‘House of the Dragon’: Who deserves the Iron Throne, Team Black or Green?

Immediately after that shocking cliffhanger, Game of Thrones prequel Property of the Dragon is lastly flying back on to our screens. But who need to sit on the Iron Throne, actually? 

In Season two, we’re searching at civil war involving childhood buddies, involving the Black Council beneath the command of Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), and the Green Council led by Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), the latter of whom sees her son Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) at the moment on the Iron Throne.

1st of all, reacquaint oneself with the Targaryen loved ones tree. In the really very first episode of Property of the Dragon, we learnt how King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) won the crown more than Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Ideal). King Jaehaerys, obtaining no living sons, picked Viserys for the duration of the Wonderful Council at Harrenhal mainly because, effectively, he’s a dude. But as to Viserys’ personal heir? Properly, that got complex final season.

In Season 1, successors have been named, the Iron Throne usurped, and at the centre of it all stand two females attempting to stay clear of all-out war in Westeros. But who technically deserves what Viserys calls “the most hazardous seat in the realm”? Ahead of Season two, we’re searching at the pros and cons of the Black and the Green Councils in the forthcoming war of succession.

The case for the Black Council

Pro: Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen was formally named heir to the Iron Throne

You can not get significantly greater than a formal declaration of succession by the king himself. Immediately after his wife and son’s death in childbirth, King Viserys named Rhaenyra heir to the Iron Throne, moving her above her bitter uncle and future husband Prince Daemon (Matt Smith). Rhaenyra was the early choose of the Smaller Council more than Daemon, but it wasn’t till he pissed off Viserys by calling the king’s stillborn son Prince Baelon “The Heir for a Day” that Viserys decided to make it official, telling Rhaenyra of her succession in front of the skull of legendary Valyrian dragon Balerion — a sacred spot to do so.

In spite of the reality that no queen had ever sat on the Iron Throne, a entire Wonderful Hall of lords pledged their allegiance to the princess — and by the finale, the newly crowned Queen Rhaenyra was prepared to strongly remind them of these oaths.

All through Season 1, Viserys swore publicly and to Rhaenyra (on her mother’s memory!) she would not be supplanted as heir, even when her teenage bestie Alicent was declared his betrothed. Yuck. Viserys confirmed his daughter’s royal inheritance once again to Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), when they arranged marriage involving Rhaenyra and his son Laenor (John MacMillan) — Rhaenyra’s succession was component of the bargain.

On the other hand, mainly because Westeros is patriarchal as hell, Rhaenyra’s inheritance was technically generally beneath threat by Viserys making a male heir with Alicent. “Males would sooner place the realm to the torch than see a lady ascend the Iron Throne,” Rhaenys told a young Rhaenyra, obtaining gone by way of all that crap herself. The king confided in Alicent of his doubts, giving a powerful base for her motivation to wave the dubious paternity of Rhaenyra’s “Sturdy” sons about, as effectively as how she interpreted the most contested moment in the series: King Viserys’ final want.

Con: Queen Alicent Hightower genuinely believes Viserys changed his thoughts

There is Aemond. And then there is Aemond.
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

King Viserys died in his bed with Alicent by his side in episode eight. We never ever saw Viserys rename his heir, but in his final moments, the lucid king spoke of a dream had by King Aegon I Targaryen, a secret Targaryen prophecy passed from king to heir identified as “A Song of Ice and Fire” that speaks of “The Prince That Was Promised” to safeguard Westeros from dark forces (study: white walkers). Viserys never ever told anybody but Rhaenyra of the prophecy, and his final words, which appear meant for his daughter, are: “It is you. You are the one particular. You should do this. You should do this.”

If you heard your dying husband speak your son Aegon’s name and the words “The Prince That Was Promised” with no context, you’d in all probability think he’d renamed his heir also. When the Smaller Council believes it handy, Alicent believes it to be the truth.

Notably, in the season finale, Rhaenyra realises Viserys never ever told Daemon of King Aegon I’s dream — her father never ever had any intention of naming Daemon as his heir, ever.

Pro: The Black Council has far more dragons so…

Dragons = rule.
Credit: HBO

If we’re speaking soldiers, the Green Council could possibly have the Black Council beat. But if we’re speaking dragons?

The Black Council has: Syrax (Rhaenyra Targaryen), Meleys (Rhaenys Targaryen), Caraxes (Daemon Targaryen), Vermax (Jacaerys Velaryon), Tyraxes (Joffrey Velaryon), and Moondancer (Baela Targaryen) — they are now devoid of Arrax, who died with Lucerys.

They could also possibly have the legendary Vermithor, who Daemon sung to in the season finale. And it is unclear who’ll be riding Seasmoke (when ridden by Laenor Velaryon) who resides on Driftmark, or Silverwing who lives on the Dragonmont — plus, Daemon’s incubating a bunch of dragon eggs there.

The Green Council has: Dreamfyre (Helaena), Sunfyre (Aegon II Targaryen), and Vhagar “Queen of all Dragons” (Aemond Targaryen, who claimed her more than Rhaena Velaryon, who was hoping to claim her from her late mother, Laena Velaryon).

On the other hand, as Rhaenyra wisely advises her council in the finale, dragons in war implies anything burns, promising “a kingdom of ash and bone” for whomever is left.

Con: Rhaenyra’s problematic uncle-husband is a murderous liability 

Believing himself the accurate heir to the Iron Throne, Viserys’ brother Prince Daemon has craved kingship for an age. Immediately after Viserys picked Rhaenyra as heir, Daemon produced a handful of energy plays, declaring himself the Prince of Dragonstone, stealing Prince Baelon’s dragon egg, beginning a war in the Stepstones alongside Corlys devoid of Viserys’ permission and generally finishing it himself. But none of this worked as properly as marrying his personal niece. 

Rhaenyra and Daemon make for one particular supercharged, incestuous, toxic Targaryen duo. Daemon comes with some advantageous territory, obtaining been named King of the Narrow Sea soon after he smashed the Triarchy. The pair have Driftmark and the shipping lanes in hand by way of their marriages with Laena (Nanna Blondell) and Laenor, and subsequent alliances with Rhaenys and Corlys, consequently commanding the mightiest navy of Westeros.

But need to Rhaenyra fully trust her uncle-husband? He’s an completely terrible spouse, who inherited all of Runestone by murdering his very first wife. Confident, Daemon tends to make the Kings’ Guard swear allegiance to Queen Rhaenyra (beneath discomfort of dragon fire), but he’s continually difficult her in front of her council and is privately violent toward her.

Massive Pro: Rhaenyra has “The Queen Who In no way Was” and Lord Corlys’ fleet on side

MY Queen.
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Let’s not overlook Rhaenys Targaryen, “The Queen Who In no way Was”, was up for the Iron Throne herself when. In reality, she and her husband Corlys came close to the Iron Throne by just about obtaining their daughter Laena married to King Viserys…when she was 12. Fortunately rather, they solidified their connection to the crown by way of Rhaenyra’s marriage to their son Laenor and Daemon’s marriage to Laena — even so, Laena endured the most horrific death of the series, and Laenor faked his personal death. 

Immediately after Viserys’ death, Rhaenys was held captive in the Red Retain and told to swear allegiance to the Greens. (Good attempt.) Alicent attempted to sway Rhaenys, insisting Aegon’s succession was her husband’s dying want and playing the “you need to have been queen” card.

“Property Velaryon has lengthy allied itself with the Princess Rhaenyra and what has it gained you?” Alicent asked.

“The word of my Property is not fickle,” is all Rhaenys necessary to say.

Definitely, incarcerating Rhaenys and her dragon Meleys was not the move. In their dramatic escape from King’s Landing, the pair chose not to kill the newly crowned Aegon by fire and kickstart the war. Alternatively, she and Corlys pledge the help of Property Velaryon and its mighty fleet to the Black Council’s lead to.

Property Velaryon is in.
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

So, Green in all probability can not beat Black on the sea or the sky. But they have their personal pros and cons in legitimately claiming that all-crucial Iron Throne.

The case for the Green Council

Pro: Alicent Hightower has fought her way from political pawn to energy player

You have got to hand it to Alicent.
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

When she could possibly not be a dragonrider or a princess, Queen Alicent Hightower has endured a lot to get to exactly where she is. In one particular of the most WTF moments of Property of the Dragon so far, 17-year-old Alicent was forced by her father, Hand of the King Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), to “comfort” a significantly older, grieving Viserys — a move that reduce her off from her finest buddy and ally in the Red Retain, Rhaenyra. Although she does care for him, she’s basically produced to marry the king, have undesirable sex with his decaying physique, and bear him 4 largely awful youngsters. Alicent also endures the horrors of an alliance with the creepy Larys Sturdy (Matthew Needham), is continually undercut by her scheming father, and she treads lightly inside a energy structure that will never ever safeguard her or her youngsters by default.

Although she threw Rhaenyra beneath the bus by obsessing more than her sons’ paternity, Alicent has identified moments of reclamation exactly where she can. Mashable’s Belen Edwards wrote a entire piece about why Alicent’s green dress in episode five is such an iconic energy move. Immediately after Viserys’ death, Alicent lambasted her father for creating her a pawn, even creating a individual appeal to Rhaenyra with a token of their childhood collectively to convince her ex-buddy away from war.

Yes, Alicent has wed her son Aegon to her daughter Helaena (Phia Saban) to bolster their “pure blood” claim to the throne more than Rhaenyra’s alleged bastard sons, a move that is classic Targaryen but nevertheless gross and politically problematic. But it is not the only gross and problematic factor about right here — there is Aegon himself.

Con: Aegon is a total dropkick who threatened to sail on a boat to stay clear of becoming king

“I have no want to rule! No taste for duty!”
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

As Alicent can not take the Iron Throne herself, it is the queen’s very first-born son by Viserys who’s up. Issue is, Aegon sucks.

A major fan of youngster fighting rings and public masturbation, Aegon never ever wanted the Iron Throne. In reality, he actively ran away from it. In episode 9, he fled from his brother Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Franke), and Ser Erryk (Elliott Tittensor) and Arryk Cargyll (Luke Tittensor), screaming “I want my mother”. Even his personal guardsmen are disgusted by him, calling him “unfit to rule.” Aemond, who desperately craves the Iron Throne, had to actually drag him residence to the palace, as his brother cried, “I have no want to rule! No taste for duty! I’m not suited.” Aegon even begged his brother to let him go and “sail away never ever to be identified!” 

“My father never ever wanted this. He had 20 years to name me heir and never ever did. Steadfastly, he upheld Rhaenyra’s claim.”

On the way to Aegon’s coronation, Alicent had to remind her son of the privilege he’s becoming handed, telling him to “have the decency to appear grateful.” But even Aegon knows it is Rhaenyra’s crown by correct, saying, “My father never ever wanted this. He had 20 years to name me heir and never ever did. Steadfastly, he upheld Rhaenyra’s claim.” Aegon even laughed off his mother’s assertion that the king changed his thoughts: “He didn’t like me.”

Pro: The Greens usurped Rhaenyra’s throne really, really publicly

Oh NOW Aegon desires it.
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Royal tantrum-thrower Aegon lastly embraced the Iron Throne when he was publicly offered a golden crown, anointed by the Higher Septon in front of thousands in the Dragonpit in the penultimate episode of Season 1.

It really is a strong PR move from the Hightowers Otto announced the death of the king when crowning a new one particular, as the new Lord Commander, Ser Criston Cole declared him “the accurate heir to the Iron Throne”. Aegon had misogyny on his side right here — don’t forget a young Rhaenyra saw a theatre audience actively booing her claim to the throne in episode four. So, the crowd politely murmured, but then later applauded heartily. It really is a really public declaration of succession.

“They crowned him in front of the masses?” Rhaenyra mentioned in shock in the season finale when she was told the news.

“So that the masses would see him as their rightful king,” Rhaenys replied.

Con: Prince Aemond generally tough-launched the civil war

Massive error. Massive.
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Neither Alicent nor Rhaenyra wanted to go to war for the throne — Alicent attempted to steer Aegon away from ruling with “cruelty and callousness”, when Rhaenyra held off the Black Council’s war rallying. Usurping the throne is a treasonous move that starts the rumblings of civil war in Westeros, but soon after that Season 1 finale? It really is on.

When the Black Council sent their reps out to rally the armies of the Eyrie, Winterfell, and the Stormlands to their lead to, they assigned Lucerys (Elliot Grihault), Rhaenyra’s youngest son, to Storm’s Finish to get Borros Baratheon (Roger Evans) onside. He identified his nemesis Aemond currently there, demanding a literal eye for an eye. On leaving, Lucerys and his dragon Arrax have been chomped by Aemond’s huge dragon Vhagar. From the appear on Aemond’s face, it undoubtedly wasn’t the prince’s whole intention to kill his brother’s rival’s son. And till this moment, Rhaenyra had resisted creating the very first move in the looming war. But her son becoming killed by Vhagar, ridden by a prince of the Greens? Buckle up.

Appear, in the end we know the fate of Property Targaryen is fairly grim, with the “Mad King” Aerys set to do his factor about 170 years down the track and his daughter Daenerys Targaryen sealing her personal fate. But for now, it’ll be a matter of bloody techniques for who ends up on the Iron Throne in Property of the Dragon.

Personally, I consider we all know Viserys never ever changed his heir from Rhaenyra. But can a person lastly place Rhaenys on the throne, please?

Property of the Dragon Season two premieres June 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.