The Most Toxic Couple in House of the Dragon Isn't Daemyra After All
House of the Dragon focuses on House Targaryen, their political games, struggles, and relationships.
From what we've seen in both Game of Thrones and its sequel, healthy relationships are not among the arts Targaryens mastered. The overwhelming majority of Targaryen-containing couples on House of the Dragon can easily be called toxic. The exceptions like Corlys and Rhaenys only prove the rule. But which Westerosi couple deserves the title of the most toxic?
It can be difficult to follow the evolution of the relationship between various House of the Dragon couples with all the time jumps. But this speedy narration shows characters at different stages of their lives and in different relationships. Look at Prince Daemon, probably the biggest womanizer in the show. We've seen him with three different partners already since episode 1. He even tried to take a second wife once.
Surprisingly, not all his relationships have earned the title "toxic". His marriage to Laena Velaryon looked quite successful and relationship – affectionate. At least, judging from the limited screen time, the couple was given. Unfortunately, Laena died young during the birth of their third child and left Daemon to enter his new relationship with Rhaenyra, the development millions of fans were both waiting and dreading for since the explosive chemistry between an uncle and his teenage niece became obvious. Millions of fans shipped Daemyra, but many believed their chemistry was like a toxic waste explosion at a nuclear plant, meaning it was undeniable, frightening, and bringing death.
However, Daemyra is not the most toxic couple in House of the Dragon, believe it or not. All viewers agree – and it's hard to argue – that the relationship ending with the death of one of the spouses by the hand of the other definitely wins the title "most toxic". Yes, I am talking about Daemon and his first wife, Lady Rhea Royce.
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Rhea was chosen for Daemon to turn powerful House Royce into a family ally, to secure power in the Vale, and to send Daemon away from King's Landing without it being an official exile. But Daemon clearly was not into this marriage and his banishment. Being rather ambitious, he found both the Vale and his wife to be intolerably plain and boring. Besides, the marriage did not produce a son, and he decided to take matters into his own hands. In one of the most tragic scenes, Daemon tracks down his wife in the Vale, knocks her off her horse, and kills her with a rock. Marriage ending with a murder, what can get more toxic than that?