It’s going to be a long post and I still have no idea how to partially hide it, so do apologize in advance that readers may need to scroll through it.
With that out of the way… I decided to finally try and wrap up my thoughts on Rhaenyra. When I read the book, I was a team Black supporter 100% and I started watching the show with the same attitude. The first two episodes I diligently hated Alicent and stanned Rhaenyra, and the world was good. Yet, in episode 3 I questioned my fave for the first time. This post is not going to compare Blacks vs. Greens, but to express my thoughts on Rhaenyra only because she is supposed to be a strong woman, and her portrait is important as a message what strong women suppose to be.
Spoiler: I do not see Rhaenyra as a strong woman or a potentially capable ruler. I do understand her as a person and an average woman, yet, that does not translate into supporting her as a leader. And here is why.
In episode 3 we see her after 3 years gap and this is the first time I question her skills. It is apparent that she spent 3 years disliking Alicent, her farther and Aegon. Ok, I can understand Alicent and Viserys; however, I do not understand hating Aegon by proxy. To think of it, he is Rhaenyra’s closest family after her father (because to see that in Daemon, who comes and goes as he wants, is a bit strange and naive). Supposedly, it would make sense to keep and develop that relationship, especially, when Aegon is a blank sheet of paper. We may be sure that Alicent would not intervene, hoping to restore their old friendship. Rhaenyra does nothing like that. Yet, this is partially Viserys’ mistake, as it would be a correct move to explain basic things to his daughter: your brothers and sisters are your only family when I am gone, or something similar.
In the same episode we see the other two moments that show how Rhaenyra lacks any sense of diplomacy or strategic planning. I mean, it was very girlboss to quarrel with her farther in front of everyone and after that to offend ladies (or before that, whatever). Yet, the first thing showed people that Rhaenyra had no self-control, and the second one meant that she created people who could hold a grudge against her instead of winning allies. When we consider Rhaenyra’s relationships with her family and the court separately, it’s one thing. Combined they create a massive combo that means she, the future ruler of the realm, is completely isolated because of her own choices. And on that thought I finished watching episode 3.
Then there was episode 4 and things became truly unbearable. To please her father, Rhaenyra sits to select a future husband; however, she manages to offend her potential suitors and leave a bad aftertaste in others’ mouths. She mocks the first lord, dismisses the second one, and does not care even a bit about the fight that happens. Again, she shows no hint of diplomacy and adds more people to the cohort that may dislike her. Very monarch-y. The worst thing is that this happens in the first place. This farce could be avoided if Rhaenyra’s main interest had been to choose a man with enough resources to back the crown and (this is extremely important) ability to give her healthy children, future legitimate heirs to the throne (this is where Laenor does not count due to his preferences). Consequently, the marriage could be organized behind closed doors without a cheap show that could fuel potential negative gossips.
And then ta-da, Daemon arrives and things go south. They sneak out and watch that cheap theater in the streets, and Rhaenyra’s reaction is what makes me think that she would not be a good queen. “Who cares what they think”. The problem with this statement is tremendous because peace in society is based on a social contract between a ruler and the masses. For those purposes rulers, at least, pretend to play according to the traditions of society, otherwise, it may result in unrest and civil wars. Of course, you may do as you please and disrespect the masses; then to keep your throne in place you need to install terror against the population (however, I do recall that even Stalin cared about his public image and never did anything drastic image-wise). In both cases (neglect & unrest vs. constant terror) we are talking about many, many people dying because one person cannot control their basic urges. Therefore, that line said by Rhaenyra and, later, by Jace is quite disturbing and rather indicates potential tyrants than good rulers.
Further, better. I will not discuss Rhaenyra’s choices of sex partners. I do believe that even in those times people could choose who to fuck, but what matters here is discretion and precautions (moon tea, i.e. contraception exists even in Westeros). To fuck Daemon behind closed doors in the Red Keep is one thing, but to allow him to take you to a dirty brothel, to display your identity there and then to return home through the main door (so everyone could see) is completely different.
In fact, I would say that any close association with Daemon was not very politically smart and would inevitably result in the loss of reputation. However, considering Rhaenyra’s isolation, that association was a given (and here we come back to the stuff I mentioned in the context of episode 3). People may argue that he is dangerous and a great potential ally, but, honestly, he is nothing because he only has one dragon. No money (other than from his brother), no lands, no serious armies, no serious claim to the throne; he can be easily removed from the game (sent to the Wall because of his crimes or simply poisoned) and no one will mourn him. Yet, Rhaenyra follows him everywhere and finds herself in even worse situation.
After that, out of spite, she makes two serious mistakes. First, she makes Viserys dismiss Otto and irredeemably damages her relationship with Alicent, who still tries to stand by Rhaenyra. Second, she, knowing Laenor’s preferences, agrees to marry him and condemns herself to the need for paramour that would eventually result in illegitimate children. The problem with Otto was not that he was dismissed, but the fact that his dismissal was tied to Rhaenyra and that caused even a deeper rift between her and Alicent. I mean, when you have almost no allies, it would be wise not to aggravate the remaining ones, even if you believe that they may betray you. The problem with Laenor is clear.
I will skip episodes 5-7 as they hold almost no value in the context of politics, but rather they prove the above-mentioned stuff. However, episode 8 is once again interesting. We see that Rhaenyra had been away from the court for 6 years. That’s a lot. She has no own court, and it seems that her attention is focused on her husband and her children. Rhaenyra is as far away from political life as possible, does not develop any alliances, and has a problem with supporting even existing one with Rhaenys. It’s a mere allegation, but I think she has no idea what is happening in the minds of other lords and def does not burden herself with taxes, prices, etc. The crown funds her nice life and she seems happy with that.
Additionally, she does a good job raising spoilt kids, but a poor job raising capable rulers. The legitimacy of her sons is constantly questioned, yet, she does not prepare them for potential hardships on their way. They supposedly are not good at fighting. Jace has issues with Valyrian language, and I strongly suspect that Luce cannot differ one end of a ship from another, despite the fact that he should rule over the biggest fleet in Westeros. The big problem is that Jace, the potential king of Westeros, has the same attitude towards his future subjects as his mother (take a look at the field where I grow my fucks, it’s barren).
Once the family gets to King’s Landing, we again see that Rhaenyra has no allies and has to ask her dying father to protect her. The most interesting part here is the trial. We see how people look at Velaryon boys and, clearly, they do not believe them to be true-born Velaryons. Yet, to keep the Iron Throne, Rhaenyra pushes Luce to get Driftmark, and during the trial Vaemond is executed from behind his back. That social contract I mentioned before applies also to the ruler and elites; in this case elites get some power, riches and influence and in their turn they support the ruler. Here, we see the break of contract because the potential ruler executes one of elite to get what she wants (we can spare ourselves from details that it was Daemon because these things are going to be linked with Rhaenyra anyway). The message is extremely clear to the rest of the elites: “I respect no deal between us, once I want something, I will get it even if I need to kill all of you”. Such thing does not inspire trust or support among nobility. So here goes another politically wrong choice. Because again, you do what you want and either rule with terror, or expect a civil war.
Finally, during the supper we see Rhaenyra’s attempt to mend the broken bonds, yet, she again demonstrates her lack of political & emotional understanding of other people. She tries to restore relationship with Alicent, but the problem is not with Alicent anymore. Alicent is no longer a single person that forms the Green faction. It’s a group of people who either were wronged by Rhaenyra and her teammates, or simply disliked her choices. Alicent is just a banner, and any banner can always be replaced. Indeed, Alicent agrees to peace, but we get Aegon and Aemond looking wolves at the team Black and starting fight when they see a chance. We have Otto. And somewhere in the court there are many others who think of Rhaenyra as of the incapable woman.
Inability to understand, predict and prevent all of this makes Rhaenyra a bad queen that lacks for many important qualities. Especially, because once upon a time she could do small things to prevent future bloodshed; yet because of her real and imaginary slights she decided against it. And this makes her a weak person.
Sorry for a rant and possible mistakes.
