Editor’s Note: The following accommodates spoilers for Season 2 Episode 4 of House of the Dragon.

The Dance of Dragons successfully begins in this week’s episode of House of the Dragon, “The Red Dragon and the Gold,” and it is with a bang. The Battle at Rook’s Rest is a vital second in the season, however its setup says quite a bit about the gamers on each the Black and Green sides, particularly their rulers. Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) begin the episode having their skills as rulers contested, however take care of it in utterly alternative ways. Tragedy hits each of them simply the identical at Rook’s Rest, although, so it begs the query: are they each match to rule in any respect?

House of the Dragon

The reign of House Targaryen begins with this prequel to the fashionable HBO sequence Game of Thrones. Based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon is ready almost 200 years earlier than Game of Thrones, telling the story of the Targaryen civil warfare with King Viserys.

Release Date

August 21, 2022

Creator

Ryan J. Condal, George R.R. Martin

Main Genre

Drama

Seasons

4

Distributor

HBO

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Both Rhaenyra and Aegon Have Been Absent Rulers Until the Battle at Rook’s Rest

The matter of Viserys’ (Paddy Considine) succession remains to be at the heart of issues in this primary half of House of the Dragon Season 2, particularly after Rhaenyra meets with Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) in King’s Landing. It’s now changing into clear even to the Greens that Aegon is not actually king materials, whereas, on the different facet of Blackwater Bay, the Blacks have additionally been questioning whether or not Rhaenyra is admittedly dedicated to waging warfare for the Iron Throne. They have each been absent rulers to date, however for various causes.

Season 2 begins with Rhaenyra being away from her headquarters in Dragonstone. She spends most of the premiere on the shores of Shipbreaker Bay in search of her son’s stays. Prince Lucerys Velaryon (Elliott Grihault) and his dragon, Arrax, had simply been victims of an assault by Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and Vhagar. The Black council appeared to grasp that, at that second, Rhaenyra wanted time to mourn her baby. But only a few days later, she abruptly vanishes once more, abruptly coming again claiming to have met with Alicent in King’s Landing, and is now keen to fly into battle herself with Syrax. From her council’s perspective, it is not a really sensible transfer. Although Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) tried her finest to handle issues in Rhaenyra’s absence, it is not the identical. Even Prince Jacaerys (Harry Collett) was irritated by his mom’s absence this time.

In King’s Landing, Aegon is working issues as anticipated — by claiming to be bored and wanting to leap headfirst into battle. His council is conscious of his mood and lack of data, and Aemond is totally passing him by, devising army technique straight with Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and maintaining Aegon out of the loop solely. This occurs as a result of Aegon has additionally been incessantly absent from his appointments, selecting to carry courtroom together with his buddies of the Kingsguard throughout the day and going to taverns at night time — and often bullying Aemond in brothels, too. A a lot totally different method than Rhaenyra’s. It would not even look like he has additionally simply misplaced a baby.

As Important as Being Present Is, Rhaenyra’s Absence Was Justified

It’s clear that there’s a big distinction between Rhaenyra and Aegon in phrases of political ability and accountability. Being current at the day-to-day appointments of a monarch is essential, of course, however so is what they do exterior of it. These issues could also be simply as necessary as what occurs in a Small Council assembly, for instance, so Rhaenyra’s dedication cannot actually be in comparison with Aegon’s. Even whereas mourning Lucerys, she saved her head in the sport, and her covert journey to King’s Landing wasn’t about sightseeing, too.

When Rhaenyra tells her council that she has been in King’s Landing to strive and dealer peace with Alicent, she says one thing that’s key to understanding how she thinks: “I inherited 80 years of peace from my father. Before I was to end it, I needed to know that there was no other path.” This is extra necessary than any throne or crown and is admittedly what ruling is about. Keeping the realm united and at peace is the most necessary job any ruler can aspire to perform, and, fact be instructed, between Aegon and Rhaenyra, solely the latter has been dedicated to it. This thought would not even cross Aegon’s thoughts, and solely after assembly Rhaenyra does Alicent herself begin to perceive the penalties of what she has finished by crowning Aegon after Viserys dies. So Rhaenyra’s absence as a result of of her journey to King’s Landing is completely justified.

When Alicent is speaking to Aegon in “The Red Dragon and the Gold,” she mentions how he discarded her council and banished Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), whom she describes as “as cunning a statesman as ever lived,” however this phrase is thrown round quite a bit these days by individuals who assume it describes a politically ready particular person. This is an element of what being a statesman is, sure, however not all. A statesman is somebody who is definitely capable of view the complete of the realm and makes use of their political abilities to behave in its finest curiosity, in line with the want. Otto Hightower helped Viserys preserve peace, however he did so to consolidate his household’s place as indispensable to the Crown, not out of love for the realm. Aegon, of course, is doing nothing in this sense. Rhaenyra, on the different hand, dangers her life by making an attempt topersonally deal with with Alicent to keep away from dragon warfare. It could have been considerably imprudent of her to take action, however her absence from Dragonstone at that individual second really served the realm’s finest curiosity – it simply wasn’t profitable.

Rhaenyra and Aegon Have Different Approaches Toward Their Respective Councils

When Rhaenyra lastly reappears on Dragonstone after her journey to King’s Landing, she is comfy with the thought of going to warfare. She understands there isn’t any method round it, so she is now dedicated to it, and desires to fly to Rook’s Rest herself with Syrax. It even makes a bit sense, provided that she is the queen and the warfare is private enterprise for her, however, strategically, it is not a good suggestion. Her council instantly talks her out of it, and she additionally forbids Jacaerys from going. He is her inheritor, so his place is as weak as hers. It’s determined then that Rhaenys is the one who will fly into the Dance of Dragons’ first battle.

In King’s Landing, Aegon faces the same predicament to Rhaenyra’s. He has been expressing his will to fly into battle for 2 episodes, and his council strictly forbids him, however would not oppose Aemond going. In Aegon’s head, it is not about technique, ruling, or something prefer it; he thinks he’s being forbidden for not being fierce sufficient. So, of course, he defies his council and Alicent’s recommendation and flies to Rook’s Rest anyway. As a end result, he’s burnt by Aemond and Vhagar, and Sunfyre is crippled by Rhaenys and Meleys. Not sensible, nor prudent.

Although they each put on crowns and declare the identical throne, there’s a big hole between Rhaenyra and Aegon in phrases of being match to rule. Ruling is a burden and a accountability, and Rhaenyra is conscious of it, whereas Aegon makes use of it to pay for drinks in taverns and show to himself that he’s fierce and sturdy. Not even Alicent, the daughter of the “statesman” Otto Hightower, actually understands what ruling is about. Rhaenyra could barely have dominated in any respect, however shows a greater grasp on what it truly is about.

New episodes of House of the Dragon air weekly on Sundays on Max.

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