re: House of the Dragon S1E7: “Driftmark”--Official Thread

But what happens now that Laenor is still alive? I guess no one else can mount Seasmoke…

I guess since Dany never rode her other 2 dragons that explanation didn’t conflict with Jon Snow riding one of them?

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People are getting uptight about "spoilers" but the information you seek on the rules of dragons and their dragon riders can be easily found on Wiki's

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Which is completely full of spoilers.

So I generally just copy and paste the parts that aren’t spoilers.

Drogon peaced out while Dany was playing at ruling Mareen and chaining her dragons so it's not impossible for a dragon to leave it's rider

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Targaryens, Velaryons, and the Hightowers
also bears noting again that all three of these houses are basically ruined by the time we get to GOT

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Otto quite literally ruined a very prominent Westerosi family. They are still around for ASoIaF, but there is a reason why they have very little influence in that saga. The Hightowers deference in later crown affairs is because of Otto's mistakes.

Targaryen rule and Velaryon power were always tied to them having nukes when no one else did. Once the nukes die out, the proud houses of Westeros were never going to continue to back two upjumped houses who overthrew millenia of home rule, especially when the family had a one in two chance of creating a batshit ruler.

Otto's pride and stupidity is the central tragedy of this story.

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I must have missed that. As a book reader I unfortunately know the fates of the characters if the book is followed which like GoT any character you start to like never has a happy ending. No matter who you are pulling for it seems.

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I guess it’s good that non of these characters are likable

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I'm late to the party here but am I the only one who supports the Greens? I don't find Rhaenyra likeable at all and while Daemon is a compelling character he has done some very twisted things.

What Alicient said is true for Rhaenyra to flaunt her bastard children around is an insult to decency and the idea of them inheriting the throne when all the lords of the realm know they are illegitimate is laughable. Ultimately

I blame Viserys for this situation getting to the point it has. After witnessing the events that unfolded it is crazy to me that he thinks there can still be peac e in his family.His grandson cut out his son's eye and his response was just everyone love everyone we are a family!

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I continue to find it fascinating how many people relate to the Greens because they are mad Rhaenyra isn't adhering to Patriarchial norms and arbitrarily designed customs about inheritance in a world based on medieval Europe and it's draconian laws and customs. Though should be pointed out, this is not a democracy. The king decides who inherits the throne and the King's word is final. Alicent can be as pissy as she wants but she is ultimately the one carrying out the greater sin in this world of fomenting treason against the will of the king.

And Rhaenyra is still the one named heir, not Alicent's children. Her children out of wedlock are a matter of the next succession, not hers. Alicent literally has no legal ground to stand on because the king's word is law and the king has named Rhaenyra.

Viserys only sin at this point is that he has tried to play mediator and low effort peacemaker when he should have had Alicent tried for plotting treason and attempting to murder his daughter and heir, and those in her House attempting to usurp his will hung with her.

While it is true the King's word is law there is nothing that says they have to follow it once he is dead. Throughout history there have been several instances of the King's will being ignored.

King Edward VI wanted Lady Jane Grey to be queen after him and that didn't last very long.

Richard the Lionheart pardoned the boy who shot and killed him as a final mercy. Once Richard was dead they flayed the boy alive anyways.

Also while it may seem draconian it was very important to uphold the structure of society and the integrity of the crown. Even rumors of illegitimacy can completely destabilize a kingdom.

The fact is no matter what Viserys says it is guaranteed that after he dies there will be conflict. People will see his son as the rightful heir. He can feel good all he wants that he is doing right by his daughter but he is essentially poisoning the realm and setting in motion a bloody war of succession once he passes on.

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While it is true the King's word is law there is nothing that says they have to follow it once he is dead. Throughout history there have been several instances of the King's will being ignored

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Well, by law and tradition the named heir is immediately named the new ruler and so Alicent would remain in the same predicament.

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King Edward VI wanted Lady Jane Grey to be queen after him and that didn't last very long.

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I mean Im pretty sure some of this story is pulled from history like this but Edward the V was never crowned, usurped by his protector and then the protector was killed.

Which further adds to my overall critique of Alicent, she has been offered a perfectly amicable solution to every party's grievances but shoved it aside due to her vindictiveness and jealousy of Rhaenyra.

That to me stands above all else for why she is not easy to side with any longer, or even feel much sympathy. Conflict ONLY happens because she is fomenting it. Full Stop.

If she agreed to the shared inheritance after Rhaenyra and publicly embraced the family there would be no House strong enough, or dumb enough to stand against them.

This is all on Alicent.

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While it is true that Alicient could have compromised, why should she have to?

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She literally has no rightful claim to the throne though cause all that is not trumped by the king's word. And her fomentation of treason is endangering her children that much more because the two strongest houses in the realm back Rhaenyra.

People can be upset, but the kings word is the king's word and Alicent is actively fomenting acts of treason while also recently attempted to kill Rhaenyra.

There really is no defense of Alicent on legal or moral grounds at this point.