Highlights
- Team Black in House of the Dragon made reckless decisions, abandoned their duties, and caused conflict with their actions.
- Daemon committed heinous acts, including killing his first wife and faking another’s death for personal gain.
- Rhaenyra’s illegitimate children, failure to produce heirs, and Rhaenys’ drastic actions led to unnecessary bloodshed in Westeros.
Set in the viscous world of Westeros, House of the Dragon is just as brutal and bloody as Game of Thrones which came before it. Members on both sides of the Dance of the Dragons have committed their fair share of crimes and made some truly reckless decisions.
When specifically looking at the worst things done by The Blacks in House of the Dragon, this is in relation to Rhaenyra, her family, and her allies. From the recklessness of Daemon to some of the bad decisions made by Rhaenyra that would result in war, there are certainly pitfalls to the side that fans seem to be in favor of.
5 The Blacks Abandoned Viserys & Governance Of The Realm On Multiple Occasions
At Times, Daemon, Rhaenyra, & Others All Fled To Dragonstone Or Abroad, Refusing To Help
During the endless debates about The Blacks and The Greens in HotD, it hardly gets mentioned how The Blacks rarely put themselves in good positions and did not do much to prepare for the inevitable feud over succession. For example, The Greens were ever present in King’s Landing, and Alicent and Otto Hightower practically ruled the kingdom while life gradually fled from Viserys. Rhaenyra even acknowledged how much Alicent had cared for the ailing king.
Meanwhile, there were many times when Daemon abandoned his brother and the realm, something that Corlys Velaryon can also be accused of. Rhaenyra also fled from the capital and all the responsibilities that come with being the heir. For years, she and Daemon remained on Dragonstone and only returned to confirm Lucerys’ rights to Driftmark. If, instead, she had remained in King’s Landing, helping her father to rule, then perhaps civil war could have been avoided, as she would have been further cemented as the heir.
4 Daemon Killed His First Wife
Daemon Traveled To The Vale Just To Kill Rhea Royce
- Episode: Season 1, Episode 5
It’s safe to say that in classic A Song of Ice and Fire-style, Daemon is a flawed character, with perhaps more emphasis being placed on his flaws rather than his redeeming qualities. By far one of the worst acts he committed was the murder of his first wife, Rhea Royce. Daemon never liked Rhea, whom it seems he was forced to marry for political reasons, and nor did she feel anything but hatred for him.
Nevertheless, the pair were seemingly content to live apart, both going about their lives in different parts of the kingdom. That was, however, until Daemon decided that being unable to marry again was too big of a constraint. Thus, he made his way all the way to the Vale and murdered his wife in cold blood. He was even willing to let her die slowly in pain.
3 Rhaenyra Had Blatantly Illegitimate Children
This Cast Doubt On Her Own Claim & Increased The Likelihood Of War
- Episode: Season 1, Episode 6
In terms of events that would eventually lead to civil war in Westeros, Rhaenyra and Laenor’s failure to produce legitimate heirs is certainly up there. To most, it is apparent that her three Velaryon sons are in fact the offspring of Ser Harwin Strong, a truth that diminishes the legitimacy of her own claim and that of her sons. The situation is certainly a complex one, and Rhaenyra cannot be said to have cheated as she and Ser Laenor had an agreement.
However, with the weight of the Targaryen dynasty on her shoulders, and as heir to the throne, she failed in her duty to her family and the realm. If Rhaenyra had instead produced legitimate heirs, perhaps with another husband before marrying Laenor, then the realm might not have bled. For example, Alicent’s animosity towards Rhaenyra was certainly driven by her failure to produce true Targaryen heirs.
2 Rhaenyra & Daemon Faked The Death Of Laenor Velaryon
Although He Isn’t Dead, This Action Caused A Lot Of Grief For His Parents
- Episode: Season 1, Episode 7
In the seventh episode of House of the Dragon‘s opening season, fans were shocked to see Rhaenyra and Daemon plot to have Ser Laenor Velaryon killed so that they would be free to marry. Thankfully, it soon transpired that this had been a ruse, with Laenor himself becoming free to travel to Essos with his lover.
However, this does not change the fact that they knowingly and willingly convinced Corlys and Rhaenys that their son was dead, just after their daughter had been laid to rest. Furthermore, this ploy still involved the death of someone, as a body was found.
1 Rhaenys Killed Countless Innocent Civilians
Her Dragon Killed People Just So She Could Make A Scene
- Episode: Season 1, Episode 9
Although at the time, Rhaenys might not have considered herself a supporter of The Blacks, she and Corlys would eventually be convinced to fight for Rhaenyra’s claim, and she was certainly no fan of The Greens. Thus, easily one of the worst things done by The Blacks in House of the Dragon, was when Rhaenys literally gatecrashed the coronation of Aegon II, with her dragon killing countless innocent civilians in the process.
If Rhaenys had preceded to burn The Greens and thus put an end to the inevitable war before it could even begin, saving perhaps tens of thousands of lives that would be lost on battlefields across the realm, then her actions could have been deemed justified. However, Rhaenys did nothing but glare at The Greens, and thus, those civilians were killed for nothing.