A new House of the Dragon season 2 teaser confirms the HBO show is making a significant change to Rhaenyra Targaryen’s story from the book. Based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the Game of Thrones prequel has already deviated from the source material in some major ways. Laenor Velaryon was left alive when he’s dead in the text, for example, while House of the Dragon season 1’s ending had Aemond Targaryen kill Lucerys Velaryon by accident, rather than as a deliberate act as in the book.
That will continue with House of the Dragon season 2. In some ways, this is inevitable. Any adaptation is going to make changes to suit the medium, and with Fire & Blood in particular, because it’s written as an in-universe historical account drawing on multiple perspectives, then it needs to a) present a more definitive version of events, and b) flesh out details and characters a lot more. That’s certainly true for Rhaenyra, as one of the show’s main characters, and after theories that she would be fighting in battles in season 2, that looks to be the case.
House Of The Dragon Season 2 Footage Basically Confirms Rhaenyra Will Be Fighting
Emma D’Arcy’s Character Is Swapping Jewels And Gowns For A Sword And Shield
New footage from House of the Dragon season 2 [via @housethedragons on X] shows Rhaenyra discussing the Dance of the Dragons, and what kind of Queen she needs to be. Whereas in the book Rhaenyra has a more passive role in the Targaryen civil war, leaving others to do the fighting while she remains on Dragonstone, the teaser more or less confirms that is changing in the show, as Emma D’Arcy’s character says:
“They will see me a ruler. And the symbols of authority are not jewels and gowns, but the shield, and the sword.”
There had already been hints this was going to happen. Various shots from the trailers had shown Rhaenyra on the back of her dragon, Syrax, indicating that she was entering into battle herself, or at the very least that she’d be leaving Dragonstone. Rhaenyra also wielded a sword in House of the Dragon season 2’s BTS trailer, which, while brief, was another major clue that audiences would be seeing a much more combative version of the character.
It’s also worth noting that Rhaenyra’s line on jewels and gowns is also a contradiction of the character from the source material, where she is noted to have loved such things – and that she was never a fighter. Martin himself said as much [via So Spake Martin on Westeros.org]:
“Rhaenyra was no warrior herself. She always dressed richly, favoring purple and maroon velvets and golden Myrish lace in intricate patterns. Her bodice often glittered with pearls and diamonds, and there were always rings on her fingers.”
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This wasn’t, admittedly, as big a part of the character in House of the Dragon season 1, but could still be seen throughout the show. She wore several fine gowns, ruby drop earrings, and multiple necklaces, most significantly the Valyrian steel one given to her by her uncle, Daemon Targaryen.
Why House Of The Dragon Season 2’s Rhaenyra Change Is Divisive
Changing From George R.R. Martin’s Story Has Some Potential Problems, But Could Also Be Great
Even the smallest changes to source material can risk angering fans of the book, so it’s perhaps no surprise that the new House of the Dragon season 2 teaser – and Rhaenyra’s comments on jewels and gowns – have sparked plenty of debate and discussion on social media. Part of that is to do with changing the character from Martin’s vision, seeing Rhaenyra’s quote as the complete opposite of who the character was always supposed to be.
Of course, the book and show are different things, and different presentations of the character, and so much of what’s written about Rhaenyra is presented from historical accounts of men, so it’s understandable there’ll be big changes. At the same time, one of the bigger issues is the idea that the show is removing Rhaenyra’s femininity – her jewels and gowns – for more typically masculine objects (sword and shield) in order to make her into a strong ruler, when someone could absolutely be feminine and a powerful leader.
It makes sense that she would recognize how Westeros adheres to patriarchal, traditionally masculine ideas of strength and power, especially in a war where she needs people to fight and die for her.
There is also, though, a difference between what the character is, and how they see the world and how the world sees them. Rhaenyra has long been a woman fighting for control in a man’s world – to be her father’s heir, and now to be Queen. It makes sense that she would recognize how Westeros adheres to patriarchal, traditionally masculine ideas of strength and power, especially in a war where she needs people to fight and die for her.
That shouldn’t mean she has to completely give up the jewels and gowns, and that may not even be what’s happening, as one doesn’t completely rule out the other in the right places and situations. Ultimately, Rhaenyra heading into battle and being more active should be a good change and make her into a more well-rounded character, and so, hopefully, House of the Dragon season 2 can get that balance right, even if it will probably be divisive regardless.