House Targaryan has a three-headed dragon as its signal and the host motto of "Fire and Bood," which insulated the chaotic nature of the Westeros family. While there are many other Targaryan characters in the book series that inspired Game of Thrones, this article will be looking at the characters depicted in HBO's hit television show.
Ser Barriston proclaims, "The Targaryens have always danced too close to madness. King Jaehaerys once told me that madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land." This quote hints that the chaotic nature of the Targaryan House and the fine line each character walks that divides the dragon house between good and evil.
Jon Snow, more recently discovered to be Aegon II Targaryan, is the last surviving member of House Targaryan. Note: While Aemon Targaryan was born into House Targaryan, he left the family for the Night's Watch and is regarded as Maester Aemon, no longer connected to this familial house.
King Aerys II Targaryen: Chaotic Evil
Known as the "Mad King" that burned his people with Wildfire, King Aerys II Targaryen is an obvious chaotic evil character. His reign over Westeros ended with Jamie Lannister stabbing him the back and his children (those that were not murdered), Viserys and Daenerys, shipped off into hiding in foreign lands.
Nothing good came of this Targaryan's reign and he was replaced by Robert Baratheon as King of Westeros. The reminders of King Aerys II Targaryen's reign are still echoed throughout the corridors of King's Landing and discussed in ing when mentions of Dany are brought into the conversation. Many worries that Dany is too much like her father and will wreak havoc on Westeros due to her ambitious chaotic nature.
Viserys Targaryan: Chaotic Evil
Viserys Targaryan, the older brother to Daenerys. follows in his father's chaotic evil footsteps. An entitled, impatient, and childish character, Viserys Targaryen's main goal is to see himself sitting on his father's usurped Iron Throne. He fantasizes about the destruction of the other Houses of Westeros that have wronged the Targaryan family and uses his sister as a pawn on the political chessboard of Westeros monarchies.
Viserys works to build an army large enough to take over King's Landing and to do so, he agrees to sell his sister, Daenerys, to the Dothraki to marry Khal Drogo in the reciprocity of the horseback warriors fighting for him. After this marriage, Viserys is seen verbally and physically abusing his sister and this ultimately leads to the character's death. Viserys is given his golden crown by Khal Drogo, but in a twist of fate, the crown is melted gold that burns Viserys to death.
Rhaegar Targaryan: Chaotic Good
Eldest son of King Aerys II Targaryen, Rhaegar Targaryan, was commonly misunderstood throughout the show what many characters believing he was a villain. Robert Baratheon even claimed hatred for the man and the Targaryan House for the lie of Rhaegar coveting Lyanna (Robert's betrothed) and raping her. Instead, Rhaegar and Lyanna had fallen in love, secretly married, and the Stark woman had given birth to Aegon II Targaryan, renamed as Jon Snow. Lyanna wasn't murdered by Rheagar, instead, she died in childbirth.
Rhaegar, as for as he's developed in the show, held no malice for the other Houses and was driven by his secret love for Eddard Stark's sister. unfortunately, the political circumstances of Lyanna's betrothal to Robert Baratheon caused quite the turmoil for the star-crossed lovers. Rhaegar was slain by Robert Baratheon.
Daenerys Targaryan: Chaotic Good
Daenerys Targaryan, formally known as Daenerys of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons, has a major alignment flip the last few episodes of the series that portrays her eerily similar to her father, the "Mad King"; however, if audiences take the rushed final season out of the show, they would see this Targaryan as chaotic good.
The good that Daenerys works to accomplish is seen when she frees the slaves of Mereen and offers water to a dying slave on the "Walk of Punishment," but in her effort to right wrongs, the leader's actions re rather chaotic, as seen when she clams the command of the unsullied after tricking a slave on into taking Dragon and them moments later burning him alive. Daenerys is quoted claiming she "will answer injustice with justice." However, this compulsive need to right the wrongs fo the realm proves this character's chaotic nature.
Jon Snow as Aegon II Targaryan: Chaotic Good
For most of the Game of Thrones series, Jon Snow was mistakenly known at Eddard Stark's bastard son. It wasn't until the show was almost over that Snow's true identity was discovered. Jon snow wasn't a bastard at all; he was the son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryan and Lyanna Stark. His birth name was Aegon II Targaryan
His role in House Targaryan is disputed because of his bastard surname and vows to the Night's Watch; however, it was legitimate enough for Daenerys Targaryan, his aunt, to question whether he would claim the throne over her since his hierarchal claim was stronger than hers. Wanting to keep the peace between the Breaker of Chains, himself, and the whole realm, Jon Snow did washer thought to be the best decision for the overall good of the land by bending the knee to Daenerys Targaryan.
By dissociating from his apparent birthright and bending the knee (vowing allegiance and servitude)to his dragon queen, Jon snow is shown as a chaotic good Targaryan that would rather keep the peace than through Westeros into more evil chaos.
Next: Dracarys: The 10 Best Daenerys & Drogon Scenes In Game Of Thrones, Ranked
