WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 4 AND George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood!Viserys has already revealed just how far he’ll go to protect Rhaenyra’s claim, which will lead to some of the king’s most brutal acts in House of the Dragon. When Rhaenyra’s reputation is nearly sullied by a rumor in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 4, King Viserys admits that he would have disinherited her and named Aegon his successor instead if not for the importance of maintaining unity in the realm. As a woman whose actions will come under scrutiny far more than a man, Rhaenyra is warned of how fragile her claim to the Iron Throne truly is, but Viserys has already resigned that he will go to great lengths to defend her name and succession.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

Despite still caring for his daughter, Viserys’s fierce protection of Rhaenyra is largely self-serving, as he can’t risk dividing the realm through her disinheritance or ruined reputation. Viserys reminds Rhaenyra of this fact in House of the Dragon episode 4’s ending when reiterating the importance of Aegon’s dream, which he emphasizes is larger than themselves and their personal desires. The king discourages Rhaenyra from any scandalous acts that could put her position as heir in jeopardy, but having the maester give her moon tea already proves that Viserys understands she’ll do as she pleases as long as she performs her duties. In return for stability in the realm, he’ll protect Rhaenyra’s succession at all costs.

The lengths Viserys will go to protect Rhaenyra extend far beyond firing Otto Hightower and preventing pregnancy through moon tea. This was already teased by Viserys’s first reaction to the rumor of Rhaenyra and Daemon sleeping together, as the King told Otto he would tear the eyes out of whoever spread such vile gossip. While Viserys won’t take anyone’s eyes, he will take their tongues in House of the Dragon. Per George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, when the rumor of Rhaenyra’s sons with Laenor being bastards of House Strong is spread, King Viserys cuts out the tongues of the Velaryons who repeat such accusations. The king is then accused of killing Harwin Strong, the supposed father of Rhaenyra’s children. Even as the dangerous feud between Alicent and Rhaenyra deepens in House of the Dragon, Viserys continues uplifting the claim of his daughter and her heirs over his sons.

House Of The Dragon Has Already Confirmed Fire & Blood’s Biggest Rhaenyra Rumors

While Fire & Blood is written as a historical account of House Targaryen’s reign in Westeros, the book confirms it is told by unreliable narrators. Much of House of the Dragon‘s basis comes from different sources with their own biases and interpretations, meaning many big moments are only understood as rumors. The father of Rhaenyra and Laenor’s children, her affairs with Daemon, Criston, and Harwin, and Laenor Velaryon’s sexuality were thus all unconfirmed before House of the Dragon’s adaptation.

See also  MODOK Cast & Character Guide: What The Voice Actors Look Like

The casting of Rhaenyra and Laenor’s sons seems to confirm the truth of their parentage, as they share no physical Valyrian traits with Rhaenyra and Laenor, but several Strong features with Harwin. House of the Dragon episode 4 also revealed that Daemon and Rhaenyra didn’t sleep together in the pleasure house but did have a sexual encounter after he seduced her. She then lost her virginity to Ser Criston Cole, who was only rumored to have been her lover in Fire & Blood. While the details of her affair with Harwin have yet to be validated, the fact that House of the Dragon has already corroborated the other big rumors about her personal life indicates their relationship will begin soon after she weds Laenor.

New episodes of House of the Dragon release Sundays on HBO/HBO Max.

Want more House of the Dragon articles? Check out our essential content below…

  • Complete House Of The Dragon Guide: All Your Questions Answered
  • Where Was House Of The Dragon Filmed? All Real Life Westeros Locations
  • House Of The Dragon Timeline Confirmed & Explained
  • House Of The Dragon: Every Major Family Missing From Game Of Thrones