Rhaenyra echoes a Tudor monarch in House of the Dragon season 3 premiere

House of the Dragon has long shown how difficult it can be to be a woman in Westeros, even for a queen like Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy). Although many followers are willing to die for her, her Black Council repeatedly hesitates to let Rhaenyra make key decisions.

Last season closed with Rhaenyra being urged by her former friend Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) to take King’s Landing from Alicent’s sons, the bedridden Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) and the destructive Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). Rhaenyra plans to act on that appeal, but several council members and allies remain skeptical of trusting the Green Queen.

Their doubts deepen when the Triarchy’s pirates and outlaws, allied with the Greens, move against Rhaenyra’s ally Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and break his naval blockade of King’s Landing. Ready for battle, Rhaenyra intends to fly in on her dragon Syrax, but her son Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett) so opposes the move that he has Ser Lorent (Max Wrottesley) bar her door.

rhaenyra targaryen, emma d’arcy, black council, alicent hightower, aegon, aemond, corlys velaryon, syrax, jacaerys velaryon, triarchy