“Game of Thrones’’ Seven Kingdoms is no place for rational, reasonable, honorable people. Following the devastating conclusion of “House of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 4,”The Red Dragon and the Gold,” where we lost Rhaenys in a fierce dragon battle versus that creep Aemond, we spent a big chunk of Episode 5, “Regent,” mourning her death alongside her family.
In case you missed the heartbreaking scene, Rhaenys and her dragon, Melys, light up Ser Criston Cole’s army, then take down Aegon and his dragon, Sunfyre. She literally roasted the boy king. Unfortunately, Aemond used all this as a distraction and came in with a sneak attack. He and his dragon, Vhagar, seize the opportunity to engage our two heroes in a bloody battle that ends in both Melys and Rhaenys’ deaths.
Princess Rhaenys was a badass dragonrider, supportive and loving wife to Corlys Velaryon, matriarch to Westeros’ most powerful Black family and “the Queen who never was,” as she had her opportunity at the throne thwarted by petty men. It was that misogyny that drove her to risk it all for Rhaenyra.
On Sunday night, as Corlys, Rhaenyra and her granddaughter, Baela, mourned her sacrifice, Black fans of the show also lamented losing “Auntie Rhaenys.”
One fan noted how tragic her death truly was, recounting the history of Vhagar’s claim, writing on X, “In case Rhaenys’ death had not hurt you enough, I come to remind you that Vhagar, before being Aemond’s dragon, WAS LAENA VELARYON’S. RHAENYS DIED AT THE HANDS OF HER DAUGHTER’S DRAGON.”
Another person highlighted how amidst the celebration of Rhaenys’ bravery and courage, there seemed to be a lack of sympathy for Corlys, posting, “That man LOVED his wife. And EVERYBODY knew. But not a single thought spared for him. Cold world, bro.”
It’s true. Corlys and Rhaenys had one of the few loving, healthy relationships in this universe. They genuinely loved one another and weren’t afraid to show it. He also wasn’t threatened by his wife’s strength. In fact, he was drawn to it.
Over on TikTok, one supporter had words for Aemond and Vhagar, saying, “Y’all gon’ pay for what you did to Auntie Rhaenys…y’all had her in a two versus one, y’all couldn’t come in a one v. one…Now I got to throw a funeral service for Auntie Rhaenys.”
Some fans even created homegoing services for our fallen queen.
Though we mourn Rhaenys, and know Rhaenyra’s cause will suffer without her leadership and council, it appears that Baela is certainly ready to step into her place. In the most-talked about scene from the episode, as Corlys got drunk and grieved his wife’s death, she let him know that Rhaenys wasn’t just his.
“Rhaenys was not only your wife,” Baela said. “Not a thing to be taken from you. She was a Targaryen princess. She was the queen who never was. And she flew to Rook’s Rest of her own will, in defense of her kin. She died as she would’ve wished to die, in honor, with dragonfire. The way my mother chose. And the way I myself wish to meet my end. I grieve my grandmother who loved me, but I will carry her on with me.”
If there’s one thing we learned from Rhaenys’ death, and fans’ reaction to it, it’s that this show desperately needs to spend more time with House Velaryon, because they are infinitely more interesting than Daemon’s hallucinations and Alicent just now figuring out these men ain’t trying to hear her.
“House of the Dragon” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO and is available to stream on Max.