There is a tradition that family relationships in Westeros, whether in Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, are complex. Especially between siblings. In any House! Not even the Starks were ‘free’ from conflict, and they are the most attached. Competition, distance, resentment, love, and fidelity have created situations where many have paid with their lives. In House Targaryen, the conflicting tradition precedes the Civil War between Rhaenyra and Aegon III, but their disagreement is what will make Westeros bleed, as well as end the Dragons for more than 150 years until Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) appears.

In the House of the Dragon series, the soul of the problem is not, or was, between brothers but between stepmother and stepdaughter, unlike the book, where Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carey) could not stand each other. No matter, the family dynamics suggest a challenging constellation! Shall we remember some problems along the way?

Among the Lannisters: incest, hatred, envy

In House of the Dragon, the Lannisters were already among the most powerful, but those who occupied the prestigious position that was theirs in Game of Thrones were the Hightowers. This reminds us of the trio that practically “ended” the ancient lineage of the rich and beautiful in Westeros.

Cersei (Lena Headey), Jamie (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), and Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) represented, at times, some of the most intense feelings of George R. R. Martin’s characters. The series also looked different from the pages, especially our popular and heroic Lannister. The youngest and dwarf, he was literally born under prejudice and resentment from birth, being physically different from his family and – unsurprisingly – heading to the opposite side of them morally as well. Hated by Twyin (Charles Dance), who was ashamed of him and angry because his wife died during childbirth, Tyrion led family dramas like few others in this saga.

Cersei and Jaime, twins and beautiful, were perfect for Twyin’s schemes: she, for political marriages, and he, for being one of the most skilled fighters and Guards in Westeros. But the love between them quickly turned incestuous, and they grew up with the pact that if they were born together, they would also die together.

Jaime’s trajectory in Game of Thrones is one of the most fascinating in TV and literature: a villain who ends up a hero. However, his weakness was precisely his obsession with Cersei, the only woman he loved and for whom he would do literally anything. We didn’t see it in the series, but he rebelled when she married King Robert Baratheon. The brother-in-law, who didn’t know the incest rumors were true but knew there was a connection between the twins, loved to put Jaime on guard outside his chambers every time he had sex with Cersei or other women, just for fun. This power that Cersei exercised over him was unilateral; she was not influenced by any of her brothers.

Cersei’s feelings for Jaime, in the books and in the series, are dubious. She calls herself “in love”, but in addition to having other lovers, she is driven by mortal envy of Lyanna Stark. Lyanna was the true love of the two men Cersei wanted: that of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, who took the young woman from Robert, who never got over losing her. Undeterred, Cersei effectively only loved her children (all Jamie’s).

The first sign of empathy in Jamie was the fact that the one thing that always put him on a collision course between himself and his father and sister was his compassion and love for Tyrion. From an early age, as we discovered later.

The action provoked by Joffrey when he executes Ned Stark is the path to the downfall of many families in Game of Thrones, but it immediately distances Jamie from Cersei. When Tyrion is kidnapped by Catelyn Stark, Jamie ignores his father’s command and begins a war to get his brother back. He is captured by Robb Stark (Richard Madden), freed by Catelyn, and on the long way to meeting Cersei, he loses his hand and transforms.

The love between Tyrion and Jamie is one of the deepest in the entire saga and one of the most moving. The brothers do not judge each other for their flaws, but embrace their qualities and help each other however they can. Tyrion, when he is already disappointed with Daenerys, decides to commit treason to save his brother. Jamie, unfortunately, dies hugging Cersei, meaning he kept his word to her, as well as to Tyrion. In a toxic universe, it was inspiring to see something genuine. Especially being on the Lannister side.

In Winterfell, secrets belong to the family

We haven’t met Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor) yet, but House of the Dragon will bring back the family dynamics of the Northern house. In Game of Thrones, the Starks have the healthiest relationship on the entire continent. Ned, raised very close to his brothers, passed this same commitment and feeling on to his children, including the “bastard” Jon Snow (Kit Harington).

We don’t know his older brother, Brandon, who was killed by Aerys Targaryen when he sought the return of his sister Lyanna, apparently kidnapped by Rhaegar. His death placed the Starks as enemies of the Targaryens and changed Ned’s life, who not only found himself fighting the King but also had to marry Catelyn, the one promised to Brandon.

Ned and Benjen, the ‘remaining’ Starks, were very good friends too. When he formed his family with Catelyn, Ned passed on to his children the brotherly love and respect he shared with his brothers. As we know, it was so deep that Ned only returned home a year after the war began, and only because he found Lyanna. He never shared what happened or how she died, but we know he made a promise to her. When he returned to Winterfell with his body, Ned also brought “his bastard son”, Jon. Catelyn never forgave him because, in addition to the betrayal, Ned treated Jon as an equal to his children with her, which fueled his jealousy of the love he felt for the child’s mother. And we know the truth: Jon was Lyanna’s son, and she asked her brother to protect him. Ned compromised his honor and duty for love. A dedication that would later have an effect on the Targaryen prince.

Ned and Catelyn’s children – Robb, Sansa, Bran, Arya, and Rickon – were best friends, equally considering Jon as one of their own. I mean, Sansa is a little less influenced by her mother. But even making the distinction, she loved Jon and trusted him. Yes, Sansa and Arya also didn’t have a harmonious relationship because Arya was like her brothers, literally, liking fighting more than sewing.

Estranged by Ned’s death, the Starks brothers spent six seasons trying to find each other again. Robb never saw his brothers again because he was murdered at the end of the fourth season, and Rickon, who grew up in hiding with the Umbers, also only glimpsed Jon’s figure in the distance, dying in front of him when he was cruelly murdered by Ramsay Bolton.

The fate of Westeros was determined by the love between the Stark brothers. Even when Jon discovers that he is Aegon Targaryen, after being warned by Daenerys that she will execute everyone who knows her secret and does not recognize her as Queen, he confirms himself as a Stark above all else. He also, like Ned, chose Love before Duty and love for his sisters (cousins) and brother (cousin). By saving Sansa, Arya, and Bran, Jon became a Queenslayer and Kinslayer, the worst shame for a person of honor in Westeros. All for the love of family.

Greyjoys, Tyrells: close relationships

Other bonded, sometimes extremely intimate (but not incestuous) brothers circulated in Westeros as well. Theon and Yara Greyjoy grew up far from each other, as Theon had been a ‘guest’ of the Starks since he was eight years old. When they met again, 12 years later, the two barely knew each other, but the connection between them was quickly established. Yara tried to rescue him from Ramsay, went to war for him, and Theon also supported her as Queen in her place. Yes, traumatized, he ‘lost’ her to his cruel uncle when they defended Daenerys against Cersei, but Theon redeemed himself by going to save her. In memory of her, Yara accepts Bran as King of Westeros, even though she opposes Jon for the betrayal of killing Daenerys.

Among the Tyrrells, Margaery and Joras were also siblings who loved and supported each other. Their intimacy included not judging each other and sharing lovers. I mean, Margaery maintained the facade, and Joras maintained the relationship. That was their deal with Renly Baratheon, at least. When the Tyrrells joined the Lannisters, the brothers were part of the political agreements: Margaery married Joffrey, and then Tommen, while Loras was betrothed to Cersei. The tragic end of the two, in a vengeful letter from Cersei, was determined by the loyalty between them and Margaery’s decision to protect her brother. They died in each other’s arms, in one of the most memorable moments in all of Game of Thrones.

The hatred that consumed the Baratheon, Clegane, and Tully families

Not all families were united by love.

The Clegane brothers hated each other from birth, leaving a trail of blood wherever they went. The Tully sisters – Catelyn and Lysa – apparently got along well, but in reality, there was envy and jealousy towards Lysa for the attention her sister received, especially from Littlefinger, with whom she was in love. In the spoils of war, no one can blame Lysa for being even more outraged when Catelyn was assigned to young Ned and she to old Jon Arryn. Unfortunately, this vulnerable sisterly relationship was used by Littlefinger for her own revenge against the Starks, culminating in Ned’s execution. If Lysa and Catelyn were really friends, more than sisters, the story of Game of Thrones would have been very different.

However, more than the hatred between the Cleganes was the complex relationship between the Baratheon brothers: Robert, Stannis, and Renly. Three distinct personalities, a keen sense of Duty in one, the desire for Power in another, and Robert’s Strength put the brothers on opposite paths. Robert was king, with heirs; Stannis was unfriendly, and Renly was popular. With Robert’s death, Stannis and Renly became mortally opposed, giving their enemies the upper hand at a crucial moment. Ned, Robert’s chosen brother, was the first victim in the crossfire. If it weren’t for the bastard Robert never met, House Baratheon would have been extinct.

No one defines complexity like the Targaryens

In Game of Thrones, Viserys III and Daenerys Targaryen are (officially) the last of their House, and they’re not exactly a good example of the messed-up DNA that has dominated generations. Driven by the desire to recover what was forcibly taken from their family when they were still children, the brothers were close because they only had each other, but at the same time, without mutual trust. Daenerys revealed herself to be stronger and more strategic than her brother, at least for a while. By allowing him to be executed, she embraced her destiny to be Queen, and the civil war she led was not against her family, but her enemies. Very different from what we see in House of the Dragon.

Viserys III’s death didn’t bother us at all, but in House of the Dragon, when Viserys I’s (Paddy Considine) reign came to an end, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, I’ll bet. And it is in this prequel that we learn about the unhealthy dynamics of House Targaryen at its peak. This is because, in any monarchy, it is expected that there will be competition between heirs, with substitutes always envying the firstborn. Adding incest to the formula is guaranteed to bring a lot of drama.

Viserys’ relationship with his younger brother, Daemon (Matt Smith) was very close youth, and the two adore each other; however, Daemon’s ambition and aggressive temperament always exposed him as a man to be careful with. When Viserys inherits the crown, the brothers do not necessarily become closer because Daemon’s enemy, Otto Hightower (Rhys Iphan), is the Hand of the King. In other words, the most influential advisor in the kingdom, and obviously Otto, only fuels suspicion of mutual relations between brothers. With success, we need to remember.

Daemon and Viserys fell out more than once and seriously. The first is when it reaches the King’s ears that Daemon had toasted his nephew’s death. Neither in the book nor in the series do we hear him make the toast; we know that he is sad for his brother, but that he secretly sees himself as his heir, so the death of Viserys’s son secures him in that position. Or he should.

Urged by Otto, Viserys makes Rhaenyra his successor, breaking an age-old tradition of a chain of Kings, not Queens. Daemon still tries to marry her, keeping the Targaryen bloodline pure and once again maintaining his proximity to the throne, but Viserys tries to prevent her by marrying someone else. Of course, the plan goes wrong, and in the end, Daemon marries his niece. And they end their days at peace with that.

The same cannot be said for Rhaenyra and her brothers. Fueled by the hatred and resentment of Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), the family had already been warlike over the years, but, with Viserys’ death, a Civil War began.

As I mentioned several times, the House of the Dragon series differs from the book Fire and Blood, and there is almost no interaction between Rhaenyra and her brothers for there to be such deep hatred. As a young girl, the princess showed jealousy and insecurity about Aegon, but as an adult, she barely even knew about him. Which doesn’t stop both Aegon and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) from being jealous of her.

Having said all that, let’s highlight the tenuous friendship between Aegon and Aemond as well. When they were little, Aegon joined his nephews Jacaerys and Lucerys in teasing Aemond for not having a dragon. Over the years, Aemond has been his confidant and knows that Aegon didn’t want to marry Helaena (but he did) and didn’t even want to be king. Once again, Aemond did.

Aemond mirrors and hates his uncle, Daemon, and the confrontation between them is more than promised. In this second season, we will have more scenes and stories about their relationship. Aemond accidentally eliminated any chance of negotiation or Peace when he failed to control Vaghar and killed Lucerys, meaning season two is WAR!

Aegon embraces his dark and sadistic side, and we will only have this season with him healthy and moving around because he will even win the battle that will cost Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) her life, but he will be disfigured, in pain, and numb from then on. Aemond, on the other hand, will be his right-hand man, eventual regent, and will fall in love, too. But the important thing is that we will have the dynamics of these two evil princes, who are both Hightower and Targaryen. Who bets on a ‘complex’ relationship?

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