Highlights
- The Greens provide stability & experienced leadership, making them a viable option in House of the Dragon.
- Supporting Helaena Targaryen means backing The Greens, who have innocent members caught in the war.
- Aemond Targaryen is intriguing and captivating, despite being morally flawed, making him a character to root for.
After the incredible setup for the Dance of the Dragons, which was Season 1 of House of the Dragon, fans are now encouraged to get behind one of the two warring Targaryen factions, The Blacks or The Greens. The Blacks include Rhaenyra and her family, while the Greens support the succession of Aegon II and his maternal Hightower family. This latter faction is named for the green dress that Queen Alicent made a statement entrance in.
Compared with the more neutral books, the show has often depicted The Greens in a less-than-favorable light. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of reasons to root for Team Green in House of the Dragon, from beloved characters and legitimate causes to faults with their adversaries.
1 Alicent Truly Believes Viserys Changed His Mind
Alicent Thought Viserys’ Last Act Was To Name Aegon His Heir
Although fans know otherwise, Alicent Hightower cannot be blamed for interpreting King Viserys’ last words as a desire to have Aegon succeed him. Therefore, those who are sympathetic to Alicent have even more reason to back her and The Greens, or at least to not root against them.
Furthermore, Alicent, like Rhaenyra, does not wish to see the realm go to war, and beneath her regal facade, it’s still possible to see the sweet and shy girl she once was.
2 The Greens Have Ruled For Years & Overseen Relative Stability
Alicent & Otto Know How To Govern The Realm
The Dance of the Dragons is effectively a war over who gets to rule Westeros; Rhaenyra and her allies or Aegon and his Hightower family. While Rhaenyra would doubtless make a better individual ruler than the feckless Aegon, the only ones with experience in ruling are his mother Alicent, and his grandfather, Otto.
For years, as King Viserys gradually weakened, Alicent and Otto oversaw peace and stability in Westeros, and could doubtless do so again, this time through Aegon instead. In the case of Otto, a highly experienced Hand of the King, he proved over many years that he was well-reasoned and slow to anger. Of course, he was also always scheming, but if his grandson was secure on the throne, there would be no need for this.
3 Helaena Targaryen Is An Innocent Caught Up In War
Rooting For Helaena Means Supporting The Greens
While there are certainly plenty of wrongdoers on Team Green, such as Ser Criston Cole, there are also innocent and likable individuals to get behind. Helaena Targaryen, for example, goes about her life peacefully and has no ill will toward The Blacks, especially Jacaerys, who she enjoys dancing with.
If The Blacks were to win and seize King’s Landing, Helaena or her innocent children could very well end up as victims of the bloody civil war. Thus, those rooting for Helaena and more of her cryptic visions should lend their support to The Greens.
4 Aemond Is Aemond
Whatever His Flaws, Aemond Is Fun To Watch
While one reason to support The Blacks is for Daemon’s entertainment purposes, the same could be said for The Greens and Aemond. As the second son of King Viserys and Queen Alicent, Aemond does not stand to inherit, but he and others know that he would have made a far better king than his elder brother Aegon.
After being bullied as a child, Aemond defied all expectations and claimed the largest living dragon, Vhagar. He subsequently dedicated himself to the study of the sword, history, and philosophy. Beyond his capability to rule or lead men into battle, Aemond Targaryen is calculating, ruthless, and simply captivating for a TV audience. He is a morally flawed character, but one that fans cannot help rooting for.
5 The Velaryon Boys Are Illegitimate
If The Blacks Win, The Throne Would Eventually Pass To An Illegitimate King
One of the rallying calls of The Greens is that Rhaenyra’s three eldest sons and heirs are all illegitimate, and The Greens are right about this. Although an official acknowledgment would never occur, Rhaenyra and The Blacks know that Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey are not true sons of Laenor Velaryon, but instead the bastards of Harwin Strong.
If Rhaenyra were to win the Dance of the Dragons, the Iron Throne would eventually pass to an illegitimate king, and with the truth being so apparent to most, future wars could follow. This is one reason to instead support The Greens in House of the Dragon.
6 As A Child, Rhaenyra Committed An Unforgivable Sin
Rhaenyra Tore Out The Page Of An Illuminated Manuscript
Perhaps the number one reason to support The Greens in House of the Dragon is the unforgivable sin that Princess Rhaenyra committed in the very first episode. The crime in question, which occurred in the Godswood no less, saw Rhaenyra tear a page out of an illuminated manuscript, an act that outraged historians and book lovers around the world.
Defiling a modern book printed in mass using cheap materials is one thing, but the materials and hours of tedious labor required to produce a single page of a manuscript are beyond measure. Imagine the poor scribe who toiled over every individual letter having to swear fealty to a queen who defaced their work for no good reason. Alicent, on the other hand, was rightfully offended by Rhaenyra’s actions and even held onto the page, which she eventually sent to her former friend in an attempt to avoid war.
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