Rhaenys Targaryen Could've Stopped the War With Just One Word in Episode 9
Worry not, she didn't, so the Dance of the Dragons is still a thing.
Warning: the following article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon episode 9
The ninth episode of House of the Dragon had a rare but memorable team Black highlight: Rhaenys Targaryen, who rode her dragon Meleys and stood in front of the Greens as they were visibly shaken with fear.
They had their reasons. The Greens ended up finally usurping Rhaenyra's throne after Viserys' death, but their sudden reign could have been remarkably short-lived. Rhaenys could have ended it — and the war — by simply saying "Dracarys" and have Meleys setting the entirety of Team Green on fire. However, she didn't do it, even though Alicent and her kids looked like they were expecting it.
Instead, Meleys simply roared in their faces, and Rhaenys exited the stage — and left fans frustrated... because it could have gone differently.
Still, fans absolutely enjoyed the way she interrupted the coronation of the "usurper" that they think Alicent's son Aegon is. Besides, the scene provided a closer look at the Red Queen, Meleys.
Some people hailed Rhaenys, who is dubbed "the Queen that never was", as a "true queen of the realm" for the way she behaved this episode. Her move basically showed her support for the Blacks, which basically strips the Greens of yet another ally.
However, Rhaenys' failure to set her rivals on fire has effectively allowed the Targaryen civil war to go on. Now that Viserys is dead and Rhaenyra is clearly no longer in the mood for offering peace and alliances, the season finale is set to set things on fire... quite literally.
Episode 10 premieres on HBO Max this Sunday, October 23.