[queenvhagar]

About this blog:

- ASOIAF side blog

- HOTD critical F&B fan

- Team Green, feel free to not interact if that's not your cup of tea/if you don't want to see pro-Team Green and anti-Team Black posts

My thoughts on the Dance:

- The point of the "Dance of the Dragons" is that there are no winners between the teams, and no side of the Dance is wholly innocent. That being said, pre-Dance, one side consistently acts with the general interests of the realm in mind, approaches rulership with goals of long-term stability through adherence to the social contract the monarchy has with their subjects, and maintains power by building relationships with the great houses of the realm. The other acts consistently with the interests of themselves and their family in mind above all else, with the goal of upholding Targaryen exceptionalism to the rules, whatever the cost to others. For these reasons, I consider one side to have a stronger moral argument for wanting power.

- While I think Team Black has some interesting characters, I ultimately dislike the way that sometimes the show and frequently the fandom has cast them as mostly one-dimensional girlboss/malewife/feminist/LGBTQ+ allies. Obviously this show exists in its own world, society, and culture where none of that exists, even if some characters sometimes act in ways that modern audiences view them as being examples of such. I believe it's reductionist to the story to view them that way.

- Using real medieval history as influence, GRRM created Westeros as a religiously traditional medieval society based on male primogeniture with traditions that have been in place for thousands of years. An established part of this society is removing bastards from lines of inheritance in order to secure succession, uphold the social order, and reinforce the cultural and religious values that unite society. Another part is traditional gender roles and expectations for each. The modern audience sees the error of these ways, but that means nothing to the characters and their society. All characters exist knowing the world and its long-standing, well-established expectations.

- In 101 AC, the Great Council of lords and ladies of great houses across Westeros decided on male primogeniture once again. Later, Viserys I decided to forego the opinions of the realm and maintain his daughter as heir despite living sons. Rhaenyra knew the challenge ahead of her, and she could have started early to prepare herself politically to succeed the throne and peacefully maintain power. She could have made sure to build relationships with her younger siblings to ensure unity in the house. Instead of taking preemptive measures in reassuring the realm she was capable of ruling, she used her position as heir and her father's favorite child to do whatever she wanted, no matter the cost to others, and in the process diminished her political power on multiple occasions throughout her life. Her biggest and most obvious errors were giving birth to three obvious and undeniable (the show for sure) bastards, trying to pass them as trueborn, and placing them in the line of inheritance for not only Driftmark but the Iron Throne. This was treason in the eyes of the realm and the great houses. Even if Rhaenyra had prepared to rule she might have had doubt somewhere in the realm based on her being the first Queen; due to her actions, she completely destroyed her chances at a peaceful transition of power. Before the Dance, on multiple occasions, Rhaenyra relied on her ailing father as a shield for the political fallout of her actions. Once he was gone, her actions were going to catch up with her. In regards to her younger siblings, she was openly resentful of Aegon from early on due to the legitimacy of his claim. Upon Aemond having his eye cut out by her son, she threatened to have him tortured so he would confess that his mother had mentioned Rhaenyra's bastards in front of him, in order to have her own name cleared and Alicent and her son punished for speaking the truth.

- In order for Rhaenyra's bastards to succeed her on the Iron Throne, she or Daemon would have to remove any legitimate heirs that would come before them in the line of succession. Of course, this means Alicent's sons (and potentially her grandsons). Look at any royal history to understand that this is absolutely the case and Rhaenyra, no matter how nice or willing to break the rules she might seem, would have no choice. Even if she was unwilling to outright command such a thing, Daemon would be more than able to make things happen, as he has already murdered for his own personal gain in the past and would happily do this to secure his family's power and legacy.

- While obviously Otto is the reason that Alicent and her children in particular are in this danger, he wasn't lying or trying to manipulate her when he warned her about the future. Otto knows the game of thrones, and he knows that Rhaenyra does not know how to play the game and doesn't feel like she has to. He knows what this means for her succession: if the realm does not accept her, they will turn to the next option, and in order to secure the throne and put down rebellion, Rhaenyra will have to remove the competition. This truth becomes even clearer when she has bastards. It wouldn't matter if Alicent "cleaved to Rhaenyra and begged for her mercy." If it's the iron throne or Alicent's kids, it's not even a choice. Rhaenyra demonstrates this choice enough at Driftmark after Laena's funeral.

[queenvhagar]

It's possible that Daeron dyed his hair brown for one episode but he will actually have the light hair typical of Valyrians, as was explicitly described in the book, and by next episode he'll have washed it out for the reveal of the character. But if Daeron actually has natural brown hair in direct opposition to the source material, do you think it would actually be the case that it was for the contrived one-episode fake-out plot and no other reason (with the justification that later Targaryens have dark hair so it wouldn't be impossible), or would it be for the implication that Daeron is not Viserys' trueborn son but Cole's bastard? If so, it would be in line with the show's forceful depiction of Alicent and Criston as terrible hypocrites (because they did the same thing Rhaenyra did the whole time) and it would also further delegitimize the barely existing Green cause in the show and further reinforce the idea that it isn't a Targaryen civil war but a Targaryen-Hightower war (in direct opposition to the source material). It would also be the show's reason for why Daeron was sent away from court "as an infant" despite that not being typical or recommended in-universe: it's not because he was the youngest son of the king that he was sent to Oldtown and warding children was common but because he looked different from his brothers, which was not good for Alicent and the Greens who were concerned about Rhaenyra's bastards based primarily on hair (and skin) color. But it would also imply that someone with no Valyrian blood can claim a dragon, meaning that show Daeron would actually adopt part of the Nettles story left behind by the Rhaena fusion in that he would show that Targaryen exceptionalism actually isn't true and anyone can claim a dragon, which would challenge the prophecy addition of the show wherein the Targaryens are exceptional saviors that must unite the realm to save the world. But maybe this season they will try to say the prophecy is dangerous as Rhaenyra's storyline will probably show her descent into some sort of paranoia or delusion, reportedly based on this prophecy and her belief in her role in it (as men continue to victimize her, of course, don't worry, they won't give up on this show's central messaging of how restrained, dutiful, and civilized the women are in comparison to the violent, reckless, and abusive men who want to take away their power).

Which do you think it will be?

Daeron dyed his hair for one episode but he has typical Valyrian hair.

Daeron has brown hair for the fake out and that's all.

Daeron has brown hair for the fake out and because he's an implied bastard.

Voting ended onJul 12

[queenvhagar]

Imagine this alternative adaptation of The Dance of the Dragons:

It's 233 AC, at the Citadel in Oldtown, and a young man with silver hair and a chain around his neck has heard news that will change his life forever: his father, King Maekar, First of His Name, is dead, killed in an uprising against his house, and Prince Aemon is being summoned to attend a great council wherein the succession will be decided. Aemon is the eldest surviving son of the king, and there are those who expect Aemon to cast aside his life at the Citadel and assume the responsibilities of the throne. The alternative would be his younger brother Aegon, but due to the wanderings in his youth as the squire of a hedge knight, there are lords of the realm who prefer Aemon, and elder sons are supposed to inherit over young sons, as is tradition. His maester chains could be cast aside in order to him to become king.

Aemon had never contemplated being king, his own father once distant from the throne. But now, if he wanted, he could take it. The power of the Iron Throne could be his. There are many who support his claim, and he is supported by precedent. But does he want it? Aemon must make the most important decision of his life. He reflects on the position he is in, his house is in. His house was once prosperous, an extended family wielding the power of living dragons, fire and blood made flesh, and now there are few Targaryens, none with dragons, though many, including his own brother, had killed themselves in the pursuit of bringing them back. How did it all come apart? He resolves to reexamine the history of the transformational conflict known as the Dance of the Dragons, and how despite a great council of lords the realm soon descended into a destructive war that altered all who came into contact with it. How can Aemon prevent a similar possibility from playing out in his own life, where succession is undecided, his house is vulnerable, and the threat of war looms always on the surface? Can he prevent a war from breaking out over this issue of succession? He enlists the assistance of his fellow maester, a slightly younger man called Gyldayn, who has a similar interest in chronicling the history of this conflict.

With this basic premise, the story of the The Dance of the Dragons plays out as Aemon and Gyldayn uncover the past through their pages. The show format alternates between three protagonists: Aemon, as he reacts to the history and attempts to learn from the mistakes of the past, at times relating to his ancestors and seeing himself in them, both to his joy and to his terror, at times, and as he continues to deliberate whether to press his claim to the throne or not, while those playing the political game of thrones at court try to influence him to choose one way or the other, to suit their own agendas; Rhaenyra, the elder of the two claimants in the Dance of the Dragons, the king's named heir; and Aegon, the king's younger child but eldest son, supported by precedent and the great council that chose his father.

The show starts with that council and covers material up until the crowning of Aegon III Targaryen. The show can play with the nature of historical memory and perspective, and ways that certain narratives and stories repeat over time. The audience can explore conflicted, morally gray characters who are drawn into darkness in a war that destroys indiscriminately. We can relate to the characters' insecurities and sympathize with their situation while condemning what they do to keep those insecurities at bay, interpersonal conflict that escalates into whole armies attempting to extinguish one another.

By the end of the show, having learned what he has, and both other protagonists of the show dead, their own arcs completed, Aemon decides once and for all that he will not press his claim to the Iron Throne, and to ensure that none will question the rule of his younger brother and use him as a symbol of rebellion, he will not only set aside the throne but his life at the Citadel. Let it be known that he intends to go to the Wall and take the Black. His younger brother will inherit the Iron Throne. Aemon believes this is what is best for the realm, for his house, for himself. He does not believe he is right for the throne, having seen himself in his ancestors and recognizing his own weaknesses, not believing himself suitable to rule or willing. Aemon parts with Gyldayn, who intends to one day publish his findings about the history House Targaryen. As he makes for the Wall, Aemon wonders. Was this the right move? Has he spared the realm from bloodshed? Is it inevitable that war will come again? What if through his decision he has set into motion unforeseen events that will have grave impacts for the realm? No. Aegon will be a better king than I, Aemon tells himself. But he knows the nature of the throne better now. He knows that his house is losing power and has been since the dragons died. But Aemon wants to live. Perhaps he feels shame at letting his brother take the throne, knowing what proximity to the throne has done to others. He commits himself to a quiet but hard life at the Wall, to forever be an observer of the game of thrones, no matter what may come.

[aegoneggon]

How much time do you believe has passed since Viserys died?

3 months

4-5 months

6-7 months

8 months - 1 year

Over a year

Voting ended onJul 14

[queenvhagar]

Condal read GRRM's blog post and said okay fine here's Maelor but he'll die in childbirth or very shortly after. That way Maelor isn't included for any of his book plot moments that make Rhaenyra's side look bad but just so he can say that he technically exists in the show (and pretend that was always the plan and not reactionary to the blog post). This will also likely be Helaena's primary motivation to die (since GRRM was not happy with the fact it happened for "no apparent reason" in the original outline he saw). This way Rhaenyra isn't involved in Helaena's death whatsoever and if anything Helaena hiding her pregnancy for so long will be viewed as the issue. It does turn the tragedy of Helaena into something it wasn't in the books, and much like many of the other show changes, it's doubtful this one will be an improvement on the original.

[goldcrescent]

I beg you guys to stop sending me this shit. Did Daemon uphold the matriarchy when he killed his first wife bc he thought she was ugly what the hell are we talking about

[princessrhcenyra]

I named her to protect the realm from Daemon. She was my only child. “The Realm’s Delight,” I named her out of love. Because I no longer believed… Many in my line have been Dragonriders – very few among us have been dreamers. What is the power of a dragon next to the power of prophecy?

[xthecaptainssaviorx]

"It all goes back and back to our mothers and fathers and theirs before them."

Aegon, Helaena, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera in House of the Dragon (2022-)

[housedragonmadness]

Viserys, Alicent, and Aegon

HOTD 1x02, “Second of his Name” dir. Greg Yaitanes

[thecrownedmage]

TOM GLYNN-CARNEY as AEGON II TARGARYEN HOUSE OF THE DRAGON | S3E01 Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood

[theghooligan]

daemon when he finds out his obsessive nephew is copying his new beachy mermaid waves and hallucinations courtesy of harrenhall:

[frizox]

tom glynn-carney saying aegon can't move on from jaeherys's assassination and blames it fully on rhaenyra.........i'm glad there's at least one character who still remembers that kid being butchered 😭😭

[henri-de-cait]

hangman hangman

because the looped dragon tail of the targaryen sigil seemed a perfect noose

[mejcinta]

Family gossip session.

[aemondsbabe]

tom glynn-carney they could never take your face card

[blackcat419]

Alicent isn’t a character anymore, she’s a plot device. Her motivations and feelings are not consistent between episodes and we are lucky if they stay consistent within an episode.

She wants her sons on the throne so they can survive.

Then she doesn’t actually know about the plan to get Aegon on the throne

And then she only wants Aegon on the throne because she thought Viserys wanted it

But when Rhaenyra said Viserys wants her on the throne then Alicent wants Rhaenyra on the throne

And she agrees to her sons being killed

But now she doesn’t want them killed.

There is so much whiplash between different positions without any reasoning for Alicent to change her mind.

[atopcat]

I did like the scene where Alicent and Helaena bubble was burst and they realized they were prisoners, but I can't help but also be annoyed with how the show is portraying them. Why is Helaena so calm in the presence of the woman who's husband murdered her son? Why isn't Helaena reacting to Alicent giving up Aegon to get killed? Why isn't Helaena devastated that she is going to be separated from her daughter?

Because of ableism dear anon, ableism.

Helaena has become an ableist caricature of the unfeeling autistic a century old stereotype whereby the character is either psychopathic or a childlike simpleton. This character cannot express emotions like “normal people” because they don’t have any.

Rhaenyra on the other hand is allowed to weep and mourn her sons, Helaena cannot because:

We’re not supposed to care that Helaena lost children, the audience should only sympathise with Rhaenyra.

As everyone knows neurodivergent people are incapable of being loving parents.

The Transmitter put it perfectly in their article People with autism can read emotions, feel empathy:

There is a persistent stereotype that people with autism are individuals who lack empathy and cannot understand emotion. It’s true that many people with autism don’t show emotion in ways that people without the condition would recognize.

But the notion that people with autism generally lack empathy and cannot recognize feelings is wrong. Holding such a view can distort our perception of these individuals and possibly delay effective treatments.

So they can’t have her be angry at the Blacks, scream at Alicent for handing the throne to Jaehaerys’ killers, or care that she’s a hostage because that would suggest she’s a well rounded character instead of a ripoff of Sia’s Music (2021).