Great Council of 101 Choosing Rhaenys
The Dance of the Dragons boils down to family drama.
So a different (if only slightly) family on the Iron Throne would change everything.
The Great Council chose Viserys (Paddy Considine) as Jaehaerys' heir.
Viserys would not have contested the decision, just as Rhaenys never tried to dethrone Viserys.
He takes this action based on advice from his Hand, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans).
Viserys' motivation is different.
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Whatever the reason, never naming Rhaenyra heir would prevent the Dance.
Rhaenyra doesn’t expect to be queen until the oaths are sworn to her.
But it is a result of Otto’s scheming.
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There are a few ways this could have been handled differently.
First, he could have stayed unmarried.
He could have married Rhaenyra to someone earlier and let her have heirs to continue the line.
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If his other children were never born, the Dance of the Dragons does not happen.
Another option would be for Viserys and Rhaenyra to marry into the same family.
Say Viserys marries Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell) and Rhaenyra marries Laenor.
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A smaller family translates to less family drama.
Viserys even considered it but ultimately never did.
The wrath of his daughter would be a small price to pay for so many lives.
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Related:Who is Lord Cregan Stark & How Will House Stark Affect ‘House of the Dragon’?
Starting withthe green dressat the wedding, Alicent spends years trying to undermine Rhaenyra.
The war would not happen if the family were not so divided.
Or if Rhaenyra didn’t lie to Alicent and make her feel betrayed.
The sons are not from Rhaenyra’s marriage to Laenor.
Andthey look like Harwin Strong(Ryan Corr).
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Due to Westerosi standards for women, Rhaenyra couldn’t admit another man fathered her sons.
But the pressure to have an heir left her few options.
Her children’s true father is the worst-kept secret in Westeros.
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Alicent used that to turn many people against Rhaenyra, further inciting the war that was quickly becoming inevitable.
This marriage would unite the two houses.
Due to her animosity towards Rhaenyra and the fact that Jace is a bastard, Alicent refuses the proposal.
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Even so, Viserys could have insisted.
If these two are married, Alicent would hesitate to start a war against her own daughter.
So why bring him back?
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Otto manipulates the situation to make matters worse and actively pushes the realm toward war.
If Viserys had made almost anyone else hand, it could have stabilized the realm.
For example, Corlys would have supported Rhaenyra.
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Or he could have made Rhaenyra the Hand, allowing her to learn how to rule more effectively.
Either way, without Otto to stir the pot, the war may never have begun.
When Viserys dies, Rhaenyra is not only far away but unaware of her father’s death.
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That allows Alicent and Otto to declare Aegon king before Rhaenyra had the chance to do anything about it.
Alicent uses this to justify her crusade to make Aegon king.
But in the end, Rhaenyra does not surrender, meaning the war has begun.
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She does, however, refuse to initiate the violence.
A hesitation Alicent shared.
Vhagar Not Killing Lucerys
Whatever either side intended, the violence has begun.
Alicent insisted on trying to negotiate first.
Though Rhaenyra refused, she also decided not to be the first to commit violence.
Both send messengers to the lords they hope to win to their side.
Rhaenyra does the same with her son, Lucerys (Elliot Grihault).
Luke refused to fight, as he promised his mother, but Aemond won’t leave well enough alone.
Butthe dragons have different ideas.
There is no way to stop it now.
The Dance of the Dragons has begun.
