Rhaenyra Takes The Iron Throne In House Of The Dragon Season 3 But Her Reign Is Unstable

Fans eagerly anticipated the moment Rhaenyra Targaryen would claim her rightful place, and ‘House of the Dragon‘ Season 3 Episode 2 finally delivers that pivotal scene. Rhaenyra’s ascension to the Iron Throne is rich with references to the conclusion of ‘Game of Thrones.’ However, the journey to her throne is marred by sorrow, betrayal, and bloodshed, raising significant concerns about the stability of her reign.

The episode arrives just a week after the devastating loss of Jace Targaryen, and the aftermath of that tragedy influences every event that follows. Rhaenyra is overwhelmed by grief over the death of her heir, demanding that his lifeless body respond to her as she confronts the heartbreaking news in Episode 2. This raw emotion fuels one of the most discussed sequences of the season.

Rhaenyra’s takeover of King’s Landing was not achieved through brute force. With Aemond having departed on Vhagar, and Alicent Hightower along with Helaena Targaryen persuading the guards to yield, Rhaenyra arrives at the capital on her dragon Syrax, joined by Daemon Targaryen on Caraxes, along with Hugh the Hammer and Ulf the White. Surprisingly, the dragons were hardly necessary for the takeover.

The plan almost unfolded perfectly. They faced little resistance upon entering the gates, although loyalists to the Greens still posed a challenge. Inside the Red Keep, tensions escalated rapidly as the throne room came into sight.

Rhaenyra and Daemon confronted armed Kingsguard knights blocking their path, with Daemon swiftly dispatching them while the Gold Cloaks, previously aligned with Alicent, supported the Black queen. Even Ser Luthor Largent chose to stand with them, recalling his past connections to Daemon, making the military aspect of the takeover feel anticlimactic compared to what awaited inside.

Rhaenyra sought Aegon to answer for his usurpation, but he was nowhere to be found. When she ordered Aegon the Usurper to be brought before her and that proved impossible, another option emerged from the dungeons: Otto Hightower, who had been imprisoned since the Season 2 finale.

Otto was left in the dungeons of the Red Keep as a gift to Daemon and Rhaenyra from Larys Strong, a gift they eagerly accepted. Daemon saw this as an opportunity to send a message, nudging Rhaenyra towards an execution she was reluctant to carry out herself.

Daemon suggested that Rhaenyra kill Otto in Aegon’s stead, reminding her that the world was watching and that she needed to demonstrate her resolve to rule. The execution was anything but smooth, highlighting Rhaenyra’s unpreparedness for the violence that comes with the crown.

Rhaenyra took Daemon’s Valyrian steel sword, Dark Sister, and attempted to behead Otto while sobbing, her first strike failing and striking his back before a second swing completed the grim task. This was a stark contrast to the poised and righteous coronation many viewers anticipated for ‘House of the Dragon.’

Claiming the Iron Throne and maintaining it are two entirely different challenges, and the show is acutely aware of this distinction. Rhaenyra holds the throne, the city, and several formidable dragons, but the war is far from over, with Aegon and Aemond still at large, leaving her rule precarious.

Additionally, she must navigate governing a city that has already suffered under her side’s blockade. The people of King’s Landing have endured hardships partly due to the blockade on the Gullet, meaning while some may celebrate their new queen, many will be discontented. This tension creates a fragile foundation for what lies ahead.

Stars Emma D’Arcy and Matt Smith have discussed how this moment reshapes Rhaenyra’s character moving forward, with D’Arcy’s comments to Variety delving into the emotional impact. D’Arcy described Rhaenyra’s execution of Otto as a reflection of patriarchal power dynamics, prompting viewers to consider whether she crossed a moral line.

The brutal imagery has not gone unnoticed by fans and critics alike, with parallels drawn between Otto’s botched execution and other infamous failed beheadings in the franchise. The clumsy strike that failed to sever the head on the first attempt recalls Theon Greyjoy’s disastrous beheading of Rodrik Cassell, which foreshadowed his struggles at ruling Winterfell. Whether this omen extends to Rhaenyra’s reign remains to be seen.

The reunion between Rhaenyra and Alicent, two women whose fractured friendship ignited this entire conflict, now hangs by a thread due to the events in the throne room. Alicent had facilitated Rhaenyra’s takeover of King’s Landing from her son Aegon but did not foresee this outcome, meaning the fragile alliance they formed at the end of Season 2 could shatter depending on Alicent’s reaction. With Aegon and Aemond still alive and a grieving Alicent now confronted with her father’s headless body, how much longer can Rhaenyra truly hold onto the throne?