“Dracarys”: An order from Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) to her dragon Meleys at the end of episode 9, and the entire civil war that awaits Westeros after the death of King Viserys (Paddy Considine) could have been avoided. At least that’s what many viewers accuse the writing team of “House Of The Dragon” to do – and Currently, the question is being asked again, as season 1 of the fantasy series is currently streaming for free on Joynwhere some may be seeing the series for the first time.
After Rhaenys storms out of the dragon pit into the arena with her dragon, she immediately targets the entire green faction around Alicent (Olivia Cooke), Otto Hightower/Hohenturm (Rhys Ifans) and the newly crowned King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney). nose. And at that moment, no one could have stopped the woman and her fire-breathing beast, which is clearly visible on the faces of the “Greens”. They know exactly: Rhaenys only has to order “Dracarys” and Meleys would burn them all. Alicent even closes her eyes. But the princess doesn’t do it.
Rhaenys’ moral stance
Showrunners Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal explain why in the episode review “Inside The Episode” on Youtube: “It is her moral stance that makes her decide to do nothing. She knows that if she gives the order to fire, she will prevent war and perhaps bring peace to the realm. But she doesn’t want to be responsible for doing this to another mother. It is a complex decision.”
They wanted to give Rhaenys, a great dragon rider, this big moment so she didn’t have to just passively watch what was happening. She demonstrates her power with her dragon, but she doesn’t take the final step. And the showrunners correctly predict in the video: “Some viewers will argue or have a problem with this decision. But that is the decision Rhaenys is making at the moment.”
Rhaenys’ moral considerations cannot just include the fact that she does not want to kill a mother and her child. It is possibly that she was Rhaenyras (Emma D’Arcy) does not want to base his rule on a cruel act.
Many political opponents would be swept off the field if Meleys Aegon & Co. would be burned. But the people who had just cheered at the coronation would also have witnessed their new king being murdered – and many of them probably don’t care who has what right to the throne and under what law. They would only see the brutal murder and then possibly turn on Rhaenyra.
“It’s Not Their War”
By the way, screenwriter Sara Hess also took a similar position in an interview with the showrunners A. Rhaenys did choose a side, namely Rhaenyra’s, but not at any cost: “I think she just can’t do it. It’s not their war. The battle is between these two parties, and she is not really part of it. But it’s true. If she had just burned everyone, the game would be over, Rhaenyra would have won, and everything would be settled. But the price would be enormous.”
“The moment she looks Alicent in the eye and Alicent stands protectively in front of her child, two mothers come face to face. Rhaenys is angry, but in her previous scene with Alicent it was clear that she respects her even if she disagrees with her. So she doesn’t want to just kill another woman.’
How far would Rhaenys go for Rhaenyra?
In any case, this can be said with certainty: Rhaenys made her decision very consciously. She knew the power she held at that moment, but did not see it as her duty to fight Rhaenyra’s battle at the expense of her ideals. And even though Rhaenys has reasons to be on Rhaenyra’s side, there is still an accusation between the two women that Rhaenyra had Rhaenys’ son Laenor Velaryon murdered. And even killing for Rhaenyra, without a fair fight, is something Rhaenys decides against, at least for now.
And otherwise we would of course not have a series: Season 2 of “House Of The Dragon” and any further seasons will be about the civil war called “Dance of the Dragons”. The new episodes will be released in the summer of 2024. You can find out what awaits you in season 2 in our detailed preview: