Two episodes away from the end of the second season of House of the Dragon, we can consider that few “valid” secrets were leaked before the series aired, which is quite commendable nowadays. As this part of the story is complete in the book, unlike Game of Thrones, for example, it is no surprise that we know so much about what is going to happen, the cool thing has been following “how” things happen on air. So far, it’s been very interesting.

Of course, there is the team of purists, who always consider the changes inconsistent, others who didn’t know because they didn’t read the books, and a small group who have appreciated some things, criticizing others. Most of the changes confirm suspicions about the book where there was room for this, but those that completely alter our perception – the best example was the death of Lucaerys at the end of the 1st season – have generated discussions.

So what about the kiss between Rhaenyra and Mysaria? This information, which is not included in Fire & Blood, was leaked hours before the episode aired, sending social media into a frenzy. Likewise, the romance between Ser Criston Cole and Alicent Hightower divided fans.

Well, we could expand on these facts, but what is generating discussion for now is the information that Rhaenyra and her firstborn, Jacaerys, are going to fight badly and that he, alongside Ser Colys Velaryon, will begin an attempt to usurp the Crown or deliberately isolate your mother so that men will truly rule in your name. Shall we try to discuss this very true possibility?

The origin and what is primogeniture

The key to misogyny that does not accept female leaders is – unfortunately – not fiction, but here in House of the Dragon we are obviously talking about a fantasy universe. And, in more than 100 years of rule by the Targaryen dynasty in Westeros, even with prominent female figures over time, the Crown follows the line of Cognatic Primogeniture, which determines that the eldest male child inherits the throne. The lineage, therefore, as a consequence, always follows this rule and the order of descent comes from men, with the oldest children and their heirs before the youngest children.

The oldest account of primogeniture comes from the Old Testament (Esau and Jacob, sons of Isaac), but as George R. R. Martin places his plot in a kind of mirror of the Middle Ages, it is worth remembering that at that time the law of primogeniture was applied because The feudal system required that the estates of the land-owning feudal lords be kept as united as possible, to maintain social stability as well as the wealth and power and social standing of families and the King.

Given this, there was an obsession with male children and this same rule also led to the impossibility of controlling both the fertility of Kings and whether they would produce men or women. To make matters worse, the Christian Faith is monogamous and, with the high mortality rate, a process of extinction of agnatic lineages (descent in the paternal line) soon began.

For this reason alone, society began to consider the eventual female claim to the Crown, but with limitations, which will encounter the drama of the House of the Dragon leak. As women did not succeed to the throne, only for long enough to pass the Power to their male children and the heir’s husband was the one who ruled forcibly, until the title passed to her heir. Of course, this technicality was the source of so many civil wars like the one in the series.

Everything I mentioned is not fiction: it was the rule. But it is the rule that is used in the fictional universe of Westeros. Therefore, Rhaenys, being the only daughter of the heir to the throne, saw “her” Crown pass to her two uncles, who died before becoming kings and the children of one of the uncles were chosen before her, even though she pleaded that Laenor, his son by Ser Corlys Velarion, took priority over Viserys I and lost the argument.

We are already more than aware of all this confusion, which only got worse when Viserys I named Rhaenyra his successor. When it came time to ascend the throne, she had to fight for her legitimacy, while men led the conflict.

The Civil War is more complex than Greens versus Blacks

In short, the Dance of Dragons has Houses Hightower and Targaryen discussing Cognatic Birthright: Rhaenyra has male legitimate brothers and much of the Kingdom supports them before her, no matter what Viserys wanted. The Greens’ question, therefore, is simple: Aegon II is the first son of Viserys and the true heir to the Iron Throne. Rhaenyra, on the other hand, does not have unanimity even from her supporters solely because she is a woman.

In a patriarchal society, where there was no Queen without her being a consort or surrounded by men who “helped” her in Power, it is unacceptable It is possible to listen to a woman’s command. She is not trained for fighting or War, they argue, and the easiest way to prove this is to question her more aggressively than they would a man: we see this in every black council meeting, which never considers Rhaenyra’s command. , but they listen to Daemon’s orders without any problems.

The two men closest to her, Daemon, her uncle and husband, and Ser Corlys Velarion, her former father-in-law, don’t take her seriously either.

Ser Corlys wanted to rule when Rhaenys was Queen, but she never was and neither was their son. He has no patience with Rhaenyra, who had children with her lover as if they were Laenor’s and is more experienced in war than the others.

Daemon, who was Viserys I’s direct heir until he named Rhaenyra, also sees himself as legitimate before his wife, even though technically if that were the case, the Greens would have more arguments. No, the fact that he is a “pure” Targaryen contributes to his confidence, but the fact that as a husband he is the one in charge is what Daemon considers “normal”, which is why he also loses patience with Rhaenyra trying to rule.

Thus, even though in King’s Landing Aegon II, before the battle of Rook’s Nest was injured, was having problems being taken seriously because he was young and inept, it was his actual failures in the position that were creating problems, something that Aemond, as regent, faces it too, but less. In Dragonstone, Rhaenyra is ignored and pressured from all sides and, although her focus is to avoid bloodshed, she is seen as weak and inept, without necessarily being bad. Her position is not taken seriously even by those who support her just because she is a woman.

Jacaerys also opposes Rhaenyra

To date, being as faithful to the book as possible, Jacaerys, Rhaenyra’s firstborn, has been her main supporter and advisor, but she sees him as a child and although she can get along with him, she does not endorse him as she might. Unlike her stepfather Daemon, who is offended by Rhaenyra’s “boldness” to not “listen” to him (aka obey him), Jace admires his mother and just wants to help. This is already changing.

Jace wants to protect his Queen and mother, who suffered an attack in her own room and is thus driven crazy by Rhaenyra’s initiatives to be physically at the forefront of the clashes. He already knows about the role of “protector of the kingdom” according to the Prophecy, but it is practical. He has been the most effective articulator to gain support for the blacks, making important alliances, but notes that Rhaenyra has listened to the suspicious Mysaria more than to himself, which will lead them into a serious clash.

According to the book, it is Jacaerys’ idea to list Targaryen bastards to tame the riderless dragons, but in the series, after the failed attempt at a “seed”, as they call it, Rhaenyra will follow Mysaria’s advice and open the chance for “anyone” that you manage to tame, something that is slightly different from the original story, but that still works.

Of course, the idea comes after Alyn of Hull, a Velaryon bastard, is tamed by Seasmoke (joke intended, it was the dragon that chased him). Now, Laenor and Laena Velaryon had their dragons, but they were Targaryens on their mother’s side (Rhaenys). As Ser Corly’s bastard, Alyn has Valyrian blood, so there is still a justification. And the others?

They will change history by eliminating Nettles and passing his trajectory on to Rhaena, but Ulf and Hugh are in the series. Jacaerys will be mad at his mother for opening up the opportunity to everyone, without having consulted him or considering that she is giving nuclear weapons to people she doesn’t know. According to the leak, Jace will be tough with Rhaenyra on the matter and the fight will escalate into a fight (even a slap, they say) in which she throws in his face the fact that he is a bastard and has a dragon. Unsurprisingly, heartache will be the driving force for more serious problems. Even more so because Ser Corlys will prove his “grandson” right.

The seed of betrayal: a history between the Hands of Kings

In addition to what they call Rhaenyra’s “inconsistency” in turning against her son, humiliating him precisely at the most vulnerable point of his existence – the fact that he is the son of Ser Harwin Strong and not Laenor Velaryon – it is contrary to everything we have seen of her until now. Really?

Regardless of her gender, Rhaenyra has yet to assert herself or demonstrate strong leadership to anyone. Rhaenys saw and admired the surprise that, as regent, Rhaenyra was trying her best, without handing over command to Daemon or engaging in the violence they exacted from her, but at the same time she reinforces the external and misogynistic view of her being insecure and unprepared.

Neither of Alicent or Rhaenyra’s children understands how the two can still speak to each other, and Jacaerys almost loses her composure when she finds out that her mother went to King’s Landing to negotiate a Peace that was never on the agenda, even less so after both sides killed children. As he tells his mother, they “need” Daemon and she doesn’t want him Whether to admit or ask him to return is another vital problem for Black’s strategy. That’s why it’s logical and correct for you to lose patience with her, especially when you see how Mysaria’s influence has grown. This discussion doesn’t exist in the book, but it makes sense.

According to the leak, after the disagreement, Jace seeks out Ser Corlys, who agrees with him. Rhaenyra also did not consult her Hand before taking the initiative and – to the shock of many – Jace and Corlys conspire against Rhaenyra, agreeing to leave her on the throne, but effectively rule in her place. Jace will not live to carry out the plan, but here is the biggest warning for what should happen in a third or fourth season, above all, for the end of the series, which is to show how Ser Corlys changes sides according to the rhythm.

In the original, Ser Corlys already harbored the sorrow of Rhaenys’ death against Rhaenyra, but as he now testifies that it was his wife who wanted to go to battle, his resentment is due to what he considers the blacks’ lack of planning and this is indisputable. As I said, the Greens have a proposal for stability and are already governing. Rhaenyra hasn’t even managed to rally her supporters yet, inside or outside Dragonstone.

Ahead, she will have problems with Alyn and Addam, Corlys’ bastard children who she will authorize to legitimize, but will later think are traitors. Ser Corlys will tire of this and, when she is later, she will leave Rhaenyra to support Aegon II (before participating in the King’s assassination plot). In other words, there’s no point in fussing: it makes sense.

You know what’s saddest? With this line of reasoning, Ser Corlys contributes to the negative statistics of the Hands of Kings’ reliability. Of course, she is the Hand that “really” reigns, so personal interests prevail. Being Corlys won’t be so different from Being Otto, after all. Would they have a reason?

After all, is Rhaenyra right or wrong?

Before throwing stones at the black queen and highlighting her flaws, it takes a woman to understand her. Nothing she decides is accepted, not even by those closest to her, just because she is a woman, so Rhaenyra’s leadership is extremely compromised at the start. Overcoming distrust demands good faith and victories, it has neither.

The knowledge of this situation leaves Rhaenyra increasingly emotionally and physically isolated, making her an easy target for Mysaria to involve her. Even more so without Rhaenys around.

Mysaria’s speech has been firm: she is faithful to Rhaenyra, not the Crown, at the same time inflating her influenceable ego as well as being the only one to validate her initiatives, from going in hiding to find Alicent to putting “anyone” with access to the Dragons. And on the outside still making out with the Queen, it’s hard to resist, right?

Rhaenyra’s good intentions will be her undoing, but it is also welcome that her flaws are brought to light, no longer altered to force her into heroism. The Queen’s tragic end has to have context and emotion, I want to see it more complicated!

So I say: Rhaenyra is making mistakes repeatedly and should have used her greatest weapon – Daemon Targaryen – to be more agile in resolving the conflict. But a “wrong” Rhaenyra is still much better than any green. Too bad she will have problems with Jace. My heart feels for the near future.

Pesquisar

Pesquisar