]

Aemma was only half Valyrian. She was an Arryn, probably the most Andal house in the entire series, with her mother being a Targaryen. Viserys also waited a year or two before marrying Alicent. I do agree that Viserys is super weak on the issue of succession, which is one other most important matters of kingship. In the books the sins are slightly less grievous in that Alicent is not Rhaenyra's childhood friend and is instead 9 years her senior, and the Hightowers have silver and golden hair.

[@stwartic4296]

​@@LiveGame555Still Targaryen

[@InfinitePublics]

Marrying Alicent soon or years after aemmas death is kind of irrelevant. The fact he remarried at all caused the succession crisis. If he really wanted Rhaenyra to succeed him against all odds despite what happened with him/Rhaenys and that precedent, then he was a willful moron to remarry to get more potential heirs who would challenge her. He didn’t even raise his children, for all his late life “we are a family!” Outrage, he didn’t really try to get his children to be prepared to support Rhaenyra. With relevant and useful skills and loyalty to Rhaenyra dynasty. He did nothing. But let’s be honest, he didn’t Really commit to Rhaenyra to succeed him - he used the only person who could keep Daemon from being the heir. Not to mention his guilt over what he did to Aemma playing a part in his propping up of Rhaenyra. Overall though Viserys was a weak man and a weak king. He literally did just expect the lords to hold to their oaths he forced them into rather than freely chosen oaths supporting Rhaenyra, which clearly he didn’t see the difference, and expected those forced oaths to hold up to self interest when it came time for his heir to succeed the King. He was called Viserys the peaceful - showing his own people didn’t even know him, confusing peace with Quiet. Stepstones. The Dance. The man was a Fool - and even before his illness as we saw making him just agree to things, and not deal with what he didn’t want to, he wanted to be loved ignoring what was inconvenient to him… So yes it is in character that he just expected the lords would support Rhaenyra because he asked

[@hafsahassan394]

​@@InfinitePublicswell maybe marrying Laena after a few years and ensuring Rhaenyra succession better might have done it? I'm Alicent, he knowingly maries a manipulative woman, daughter to a more ambitious man than Daemon. I don't think with her mothering, there was a chance that her sons would ever want Rhaenyra to succeed. Laena and Rhaenyra at least were good friends and she was sweet and honest and faithful. But I agree, vizzy acts like he has no choice but to remarry,.but Baelon never remarried. I just don't see Vizzy making any serious attempt at ensuring Rhaenyra succeeds... Not from his choice of his wife, her gay husband, to his Hand... He took oaths so long ago that the lords could be excused saying that it was when the king had no sons

[@LiveGame555]

@@hafsahassan394 Viserys did not know Alicent was manipulative when she married her. He didn't know Otto was so ambitious until after he married her. He didn't know Laenor was gay ever. Rhaenyra only became friends with Laena after she married Daemon and they spent time together on Dragonstone. Not remarrying is also unbelievably stupid. There are only three living Targaryens when Viserys remarries. Himself, Daemon who is not producing children because he hates his bronze bitch, and Rhaenyra who is too young to have children and also unmarried. Not to mention Rhaenyra is a woman and cannot pass her dynasty to her children, at least by the traditional laws of Westeros and the Faith of the Seven. Not remarrying leaves a severe risk of the dynasty dying out with only a few deaths. Even Lyonel, Viserys' most loyal, true, and unbiased advisor told him to remarry because it was the right move. The next right move, whoever was to name his first born son as heir to the throne in replacement of Rhaenyra, and have the lords return to swear their fealty to Aegon over Rhaenyra. Then to raise Aegon as an heir. No one in the Seven Kingdoms would support Rhaenyra's claim then. He could even force them to marry each other so that Rhaenyra is less tempted to try and usurp the throne, along with passing on Aemma's line into the future of house Targaryen. Alicent was also a decent play over Laena because Laena was too young to have children and the need for more Targaryens, especially a male heir, was critically urgent. The next best option after declaring Aegon heir was to have another Great Council, like the one that put him on the throne. Which Aegon would've won, nearly for certain. After Rhaenyra has several bastards the need to disinherit her increases dramatically. The implication that bastards can inherit is unbelievably destructive to the stability of the realm. Even more destructive than the implication that woman can inherit over their younger brothers.

[@randomusername3873]

I feel like the writers don't allow her to do actions that are not completely morally good, thus making the character dull

[@sabgogo7393]

first they made Rhaeneys choose to go by herself , and then Lord darklyn say Yes on the spot to Claim a fucking dragon with zero resistance , to keep her character from appearing reckless and bad

[@skyworm8006]

Supposedly the book (books?) are neutral. That would be more interesting. The show is obviously on the Blacks' side.

[@ratikantrout1865]

Truth is they have made the show about the ladies 😂 like rhaenyra and alicent and Rhaenys while the book is based in mediaeval setting where as we know women were considered property and their role was to be a broodmare and appear pretty and run a household. So they don't know how to stick to source material and still make the ladies appear as boss characters. If they wanted to show off strong female characters this was not the right story for that. Rhaenyra is horrible, alicent is even worse and the fact that after this dance all lords agreed to never allow a girl child to usurp her brother' rights and nobody wanted a queen to rule them tell you all you need to know

[@cash5512]

​@@sabgogo7393She and Daemon decided to kill an innocent person and made Corlys and Rhaenys grieve for their son so that they could get married... doesn't sound that perfect.

[@sabgogo7393]

@@cash5512 yeah shes very not pure

[@fieldmarshal7137]

She is the pinnacle of entitlement and she regard herself above others as she had done something in her life .

[@blissinchains]

Entitlement... the iron throne is her RIGHT. The same way it was for Aenys, Jaehaerys, Daenerys. A right. And yes, they absolutely fucking were entitled to it. Right of conquest does precisely that. You're all fucking idiots.

[@mjbull5156]

Her being offended by her father making her his cupbearer shows she did not understand the opportunities to learn how to rule being given to her. Being cupbearer meant she could be present and listen to how Small Council made policy for the Realm. That was no small thing for Viserys to do for her. The fact that she still resents it, shows she squandered that chance to be educated. It parallels Jon Snow taking being made Lord Commander Mormount's steward as a personal slight, but Rhaenyra had no Sam Tarly to correct her thinking, at least, not one she listened to. Pne of the problems is that a large part of the audience does not see Rhaenyra's abuses of her position and lack of responsibility as a problem. For instance, the fallout of her affair with Cole is blamed entirely on him, not any on her using her subordinate as a sex toy and corrupting him from his vows.

[@blissinchains]

He never so much as entertained any suggestions he had; nor explained, if they were wrong, why that was. He taught her zero.

[@nelguinevere4036]

Everyone keeps saying that book Rhaenyra was more active, but it's frankly false. Between her losing Luke and Daemon flying her to King's Landing she did absolutely nothing exept throwing temper tantrums. And once in King's Landing she became a monster. Show Rhaenyra has far more agency and actual character. Yet I am 100% with you - she would not be a good ruler, certainly not in times of any crisis. This is the tragedy - neither her, nor Aegon are fit for the throne, not their book versions, and not their show counterparts. Daemon would get restless 2 days after sitting the throne. Aemond would be a tyrant. Jace might have been an OK king if he had a chance to grow up and the war did not screw him over. Daeron might have been a wonderful king. And yet they wouldn't get a shot at it. This story is NOT about who was the rightful or better ruler. It's not about men vs women, propaganda, etc. It's not even about war and its impact on smallfolk. Fundamentally, this story is about how rotten this type of political system is at its very core. While Westeros was ruled by Jahaerys, everyone was happy, and so they ignored the awful mistakes he made when it came to the next generation of rulers. With Viserys, the cracks really started to show. And now the abyss is here. And it's not like the following generations didn't cause enormous problems. This is a vicious cycle. There is a reason why Daenerys wants to "break the wheel". Regardless of what they turned her into in GoT, and regardless of what she might be in the books if they ever get finished, the idea itself is correct. Although, of course, Daenerys says it while still deciding that she must be Queen, thus rendering her attempts at "breaking the wheel" pointless. However, that is a failure of her character, not her judgement. The system really must go. And before anyone refers to historical monarchies to say that they did work - well, they mostly worked very badly. But far more importantly, no monarch in our world ever had the power of mass destruction available only to their families. Monarchs in real world depended on the support from nobilities, rich families, peasants, civilians, parliaments, church and other institution, who all of them could overthrow them by many different means, from just not giving them money or quietly poisoning them all the way to making alliances to wage wars against them or organising revolutions. But in a scenario where a monarch holds an arsenal of nukes... we get the Dance of Dragons.

[@josephmarch7142]

Well said.

[@queenxx1690]

In show Rhaenyra was prepared her whole life and she cannot do thing without Mysaria lol Aegon everyone think he is stupid but he not stupid he just lazy because he was ignored his whole life as a spare child by Viserys he was never prepared to rule and in my opinion at least now he could be better than Rhaenyra i would not call him good but just like Viserys he is trying to do his best and if people did as he said and not ignored him war would be won by greens already Aegon said :Our victory depends on an effort of a small folks and he was right and he wanted pay them and give them sheep but Otto and Tyland did not agree and ignored his command,he wanted burn Rhaenyra's blockade probably Aemond refused ,he wanted Cole to take dragon with them he even wanted go himself but they told him not to and Aemond mocked his bravery,he wanted attack Harenhall not RR and if they did tey could capture the biggest castle and maybe even kill Daemon war would be over for Rhaenyra she can do nothing without Daemon,he also hang rat catcher which was bad but also not that bad because he showed no weakness and punish people that kill his son he left corpses to they did not try attack royals again and what Aemind did cut them off and Helaena and Alicant got attacked because of that and closed gate. So no Aegon is not idiot he just surrendered by people that underestimate him and compare him to his sibling

[@DunaEider93]

@@nelguinevere4036 no more active either but she is .ore interesting. In the she has no agency and no talent or intrest for anything that isnt power. She makes no move on her own. She does things that people tell her to do.... Daemon, Rhaenys mysdiarrea.... you know like a child. Entitled and brattish Literally spends the whole first season and half of the second saying i deserve the power because my daddy said so..... jesus christ Btch is in her 30s Whats the point of having *agency* like you say if you dont used it ?

[@user-tr2ec1kz9g]

Doing nothing is what was expected of Aegon and he tried doing something and we all know how it ended. Rhaenerya did win Velaryons on her side. She made Corlys her hand. Idk what you all expect her to do?

[@nguyenvietanh2152]

If Daenerys didn't decide to be queen, what would she be? A dragon riding peasant? Lol

[@griffinsalmon5798]

the kiss between mysaria and rhae-rhae made zero sense. they hadnt had a scene together up until 4 episodes prior and where rhae-rhae was considering killing or banishing her. but once mysaria trauma dumps, rhae rhae is like "damn thats hot".

[@mjbull5156]

@griffinsalmon5798 I had seen somewhere that the actors decided they wanted the characters to start making out and the showrunners went with it, which is why the writing does not seem to support it.

[@kingmisogyny1852]

The show runners are trying to cater to LGTBQ. It's so cringe same thing with the Valeryons being all black when they are Valyrians.

[@falconeshield]

I expected Aegon and Larys to make out after their sausage conversation 😂

[@falconeshield]

​@@mjbull5156Dating off set is kind of a thing 😂

[@javierlopez9789]

​@@falconeshieldi mean they do have more in common unlike rhaenyra's and mysaria's men are bad trauma.

[@brendan9868]

I find it funny that the show is inherently pro Rhaenrya, yet somehow they made her more frustrating then her book counterpart lol. At least in the admittedly biased books she’s portrayed not in a great light. In the show it’s like they’re expecting people to cheer for someone who’s displayed nothing but entitlement, incompetence and irresponsibility for her entire life just because they’ve been keeping her hands relatively clean by pinning all the blame on Daemon for everything that happens in Westeros.

[@lbwnova6654]

Rhaenyra can’t complain about her council men looking down on her for being a woman when she’s actively undermining her own rule. Yea, the sexism sucks but she’s proving their point that she’s unfit to rule (though for the wrong reasons)

[@ozyrysozi6186]

Indeed, she seems like a weak ruler - similarly to her father I would say. Her son undermines her power and now she undermines even legitimacy of her son. She doesn't lead the Council, she doesn't communicate with them, she picked Corlys as her Hand, but doesn't communicate with him at all. She skippes the seat of power - Council - and stays with Mysaria, who is for all of them random peasant. Best of all - Daemon gone rogue in Harrenhall as Rhaenyra doesn't know what is happening and Council also is all in a dark - all they see is weak monarch who can't lead the war effort and their Prince is lost behind enemy lines. Rhaenyra stalled all war efforts and pursuited peace, without thinking what will happen when they will start to fight in the war. Yeah, it's feudal and sexist society, but Rhaenyra is weak ruler.

[@schwertunddonner3953]

Rheanyras whole Character in the First season for me was "i dont Respekt the law or anyone beides me and Daemon....why does Nobody Respekt my claim the hrone?!!" When i was Reading fire and blood i was fully in her Side only because i was thinking IT was Just. Sehr was the hier and everybody sworn an oath to her. But seeing her actions Like mocking the blackwood Boy when He proposed to her or her arrogance, i really started to despise her. She never did anything to earn her place and does nothing but wondering why she as so many people opposing her. Great Video, you really Made good Points.

[@MissChambersxo]

Interestingly, she has the exact same fatal flaw as her father - inaction. Similarly, her method of ruling is to ignore the problems building up around her until they reach a boiling point. If it goes how it does in the books, let’s just say the events of the Dance don’t exactly make her better. I think it’s worth pointing out though - although Rhaenyra is better than Aegon/Aemond, the whole point is that there shouldn’t be an absolute monarchy. People rooting for one side or another kind of miss the point that in the end, it’s everyone who ends up losing. House Targaryen ends a shadow of its former self, the dragons are gone by the time of ASOIAF, the realm is burnt to cinders. There’s no clear good or bad side.

[@DonHbankz]

I agree but my problem with her having this flaw is that is goes against her character even just show wise. From literally ep 1 she runs and solves her problems even if that means potentially making it worse her complete flip especially in a period she should be most unstable and prone to this reckless actions she doesn’t. It’s weird

[@KaiHung-wv3ul]

Exactly, for all the Targaryen's talk of Fire and Blood, trying to fight fire with fire only results in ash.

[@InfinitePublics]

Yes this rewrite of Rhaenyra character is worse than the book. Being exactly like her father - weak and ineffective. Refusing to Do anything and in a way she’s worse complaining about everything while she’s doing nothing. They actually think they’re making the blacks the obvious good side in their changes to the show in season 2, which is laughable.

[@RobertKoch-rg7iy]

I think that was the point that george was driving at. Yes, the Targs are a cool magical race of fantasy dragonlords, but george has always seemed more like a staunch anti monarchist. The show writers unironically believe that someone does deserve to be an absolute ruler and that someone is a descendant of a magical race of dragon riders, summoned by a millenia old prophecy, and someone who dun wun it. Because god forbid we have ambitious, power seeking characters in the year of our lord 2024

[@javierlopez9789]

The targs had it coming, they got what they deserved, by the time of GOT a change was needed that they wouldnt be able to bring, although the ending was terrible, the targs not returning to power is one of the very few good things it had.

[@xxannix]

I really tried to like team black but I can't team green is way more interesting

[@vitorfreitas1682]

Thank condall and others to this, in F&B all the green princes are just boring

[@mauratlantean3002]

​@@vitorfreitas1682 Ain't nothing to thank him for. He wants to make the greens villains and Rhaenyra the saint savior so bad but it backfired. I know he is fuming rn

[@joyboy_3165]

The greens are easily the best yes but the blacks honestly aren't that bad. Corlys, Daemon and especially Jace this season are great they're unfortunately just led by a moron who can't see what needs to be done.

[@mgkcodded]

@@mauratlantean3002faxxxx

[@jl1702]

They tried to whitewash Rhaenyra so bad to the point of making her dull. Rhaenyra in the books would have made a more compelling character to watch. They allowed Team Green tovhave flaws and so they are more interesting to watch.

[@gerardjagroo]

Rhaenyra, by having bastards by Harwin and trueborn children by Daemon have sown the seeds of yet another Targaryen Civil War in her own family. When the time approaches when Jace should inherit it is not inconceivable that Aegon the Younger and Viserys would go to war against Jace because they are trueborn heirs while Jace is a bastard Many Targaryens historically have had the disease of ambition. Daemon has it as does Aemond. It is not improbable that Aegon the Younger and Viserys should have it also So when people tell them the world's worst kept secret that Rhaenyra's first 3 sons are bastards. Those two boys will be coming to claim their birthright and in twenty years or so after this war is concluded, we could expect another war to flare up all because of Viserys I and Rhaenyra's bad decision making.

[@rosameltrozo5889]

Not really, Jace's claim goes through Raenyra not his father, in that sense he's Targaryen enough

[@Abduxalikovasabina]

​@@rosameltrozo5889he is still a bastard. Rheanyra and daemon's trueborn sons and ageon, aemond,daeron have stronger claims to the throne.

[@alexanderkenway]

Really good analysis. She was reckless and gave no thought for the smallfolk's and the nobles' opinions as a youth, and I think that the show has shown that those weaknesses have carried over into adulthood. She has been mediocre as a leader and chooses to rather be passive aggressive as a way to lament her shortcomings. What is also interesting though is how at times the show wants the viewer to be sympathetic to Rhaenyra: her loss of children, her rightful claim questioned/dismissed, her gender putting her at a disadvantage, etc. All those things may be true, but that does not make her worthy of being queen.

[@giulia2503]

She was ill prepared because her father never seem to worry to actually train her to be a ruler. And then she got married and got very unlucky that the guy just had no interest in making heirs. What to do then? She can't deal with accusations of being infertile, so she finds a lover. Should've been a blond lover, but yeah. But at that point, she had more dragons, the largest ones - Vhagar and Meleys - and the oath from all Realm. Out of naivety, entitlement, or whatever you wanna call it, she believed people would honor the clear oaths they made to her and her father. Aegon was also ill-prepared but had people to push him through even against his wishes. We will never know what kind of king and what kind of queen they had to offer. The moment Otto puts the crown in Aegon's head Rhaenyra has no reason to believe the Greens are ok with letting her live. It is die or kill As for the question "does Rhanyra, or Aemond, or Aegon"... DESERVES the Iron Throne? No, no one does. George writes this story as a statement that absolutism and monarchy are a fucking bad idea. Dragons on the mix? This is doomed. No one "deserves" absolute power.

[@Skrzacik]

you're forgetting Viserys gave her the right to choose her own husband - something no woman in the entire Seven Kingdoms had - but she was so spoiled she kept rejecting everybody and later had to marry Laenor.

[@kritdeknor4711]

I find interesting Reanyra never criticised her son for bullied , took a knife to a group bully or punch his uncle for small insult. Meanwhile Alysen criticised her son, and tried actually to teach them.

[@Abduxalikovasabina]

This behaviour really reminded me of cersei.

[@LH74]

They called her The Realm’s Delight, but she was really The Realm’s Doom. Seriously a woman who pushed her illegitimate kids into lines of succession, undermining the Targaryen and Valeryon dynasties, plunging Westeros into a savage war, extermination of all the dragons. It really is funny how Rhaenyra is worshipped by all these Gen Z types. These kids have no idea how the world works, but at least the author of this video speaks 100% truth.

[@Orikon25]

Absolute cold facts.

[@LightofJoshua]

Seriously her and her father doomed the realm

[@jonbolton491]

Viserys was a fool. Alicent and Otto were fools. Rhaenyra was the biggest fool of all.

[@VersaceSotto]

I am gen z and I don't support her

[@Alexarose06]

As a Gen Z I don’t like her, Rhaenyra is easy to hate and it was time for someone to say it, I was shocked to not be able to see any complaints about her character because this video is right, she is a bad leader and she has made a TON of mistakes. I think I stopped caring for her during that episode where she tries to go at it with Daemon and then she just takes Cole. The fact that she thought a knight like him with everything to lose, who was raised as a commoner and who had at least a bit of honor wouldn’t get mad after what she said, it was ridiculous to me. And it goes on and on with every little mistake she made. And well, I very much realized that anyone there cares for the small folk, because Rhaenys quite literally slayed maybe more than a quarter of King’s landing during Aegon’s coronation, and so on. They should have just put Daeron in the throne.

[@Mutazili]

I disagree, you underestimate the power of the writers' cartoonish feminism...

[@sabgogo7393]

Yasss Queeen SLaaaay 😂

[@kingmisogyny1852]

MISS SLAY QUEEN CAN BE LESBO YOLO TOO 😂😂😂

[@AegonTheUnlikely]

The feminist writers are fuckin’ out of control man 😂 ruined this show already. What a joke.

[@Mutazili]

@@AegonTheUnlikely They cut out Jace's story in the North with Cregan Stark, Daeron's life in Oldtown, so we can have Rhaenyra and Alicent whining about the patriarchy. I'd bet next season Daeron's great battle of the Honeywine will happen off camera.

[@Mutazili]

@2ndprize-c4f never saw the Acolyte, sup with that?

[@mauratlantean3002]

Aegon : -Eldest son of the king, and thus Rightful heir by all westerosi tradition -Never wanted to be king. People who are not power hungry have the most potential for being good rulers. -Cares about the smallfolk -Victim of parental neglect but tried to break the cycle with his kid whom he loved more than anything -Listens to his councilors but does not hesitate to trust his own judgment ( Not giving the sheep back vs Paying the smiths in advance ) -Brave king who fights his own battles on dragon back. Saved his men from dragon fire and charged a much larger dragon with no battle experience So far the show wants us to believe he is dumb but he was basically right about everything: - Considering the efforts of the smallfolk -Securing Harrenhal -Securing Grover Tully before Daemon -Burning the blockade sooner Basically, everything he said would have solved most TG problems right now. And I didn't even mention book spoilers and stuff we still haven't seen. It's crazy to me that people see this and still think Rhaenyra would make a better queen just because "daddy said so" while being so incompetent. Weak king Viserys should have followed the same tradition that made him king in the first place, I blame him the most out of anyone for the civil war.

[@yamatonadeshiko567]

Aegon being named as heir rather than Rhaenyra is one of the biggest what if imo. In both canon, he wasn't named heir and in the show his father didn't even bother to give him attention while growing up and didn't even hesitate to show him that his older sister was the favorite child. It's not surprising he turned out like that. I bet there's a feeling of worthlessness deep inside Aegon. No wonder he became incompetent and he knows it thus making him more self-aware than most people in the show. Then fast forward to season 2 we see Aegon trying to be a better king. Perhaps it's due to the desire to be loved but I also like the part when he told Otto "he came all the way here" so he at least has some understanding of the possible challenges that the shepherd went through to see him, something that most nobles in both HotD and GoT failed to do. His ideas also make sense which shows that he's definitely not dumb. So it really makes me think if Viserys named Aegon as heir earlier rather than Rhaenyra, Aegon probably would have tried to take his duty seriously and he would've become a better person because he won't be having those feelings of being worthless which imo is one of the the major root of his personal issues.

[@mauratlantean3002]

@@yamatonadeshiko567 Totally right about everything you said. The part about Worthlessness is a good point. You can specifically see this when he is staring at himself in the mirror just before going out to the tavern with his drinkingsguard (ep3). I believe the actor, Tom, said that in that moment he kind of felt like a fraud/imposter, not worthy of the title he is holding. And yes, Viserys could have prevented the war many times but he made the wrong decision every single time. The first one being not naming Aegon heir. The other one would be not marrying Aegon and Rhaenyra. I believe in this case Aegon wouldn't even mind being King-consort and letting his sister be queen regnant, while Otto would be managing the realm. Win-win for everybody. It's extremely frustrating to see how Viserys was trying so hard to have a male heir the entire time, and rambling about his dream/vision of a son being born wearing the conqueror's crown, only to ignore the THREE SONS he got afterwards lol ( I still believe that with so many members in the royal family, and the huge number of dragons, civil war was inevitable at some point in time, but Viserys really made sure it would happen as soon as possibke lol)

[@LH74]

Perfect analysis of Aegon II. 👏👏👏👏

[@honkeykong4049]

Damn right.

[@Ivbo]

Aegon II is genuinely such a fantastic character, his story from beginning to end is a tragedy…in a lot of ways, I feel like he is the single most compelling character in the entire Dance Of Dragons.

[@shvzvzjshvzhs3160]

The show’s treatment of Rhaenyra is a complete failure, what a dull, uninteresting character. If the narrative was at least self-aware… but no, the audience is meant to uncritically support and cheer for Queen Rhaenyra. Thematically, the show is torn between being a critique of patriarchy (building up Rhaenyra as a just and virtuous figure for young girls to project onto or whatever) and a critique of monarchy (completely undermines the feminist Rhaenyra discussed previously-"I’m the rightful ruler because daddy said so!"). The show fails on both ends. On a side note, their handling of every major female character (not just Rhaenyra) is incredibly sexist and repetitive. They are all generally passive figures, they all occupy the same role as advocates for peace (to the point of ridicule) and their pacifism is ultimately linked to their status as mothers. Fuck me I hate this show.

[@theduxabides9274]

7:58 friendly reminder that Broome is a Westerlands house, so he supports her despite his own house and neighbours likely aligning against her. Darklyn and the other Crownlands lords lost family, lands and homes in Cole's campaign, yet they still try to support her.

[@maya-nw9dw]

Believe it or not Aegon is actually better than both Rhaenyra and Aemond. Let's see, Aegon was right about: 1. Considering smallfolks 2. Securing Harrenhal before Daemon builds an army 3. Securing Grover Tully's support after Lucerys' death 4. Burning Gullet's blocade sooner 5. Wanting a dragon to accompany Criston and Gwayne (they could've killed Moondancer and captured Baela) Meanwhile Rhaenyra just act stupid. Like she just go to kl as if it's a hotel or something or thinking she can fight Aemond. And from what we saw and the leaks, Aemond is nothing but a sadistic tyrant. I'm not saying that Aegon is the best, but he's surely better than these two.

[@queenxx1690]

He is but they ignore him, he was not even prepared and he does better job than her and her showing her dominance to her man she slap them and want them to be scared Aegon only stopped smiling and they know they need to shut up

[@LanaMarie]

aegon on the throne with otto as his hand, during a time of peace (no targ civil war) might just be a good combination, imo. aegon looked like he'd be prepared to listen to otto's advice (until it got personal with his son's murder, then it all went to sh*t), and otto has done well serving two kings in the past... aegon's main motivation is that he wants to be loved, so with the right person to guide him he might just work in favor of the people in order to earn their love, since he couldn't get that from his family. rhaenyra doesn't have any motivations as a ruler, she wants the crown because her daddy said so (and bc she believes in the prophecy), but that's about it.

[@themeangene]

Agreed. Aegon doesn't seem cruel. He starts off more aloof than anything. He doesn't really think about the consequences until he ascends to the throne. He didn't have a major interest in the conflict until his son was slaughtered and his wife held at the end of a knife. His father was sickly his entire life and his mother clearly doesn't know how to express her emotions to her sons. Daeron would be the best possible king but in a time of peace Aegon wouldn't have been that terrible.

[@nont18411]

It’s funny to think that a fully functional able body Rhaenyra is so useless compared to a crippled extra crispy Aegon

[@fated0858]

@@themeangene Aegon is cruel. He is a rapist.

[@rehanmalik1952]

She's so incompetent that she pushed away the only battle hardened warrior and war general in her side, Daemon and then does Nothing. (At least in the show) Aegon till the latest episodes has come up with ideas and plans that would genuinely win him his war, but his council ignores him and try puppetry, so he just flies into his brother's plan and gets dropped. Most importantly, he genuinely tried to help and get along with the smallfolk and their interests, meanwhile Rhaenyra uses the smallfolk to her advantage to win the war and then goes on to step on them in the future. Which is why Aegon is still recognized as the true ruler in the history and rhaenyra is recognized as a pretender.

[@yamatonadeshiko567]

Honestly, I feel like if Aegon was named heir and received the love and appreciation he desires from his parents, he would have become a better person and would actually take his duty seriously. He already showed potential to be a decent king even though he was unprepared and was just forced to be king. I feel like the lack of love given to him made him feel worthless and insecure. Therefore, drinking and whoring were his coping mechanism. I mean just imagine your parents couldn't give you the love, attention and appreciation you seek. Then you notice your father favoring your older sister and even named her heir even though that is not the precedent and tradition. A lot of people, even in the modern world, who grew up in a family with clear favoritism do become messed up and rebellious. If he was loved and also named heir earlier there is a possibility that he would have developed whatever potential he had to become a decent to good king. He knows it will please his parents and the people around him.

[@ammonite0257]

Aegon is truly a horrible person. But that’s what makes us still care for him when he’s betrayed so interesting. We understand his struggles even though we still recognize he’s a bad person. Also rhaenyra is truly a moron for ever thinking that Daemon could be trustworthy.

[@hmm_1228]

​@@ammonite0257lmao Daemon abandoned her in a brothel, ruins her reputation by default and she STILL wants to marry him? Ffs Rhaenyra

[@KaiHung-wv3ul]

@@ammonite0257 You don't have to be a good person to be a competent king. Honestly he doesn't even need to be a competent king, so long as he leaves the ruling to his Small Council the realm would be fine. Contrasts this with Rhaenyra who is both incompetent AND refuses to listen to his Small Council.

[@MobbJacket88]

This video was great. I'm also glad you mentioned Criston Cole having to deal with the consequences of Rhaenyra taking advantage of him. NO ONE wants to talk about that.

[@sabgogo7393]

fr he's 100% justified to hate her ass , but the show kinda ruined him either way , he was the strongest knight of his era and the KINGMAKER , but in the show he's just Alicent whore .

[@blissinchains]

Soooo. How about the 'tea' on how Alicent "took advantage" of him? I'll wait.

[@Skrzacik]

​@blissinchains you could compare these two situations if Alicent pushed Criston to do it despite him saying no to her multiple times but her not listening like it happened with Rhaenyra.

[@blissinchains]

@@MobbJacket88 oh ffs she was a fifteen year old child. He definitely could and should have ended it if he truly wanted to. She did not SA a grown ass man.

[@Skrzacik]

@blissinchains so what that she's a 15 year old girl? She is a princess and he is her servant, there is a big power imbalance between them. She's more than his boss, he can't raise his hand against her and she didn't listen to his refusal.

[@Mic-Mak]

12:15 I agree. It makes no sense, and IMO is a testament to the poor writing, because there's no way that Rhaenyra would hope for peace after her son was murdered. Same for Aegon. And the execution of her meeting with Alicent was awful. They should have created a more plausible way for that to happen.

[@luv-like.a.papercut]

oh, this was a crazy good analysis. i've been paying so much attention to my whatever has been going on with aegon, aemond and alicent that i completely forget what a flawed character rhaenyra is. and, its so weird how there were decades long time jumps last season and in this season its been less than a year. i thought the whole mysaria rhaenyra thing was justified since i thought it had been like months, but its not been that long :/ i also feel so bad for jace, baela and rhaena. they have barely any personality or lines and i just wish we could see more of them instead of daemon in a haunted castle

[@LowKeyJaded]

My opinion, not really. She seems to only want the throne because “my dad said so”.

[@Sir_Gerald_Nosehairs.]

The good candidate? Out of all the potential options, as the show seems to be following the book characterization, it would probably be Daeron. Am pretty sure the fanbase will adore him when he shows up.

[@mauratlantean3002]

So far Aegon and Jace seem to be the best option for the throne for me (if you ignore the latter being a b*stard). But I am sure Daeron will take that spot when he is introduced

[@peenoice5176]

Yeah but hes team green and a man so they'll probably butcher his character

[@Dothraki-hs4sg]

Jace and Daeron are ideal

[@user-tr2ec1kz9g]

Only Jace and Daeron will make the good kings. All other options are complete nuts

[@TheseUseless]

He also has no direct claim to the throne (unless Aegon dies and Aemond is therefore a kinslayer).

[@irene3000]

By having Harwin father THREE of her sons she literally puts them in danger and sets them up for a life of questioning and ridicule. She should've realized this the moment she saw Jace's hair, but no, she went on to do it two more times. Of course Alicent views this as an insult. She had 4 children by age 20 with a man who is literally withering away while Rhaenyra can insist on an obvious lie and face no consequences.

[@blissinchains]

So Irene, should Rhaenyra have just stayed childless and risked ridicule over her nonexistent infertility? I see where your small mind is going. She needed a lover because Laenor was impotent. The end.

[@Skrzacik]

@@blissinchains She just should have found a lover with more similar features to herself or her husband so she could pass them off as legitimate, not Harwin who was so different from their both, and thus made such obvious bastards with her. It was beyond retarded from her. Even our "small minds", like you so rudely say, can comprehend this, but apparently Rhaenyra cannot. Also, before having to marry Laenor she was entitled to choose her own husband - something no other lady could do - but she kept rejecting everybody because, well, she was spoiled brat.

[@Male_Ficent]

​@@blissinchains you're talking as if taking another baby daddy isn't an option for her. At this time there are a lot of Velaryons and Targaryens running around who could be her sperm bank but no she just had to stick with Harwin two more times.

[@samirraza9069]

​@@blissinchainsUmm, you do know there's a thing called divorce? People that search for justifications for this are the same type to tolerate cheating. You ARE able to divorce by stating that the marriage was never consummated, or that the husband is impotent. Viserys told her she could marry whomever she wanted, so why not just marry harwin from the getgo? If she was marrying Laenor out of duty, why reject an entire realm full of suitors who would be good husbands? But nah, she just HAD to go and marry the only gay guy or what? Next time, how about you try and understand the moral implications people are concerned about, instead of just outright belittling them to make yourself feel better.

[@sonofsanguinius4880]

My main problem with wanting to lead her council, is that she never had a single idea, yet she is upset that her advisors don't listen to her. There never was something to listen to to begin with. All the ideas that her factionexecuted came from someone else. Taking Harenhall to geather forces: Idead came from Daemon Blockading the gullet: Probably came from Corlys Going to parley with the Freys: Jace Getting new dragonriders: Jace (terrible idea by the way, basicaly she dooms her house for victory by giving strangers dragons) Causing riots in King's Landing: Mysaria came up with it Even trying to make peace with Alicent is not her idaem since it came from Rhaenys. She wants leadership and respect while she basicaly didn't came up with anything useful. Her only ideas were sending JAce's future wife to a dangerous mission behind everyone's back and her trying to cosplay Visenya, since she was a warioir unlike her, but the problem with that is that se is also remembered as an evil withc so it might not be her best idea. She is a decent person and a great mother, but she is weak as a leader and an incompetent ruler. Unlicky for her this is highlighted to the entire realm by Daemon when he does the Blood and Cheese plot, putting Rhaenyra in an impossible situation. Either she can say that it was her, and make her Maegor the second in the people's eyes, which would lead her to an early death due to a plot to rid the realm of her, or she can say that it was done against her wishes, which would make the realm think that she is a weak ruler leading a gang of child murderers, and she is powerless to stop them. My other problems are that the show tries to give her artificial moral superiority with the prophecy, and ehr trying to make peace. If she truly cared about the prophecy she would have passed it down to Jace inmidietly, and she would have sent a letter to the greens about it, so in case she looses the war, humanity wouldn't loose the prophecy. Not doing either prooves, that she doesn't give a shit about it, only the fact that it makes her look like the choosen one. The peace offer to Alicent was very stupid. Daemon and his assasins made a peaceful resulution impossible. Also she didn't offer any terms. When Otto came to negotiate with them he had tangible terms, jet Rhaenyra had none, she just said that she wants peace. If Alicent said yes what compromise would Rhaenyra have made? Pardon her son's killer? Execute her huband for killing a baby? Give lands to the Hightowers? She offered none, she just kind of expected Alicent to poision her own chieldren or something so the realm can be at peace. And to answer your question on who would make a good ruler: - On team black, Jace is realy competent, but he would have to be properly legitimised first, instead of pretending that he is not a bastard. -On team green Daeron would probably be the best out of the siblings, but I think Aegon given a few years could have become a great ruler. The first time in his life he recived positive response was when the people cheered for him at his coronation, and he wanted more of it. He tried running form responsibilities all his life, but when he reached a point when he could run no longer he tried his best. He wanted to be a beloved king, and a father to his son that Viserys never was to him.(Book spoilers incoming) In the book after the war he isn't a bad king for the short time he lives. He pardons Baela after she kills his dragon, and he married his only remaining child to Rhaenyra's son for peace. He tried his best, but sadly for him the greens only wanted him as a pupet figurehead, so likely Rhaenyra he was ill prepared to rule.

[@playboyfan001]

so refreshing to see such a level headed take on Rhaenyra.

[@jjosifovic]

Omg thank you, an heir who breaks the rules wants to rule over a realm where she has to follow those rules. Rhaenyra and Aegon are both not suited to rule. Rt for all her good heart says she will create a new order but does nothing to help herself, her children, her relationship and image with the people over the course of when she is named heir. 1. Has 3 obvious bastards 2. which weakens Rt claims n creates succession crisis 3. Supports a law that mutilates people( it’s TREASON TO TALK ABOUT MY TREASON) 4. Marries a man who was DENOUNCED as Heir which is the SOLE REASON y she was named heir in the first place. 5. Encourages her uncle publicly in FRONT OF HER FUTURE IN LAWS n help say that rumor was TRUE in episode 5. 6. Makes EVERYONE believe she killed her HUSBAND INCLUDING HER FOMER IN LAWS. 7 and 8 Marries a man who killed his FIRST WIFE AND IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE VALE WHICH IS ONR OF THE SIX KINGDOMS SHE WILL GOVERN N NEED SUPPORT IN THE UPCOMING WAR. 9. Didn’t visit her father for 6 years 10. Didn’t visit king landing for 6 years the place she will rule later. 11. Let greens RULE THE KINGDOM FOR 6 years 12. Didn’t build any alliances for 6 years on dragonstone. 13. trying to USURP THE DRIFTMART THRONE 14 and 15 last minute marriage proposals that were denied by Alicent and Rhaenys 16. Advocated for the torture of her brother in episode 7 17. Didn’t visit her father until she needed something from him a man who is loosing body parts by the minute. 18. Didnt know who her Allies were before she went to war. 19. Sleep with men knowing if they r caught they will be tortured n killed. (Criston +HARWIN) 20. Sent her sons REMINDER LETTERS to the LORDS SHE WILL NEED TO MAKE ALLIANCES 21. Offered NOTHING IN RETURN FOR THE ALLIANCES / EMPTY HANDS. N this was all done before season 2...... Rt comes with to much baggage as an heir while Aegon faults are not publicly known and lets be honest Aegon will be doing what he and Rhaenyra was doing for the last 6 years lets Otto, Alicent, and the rest of the council do the work lol I choose the side that will not destabilize the realm and that will respect the traditions and culture of westeros.....granted my choice would be Rhaenys over the horrible two choices of Aegon and Rhaenyra.

[@honkeykong4049]

Rhaenys has supported and/or excused basically every bad decision Rhaenyra has made. She would be a shit monarch too.

[@maishaahmed915]

Rhaenys as a monarch would be a different political animal than Rhaenys as a vaguely defined advisor. She wouldn't have to listen to Rhaenyra for one

[@khaalmalki4039]

lmao Rhaenys agreed with Rhaenyra and was her "you go girl" NPC. Also, Rhaenys literally killed her own people in Kings Landing with no remorse, yet she kept acting as if she has morals.

[@seth_fitzgerald]

I wanna say this I am 100% team black for two reasons only: House Stark and the Royal Decree Viserys made. But I also want to say I heavily and 1000% do not agree with how she is portrayed on the show. People will judge her book counterpart, even though it’s written from a biased perspective the book because she took action and was not waiting, and Daemon already claimed Harrenhal in her name. She has made a lot of mistakes based on her behavior and her personality. I wouldn’t say that it’s one percent her fault but it’s also everyone around her except for Rhaenys and Corlys. And yes, I do agree with your analysis about her behavior. She does show a lot of sense of entitlement and naivety. My opinions are: 1 Jaehaerys’s passing over Rhaenys 2 Great Council of 101 3 Viserys being indecisive 4 Grew the tension between Velaryron and Targaryen 5 Sham marriage with Laenor 6 Otto manipulating Viserys and turning House Targaryen against each other and pushing the Velaryrons away. It all comes down to the common denominator misogyny, look at what happened with Alicent. Rhaenyra’s council does not talk at her. They talk around her. They don’t even try to come up with ideas to help her. All they do is bicker and tell her not to put herself in danger and all the nothing is being done on their part. I also blame the writers, I grow frustrated with Rhaenyra’s disappearances, Jace barely gets enough credit or opportunities to prove himself, Daemon still has not sent letters to Rhaenyra about Harrenhal, and the Greens are getting more excitement while the Blacks look inferior.

[@ayeshaarshed5906]

House stark supported rhae claim bcz of oath they sworn to viserys, let's not forget it was cragan stark who avenged Aegon 2 death even though he did not like him. Its clear that house stark don't have any biases. They just blindly follow rules and oaths. The royal decree that viserys made rhae his heir is absolutely ridiculous bcz viserys himself was named the king bcz his cousin Rhaeneys was a woman. Its such a joke that council who denied Rhaeneys to be the queen accepted Rhaeneyra as the heir just few decades later.

[@abhishekdas2352]

HBO showrunners are a confused bunch. HBO is trying to portray Rhaenrya and Alicent as innocent bystanders without stakes in this war. Rhaenyra's son was murdered recently She was mourning that loss but She didn't plan to do anything to punish the murderers. When Daemon does something She accuses Daemon of treason. Similarly Alicent was portrayed as an innocent bystander, a Victim of Aegon and Aemond as if She didn't have any part in poisoning the minds of her monstrous sons. HBO by making Rhaenrya and Alicent victims are just removing agency and ambitions. In Goerge R.R. Martin's world nobody is innocent.

[@spellrush2097]

I like how she's beginning to understand that Daemon is just using her then decides to send a guy from her council (who's sick of her) to go spy on Daemon at Harren Hall. Like how can you not realize how dumb this is? That dude is gonna side with Daemon lol Edit: CALLED IT!

[@khaalmalki4039]

bruh I can't...

[@tracys169]

My opinion is, as the Queen in time of chaos/war, she doesn't do very well so far. I find her too indecisive and passive and she's done so much missteps from S1. But I think as a queen ruling in time of peace, she's not going to do that badly. All she has to do is maintain the status quo, the way her father has. All the upbringing of the kings and queens of Westeros are privileged. They're definitely bratty, then again, young people are bratty LOL. The Targaryens are probably 'worse' since they have that 'ego.' Due to their status as 'dragon riders' that's why they feel entitled AND the smallfolks do see them as 'gods' or as close possible to 'gods' with their ability to 'tame' dragons...

[@jjosifovic]

the thing is though king v like rhaynra has never gone by the status quo. King v named rt the first female heir which breaks centuries of traditions then he allows rt to put the first bastards on the iron throne which is high treason, then he doesnt disinherit her after she marries a man WHO WAS DENOUNCED as heir her uncle.......the whole reason for the dance was because king v was changing the status quo.

[@joaorodo]

Holy based. Someone who see the facts for what they are. I think most viewers are willing to shun away from the pile of evidence against Rhaenyra’s claim because of modern day ideology. Impopular opinion I know, but alas the truth. Thanks for the video!

[@mjbull5156]

Of all the viable choices, Aemond is probably the most capable potential ruler as he has studied the art of leadrship, of course, there is the small problem of him being greatly compromised in the way of ethics.

[@leonsheppard322]

When you look at it objectively, there isn't really any Targaryen in the show who'd make a good monarch. Cregan Stark has had one 5-minute scene and displays more traits of a good ruler than any of them.

[@seantolson6223]

Each one has strengths and weaknesses. Rhaenyra’s flaws are obvious. Aemond and Daemon would both be tyrants but Daemon had more baggage, a smaller dragon, and had no powerful allies outside his own little clique so I’d argue Aemond would have been a more effective King. He was simply a better educated and more politically savvy Daemon. Jace was a lot better suited than either of his parents or stepfathers, but his legitimacy would have constantly been challenged and Baela was a pretty useless political match because the Velaryons already supported his mother. Aegon II was by all accounts not an especially effective monarch outside of his wartime performance. If Rhaenyra kicked the bucket early he probably would have been remembered as a King who was dominated by his advisors, ironically a lot like his nephew Aegon III or his father Viserys I. Daeron is a Renly expy by all accounts, and like Renly probably would have kept the good times rolling and would not have shaken the boat very much. None of the options were the sort of reconciling visionaries as Jaehaerys I or Daeron II.

[@NightDweller]

Stannis is the rightful king, always

[@queenxx1690]

Stannis is not born yet but he said funny thing about Rhaenyra : "Traitors have always paid with their lives… even Rhaenyra Targaryen."

[@griffinsalmon5798]

​@@queenxx1690 r/whoosh

[@Abduxalikovasabina]

​@@queenxx1690I have not read the books many people say that aegon was remembered as an usurper while some say rheanyra was. What's the true answer?

[@VanessaClark-l7g]

@@AbduxalikovasabinaIn general, Rhaenyra was remembered as being the usurper. After the war, the royal family and nobles really doubled down on the idea of male primogeniture (sons/brothers should inherit over daughters/sisters). Her own sons (Aegon III and Viserys II) considered her wrong for trying to be Queen over her brother Aegon II. This was probably because they each owed their thrones to them being male. Aegon III was crowned over Princess Jaehaera by the greens after Aegon II’s death because he was the oldest living Targaryen male and Viserys II became king because Aegon III only had daughters. So in order for them to claim they were the rightful rulers, they had to agree that their mother was in the wrong. However, if Fire and Blood is any indication, no one involved in the dance of the dragons was remembered very fondly. (Except maybe Helaena who was loved by the small folk and seen as sweet and kind.) They all are remembered as being selfish, cruel, power hungry, and terrible rulers who put their ambitions above the good of their people and destroyed their own family in the process.

[@darkeffect8898]

Some people are better suited to rule in certain times, some aren't. Rhaenyra didn't have the upbringing to rule in times of crisis, she admits that herself, but she would have made a decent queen during a time of peace.

[@Moscoe...]

Short answer no she's not fit to be queen she abandoned her duty as princess to sleep around, she abandoned her duty as wife to marry daemon, she abandoned her duty as a mother by compromising her son's succession through her timid decisions she's just a terrible person surprising how people like her.

[@ShayGamerD3]

I agree with your observations. I have no idea why Martin or showrunners made Rhaenyra that way. This is in stark contrast to her historical prototype: empress Matilda. Empress Matilda was wed to the Holy Roman Emperor when she was 13, and proved a capable ruler, serving as a regent during her husband absences and getting considerable experience in governing. So when Matilda was fighting for her claim to the English throne, she had already a considerable experience as a ruler, and much better claim that her adversary, Stephen of Blois (and better claim than Rhaenyra has during the Dance of the Dragons). Why then Martin and showrunners made Rhaenyra a spoiled brat, instead of capable politician, like Matilda, I have no idea. This undermines the entire feminist undertone of the series: with the English Anarchy the problem was that Matilda was both more capable and had better claim, but nobles didn't want her because she was a woman; in HotD it seems that Rhaenyra has no competence, only entitlement.

[@Neltharion9925]

People keep asking her about Daemon because she proves more and more to be a terrible war ruler, and the only reason I still root for the blacks is Daemon.

[@InfinitePublics]

Alas they corrupted his character, and I’d argue made him a slave to prophecy as his turnabout to support Rhaenyra only because of the song of ice and fire. Which he was vehemently against - “Dreams didn’t make us Kings. Dragons did.” They had a badass moment him marching into Harrenhal “I’m claiming Harrenhal” which became a punchline - his subsequent scenes among being like in a drug induced haze made his time at Harrenhal into a joke.

[@Chirishman343]

If Rhaenyra had put a ton of effort into learning to be a ruler, then there could have been an interesting delve into how misogynistic Westerosi systems are rejecting a woman clearly groomed and ready for leadership. Instead she is embodying the worst aspects of the male lords (lazy, entitled, indolent) AND the worst stereotypes that were used to keep women from power in Westeros (extreme aversion to violence, indecisive, emotional). As of the latest episode she might be developing a god complex. Though, at least for me, all this would be pretty cool (from a character standpoint) but sometimes i get the feeling the directors and writers think she is in the right. Which is not so great.

[@Timboslice475]

I’m glad to see others sharing these viewpoints as well. While I don’t need validation from others, it’s more so because of how frustrating it is watching people support Team Black blindly and acting like rhaenyra is a perfect candidate for the throne. It bothers me because while I am definitely rooting for the Blacks more than Greens, it’s scary to see how many people can’t see the many flaws in her character and how terrible of a Queen she’d make. Granted, I don’t see anyone worth of being on the throne as of yet, and I mean I know it will not happen but i would want to see Cregan Stark on there before anyone of the Targaryen characters.

[@wargames2195]

She was bad in the book, they made her even worse in the show. It would have unironically been better if she's a cackling fat villain like in the book, that means she at least has some character.

[@jonniemckaig883]

It’s always an incel using her weight against her… quickly, describe Aegon and Helaena’s descriptions. (I’m a fan of chubby Rhaenyra but Jesus Christ y’all have the most glaringly misogynistic takes)

[@AdamNoizer]

She wasn’t actually fat in the books btw.

[@wargames2195]

@@jonniemckaig883 LMAO

[@juliusfishman7222]

Exactly

[@juliusfishman7222]

​@AdamNoizer lol yeah she was. She looked like the average fat aunty, not excessively obese but yeah chubby.

[@dumont7478]

As much as I prefer the eldest child, especially the named heir to assend the throne, eldest male heir is the strongest claim imo. I think the show is doing a good job showing how the Blacks abd Greens are both bad and neither are "good". Rhaenyra being indecisive and inept at strategy, but being the named heir and firstborn. But Eagon being a terrible person, weak, easily manipulated, and being eldest male child.

[@plmokm33]

The difference is that they only show Rhaenyra being "bad" in the sense that she isn't competent, and don't have the spine to actually give her any moral ambiguity.

[@dumont7478]

@@plmokm33 I agree that the show doesn't have the spine to give her moral ambiguity.

[@anasofia1646]

Tywin Lannister said: "Any man who must say, 'I am the King,' is no true king." I guess it also applies to Queens and heirs, idk

[@robchuk4136]

THANK YOU! People don't get why I'm not Team Black, but it's because I see Rhaenyra's entitlement (and victimhood) and it turns me off. No accountability (which is what Alicent has been saying, since they were kids) and it hasn't changed. Like with the Blood and Cheese situation- Not only does it make her look like a weak ruler if she doesn't know what's going on behind her back, but regardless of if she ordered it or not, she still has to take responsibility for it. (similar to companies that issue apologetic statements for things an employee may have done that they don't condone.) The show has taken this weird "it's not her fault" position, with this sort of thing often, including omitting from the book how Corlys blames her for his wife's death. The show just wants to keep her sympathetic all the time.

[@blissinchains]

Incel. Also: where is Alicent;s accountability for raising two monstrous sons and a basket case for a daughter? Her kids are all literally nuts.

[@AdamNoizer]

Great video. The one point I would caveat is around 4:30. Yes - Rhaenyra suggesting a marriage between Jaecerys and Helaena is obviously a decision made out of desperation of her not having any allies in the event that Alicent attempts to usurp the throne after Viserys’ eventual death. But that does not make it a bad deal for Alicent or for the realm more generally. It is only a bad proposition for Alicent if she intends to eventually usurp the throne from Rhaenyra - and a marriage between Jaecerys and Halaena would complicate this or render it impossible.

[@MI-vc9lp]

Jace would not be accepted as king. And the marriage doesn't negate the main problem - that Aegon has a stronger claim than Rhaenyra.

[@AdamNoizer]

@@MI-vc9lp I think you are reinforcing my point here for me. Jaecerys being a probable bastard is only a problem for his claim to the throne in so far as Alicent (or her family) wish to use the stigma surrounding his alleged bastardy to usurp the throne from his mother or later him. In reality, whether he is the son of Harwin or Laenor should not matter in the context of him being a Targaryen. Aegon does not have the stronger claim, since Viserys had placed him second in line to the throne. Again, Aegon only has a “stronger claim” if Alicent wishes to use him being male as an excuse to usurp the throne from Rhaenyra after Viserys is dead, which she eventually did.

[@DunaEider93]

The made Rhaenyra from the book look like a cercei and Rhaenyra from the show totally useless and turning like a second Daemon I cant see how people still defend her claim just because shes a pretty woman. Yes, shes better than Aegon, but she comes with DAEMON whos way worst than Aegon and Aemond combined so...... Theres no compare Choice is Easy here

[@melkormorgothbauglir.4848]

Aegons a rapist and Aemonds a borderline sociopath who doesn't about the smallfolk Daemons better than the two but an insecure little timebomb as soon as the wars he'll go elsewhere to search for action or overthrow Rhaenyra he'd make a terrible King for sure but not much worse than Rhaenyra better than Aemond and Aegon maybe would be the best through whats shown in the early episodes of S2 but that would just make him a worse Viserys.

[@queenxx1690]

​@@melkormorgothbauglir.4848Daemon is pedo ,groomed ,wife killer,child killer rapist too in books,Rhaenyra too they did her Mary Sue in show she is like Cersei she thinks she deserve crown yet she makes bustards and does everything wrong

[@queenxx1690]

She is not better than Aegon 😂 she was prepared her whole life and she cannot make one decision without Mysaria right.Aegon was never prepared and yet if they listen to what he said and not ignore him Greens would already won :he wanted feel smallfolks and give them money because as he said (Our victory depends on a effort of a smallfolk)Otto and Tyland did not like that ,He wanted blockade burned with Vhagar Aemond probably did not want to go , he wanted send dragon with Criston even go himself ,if they listen Baela would be dead ,he wanted attack Harenhall not RR if they listen they could capture undefended castle and even kill Daemon was would won Rhae can do nothing without him.Aegon also punished people that killed his son which was reckless yes but he grieving father wanting revenge for brutal murder of his son he punish them a hang them so no one dared go against king again and what Aemond did he cut off rat catchers and Helaena and Alicent got attacked they were no longer scared of consequences and he also ignored their please for food .

[@DunaEider93]

@@queenxx1690 i didnt mean better than Aegon as a ruler. I know shes not. Look what happen in the book the people hate much more than Aegon for her cruelty.... I mean as a person she was a better. Before Daemon. But now look what she is becoming... . You are right about that. She can do nothing on her own without missdiarrea or Daemon or Rhaenys telling her first...... thats really dangerous. All of this mess because shes so guillible, entitled and has no mind of her own. Ironicly and with all her faults both of them would have been better if Rhaenyra listen to Alicent from the begining instead of Daemon. And Aegon had done the same as well, but he is a different matter he needs therapy and a lot of familial affection he never got The only person here with any political savy or care for the people is Alicent. She learned politics, history and diplomacy from her father who.... yes he is the worst but... but. She is like Sansa who learned everything without realizing fron Cercei Rhaenyra has no interest or will to learn.. in anything that isnt power for her and her **heir **

[@eons8941]

I don't think Daemon is worse than Aemond they are supposed to be two sides of the same Coin but what I liked about Daemon he always supported his Brother and King even tho they didn't see eye to eye but Aemond is out there murdering his Brother and king

[@sumairshirazi]

Easy rhaneyra isn't a capable leader. Dude she kicked out daemon who could have literally eneded the war quickly and was the most experienced.

[@_antillas8674]

Well, he murdered a child. What amuses me more is that she herself didn't know what to do with him-to punish him for murdering a child (which would mean she loses the war at once), or to accept that they are murdering children now and keep him by her side, so she kind of does neither…😁

[@Key-gx2px]

She didn’t kick him out , he left

[@khaalmalki4039]

@@_antillas8674 So did the Greens.

[@_antillas8674]

@@khaalmalki4039 The Greens aren't murdering children so far.

[@ashleyelisabeth4]

It was 'The Red Sowing' episode that officially sealed that Rhaenyra is not fit to rule. By entrusting the dragonseeds she proved that Alicent was right in where Rhaenyra never thinks about the consequences of her actions, it only matters that she gets what she wants in the end and that she is entitled to it. This is further proven by the fact she doesn't even consider how the dragonseeds put her sons with Strong at risks. She all but admitted to the realm that they are bastards and when Jace tells her as such she acts like it isn't a big deal simply because she believes being the rightful Queen no one will challenge it.

[@henri191]

Did anyone else notice that Rhaenyra is trying to behave like Daemon and wanting to be a man, think about it: she said she wanted the power of men, she wanted to go to fight, she held a sword, saying she wanted to be like Daemon, the clothes she she started wearing it in the 2nd season, I'm not saying that this is bad or immoral, because men and women in GOT/HOTD are treated in different ways, but she wants respect and power and it seems that she sees this only in men, so she wants to be a bro 😂

[@blissinchains]

She isn't trans, Henri.

[@Mic-Mak]

Excellent analysis, but I disagree with the premise of your title that I think you should have worded differently. If your argument is that Rhaenyra would not make a good queen based on her poor preparation for the role, that is completely fair. But you're arguing that she _shouldn't_ be queen. That implies that you think Aegon should be king because tha's the only other option. You can't say Daeron or Daemon would be better rulers when they are so far down the line of succession. When you say Rhaenyra shouldn't be queen, you have to make your case for Aegon, and you haven't. Even if we agreed that both Rhaenyra and Aegon would be bad rulers, given that they are the only 2 options, we have to choose who is the lesser of two evils.

[@yukii8818]

team green since season 1 💚 Rhaenerya just seems less dimensional, and less dynamic. Its like every couple episodes she’s got some new lover. It actually just seems like she wants to be in relationships rather than be on the iron throne 😅

[@morcosnedal2479]

The 7 kingdoms don’t make sense as a geopolitical entity at all. At some point, the hand is there to rule for the king (so caliphate and Chinese dynasty style) at other the kings are divine rulers and have to court nobles (so western medieval Europe) and at other strength (dragons) is what matters (so Roman empires style). I understand that all these happen at the same time but the fact that whichever aspect matters changes from time to time makes it so confusing to decide what kind of ruler is the best.

[@Bridgetz90]

Book Rhaenyra > Show Rhaenyra

[@folasade5453]

Fiiiinally! I feel like I’ve been screaming this for the past few weeks, lol 😂 I appreciate you for sharing this, the validation I feel is so sweet

[@s_shaleh]

Everything "mistake" that Rhaenyra has done can be traced back to Viserys. Also, I'm basing my opinions solely on the show version of Rhaenyra, not the book version so please do not come at me with stuff about her from the books. As far as the show is concerned, what we've seen so far is a compassionate and motherly figure. Yes, she is flawed like any other human being and she has made reckless choices in her youth like many of us. But despite her privileged upbringing just like her half-brothers, Aegon and Aemond, she has exhibited far more compassion and wisdom than the other two. As the chosen heir of her father, he had passed down the secret of the song of Ice and fire to her. Had he passed down the prophecy to Daemon, Aegon or Aemond, i do not believe any of them would have taken it seriously. Even as a young teenager Rhaenyra understood what this prophecy meant and that the responsibility of the one who sits on the Iron throne is much bigger than her or anyone else. So right there, we could already see her selfless qualities as a leader. She genuinely believes in the prophecy and takes it upon herself to help fulfill it or at least play her role in it. Last season after Viserys died we saw that when Otto came to Dragonstone to get her to bend the knee to Aegon, instead of being completely blinded by her rage and slaughtering them on the spot, she actually gave some thought to yielding for the sake of peace (which greatly upset Daemon who saw it as a sign of weakness). Had it been up to Daemon, he would not have hesitated to choose the path of violence. She once again showed incredible restraint after learning about Luke's death, as soul-crushing as it was. Would Aegon, Daemon or Aemond be able to do the same? Secondly, she has proven that she is the better mother compared to Alicent. Jace and Luke were kinder and more decent human beings compared to Alicent's boys. In fact, Jace has already begun exhibiting qualities of a good leader. I dont think people give her enough credit for the positive qualities she possesses. Instead they choose to focus on the mistakes she had made like having bastard children. Sure having bastard children and trying to pass them off as legitimate children is pretty messed up but at least they were of her blood and since she is the heir to the Iron throne, i don't think it makes much of a difference (unlike Cersei who tried to pass her children off as Robert's without them having any royal blood). People are quick to blame her but they forget that it's not entirely her fault. She was practically forced to marry Laenor, whose sexual orientation was not exactly a secret. They were treated as pawns by their parents to solidify their houses' power and influence. People forget that Corlys WANTED the marriage to happen so badly. He knew that his son was gay and that his grandsons were not really his but he was perfectly fine with it. Additionally, since we are on the topic of good rulers, the reason her reign was marked by so much bloodshed and turmoil according to the historical records of Westeros was because the Greens usurped her throne. If they hadn't done that in the first place and she had succeeded her father upon his death, perhaps things would have been very different and she could have been a better queen.

[@Spadzz98]

I'm gonna be real here,none of the Blacks or Greens are suited for the throne,heck even Viserys was not fit to be king. Rhaenys was the one who would have been the best monarch without a doubt in my mind,she's just about the right ammount of everything. Out of the factions new generation,the only 2 valid choices would either be Jace or Daeron,as their siblings are all either too young,too unhinged and crazy or just straight up too entitled and hedonistic. But ya know Jace kind of is a bastard and Daeron as good as he is would still be controlled by Otto which is good for no one but House Hightower,so I'll stand with my decision and stick with Rhaenys

[@UncleRuckus2134]

Rhaenys that’s a joke the woman who’s praising and feeding Rhaenyra apparent desire for putting the black side on the back foot in the war. She’s overrated also kills hundreds of civilians for no reason. Daemon being controlled by Otto would most likely be a good thing, Otto is competent yes he wants to advance the Hightower name but that’s his family duty, but he can do his job relatively well. Viserys should have listened to him and married Aegon to Rhaenyra.

[@melkormorgothbauglir.4848]

Rhaenys the one who comitted an act of terror and just said whoopsy who could've ended the war but chose peace after murdering 4-500 peopl yes Daeron is the best option and Otto is in his early 60s he would be dead by the time Daerons regency ends and I think he would try to best prepare Daeron for his own death and how to rule which Viserys should've done with Rhaenyra he even had a good 10-15 years to do so as he slowly died of magic leprosy.

[@mauratlantean3002]

Not realizing Otto is the best option for the realm is either due to bias or shortsightedness. Corlys gets away with way too much compared to Otto when he was objectively much more "ambitious". He married Rhaenys thinking she would be queen, he tried marrying Laena to Viserys, and he married Laenor to Rhaenyra. That's 3 attempts to get on the throne, but Otto is the vile one lol

[@yamatonadeshiko567]

​@@UncleRuckus2134 Finally someone who thinks that Rhaenys is overrated. Until now, I still struggle to see what makes Rhaenys a better choice than Viserys, not that Viserys is any better. There was nothing in the show that showed that she was politically astute or even had leadership skills. Her line regarding "men would rather set the realm ablaze than see a woman ascend the iron throne" was iconic but the rest were just either common sense or preachy. Also a person who crashed someone's coronation thus killing many innocent people is not someone with a good sense of responsibility and someone I wouldn't want as a leader of my country lol.

[@yamatonadeshiko567]

​@@mauratlantean3002 I also find it funny when people say Viserys should have married Laena to avoid the dance. If Viserys married Laena and had a son with her I bet there would still be a dance but with a different set of players. Corlys is just as ambitious as Otto or even worse.

[@mmisia1024]

Maybe the writing just sucks on this show.

[@sabgogo7393]

it just fine , sometimes it feels like a cheap netflix show , sometimes it great ,

[@nont18411]

Keep in mind that Robb Stark died for making so much less mistakes compared to Rhaenyra. His true mistake wasn’t about not marrying a Frey girl. It’s about not having a thick plot armor like the Targaryens or Arya.

[@trueblueedits4673]

Another huge issue is also people forget that her ONLY claim is "because Viserys said so" which isn't even absolute as Westeros is not an absolute monarchy and the king's word is not absolute law. From a logistical perspective, she's already got 1 foot in the this ain't gonna work grave because her claim is not as strong as people think it is. Add that to how she's not fit to be a ruler just makes it a nightmare. Rhaenys had, by far, the better claim and temperament to be queen yet the realm rejected her. Rhaenyra vying for the throne being the way she is is just a call for disaster. She's not remotely feminist either in terms of pushing for women's rights. She's just there for herself.

[@blkjem21]

Yes and no. The Lords rule their lands UNDER the King's absolute laws and power. Ageon and his queens first wrote laws and The great king and his queen amended some and wrote new laws.

[@trueblueedits4673]

@@blkjem21 mm, good point. But I’m more so referring to the fact that laws in Westeros aren’t quite as black and white as just “I’m the king therefore whatever I say flies”. Jaehaerys and Alysanne amended things that Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys put into place. Keyword is they amended not just “imma make a one time exception because I love my baby girl dearest”. At least the king’s word is law only really works when the king is willing to enforce and is feared and respected. Viserys was neither. TLDR, my issue with her claim being “Viserys said so” is when considering the circumstances surrounding which he named her heir as a one off exception + many lords who swore to uphold this already died + Viserys was incompetent and never prepared her just means her claim is much weaker than the surface level “king’s word is law” interpretation of her claim because it’s a flippant decision by a foolish king who can’t see sense vs genuine usage of king’s word is law and passing/amending an actual law after that.

[@blkjem21]

@@trueblueedits4673 You are absolutely right. Viserys was weak and malleable and like every ruler but Aegon and Jaehaerys forgot the dragon has three heads. Viserys should've made Daemon hand and Rheanyra should have kept her seat on the counsel. If she married Leanor and had her uncles children there would have been no war.

[@trueblueedits4673]

@@blkjem21 I personally don’t buy into the dragon must have 3 heads thing-if it works for them great, if you can’t have 3 heads you shouldn’t force it. It’s cool symbolism and good for the ruler to keep family close, but Daemon as hand is just an invitation for disaster imo. Daemon needed to be reigned in and Viserys was simply too forgiving and weak to do that. Keeping Rhaenyra in the council and actually teaching her and in some ways forcing her to shoulder political burdens is a fantastic idea and exactly what he needed to do. The Greens only spiralled this terribly because I think they genuinely feared for their lives (at least Alicent did considering Rhaenyra under the influence of Daemon posed a huge threat to her family). If Rhaenyra was raised right and Daemon neutralized, I think Alicent and TG wouldn’t have ever needed a reason to push for Aegon II to be on the throne.

[@blkjem21]

@@trueblueedits4673 I respectfully disagree. Rewatch season one Daemon was always loyal to his brother and loved him. the new show runner seemed to forget that. Yes he is ambitious but he could've taken King's Landing by force at anytime if he really wanted to. Who could've stopped him? The family should be kept close because you don't want dragon riders spread throughout the other houses. In this instance it fits especially with securing house Velaryon ideally with both of Rheanys children. But then there would be no story and I'm sure if the maester's plot would been foiled at least.

[@DonHbankz]

Good analysis I really hate how the writers have dulled and pacified her and other female characters. We get their views on men and women since it hammered down every ep and every chance but they do this to the detriment of the show, the source material, the actors and most importantly the characters as actual breathing feel people.

[@dahmiabulola3812]

Her saying that the smallfolk's needs are not her concern, and her acting entitled to Lady Redwyne and dropping snarky remarks like "How did you serve the realm Lady Redwyne, by eating cake?" She doesn't realize that she's making mistakes and losing allies.

[@corbinmarkey466]

This is video is blowing my mind right now. Rhaenyra and Aegon have more in common than I realized.

[@Noah_ol11]

Rhaenyra during this season has been ignored by everyone and barely can hold it together and the only person who said that truly believes in her, at least appers to believe, is Mysaria who Rhaenyra hugged and kissed, i don't whether was love or heat of the moment, but here we can see she isn't so mentally strong

[@cassiusfelix2805]

In my opinion this what Viserys should've of done had Rhanyra travel around the realm getting used to seeing there future question. Have masters teach her about history and law and order. Then when she becoms older make her your hand. So by the time Viserys dies Rhanyra has been ruling for years at this point the people love her and she's well taught.

[@veebee3837]

Naturally, we tend to root for the underdog. But the Blacks and particularly Rhaenyre, is just plainly unsuited to rule. She has no proper training, no strategical political negotiation skills, no combat skills or any experience. She's also short sighted, act emotionally, no honor, a big fat hypocrite. She's just a terrible all round. The Greens ain't that great either. They're all terrible really. Aagon has potential with proper guidance and training. But he doesn't honor nor care for the role.

[@rogergonzalez3272]

All hail Aegon II the true heir 🎉

[@masha22092000r]

I hate how S2 tried to push the whole "Viserys was a good king and Rhaenyra is the Chosen One" narrative. Viserys was NOT a good king. He was weak. He wasn't smart enough. He didn't prepare his daughter for the Crown AND hurt her chances by remarring. Book Rhaenyra is not good queen material. Show Rhaenyra is arguably even worse after S2 - because you can't just them write-off as biased maesters; she is passive, indecisive, entitled and doesn't learn from her mistakes. It's made even worse by the shows insistence to paint all objections as "sexism" - Sir Alfred is correct to prefer Daemon and Corlys, those guys know a thing or two about battle (for all their faults). In the end, if all these f*ck ups don't backfire on her in S3 - then the show is beyond saving.

[@CorvoThan]

frankly i think the core of the dance is that both sides shouldnt sit on that throne... that beeing said if i had to choose i would take the greens because they effectivly ruled the kingdom prior to the war so i atleast know that they are competent. When rhaenyra joked "what does she know about ruling a kingdom" the answer was a clear "nothing"

[@followertheleader]

I still don't understand why she wants the crown. I can understand everyone else's motive but not her. She just wants it just because she is supposed to have it. Does she even understand what it means to wear it? Yes you will have power but you will have responsibility also. The way she is acting now is exactly how she would act if she ruled.

[@EvenMGon]

That Heleana - Daeron joke was hilarious 😂😂😂

[@mateuszmodzelewski1213]

I cringe everytime I see anyone saying rightfull heir this, rightfull heir that. I don’t understand people choosing sides when the message of the story seems to be that feudal monarchy is and awful system that leads to pointless conflicts ending in countless dead. Both Rhaenrya and Aegon are unfit to rule over anyone.

[@anasofia1646]

Tywin Lannister said: "Any man who must say, 'I am the King,' is no true king." I guess it also applies to Queens and heirs, idk

[@JuiecwrldTwoWrlds]

Yeah neither one of them is a good ruler.

[@ottersirotten4290]

Hmm... People watching a Show depicting a War over a Succession Crisis are talking about rightfull heir this, rightfull heir that. Yea thats totally weird off topic indeed^^

[@MADLADCOMICS]

The best option is Daeron but he's the third son and last in the line of inheritance. Unfortunate because he fits every criteria for a good ruler 😞

[@samantoniades3796]

honestly i liked her at the start but as it has dragged on, i am in complete agreeance, she would be a awful queen and is a awful character.

[@Ahmedhelps]

Otto hightower should be king.Yes he is manipulative, but he has wisdom.

[@Mic-Mak]

4:00 It's my understanding that in the books Rhaenyra was always at her father's side. Viserys did at least do that right. It's a pity that the show refused to adapt that, and instead oversimplified the conflict instead of embracing its complexity. This is why I think overall the show is ok or decent at best. It has great moments, but it is just not up to par. Not even compared to the early seasons of #GoT which also, simplified the conflicts to some degree.

[@dominiqueodom3099]

Rhaenrya's character as been absolutely sanitized of her evil deeds from book to show with her murder of Laenor being fakeout. They had such an opportunity to delve into those moments where we saw her flaws like how she easily turned Allies into enemies like with how she handled the Lannister Betrothal or how she didnt care about the smallfolk or how she just expected the realm to serve her like when she sent Luke to the Baratheons.

[@kilionspierdoleniec3621]

im gonna say something more or less controversial but its crazy how noone sees that Rhaenyra embodies the worst traits of Daemon AND Viserys being both indecicive, selfish and entiteled as hell

[@sabgogo7393]

Daemon is basically a Racist , he lives by Targaryan superiority he does not even view the Valaryeons as equals .

[@khaalmalki4039]

@@sabgogo7393 Given how they are treated, look and having dragons they would be right. People look at them as more than humans. So of course, Targaryens and not just Daemon feel this way.

[@Scweetoof]

I just don’t understand how her ability to be empathetic translates to weakness to so many viewers. It says a lot about people’s inability to see empathy as an empowering and important trait for rulers to have. Queen Alyssane was hailed the way she was because of her ability to understand and empathize with those around her, moving her to make wise decisions and give wise council to royalty and citizens alike.

[@blissinchains]

These people see quaalities like empathy and compassion as inherently feminine and thus...'weak.' "She's too emotional." Ever heard that? I'd have loved to see anyone tell that to Jaehaerys about Alysanne. Alysanne spent ages in the North talking to the nobles... and the peasant alike. Listening to them, their ideas and not just their concerns. Her womens councils were hugely popular and endeared her to the North for a long, long time. Not to mention she dropped a ton of her own money to improve the Wall's defenses. Alysanne wasn't weak, surely. Nor is Rhaenyra. Caring is not weakness, nor a sign of mental instability. The absence of caring that men seem to covet so much, however? Is sociopathy.

[@nixielee]

Sad thing about the show is how clearly the writers are in Rhaenyra's corner.

[@deliii395]

Nobody in this universe is fit to be a ruler. Having said that Rhaenyra is the only one who is best suited to be the ruler more than anyone. The show literally explores how "passivity" is a good quality in a ruler. Rhaenyra's father was passive while Daemon was active. Rhaenyra is passive when it comes to ruling meaning she is not genocidal and mindlessly cruel like the main players other greens and neither is she subservient like Alicent. And letting wild cards like daemon go and not depending on daemon to be useful is the best way to go considering how Daemon ruined her image. Now if Daemon does anything useful it'll simply be a plus. But MOST importantly Rhaenyra is a good judge of bullshitery while also LISTENING to sound council. She's not accepting of her council looking at her like a mother or a daughter but when the council is smart like with Mysaria or her son. She listens. She has her flaws with her ego in a construct where she is not to be even considered for a ruler at all. But that doesn't mean she is not fit to be one. Infact she is more than the others.

[@Darkwarlord1533]

Aemond on paper should be a good king. Trueborn Skilled fighter and Dragon Rider Intelligent He has an obvious bloodlust and chip on his shoulder though.

[@eons8941]

Aemond was a sweet dutiful boy and would have stayed that way If his Brother didn't Bully him constantly and didn't lose an eye at a such a young age it led him to become a sociopath

[@blissinchains]

@@eons8941 Please. He was a monster.