The epic HBO fantasy collection “Home of the Dragon” has exceeded fan expectations in some ways, giving those that have been burned by “Sport of Thrones” one other likelihood to like and grieve the unimaginable characters of franchise creator George R. R. Martin’s worlds. Going down roughly 200 years earlier than the occasions of “Sport of Thrones,” “Home of the Dragon” incorporates all the nice features of its tv predecessor, simply carried out a lot better, and that features every kind of difficult household drama. Actually, “Home of the Dragon” just about triples down on the household drama (and incest) as a result of it is centered on the “Dance of the Dragons,” a battle between two factions of the dragon-riding Targaryen household. On one facet is Crew Inexperienced, headed up by Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and her son Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), whom she topped as king after the demise of his father Viserys I (Paddy Considine) and a little bit of a misunderstanding. On the opposite facet is Crew Black, headed up by Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), who was truly named inheritor to the throne by her father Viserys, and he or she’s miffed that her youthful half-brother acquired put there as an alternative.
As a result of it is a fantasy world loosely primarily based on our personal Center Ages, folks are inclined to have fairly a couple of kids, and Rhaenyra isn’t any exception. She has six kids in each the sourcebook “Fireplace & Blood” and “Home of the Dragon,” and whereas a few of them do not survive to maturity, those who do find yourself being influential on all of Westerosi historical past.
Rhaenyra had three sons with Ser Harwin Robust — Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey
Rhaenyra, because the daughter of Viserys I together with his first spouse, Aemma Arryn, was compelled into an organized marriage together with her second cousin Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan). Nonetheless, she had a secret affair with Ser Harwin Robust (Ryan Corr), and it is fairly possible that every one three of her kids from the time she was married to Laenor are literally his. (Not solely do the children look an amazing quantity like Ser Harwin, however he is very hooked up to them as properly.) The pair had three sons: Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon (performed by Leo Hart as a baby and Harry Collett as a younger grownup), Lucerys “Luke” Velaryon (performed by Harvey Sadler as a baby and Elliot Grihault as a younger grownup), and Joffrey Velaryon (Oscar Eskinazi). Sadly, Ser Harwin dies in a fireplace on the extraordinarily cursed fort of Harrenhal, which prevents Rhaenyra from having any extra kids by him, and Laenor fakes his demise and leaves for Essos with Rhaenyra’s blessing, though it is possible that he is not alive as of the tip of season 2.
Jace is an earnest, good-hearted soul who actually believes in his mom’s declare to the throne (which might place him second in line). He rides the dragon Vermax and does his finest to function a member of his mom’s small council and envoy, together with petitioning for an alliance with Home Frey. His youthful brother Luke has a bit extra Targaryen fireplace in him, and through a nasty struggle as kids together with his uncle-cousins Aegon II and Aemond Targaryen, he sliced Aemond with a knife and induced him to lose his eye, which might have devastating penalties down the road. His dragon is Arrax, and he’s the inheritor to Driftmark. Youngest son Joffrey is bonded to the dragon Tyraxes and we all know little or no about him in any other case, as he is nonetheless fairly younger within the collection.
Lucerys Viserion was murdered by his cousin
Whereas the battle of the “Home of the Dragon” children ending with Luke giving Aemond a basic villain look with one eye is definitely type of humorous and well-deserved, it additionally, sadly, impressed a deep hatred in Prince Aemond, who’s to not be trifled with. Performed by Leo Ashton as a baby and Ewan Mitchell as a younger grownup, Aemond is impressively merciless and manipulative, and usually higher at taking part in the sport of thrones than his older brother Aegon. After demanding that Luke lower out certainly one of his personal eyes as a way to make it proper, Aemond and Luke get into an argument. Luke flees on his dragon Arrax, and Aemond pursues him in a rage.
Using on his absolute behemoth of a dragon, Vhagar, Aemond catches up together with his youthful nephew-cousin and issues get ugly. Each dragons disobey their riders, resulting in Arrax attacking Vhagar in an try to guard Luke and Vhagar chomping down on each dragon and rider, killing them each. Aemond was indignant however possible didn’t imply to kill Luke, understanding simply how intense the fallout can be for such an act, and it makes the incident all of the extra tragic and Aemond a extra complicated character than his e-book model, who flat-out murdered Luke deliberately.
Daemon Targaryen fathered Rhaenyra’s two youthful sons — Aegon and Viserys
Along with her sons by Ser Harwin Robust, Rhaenyra additionally had two youthful sons by her uncle-husband Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith). The 2 have a deeply difficult relationship that is the most effective within the franchise, however up to now on the collection, their progeny are simply younger kids. Rhaenyra and Daemon have been capable of introduce the boys to their grandfather/uncle King Viserys I earlier than he died, naming them Aegon and Viserys, in honor of earlier Targaryens. Funnily sufficient, even supposing as Rhaenyra’s youngest son, he can be a good distance from the throne when it comes to lineage, Viserys jokes that his namesake has a reputation “match for a king” and this seems to be unintentionally prophetic.
In season 2, Rhaenyra despatched Joffrey, Aegon, and Viserys to the Eyrie for security, and so they then boarded a ship for Essos, the place they might hopefully be secure from the battle between Inexperienced and Black. The kid actors for younger Viserys and Aegon have been modified a number of occasions and generally it is tough to search out confirmed info, although Aegon was performed by twin actors Jake and Cory Heard in season 1.
Rhaenyra had a stillborn daughter named Visenya
On “Home of the Dragon,” the birthing mattress is a battlefield all of its personal, and it results in a few of the present’s most tragic moments. Although Rhaenyra doesn’t die in childbirth like her mom or Daemon’s first spouse, Laena, she does undergo a horrible finish to her last being pregnant. After studying the information that Aegon II has taken her throne from her and has been topped king, she is so distressed that she has a miscarriage. Her solely daughter, Visenya, was stillborn with start defects that made her seem dragon-like, together with scales and a stubby tail, in accordance with the e-book “The World of Ice & Fireplace.” On the HBO collection, she wasn’t proven intimately however the particular results firm that created the silicone doll used for the scene have shared photographs, and poor Visenya had a misshapen head, no nostril, and a crown of scales.
The lack of Visenya is the ultimate straw for Rhaenyra, pushing her from hating Alicent and her kids to genuinely wanting them to pay for all the things they’ve carried out. It is the ultimate catalyst for the battle itself, which may have devastating penalties for all of Rhaenyra’s kids.
What occurs to Rhaenyra’s kids within the books?
As of the tip of season 2, Jace, Joffrey, Aegon, and Viserys are all secure and largely sound, however we already understand how issues are going to end up for them (kind of) due to each “The World of Ice & Fireplace” and “Fireplace & Blood,” and it is not nice. The Velaryon and Targaryen children are all fairly darn doomed in a technique or one other. Jace and his dragon would each be killed by Crew Inexperienced forces on the Battle of the Gullet, whereas Joffrey would die in a dragon using accident whereas making an attempt to show himself to his mom.
In contrast to their Velaryon half-brothers, each Daemon and Rhaenyra’s sons would reside to not solely see maturity but in addition sit on the Iron Throne. Following the deaths of each his mom and her rival, Aegon II, Aegon III was topped as Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, the King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Males. Sadly, he was additionally deeply disturbed by all the demise and bloodshed he witnessed, together with his mom’s personal demise on dragonback, and he turned generally known as “Aegon the Damaged” and “Aegon the Dragonbane,” as he hated dragons fiercely. Aegon died from consumption in his 30s and his eldest son, Daeron, succeeded him.
Viserys would function Hand of the King for Aegon, Daeron, and Daeron’s youthful brother Baelor, earlier than ultimately turning into king himself after Baelor died (both from fasting or from being poisoned by Viserys; “Fireplace & Blood” is unclear on this. Viserys II would solely reign as king for a 12 months earlier than being succeeded by his eldest son, Aegon IV, who could have poisoned Viserys. That bloodline would ultimately result in Daenerys Targaryen, Aemon Targaryen, and Jon Snow, establishing an entire new sport of intrigue, incest, and sure, thrones.
