“Dracarys”: A command from Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) to her dragon Meleys and the whole civil war that Westeros faces after the death of King Viserys (Paddy Considine) could have been prevented. At least that’s what many viewers accuse the team of authors of “House Of The Dragon” after episode 9.
Because after Rhaenys broke out of the dragon pit into the arena with her dragon, she has the entire green faction around Alicent (Olivia Cooke), Otto Hightower / Hohenturm (Rhys Ifans) and the newly crowned King Aegon II. (Tom Glynn-Carney ) right under your nose. And at that moment nobody could have stopped the woman and her fire-breathing beast, that can be clearly seen on the faces of the “Greens”. You know full well: Rhaenys only has to command “Dracarys”, and Meleys would burn them all. Alicent even closes his eyes. But the princess doesn’t.
Showrunners Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal explain why in the episode review Inside The Episode on Youtube: “It is her moral point of view that makes her decide not to do anything. She knows that if she gives the fire order, she will prevent war and perhaps bring peace to the realm. But she doesn’t want to be responsible for doing that to another mother. It’s a complex decision.”
They wanted to give Rhaenys, a great dragon rider, this great moment by not only having to passively watch what is happening. She demonstrates her power with her dragon – but she does not take the last step. And the showrunners quite rightly predict in the video: “Some viewers will argue or have a problem with this decision. But that’s the decision Rhaenys is making at this moment.”
Rhaenys’ moral considerations could not only include the fact that she does not want to kill a mother and her child. It is theoretically Maybe she doesn’t want to build Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) reign on one gruesome act.
Many political opponents would be cleared off the field if Meley’s Aegon & Co. were burned. But the people who were just cheering during the coronation would also have witnessed that their new king was killed – and many of them shouldn’t really care who has what right to the throne and by what right. They would only see the gruesome murder and then perhaps turn against Rhaenyra even more.
Incidentally, screenwriter Sara Hess took a similar position as the showrunner in an interview with the Hollywood reporters a. Rhaenys did choose a side, namely Rhaenyra’s, but not at any cost: “I think she just can’t do it. It’s not their war. The battle is between these two sides, and she’s not really part of it. But it’s true. If she just burned everyone, it would be game over, Rhaenyra would have won and it would all be over. But the price would be gigantic.”
“The moment she looks into Alicent’s eyes and Alicent stands protectively in front of her child, two mothers face each other. Rhaenys is angry, but in her previous scene with Alicent, it was obvious that she respects her even if she doesn’t agree with her. So she doesn’t want to just kill another woman like that.”
At least this much can be said for sure: Rhaenys made her decision very consciously. She knew the power she held in her hands at the moment – but she did not see it as her duty to fight Rhaenyra’s battle at the expense of her ideals. And even if Rhaenys has reasons to be on Rhaenyra’s side, the accusation that Rhaenyra had Rhaenys’ son Laenor Velaryon killed remains between the two women. And even killing for Rhaenyra, without a fair fight, is something Rhaenys chooses not to do, at least in this moment.
And of course we wouldn’t have a series otherwise either: Season 2 of “House Of The Dragon” and any further seasons will be about the civil war called “Dance of the Dragons”. But first comes the season 1 finale: Episode 10 will be released on October 24, 2022 at 3 a.m. on Sky and immediately afterwards on WOW (Sky Ticket). And if you want to find out more about episode 9, just take a look at our analysis video above this article.
