Among Rhaenyra Targaryen’s (Emma D’Arcy) supporters is her stepdaughter and niece by marriage, Baela Velaryon Targaryen (Bethany Antonia), who would also have been her daughter-in-law had the Dance of Dragons not cost Jacaerys Velaryon Targaryen (Harry Collett). Of course, all of this is still in the future, but if Baela began to gain greater prominence in the second season, it is because, as the daughter of Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), she is not far from her father’s fascinating personality.

In House of the Dragon, as technically the eldest of Daemon Targaryen and Laena Velaryon, she has a twin sister, Rhaena, Baela spent a period of her life being personally trained by her grandmother, Rhaenys (Eve Best), who wanted her heir to Driftmark. However, in addition to Ser Corlys (Steve Toussaint) retaining the right to Lucerys, Baela herself was attached to her cousins ​​and engaged to Jace, therefore emotionally linked to Rhaenyra’s cause from the beginning.

It is important to follow and anticipate the trajectory of this princess who will help define the future of the Targaryens.

Baela grew up in an environment of great prestige and power, being part of the Targaryen and Velaryon houses, two of the most influential families in Westeros. Having been orphaned by her mother at a very young age, she has a very distant and complex relationship with her father. Daemon is known for being a man of action, charismatic and often impetuous, characteristics that can both inspire and cause conflict, and Baela, in turn, inherits part of this determination and courage.

The princess respects and admires her father for his abilities as a warrior and leader, but even more so her stepmother is the first female Queen of House Targaryen. That’s why she gets directly involved in the conflict.

In the series, we will have Baela in action much earlier than in the book, even before Jace’s death. There are suspicions that the script will adapt the plot and place it directly in Rook’s Nest, the most anticipated battle of the season. In this case, the images in the trailer support the suspicion as we see her flying and attacking, apparently the hateful Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and her uncle, Aegon II (Tom Glynn Carney). Really?

As we heard Rhaenyra recommend, Baela will fly her dragon, Moondacer, to observe (and only that) the movement of the Greens. For some reason, it will engage with enemies and it could be a trap.

If so, this will be the reason for Rhaenys to go alone to meet her granddaughter, being caught by Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and Aegon II, dying in the confrontation. If this is the narrative, Ser Corlys will be doubly furious with Rhaenyra because she sent his granddaughter, caused his wife’s death, and even spared Jace from helping her. It’s possible.

In the book it is different. Very different.

Baela wants to fly and help Jace, but Moondancer is still too small for battle. In this way, she loses her fiancé and her grandmother without much alternative fueling hatred and resentment towards the greens. At the end of the civil war, with Rhaenyra trying to rule in King’s Landing, Aegon II takes Dragonstone, after facing a courageous Baela.

The princess manages to escape from her quarters and get to her dragon, managing to mount Moondancer and go on the attack. When Aegon II attempts to land with Sunfyre, Baela and Moondancer go to meet him.

The battle is long, it lasts all night and at dawn, they fall to the ground still fighting. Aegon leaps from the saddle 20 feet above the ground, but Baela stays with Moondancer until the end. Burned and bruised, she still frees the dragon before being caught. She is saved by Ser Marston Waters and taken for medical attention, but then taken prisoner. Aegon tries to execute her more than once, and due to different circumstances, she ends up being saved, and, in the last one, it is because due to a plot in which even Ser Corlys was part, Aegon is poisoned and dies.

Without Jace, Baela gains a reputation as a seductress but eventually marries Ser Alyn Velaryon (Clinton Liberty), ex of Hull, and now knight of House Velaryon. This marriage is significant both politically and personally, uniting two powerful houses of Westeros. Ser Alyn is brave and loyal, and his relationship with Baela is happy. More than Jace, it’s Alyn who we can say is the love of her life.

In the final stage of the civil war, Baela not only saves her grandfather, Ser Corlys, but she helps her half-brother, Aegon III establish his kingdom after the deaths of everyone from the Dance of Dragons. He trusts and loves his sisters and they are the ones who introduce him to the woman who will become the mother of his children, Daenera Velaryon.

So Baela will be a great Targaryen and will – potentially – have an incredible arc in House of the Dragon.

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