The mistakes of King Viserys I Targaryen have sparked a war for the succession of the Throne in ‘House of the Dragon’
Contains spoilers for ‘House of the Dragon’
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 Episode 5 aired on HBO on July 14, 2024, and the epic war for the Iron Throne is really heating up now that the Blacks and the Greens are putting aside any inhibitions in the Targaryen Civil War.
However, the battle might never have taken place if not for the ambiguous decision-making by Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine), whose decisions could have resulted in the deaths of thousands across the Seven Kingdoms.
While Viserys’ rule was peaceful, it camouflaged the burning desires of many in the next generation to take the throne. Had his decisions been more assertive, things might not have come to this. Fans weighed in on his decision-making and tried to conclude which decision could be the one that caused the chaos that is the Dance of the Dragons.
Fans comment on Viserys’ poor decision-making in ‘House of the Dragon’
A Reddit user started the discussion with the question, “What was Viserys’ biggest mistake that led to the Dance of the Dragons?” The user added, “Was it when he named Rhaenyra as his heir on a whim? Or was it when he married Alicent instead of Laena? Was it when he didn’t disinherit Rhaenyra after Aegon was born? Viserys had many flaws, but what was the biggest mistake that led to the war?”
Another Reddit user commented: “If he wanted Rhaenyra to remain heir, he shouldn’t have remarried.” It makes sense, since he married Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) after naming Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) as his heir. Another Reddit user agreed: “The easiest way to avoid a succession crisis is to not have any more children.”
One Reddit user considered his inability to confront and resolve conflict to be his greatest flaw: “Viserys was the literal catalyst for the Dance. Otto simply did what any lord would do. No, Otto did what Corlys could not. Viserys benefited from Jaehaerys’ peace his entire life, ignoring countless disputes as well as the seeds of a war that would kill thousands.”
One Reddit user considered his marriage to Alicent as the reason behind the conflict: “Viserys should not have married Alicent or should have named Aegon as heir after his birth.”
One Reddit user felt his biggest mistake was giving everyone dragons: “Viserys: Dragons are a power men should not have trifled with. Also Viserys: You get a dragon, you get a dragon, EVERYONE GETS A DRAGON!
Why Viserys’ biggest mistake might be unintentional
Viserys’ biggest mistake was probably telling Alicent about Aegon the Conqueror’s dream when he was dying. Alicent took this to mean that her son Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) would be the promised prince.
This interpretation caused Aegon to take the throne despite the fact that Rhaenyra had been named heir to the Throne and began a war that will go down in the history of the Seven Kingdoms as one of the worst wars in history.
In Season 2, Episode 3, we see Rhaenyra tell Alicent about the misinterpretation, and we see Alicent completely denying the possibility of a misinterpretation. This gives Rhaenyra the license to be an active part of the war after her reluctance in the first three episodes.
How to stream ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2?
The second season of ‘House of the Dragon’ premiered on HBO Max on Sunday, June 16, 2024, with new episodes premiering every Sunday. To watch the series, you’ll need a Max subscription.
The streaming platform usually offers three packages that you can choose from depending on your budget.
The low-cost, ad-supported plan costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. The second, non-ad-supported plan costs $15.99 per month or $149.99 per year.
Meanwhile, the third package, titled Ultimate Ad-Free, costs $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year.
Trailer for the second season of ‘House of the Dragon’
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 Episodes 1-5 Streaming on HBO
