Epic battles are part of the Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon universes. And the result of these clashes changes the fate of many characters. In Targaryen history, although the struggle for the Crown began with the coup of the Greens and the death of Lucaerys Velaryon, it will be at Rook’s Nest that Rhaenyra will suffer one of the most significant casualties, one that is the seed of further pain and betrayals throughout the time. It will be a landmark defeat for her and the legendary fate of Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best). For the franchise? One of the moments of making a difference.

In Game of Thrones, battles only became part of the action with the historic Battle of the Blackwater, where Tyrion led the defense of King’s Landing. While traditionally one thinks of the (historical!) Battle of the Bastards or the Battle of Castle Black as references, today fans cite The Battle of the Gold Road and Daenerys’ epic entrance with Drogon as the best. Nothing beats Hardhome‘s onslaught, for me the best on TV for many years to come. In the first season of House of the Dragon, the Battle of the Stepsones where Daemon Targaryen stood out gave an idea of what we can expect for the various battles that will come in the second. Vaghar and Aemond’s attack on Lucaerys is also listed as a “battle”, but it was more of a skirmish. No, the battles will come even in the second season. They will be violent and bloody. And legendary. The main one? The one from Rook’s Nest.

The Battle of Rook’s Nest is a fact. Video footage and photos leaked onto the Internet. It will be the seed of defeat – moral and physical – for the brothers, Rhaenyra and Aegon, but more immediately, for other people of relevance. Better prepare the Kleenex and celebrate that we have an actress of the stature of Eve Best to render to the great Rhaenys Targaryen all the force that her name has in Westeros.

If society wasn’t sexist, Rhaenys would have been a queen and a great queen at that. Perhaps the fact that Laenor failed to produce an heir with Rhaenyra was going to become an issue and start a succession crisis anyway, but we won’t know. The fact is that she was relegated in favor of her cousin, Viserys (Paddy Considine) and that he created an involuntary ‘mess’ when: 1st, he fell for Otto Hightower (Rhys Iphans), who only suggests making Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) official as a successor just to buy time (and take Daemon (Matt Smith) out of the race), and, 2nd when still not understanding the real game, Viserys did not change the succession when Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) was born. In other words, the “fault” lies with the patriarchy.

Fans were surprised by a change in storytelling when, differently from the book, Rhaenys was still in King’s Landing when the Green coup and she had the greatest opportunity to end the conflict right there, and yet, she later said it wasn’t her call to make that decision. All readers disagreed and regretted her as we are fully aware that not only Rhaenys will be their victim as they will have no qualms about humiliating her too.

So, House of the Dragon will return after Lucaerys’ death, with a destroyed Rhaenyra looking for her son’s remains on the beach. In the book, Daemon would already have taken Harrenhal, but we’re yet to see that victory. It will also be he who will lead the revenge that will be the most traumatic of the season (Blood and Cheese), and, in the series, take the leadership from Jacaerys to seek new knights to fly the dragons. In any case, the victory of the Queen’s firstborn in the North will hallucinate Aemond, Cole, and Aegon, who felt “defeated” and “humiliated”, with the need for an immediate victory. Therefore, Aegon’s reaction will be quick to react and remove his grandfather from the position of Hand of the King and replace him with Ser Criston.

As Commander of the Kingsguard and the new Hand of the King, it falls to the jealous and spiteful Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) to devise a more aggressive strategy than his predecessor as Hand. He slyly recognizes that Rhaenya has greater maritime control, with the backing of the houses Velaryon and Celtigar. To force her to expose herself, they lead the siege of Duskendale, looting the city and burning ships beyond. recapture Lord Darklyn and kill him. From there, the troops besiege the castle of House Staunton and are faithful to the blacks. But it’s with the sack of Duskendale that comes the twist and trap at Rook’s Rest.

With about 3,000 men in total, the Greens cut off Duskendale. Lord Staunton closes the gates of Rook’s Rest but is unable to prevent his fields from being burned and his peasants and cattle being slaughtered. He asks for help but gets silent for an answer. Until Rhaenys crosses over she appears alone to help.

It will be crucial in the series to portray the reason why Rhaenys has no support. In the book, terrified after losing Lucaerys, Rhaennyra prevents her children to fight and be at direct peril, so the former mother-in-law, concerned about the houses loyal to the Velaryons and the Black Queen, decides to help them all alone. Either way, the outcome of that decision will create conflict between Rhaenyra and Ser Corlys (Steve Toussaint), who will not easily forgive Rhaenyra for allowing the suicide mission.

The battle, as we warned, is a trap. Aegon II and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) were in hiding waiting for Rhaenyra’s response, and nine days after the call for help, only Rhaenys answered.

Meleys, the Red Dragon manages to escape unharmed from the archers on the ground while burning them mercilessly. But when Aegon II Targaryen atop Sunfyre and Aemond on Vhagar appeared, the result was announced. The Queen that Never Was is outnumbered, but the real issue is the fact that Vaghar is the largest living dragon of her time and bigger than Melleys. Even so, neither Melleys nor Rhaenys does not waver: the aerial combat between dragons is violent and the result is tragic.

Rhaenys and Meleys die, but not before seriously injuring Aegon II, who suffers burns so severe he is never the same again, unable to fly the also badly injured Sunfyre. Before returning to King’s Landing, the surviving greens take Rook’s Rest and kill Lord Staunton and his garrison of soldiers. Every effort coming from Rhaenyra was in vain.

The Greens will make a big fuss of their ‘victory’, though it has further compromised Aegon’s ability to lead. As he recovers (never walking straight again), it will be Aemond who will take the lead in the War as Regent in his place. In the parade (already filmed) in King’s Landing, the heads of Lord Staunton and Meleys will be displayed in King’s Landing.

The death of Rhaenys Targaryen and Meleys will be a heavy loss for Rhaenyra, as Ser Corlys Velaryon is furious and blames the queen for her death. They will still get back together… but only for a while. Jacaerys manages to reconcile him with his mother and Corles will be named Hand of the Queen. It will only be with this loss felt across all fields, that there will be a need to act and recruit dragon seeds to try to claim the six riderless dragons. This was also filmed.

The defeat of the blacks in Rook’s Nest is suffered because of the death of one of the most beloved Targaryens and a born leader, a princess adored by all. Rhaenys ensured that her name went down in the history books as a brave, intelligent, and unique woman. Her death is felt by her daughter-in-law, but even more by fans of the franchise. It will be one of the most iconic moments in the entire narrative.

Are we ready for so much emotion?

Pesquisar

Pesquisar