HotD’s King Viserys Never Really Wanted His Daughter To Rule, Here’s Why
Is he the one to blame for the war to begin with?
The House Targaryen, once known for its power, wealth, and glory, has been torn apart by civil war within the family.
Beginning with Rhaenyra Targaryen fighting her brother Aegon II for the right to sit on the Iron Throne, the war has shaken the family for years and led to a terrible state that viewers have seen through the story of Daenerys Targaryen. House of the Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones, explores the circumstances that led to these events.
It turns out that the first bad decisions were made long before Rhaenyra Targaryen herself had any say in her fate. As viewers saw in the very first episode of the series, the King chose to knowingly kill his wife in labor in order to save his baby boy.
Though both ended up dead, everything Viserys did after that was done with a heavy burden of guilt on his shoulders.
Viserys has never been a strong king: his weakness has been pointed out throughout the series by both those who love him and those who try to use him. That weakness led him to name his young daughter Rhaenyra heir to the Iron Throne when neither she nor the realm was ready for the changes.
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The decision, driven not by progressive ideas but by a mixture of guilt and necessity, was not well thought out. Viserys barely thought about his daughter's actual reign, and he wasn't ready to imagine her on the throne. After the birth of Aegon II, he once again showed his weakness by withholding the Word out of guilt.
This may have been the move of a loving father, but not the wise king who cares about the future of the realm. If he really wanted to see Rhaenyra succeed in what she's about to do, he would give her more opportunities to learn, more opportunities to strengthen her image not just as "the realm's delight," but as a wise and kind queen.
Fortunately for viewers, all the mistakes Viserys has made make for a great story. House of the Dragon season 2 is already being filmed, but there's no information on a release date. Stay tuned for more news and behind-the-scenes updates.