In “House of the Dragon,” children suffer for their parents’ mistakes and power plays. Where does this crucial difference from “Game of Thrones” come from?
- For Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen from “Game of Thrones,” family dynasties have never played a huge role.
- They adhere to the principle that children should not be punished for the crimes of their parents.
- It’s a completely different story with “House of the Dragon” and the Targaryens.
“House of the Dragon,” though a “Game of Thrones” spin-off at its core, does a few things differently than its parent series. An underlying theme during the time of Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen was that children should not be punished for the mistakes of their parents. During the Dance of Dragons, however, this motto does not exist and the children rule, fight, and suffer just as mercilessly as or instead of their parents.
Mercy and leniency for loyalty and favor
In “Game of Thrones,” the main protagonists Jon and Daenerys both followed a firm conviction. The sins of the parents are not those of the children. Jon pardons the lords Karstark and Umber fighting for Ramsay Bolton in season 7. Daenerys handles it similarly and does not want to persecute the opponents of her father, the Mad King, so as not to be considered a tyrant as well.
Carrot instead of stick is her motto, and with promising success. While Jon is loved by many for his mercy and justice, Daenerys secures additional supporters for her plan to conquer the Kingdoms.
This premise is now reversed in “House of the Dragon.” Here, it will be the children of Alicent Hohenturm and Rhaenyra Targaryen who will be the first to suffer and pay for their parents’ transgressions. There is no forgiveness here. In the end, everyone will take revenge to the sorrow of the kingdom.
The sins of the mothers
In House of the Dragon, we see how Rhaenyra and Alicent’s enmity slowly rubs off on their children. Youthful pranks quickly turn to evil seriousness. Soon, Aemond and Aegon II. Targaryen and their nephews Jacaerys, Lucerys, Viserys and Aegon the Younger will face each other as enemies.
Even in the brief moment in episode 8 when Alicent and Rhaenyra make up, the seeds of discord have already been planted and their children move into open rivalries with each other. They have long since been accustomed by their mothers, passively or actively, not to trust their relatives and to secure their place by force.
While we are shown a pragmatic and morally sound approach to dealing with the children of one’s enemies in Jon and Daenerys, “House of the Dragon” turns that on its head and instead seeks to tell a story of sin and revenge that transcends families and generations.
Forgiveness and betrayal
In “Game of Thrones,” we experience one of the most emotional moments with Jon and Daenerys. Although their families were once enemies, they decide to see past those rifts and trust and surrender to each other. Theirs is the “Song of Ice and Fire” that saves the world from being destroyed by the White Walkers.
With the Targaryens in “House of the Dragons” it is clearly different. Thus we see “House of the Dragons” at the height of its power. Thus, at the same time, the height of their deviousness and political intrigue. A huge fall that will provide many more dramatic moments in the series.
The sins of Viserys I Targaryen in not mediating better in the budding conflict between sons and grandsons, wife and daughter, are now transferred to the whole family. Fear, manipulation and violence follow. And how could it be otherwise, when Alicent’s and Rhaenyra’s children have never experienced anything else.
The looming “Dance of the Dragons” is set to shake the Targaryen dynasty to its foundations. The message of “House of the Dragon” will thus also be different throughout than in “Game of Thrones”. Family is bound by blood and shares its destiny. For better or for worse.
Season 2 of “House of the Dragon” will probably only await us in 2024, perhaps again at the same time as “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” because a 2nd season of Amazon’s fantasy spectacle has also already been ordered. The Middle Earth series is even to receive five seasons, good news for fantasy fans!
