This article contains spoilers from House of the Dragon season 1.House of the Dragon season 1 has come to a close, and fans may be surprised how far Rhaenyra evolved in just ten episodes. Due to the time jumps, she progressed from a young girl to a woman, but more importantly, from a carefree princess to a vengeful queen. Viserys had the most drastic physical transformation over this time, but Rhaenyra’s changes have been just as significant.
The test of a good character is whether the surrounding events have changed them and whether they play an active role in shaping them. Rhaenyra certainly changed as the world did, and she did her best to respond to each new situation in the way she felt was right. As fans await season 2, they may rewatch the series and be shocked by how much Rhaenyra changed in so little time.
Princess Rhaenyra, The Realm's Delight
When the series began, Rhaenyra was 14 years old. As per the book, she was known as “the Realm’s Delight.” While this term wasn’t used in the first episode, it’s easy to see its truth. Rhaenyra was loved by Alicent, Daemon, and her parents, and it seemed as though that love extended beyond her closest companions as well.
During this time, Rhaenyra was largely carefree. She worried about her mother, with good reason, but otherwise seemed incredibly happy with her life. As she stated, “I want to fly with [Alicent] on dragon-back, see the great wonders across the Narrow Sea, and eat only cake.” By and large, she was able to do all of that with few roadblocks.
Heir To The Throne
Viserys named Rhaenyra heir to the Iron Throne, but she didn’t necessarily trust it at first. He told her about Aegon’s prophecy, but also rejected her at the Small Council. However, this was a significant change for Rhaenyra, who was now expected to focus on duty over pleasure.
Despite gradually proving herself a worthy queen, Rhaenyra struggled to fit the position for several episodes because she wasn’t sure if anyone would actually give her the respect her position deserved. However, after Viserys swore not to replace her, she took on her duties more sincerely, preparing herself to be the future Queen.
Sullen and Rebellious Teenager
In many ways, Rhaenyra shut down when her mother died. She became bitter toward her father, both for letting Aemma die and for marrying Alicent so soon afterward. In addition, she didn’t trust him to keep her as heir once he had the son he’d always wanted.
This made Rhaenyra act petty toward him and Alicent, ignoring everything but direct commands. This behavior was most obvious in "Second of His Name." While it might seem silly to viewers who don’t understand why she would act out, it makes sense given all the upheaval in her life at such a young age.
er Of Free Love
Daemon told Rhaenyra, “A marriage is a duty, yes. But that doesn't stop us from doing what we want.” That message quickly became a driving philosophy in Rhaenyra’s approach to life. She married Laenor willingly and did her duty by him, but she also took pleasure where she could find it, specifically with Criston Cole and Harwin Strong.
Rhaenyra truly seemed to live by the understanding that those who did their duty were free to sleep with whomever they wanted, which she willingly allowed Laenor to do as well. She never prevented him from having his own affairs, and she ended this pact when she felt he had failed in his duties to her and wanted to settle a happier life.
Alicent's Rival
While Rhaenyra was petty toward Alicent after she married Viserys, and Alicent declared herself at war at Rhaenyra’s wedding, Rhaenyra wasn’t actively Alicent’s rival until after the second time jump. Audiences saw the two women seated at Viserys’s left and right on the small council, and they were at odds on every issue.
As the book put it, "both Rhaenyra and Alicent aspired to be the first lady of the realm," and Rhaenyra had no choice but to defend herself against Alicent’s accusations. Viserys was easily swayed by the people around him, so Rhaenyra did her best to keep her opinions at the forefront.
Protective Mother
While Rhaenyra was first shown as a mother in "The Princess and the Queen," the finale's "The Black Queen" truly showed how far she had come from the young girl who had no desire to bear children. Through her tender moment with Lucerys and her careful wrapping of her stillborn child’s body, audiences finally saw Rhaenyra the mother.
Despite her desires otherwise, Rhaenyra birthed five living children, and she stood by them in every circumstance, whether that meant defending their legitimacy or protecting them from harm. Finally, seeing that side of her in-depth made Lucerys’ death in the finale so much harder to accept.
Rhaenyra's Union With Daemon
In House of the Dragon, Daemon and Rhaenyra had a romantic connection from the time she was a teenager, but "Driftmark" saw Rhaenyra take Daemon as her husband. This decision was made partly out of affection, partly to strengthen her claim, and partly to gain a husband who would kill for her.
At first, it seemed as though she got that easily, with two children by the time she returned to King’s Landing and Daemon slaughtering Vaemond for his attacks on her other children. However, the final episode showed what he got out of that arrangement — not just proximity to the throne, but the expectation that he would be a decision-maker in the incoming war.
A Loving Daughter
Audiences saw Rhaenyra at odds with her father for most of the season, but "The Lord of the Tides" showed a different side of her, which had developed most in time apart. Rhaenyra loved her father. While Daemon pushed Viserys to decide in Luke’s favor, Rhaenyra wanted to introduce him to his younger grandsons, including the one named after him.
Rhaenyra and Viserys’s relationship was complicated because it was constantly made more difficult by their positions. However, in the end, she just loved him. That was shown in her time by his bedside and her willingness to make peace when Viserys asked for it at dinner.
An Uncertain Heir
Despite the war that began in the final two episodes of season 1, Rhaenyra showed a strange reluctance to actually be the Queen. When she visited Viserys, she itted that the burden of being heir was great. She asked for his if she was to bear it, a critical moment in their relationship.
While he did her in words and actions, she still seemed uncertain in the finale. Her shock at Greens' actions caused her to go into early labor, but she ordered her sons to halt Daemon’s warmongering. Then, she considered Alicent’s to end this war before it really began. Her restraint won Rhaenyra the of House Velaryon, as well as showing the audience that Rhaenyra was not acting on blind ambition, as other characters were.
The Black Queen
It was, unfortunately, fitting that Rhaenyra was crowned Queen at a funeral, where she mourned both her father and her child. The Dance of the Dragons is full of blood and pain, and it only makes sense that its beginning was tragic. But despite being crowned at the funeral and wearing the crown after that point, Rhaenyra was willing to forfeit her claim if it was for the realm’s good.
She truly became the Black Queen when she learned that Lucerys had been killed, and the pain and fury in her eyes showed that she was ready to rain her house’s motto, “Fire and Blood,” on all the Greens. The color black was not just a marker of Targaryen pride; it was a mourning color to show her enemies precisely why she sought revenge.
