House of the Dragon Has the Worst Fathers on TV

Following the occasions of House of the Dragon Season 1, Episode 2, “The Rogue Prince,” it is protected to say that the fathers of Westeros are fairly terrible. Fatherhood has no half within the play for politics and energy, making it clear as day that there are not any Ned Starks within the spinoff collection.

Last episode noticed the loss of life of Aemma and the announcement that Rhaenyra can be Viserys’ inheritor. Now the small council is pushing Viserys to remarry and have extra kids as a result of it is his responsibility. They need to guarantee the way forward for Westeros is in good arms, and by their customary, that’s performed by a person. After all, Rhaenys stated that males would moderately see the realm burn than permit a lady to sit down on the Iron Throne. But is the great of the realm actually what these males need? Their proposals on this episode alone counsel that thirst for energy performs an enormous function. This is a Game of Thrones spinoff in any case. Power is the endgame, even when it means sacrificing and humiliating their daughters within the course of.

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Aemma’s loss of life was a wake-up name for all of the fathers on the small council. Otto Hightower and Corlys Velaryon see a possibility to turn out to be royalty whereas Viserys could also be realizing that he aided in his spouse’s homicide. Viserys continues to be grieving the loss of life of Aemma and feeling a rift between himself and Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra, rightfully, is not open to speaking to him about her grief. Does Rhaenyra even know her father’s function in Aemma’s loss of life? It’s not explicitly clear, however Rhaenyra is loads smarter than the small council provides her credit score for, so she very properly might have an inkling of an thought.

Viserys understands that he should take a spouse. Instead of consoling his daughter on the matter or that of her mom’s loss of life, he is cuddling as much as her greatest buddy Alicent Hightower. It appears harmless sufficient till he publicizes he plans to marry her, and by the look on his face he totally believes Rhaenyra is down with it. Rhaenyra clearly feels betrayed by each Viserys and Alicent, however her emotions are not any concern to Viserys. His responsibility is to the realm — fatherhood is an afterthought to him.

Speaking of Alicent, let’s backtrack slightly to how this complete association got here to be. Corlys and Otto have been pimping out their respective 12 and 15-year-old daughters to marry Viserys. And they’ve performed so with no disgrace. Corlys and Rhaenys are each on board, although Rhaenys does guarantee their daughter Laena that she will not need to mattress Viserys till she’s 14. How considerate.

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Otto is not as ahead in his proposal, which finally makes him the winner on this battle. Otto has pushed Alicent to console Viserys in his chambers, converse to him on non-public issues and so forth. Viserys even partakes on this recreation by asking Alicent to not point out their talks to Rhaenyra — a request weighing on Alicent. Book readers are already skeptical of Alicent, believing she’s been plotting this association from the start as properly.

On the opposite, this can be a teenage lady compelled into a wedding so her father can acquire energy within the realm (sound acquainted?). Her bloody, picked-at cuticles say an excessive amount of with no phrases in any respect — a pleasant element that offers her slightly extra character and sympathy. Alicent is as a lot a sufferer as Laena is. She has no management over the place she goes or who she talks to, and when she’s anticipated to delivery a brand new inheritor, she’ll don’t have any management over her physique. Game of Thrones‘ historical past of lifting ladies as much as then tear them down is as loud as ever right here.

Now that Viserys is getting older and noticeably by extra medical points, how will he push Rhaenyra to carry out her royal duties as inheritor to the throne? Sooner or later, Rhaenyra should marry and have kids, and she or he will not have a say within the matter. She’s been having slightly an excessive amount of freedom by House of the Dragons‘ logic by driving out to Dragonstone and talking up in small council conferences. She will quickly be knocked down a peg as a result of it is the rightful order of issues, quoting Rhaenys out of context. For a lady to develop and conquer, she should perish slightly by order of her father… at the least that is how House of the Dragon desires it.

House of the Dragon airs Sundays at 9:00 p.m. on HBO and streams on HBO Max.