Viserys and Rhaenyra doomed everyone to War during The Driftmark Incident, and so many viewers completely missed the point of what happened and blame Alicent for being “crazy”. Alicent’s children’s safety is already in a dangerous position once it’s time for Rhaenyra to claim the throne to almost certain backlash, the only way to avoid War is for them all to have strong bonds of trust. Alicent’s son, one of the possible threats to Rhaenyra’s claim, had just been mutilated and disabled by Rhaenyra’s son. This was the chance for Rhaenyra to show that she is willing to be a family with her half-siblings even though she has never made any effort towards that before. She’s so arrogant she doesn’t even seem to understand that she should do that. Instead, Rhaenyra’s response was to not even apologize for her son’s behavior and not propose any possible consequence (obviously not cutting Luke’s eye out, but literally any consequence for example having to do grunt work for the Maesters and/or lose access to weapons until he can be responsible with them). Rhaenyra made it abundantly clear she doesn’t care at all about Alicent’s children and has zero remorse about them being harmed. Of course Alicent isn’t going to lay her children’s lives at Rhaenyra’s mercy by letting her take the throne after that.
And Viserys is even more to blame. His behavior in this scene is utterly abhorrent. Does he even make one single attempt to comfort or console his severely injured child? Nope. None. Viserys himself said he doesn’t think of Aemond (or Aegon or Helaena) as his children and that couldn’t be more clear than it is here. Instead of comforting or consoling Aemond, Viserys blames and interrogates the still bleeding and in pain child (starting by telling him to look at him, I know that’s a thing adults say when they want to have a serious conversation with children but… really? In this particular situation that’s what you go with?) for the sake of Rhaenyra. The full grown adult who is not injured as of now. All he cares about is Rhaenyra. And as if that’s not apathetic enough, he then threatens that “ANYONE” (meaning including Aegon, Aemond, or Helaena) who points out the obvious fact that Rhaenyra’s bastards are bastards will have their tongue cut out. He threatens his own mutilated, freshly disabled child with further, even more disabling mutilation all for the sake of protecting Rhaenyra’s lies and misdeeds (even though he could just admit they’re bastards and legitimize them but that’s another issue). And Rhaenyra thanks him for this direct threat to Alicent’s children, they’re both just beaming in their agreement that they can do whatever they want to Alicent’s children because they’re not really Targaryens, not really their children or siblings.
Alicent didn’t just “go crazy” because she’s an evil, vengeful character. She’s consistently one of the least vengeful and most level-headed, practical characters in the show overall. Alicent lost her composure in complete desperation in this moment because her children’s safety was just compromised. The King and his heir made it clear in front of everyone that Alicent’s children mean nothing. If one of Rhaenyra’s illegitimate crotch goblins had their eye cut out, no doubt Viserys would be enraged and demanding at least some kind of punishment. We know that because even over an “insult” (aka the truth literally everyone knows) towards them, he threatens grievous bodily harm. But Alicent’s children can be harmed without any punishment, not even a slap on the wrist, they’re not worth anything and no one will defend them. Alicent needed a show of force to say someone will defend these children and Rhaenyra cannot just do whatever she wants to them and smirk “Thank you, father” like a spoiled brat who tattled on someone and got them in trouble (tbh I’d cut her more than Alicent did for that line alone, it is so infuriating). Alicent isn’t a fighter but she tried every other option and found she’s the only one who will fight for her children.
if my hypothetical child was permanently injured and the culprit got off with a slap on the hand, I would rage like wildfire and not calm down until this bastard begged for mercy
Alicenta is a better person than me
alicent regretted her actions after she charged at luke, she apologized to viserys after he ignored her pleas to show some concern after aemond lost an eye, and she rejected larys’ offer to take an eye from luke….honestly she’s a saint because that couldn’t be me.
Rewatched Viserys dinner speech and Alicent and Rhaenyra look sad and like they believe him. Aemonds not even listening because he stopped thinking of him as anything to him the night he lost his eye. Aegon and Deamon look at him with doubt and irritation when he says he loves them all so dearly and apparently Haleana does too but her shot was cut.
The only people listening carefully are Rhaenyra and Daemons kids because they have been living in I’m so sheltered land for the past 6 years on Dragonstone and they believe his words at face value.
Also luke started that dinner fight. Aemond was literally staring into space and luc started laughing at him rudely. I loved the fight sequence because Aegon stopping luc and baela from intervening was like no 4 on 1 this time bitches let’s see how Jacey can do 1:1. Aegon clearly did feel guilt for the night Aemond was maimed weather his mother shamed him or not.
Team Green kids are mad but god damn are the Team Black kids spoiled entitled brats.
I don't need sleep or mental health, I need ANSWERS
1) Why, for God’s sake, did you personally and all alone go find out who saddled Seasmoke? If it weren’t Addam, who for some reason was loyal to you (for what reason, by the way? He saw you for the first time in his life, and doesn’t owe you anything), but for example Daemion or Daeron, you know, sons of Vaemond Velaryon, whom your husband viciously beheaded? Do you think they'd gladly bend their knee? Let's be honest, ma'am, Seasmoke would make a kebab out of Syrax in a 1vs1 fight, you risked ending the war in favor of the greens.
2) What would you have done if Laenor hadn't been so loyal and obedient? If he'd seen Jace and asked "Who's white baby is that? Definitely not mine, daddy would skin me alive if I tried to say opposite"? Or if he hadn't agreed to leave his family in their time of need after losing his sister, and hadn't agreed to your fake death plan? What would you have done then, huh?
3) What if Rhaenys had refused to go along with your "perfect" plan to betroth your children to her granddaughters? She doesn't like you, after all, and for good reason. What if she had decided that supporting you had cost the Velaryons too much (which is true), and had said that Corlys had changed his mind and chosen Baela as his heir? Or even announced to everyone that Corlys was disowning your snow-white children?
4) What if Baela had turned out to be as much of a racist ass as her daddy? What if she had decided that sleeping with Strong was beneath her because she was a true Valyrian and he was a filthy half-breed? What if your grandson was born red-haired, or Asian, or looked like Alicent's son Daeron (this one is a joke… or is it?)? Only you are allowed to have consensual sex with the man of your choice, while the rest are supposed to suffer?
5) What was your plan for Aegon and Viserys? Traditionally, the "extra" sons became septons or maesters, do you agree with that? Does Daemon agree? If not, what are their roles in future? They are the most Valyrian-looking of your children, their existence sabotaging Jace's legacy.
6) Do you ever regret marrying Daemon? In season 2, you seem constantly unhappy with his presence, he undermines your authority at every turn - he is partly the reason why your Small Council does not respect you. Laenor at least acknowledged your authority. Do you regret this "exchange"?
7) How can you trust Mysaria so easily when she has proclaimed herself the protector of the smallfolks? Rhaenys killed hundreds and wounded thousands at Aegon's coronation, Daemon… is Daemon, you killed dozens of innocent dragonseeds for one dragon rider. You all have no regard for human life. Or is it okay because she's sexy and tells sad stories?
8) What was your script for meeting Alicent at the sept? You went in there with certain expectations, but if this woman hadn't been humiliated by the scriptwriters with every breath she took, Alicent would have called the guards in a heartbeat. You risked everything… for what? What was the original plan?
9) Question for the book and show versions of Rhaenyra - are you happy with each other? Is the show version not irritated by Rhaenyra's femininity and her "weakness" in not trying to fight every possible battle? Is the book version not disgusted by Rhaenyra's hypocritical righteousness and attempt to gain respect by adopting traditional male characteristics?
10) Are you able to admit that your marriage to Laenor was entirely your own fault? Viserys gave you the chance to choose your own husband, but since the suitors weren't Daemon, you rejected them all. And then you disgraced yourself with Daemon in a brothel and with Criston in your chambers. Yes, Viserys was covering up his own political mistakes with this marriage, but if you had decided on the tour that Harwin Strong was the one you wanted, there wouldn't have been a farce of a marriage to a gay. Viserys could have simply chosen him for you, but even he knew that a swordswallower was not the best option for a princess who needed heirs, and this was a last resort after your antics. Do you ever regret how you behaved on that tour?
Amazing how everyone on Team Green is supposed to just “get over” the absolutely horrendous things Team Black does to them, but Team Black is fully justified in everything they do.
Criston Cole is still upset that Rhaenyra coerced him into sex even after he said no? (Otherwise known as, raping him.) He should just get over it, she’s a strong and powerful woman who is allowed to say no even after she denied him that same choice. Why should she give up the things she values just because she forced him to give ip something he valued?
Aemond is angry that Lucerys bullied him, attacked him 4v1, and cut out his eye, leaving Aemond permanently disabled and likely with chronic pain? Who cares! Lucerys was only a child, and he faced… Well, okay, he didn’t face even a hint of a consequence, but still! His mom is Rhaenyra, so he can do what he wants just like she can! And he was totally justified in everything he did to Aemond because… Aemond… spoke a truth that was obvious to anyone with eyes and a lick of common sense, then later claimed a dragon that was now unclaimed?
If they should just get over these horrific and traumatizing events, shouldn’t Team Black be able to get over things too? Lucerys died on a mission he never should have been sent on in the first place? Whatever, Rhaenyra has other children, just grow a better bond with one of them! Aemond had a spare eye, Rhaenyra has spare sons, that’s how it works, right?
Aemond baby, get behind me.
I got blocked by an opponent mid-argument on Twitter, which… isn't really surprising. I had the nerve to disagree with a TB stan that holy Rhaenyra suffered terribly for the month or two she spent trying to squeeze sperm out of Laenor for a Velaryon baby, and then jumped on Harwin like he was the last man on earth. No joke, a wedding to Laenor in 114 AC, and the birth of Jace in late 114 AC - and I'm told that poor Rhaenyra thought she was infertile because Laenor couldn't ungay himself.
So since I wasn't allowed to say it there, I'll say it here: Ways Rhaenyra could have avoided the war, or at least won against the greens AND the patriarchy.
1) Pick someone other than Harwin, because are you fucking serious?
Laenor can't have kids? Spend more than a few weeks trying. Unite with him in grief after the death of "good friend" Joffrey and give Laenor time to recover. Afterwards, invite a man to bed to "warm up" your husband. Or ask him to jerk off and finish inside you. Or find dragon seed on dragonstone. Or leave the poor man alone and visit his parents.
Corlys wanted Velaryon's blood on the throne? Let him find a candidate willing to fuck the princess twice - for the throne and for Driftmark. He has a dozen cousins and nephews, man, is it really that hard?
And if you like it, take the boytoy as a permanent favorite and have a couple more children, apparently this is your hobby or something.
Yes, it sounds horrible and dehumanizing, like breeding show dogs (which I consider as animal cruelty, by the way), but that's the nature of arranged marriages, especially in Westeros. If the goal is to have babies that look like Velaryons, there are other ways than sleeping with the most fisrt man-looking human alive.
2) Do you have heirs? Make convenient marriages!
Now that Alicent can't find fault with your babies' looks, betroth the boy to Helaena, or the girl (if you have one) to Aegon. Either way, green blood will be on the throne, and Otto can stop his shitty scheming.
Or, if you don't like that option, make arranged marriages. Since there's no need to appease the Velaryons by marrying Jace to Baela, and Luke to Rhaena, you have two excellent sons to trade with. Baratheon has plenty of daughters - the Stormlands are yours. The Lannisters have daughters too - the Westerlands are ready for an alliance.
And in the end the greens are left with a part of the Riverlands and the Reach - well, let them fight you, it will take about a week or two to win.
3) Daemon as a lover? Why not. As a husband? Never, fucking, ever in my life.
Laenor can live, considering that there is no need for his fake death - after all, your children are Velaryons, aren't they?
Uncle is hot as hell, but considering that he is the reason you were named heir in the first place - let him stay in your bed, and not claim the crown and the title of king consort.
4) Dragonstone? No need, I'm fine here.
Yes, you are the princess of Dragonstone, that's true. And you have every right to go there and learn to rule. But when your stepmother is plotting and trying to put a reluctant son on the throne, why make her life easier?
Visit Dragonstone as much as you want, but make it clear that your place as heir and next queen is by your father's side, helping him, learning to rule, and keeping your finger on the pulse.
5) Learn to lie, or remember that greens are related to you too.
Aegon never wanted to be king until he was reminded that Rhaenyra was a danger to his family. So don't give him reason to think so.
You may not like greens and you have every right, but creating enemies from scratch, only to fight them twenty years later, sacrificing children, dragons, allies, and the crown - why?
6) The Dance of Dragons? Seriously?
Aegon doesn't want to be king, and he won't be talked into usurping it, knowing his older sister wouldn't hurt him or his family. If Jace is betrothed to Helaena, Otto won't mind if not his grandchildren, but his great-grandchildren take the throne. No one can stand against you, the first queen of Westeros with powerful alliances in the North by oath, the Vale by blood, the Stormlands and the Westerlands by children's marriage.
You win, Rhaenyra, wear your crown with pride.
Oh, wait, that's not how it's happened in canon. Well, shit.
The way TB stans talk about Syrax and Rhaenyra is worthy of a page on the TV tropes. Because it borders on animal abuse, but somehow she's considered the Mother of Dragons 0.5???
The way Rhaenyra treated Syrax suppressed her predatory instincts and led to a sad but expected fate. A dragon that refuses to hunt on its own, only flies in good weather, wears a cute collar, and completely incapable of living on its own? That's a dead dragon. It's expired like a store-bought blueberry, that start molding the second you put it in the fridge.
It's like those ungodly fat cats on TikTok who roll around their apartment from bowl to litter box while their owners film them giggling and the comments are full of "OH LAWD HE COMIN". Yeah, the silly cat eats 24/7 and happy about it, but his joints and heart are about to give out, and his existence is limited by the floor, because only a bodybuilder can lift him onto the couch.
It's like that Reddit post with the girl who talked about how snakes are actually loving and sociable, because her dead pet snuggled up to her all the time, until someone responded that the snake wasn't showing affection, but was simply trying to keep warm, and died early because op froze her pet to death. Snakes are just not the type of animals that you can carry around in your pocket like monkey noodles, no matter how much you want to.
So Syrax's death was predictable. If it were not for her missing survival instincts, because of which she went down to the rioting crowd, attracted by the smell of blood, she would have died later, because the fugitive queen would not have been able to buy her favorite goat meat, and Syrax lacked the hunting instinct. Or this mighty dragoness would have died from the teeth of the half-dead Sunfire upon arrival at Dragonstone, because her fighting instincts had also atrophied.
Dragons are a reflection of their riders. And Syrax was not a warrior, no matter how much you wanted the opposite.
I don't know if I'll find any supporters, but this has been driving me crazy for three years now, and I have to say it.
The scene from season one with Luke and Rhaenyra where Luke expresses his insecurities as the heir to Driftmark is bullshit, and a litmus test for what's wrong with this show.
It all starts out relatively normal, with Luke again expressing his insecurities as the heir of Driftmark and offering to give the position to someone else, and this personally pisses me off because Luke could have said this at any time, there was a whole trial about it, but it's ok, at least kid gets some kind of personality, cool.
And then fucking Rhaenyra goes on about how she realized that ruling takes work, and she had a duty and must earn her inheritance. Like she's ever done anything unselfish in her life, really.
And then that line. No, not like that. THAT FUCKING LINE. Luke, breathlessly muttering, "I'm not like you. Not so perfect."
OH MY FUCKING GOD I HATE THIS SHIT SO MUCH
That sounds just as fake and useless as half of TB's lines extolling Rhaenyra's greatness, because God forbid we forget for a second that that woman is about to be canonized by Twitter any day now. TB's characters are underdeveloped, they feel fake and hollow, designed to kiss the ass of the one woman the audience is allowed to love, because if you like anyone else, you're obviously sexist and deserve to be publicly humiliated.
Luke is already an unpleasant little shit, he hasn't shown a single redeeming quality. He's selfish, arrogant, spoiled, and privileged even among royalty. And you take away his two miserable minutes of screen time to praise Rhaenyra again, and remind us that it turns out she actually sacrificed and worked for something in her life, and didn't just expect things to go her way because she's daddy's special girl. And she's perfect. Perfest, perfect, perfect. Love her right now, or you will be canceled on every social media.
Those two minutes should have gone to Luke and Rhaena. That's his fiancée, for God's sake! Those two haven't said a single damn thing to each other! Instead of whining about Driftmark again, let Luke comfort Rhaena when she expresses her concerns about the upcoming marriage - at least then I'll know he cares about his betrothed!
But no, that would be too complicated. Instead, we have someone praising Rhaenyra again, because what if not everyone realized that she's *gasping* perfect.
Jokes aside, but really - who? The show actively tells me that Rhaenyra is the only possible option, because this woman glows in the dark from all the blessings received from every god in existence and shits wisdom and greatness.
But is she? Let's hear my useless opinion.
First, where are we looking - at canon (the book), or at the screened fanfic (the show)?
In terms of canon, I think Jacaerys was the best option, but only because the other candidates were complete failures. The way Martin described this boy, even through the lens of the biased Black and Green sources, sounds promising. Yes, 90% of his decisions ended up being failures - he suggested recruiting more dragonriders from dragon seeds, and got Hugh and Ulf; he suggested sending Aegon III and Viserys to Pentos, and they were captured by the Triarchy; he went to rescue his brothers with a bunch of newbies who could barely stay on their dragons, and he ended up getting killed.
If it weren't for the circumstances of his birth, which would inevitably lead to a rebellion by the lords outraged by a bastard on the throne, Jacaerys might have been a good king. He just needed time to grow up.
But on the show? No one. No one at all. None of these people, they are all absolutely terrible.
Rhaenyra? That woman wouldn't know the word "responsibility" if it ambushed her in a parking lot and beat the crap out of her. She doesn't understand what ruling is even twenty years after being named heir, and she asks helplessly "what should I do?", wringing her hands at every difficulty. She does one stupid thing after another, driven by anything but common sense. If she were queen, we'd have another crisis in ten years or so.
Daemon? Lmao. No. That dude lived, fucked and died for shits and giggles, he can't be trusted with snow in the winter.
Jacaerys? That's the boy who solves problems with violence (pulling out a dagger when insulted, punching his uncle in the face when insulted, need I go on?), and loses every fight he starts. He doesn't speak Valyrian, constantly whines and cries to his fiancée and mother that he doesn't know what to do or how to be, and is practically useless during wartime (because his smart decisions were given to Rhaenyra, but that's another story).
Lucerys? Yeah, sure, how can you forget how he handled himself so perfectly at dinner when he should have just kept his mouth shut, but instead he decided that laughing at the crazy uncle he maimed and never apologized for was the height of comedy, better only fart jokes. That boy had one brain cell, and it was on permanent sick leave for the entire season.
Rhaenys? A woman who talks about the slavery of the patriarchy and submits to the decisions of her ambitious to the point of stupidity husband. Marrying her little daughter to her forty year old cousin? Why not. Losing two children because of Rhaenyra and Daemon, and continuing to serve their interests, even though they use her as they please, because Corlys hopes that someday it will pay off? Excellent solution, let's also scold husband for not loving his own bastards enough, and then die ingloriously and uselessly. Yes, the queen we deserve, Rhaenys the Spineless.
Aegon? He can only be a good king if a miracle happens and he stops listening to the idiots around him, gets rid of his mommy and daddy issues, and starts using his head for more than just pouring wine into mouth. Which won't happen, because the writers HATE this man. He'll be pathetic and useless, and then he'll die, because gods forbid there should be an equal fight between a woman and a man for the throne, a woman needs to kick a body sprawled on the ground, disarmed and incapacitated, so that everyone understands that she is superior to him in everything.
Aemond? Season 1 - maybe after a couple of years of therapy, Season 2 - no, he literally doesn't have a single thought in his head except "blood revenge hate aaarrrgghhh", and only occasionally do we see glimpses of a complex character, thanks to Ewan's insane talent.
Helaena? Poor girl, who was just like Aemond crippled by the script so much that even Martin couldn't stand it (Helaena will die just because, for no reason… wow, such deep character development…), give her her bugs and leave her alone.
In canon, the dance of the dragons is the result of well-intentioned stupidity of several generations, in the show - a parable of why incest is bad, just look at how much the mental capacity of people whose family tree looks like a wreath has suffered.
Ps. Still not native speaker and dgaf about mistakes, english can suck my imaginary dick
Aemond: Ask me why I love you.
Y/N: My dear why do you love me?
Aemond: *pulls out 200 parchment papers*
Aemond, smiling: I'm glad you asked.