In a universe of people vulnerable to the effects of the Power of Game of Thrones, the Stark house stood out for putting Honor and Duty before everything, especially the undisputed hero of the series, Jon Snow (Kit Harington). The character’s stubbornness and innocence irritated some, he was idolized by others, and even with his final stretch clearly suffered and reduced, he was the one who had to do the dirty work and kill Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) to save everyone else, being exiled and marked by the History as a traitor to his Queen.

Whether you’re team Jon or not (I am), there’s something “missing” in House of the Dragon: we don’t have a Jon Snow. EVERYONE seems to be driven in some way by pride, ambition, or revenge, and it’s a bit complicated to think of a ‘hero’ in the story. Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor) made a brief appearance, but will only return at the end of the series. For now, they are changing Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) to fill this space, is she really up to the challenge?

In Game of Thrones, out of love, Ned Stark silently compromised his honor

Throughout the saga, the Starks are synonymous with integrity in a universe of flawed people. Among them, Ned Stark (Sean Bean) went further. He kept until his death the secret that could destroy his Lannister enemies and restore the Targaryens to Power: he created the rightful heir to the Iron Throne as his bastard son to protect him from those who wanted all Targaryens dead.

But how can he be called righteous when he blatantly LIED to everyone? Everyone has their answer. Out of love, he kept the promise he made to his sister to protect the child, ignoring it out of duty and loyalty to the new king, Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy). And Jon Snow, in fact, Aegon Targaryen, was never educated about the truth either. In love with his “father” (uncle), Jon was more like Ned than his children. Again, even though Rhaenyra is fair and deserving of the throne, we still haven’t come across anyone with the same dilemma or disposition in the story.

As Game of Thrones has proven to us, his insistence on following a strict moral code is both Ned Stark’s strength and weakness, as is his generosity. Upon discovering the true paternity of Cersei Lannister (Lena Heady)’s children, which puts him in grave danger, he even allows her to escape to avoid being killed by Robert. And who ends up dead? So it is.

Ned Stark’s death is a crucial turning point in the series because it subverts readers’ and viewers’ expectations, showing that honor does not guarantee survival in such a brutal and politically complex world. His execution also triggers a series of events that lead to the War of the Five Kings and the near extermination of House Stark.

Jon Snow’s Identity and Origin

Jon Snow is initially presented as the bastard son of Eddard Stark, the Lord of Winterfell, raised alongside his legitimate children, but always feeling the weight of his bastard status. This rejection, in addition to the fact that Ned refuses to speak his mother’s name, shapes a large part of his personality and decisions. The ultimate proof of Jon’s unwavering integrity is that even when it is revealed that he is actually the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, giving him a legitimate claim to the Iron Throne, he doesn’t act on it.

Not more than once were Power and Titles offered to him, did Jon’s strong moral compass remained steadfast amidst the chaos. For better or worse, she has guided him through many of his decisions, even when they are unpopular or dangerous.

Because he was considered a minor, Jon grew in courage and leadership in his own right, fighting for rebels and the poor even harder than the Nobles, not out of spite, but out of compassion.

Here is the difference that was not clear in House of the Dragon: when first exposed to her subjects, a young Rhaenyra commented that no matter what they wanted, they would have to obey and worship her when she was Queen. Daemon (Matt Smith) warns her that it’s not that easy. Over time, somehow, it seems that Rhaenyra has changed radically and today is all concerned with the stability of the Kingdom even more than the agility that violence against the Greens would guarantee her ascension to the Throne, which is Daemon’s frustration. Jon Snow would think so. Daenerys said she thought so (until she decided to burn King’s Landing). Will Rhaenyra be more Daenerys or Jon Snow?

The shadow of the Game of Thrones finale controversy

After the TV series, both Daenerys and Jon, until then parallel decent and empathetic people, fall into the traps of the Throne. She, for being isolated, without expected recognition of her greatness and heritage as a Targaryen.

After irreparable losses and feeling threatened to lose her fight against the rules of the patriarchy, she destroys King’s Landing, killing the guilty and innocent under the same fury of fire. Furthermore, she promises to “liberate” Westeros from its Lords, a metaphor for submission and conquest. I will again explain that this transition was built throughout the series, even more clearly in the final seasons, even if some question it. It is for these people that I once again question the change between young and adult Rhaenyra. It took less time and was much more radical. That said, there was no other alternative for Jon Snow: he would also have to choose a side.

The loyalty dilemma between his family and his aunt and lover is not an easy one, but Jon ends up killing Daenerys to stop her from becoming a tyrant, an act that reflects his willingness to sacrifice his own emotions and desires for the greater good. Something he had done before more than once. We don’t have anyone in House of the Dragon‘s Westeros with the same challenge. And it’s needed!

As a result of the popular and heated rejection of the conclusion of Game of Thrones, some traps are being created despite the efforts of the screenwriters. An example is the aforementioned change in Rhaenyra’s personality, which so far is the only one that has proven to be worthy of the title for trying to restrain her anger at having had her position blatantly usurped.

Of course, Fire&Blood is a set of reports from narrators who did not witness the conflict and who, due to machismo, described the Queen of Blacks as a weak, insecure, vindictive, and almost irresponsible woman. Above all, a proud woman who did not give up the Throne. We were expected to have a more balanced version of her personality and actions, but if we are honest, the Rhaenyra we see on screen could never have inspired the descriptions that went down in History. She did not – justifiably – lament the Greens’ defeat or try to spare them. It’s the attempt to make her look like Daenerys and Jon that she’s been getting in the way of.

Placing the genuine concern for the general well-being before one’s own on Rhaenyra’s shoulders alone demands that all conflict always be the result of misunderstandings. See if anything changes throughout the season. If she were like Jon, she would give up the Crown in a heartbeat. Which makes me miss the great hero of the saga even more. Can Cregan Stark change the game?

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