Warning: This text incorporates spoilers for Episode 3 of “Home of the Dragon” Season 3.
Who knew that ruling from the Iron Throne can be more durable than truly successful it in battle? Emma D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra Targaryen, the rightful Queen of the seven (or is it 9?) kingdoms of Westeros, is at the moment studying that getting precisely what you need is barely half the battle. Understanding what to do when you lastly have it, nicely, that is infinitely extra difficult. The third episode of “Home of the Dragon” Season 3 (learn our assessment right here) may be the present’s most introspective one but, slowing all the way down to a crawl to discover the fallout of final week’s invasion of King’s Touchdown — and the litany of issues in want of Rhaenyra’s consideration. However what it lacks within the mile-a-minute pacing of the final two episodes is made up for in a deep-dive exploration of that the majority traditional of “Recreation of Thrones” themes: What makes a very good ruler?
In fact, that is acquainted territory for anybody who watched Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) all through her most irritating moments on “Recreation of Thrones.” Overthrowing slavery cities in Essos and setting enslavers on fireplace with dragons is all enjoyable and video games … till it comes time to lead the individuals you simply conquered so ruthlessly. This maddeningly circuitous detour took up the majority of Seasons 4-6 of “Recreation of Thrones,” however for good motive. With a purpose to go west and eventually take what’s hers in Westeros, Dany first wanted to remain within the east and study these arduous classes of the best way to truly be a correct ruler.
It is an eerily comparable parallel to Rhaenyra’s ongoing struggles in King’s Touchdown. In different phrases, “Home of the Dragon” is (loosely) remaking its father or mother collection’ most potent arc. And it makes excellent sense.
Like Daenerys Targaryen in Recreation of Thrones, Rhaeynra is studying that being Queen is more durable than it seems in Home of the Dragon
Even in fiction, historical past tends to repeat itself, however “Home of the Dragon” is taking that idea to a good higher excessive. In truth, perhaps sure characters in “Recreation of Thrones” would’ve been higher off finding out all the pieces that went down a century or two earlier. Now that we’re seeing co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal’s interpretation of the occasions of “Hearth & Blood,” nicely, the similarities are staring us proper within the face. Season 3, Episode 3, makes that as overt as ever, and the outcomes are each acquainted and engaging directly.
Because it seems, Dany wasn’t the primary Queen of Westeros to appreciate that chasing after the Iron Throne may be a idiot’s errand — irrespective of how a lot future and destiny appears to will it so. Actuality hits Rhaenyra sq. within the face nearly from the second she sits the throne. Final week’s execution of the present’s greatest character in Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) was solely the beginning. What comes subsequent is an infinite stream of complications and not possible issues to resolve. Grain shortages, combative non secular figures, unfathomably wealthy lords and women in want of a harsh lesson, and even a husband urging her to rule the world are only a style of the troubles that Rhaenyra should by some means resolve. When her most trusted advisor in Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) all however spits in her face over her refusal to legitimize his two sons of less-than-noble start, it is made uncomfortably clear that we may very well be in for a chaotic regency alongside the strains of Dany’s misadventures in Meereen.
However all of that pales compared to her costliest errors but.
Is Home of the Dragon establishing a darker ending for Rhaenyra Targaryen?
As one villain infamously acknowledged in “Recreation of Thrones,” “In the event you assume this has a cheerful ending, you have not been paying consideration.” Might these ominous phrases apply right here with the prequel, happening centuries earlier than these occasions? Readers of George R.R. Martin’s “Hearth & Blood” are nicely conscious of how the Dance of the Dragons finally ends. In truth, those that’ve watched the unique present are, too, contemplating that “Recreation of Thrones” already spoiled how “Home of the Dragon” ends. Both method, the central rigidity of the present stays the identical. Rhaenyra and her rival Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) have come too far to surrender now. All that continues to be to be seen is how darkish issues get ultimately.
By the seems of it in Season 3, that may very well be very darkish. Episode 3 seems to be laying the monitor for some severe issues sooner or later for Staff Black. Whereas the bickering between Daemon (Matt Smith) and Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) over the best way to deal with the stressed smallfolk of King’s Touchdown is performed up a number of occasions, Rhaenyra could have set herself up for failure in different methods, too. Her tense run-in with the cussed Excessive Septon (Simon Chandler) may as nicely have a flashing neon gentle overhead spelling out “TROUBLE” in all-caps, however her metaphorical slap within the face to town’s the Aristocracy throughout that banquet might loom even bigger. In each instances, she appears to make enemies of essentially the most highly effective denizens of King’s Touchdown. There is not any method that ends nicely … proper?
Is the Queen stronger than her topics? Count on the remainder of the season to discover this very query. New episodes of “Home of the Dragon” air on HBO each Sunday.
