1 House Of The Dragon Character Can End The Targaryen War By Doing Nothing (But They Won’t)

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Published Jun 30, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT

John Orquiola is a New & Classic TV Editor, Senior Writer, and Interviewer with a special focus on Star Trek. John has over 5,000 published articles at SR, and he has interviewed the biggest names in Star Trek on the red carpet and VIP events, among other beloved shows, movies, and franchises.

Warning: SPOILERS For House Of The Dragon Season 3, Episode 2 - "Queen's Landing"

One House of the Dragon character has the golden opportunity to end the bloody Targaryen civil war by doing nothing, but she won't. It's not how it plays out in George R.R. Martin's "Fire and Blood," nor will it be what happens in season 3 of HBO's hit Game of Thrones prequel.

House of the Dragon season 3 has been immensely satisfying from the get-go, from the gruesomely spectacular Battle of the Gullet to the long-awaited sight of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) claiming the Iron Throne at the end of House of the Dragon season 3, episode 2.

Rhaenyra's ascension was made possible thanks to Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) convincing Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) to leave King's Landing for Harrenhal. Aemond attacked Harrenhal with the fiery might of his dragon, Vhagar.

However, in a stunning twist not in "Fire and Blood," Aemond was stabbed after he killed Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale).

Alys Rivers Should Not Save Aemond Targaryen (But She Will)

Alys Rivers in House of the Dragon season 3

Warning: Possible SPOILERS For House of the Dragon Season 3Aemond was shocked when he realized that he was mortally wounded by a random servant of Simon Strong. Terrified, the Targaryen regent collapsed in front of Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), pleading, "Help me!" All Alys has to do is nothing. If she lets Aemond die, the Targaryen civil war could essentially be over right there.

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If Aemond dies, then Team Green's greatest advantage — Vhagar — has no rider. Even when Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and Ser Gwayne Hightower's (Freddie Fox) army takes Harrenhal, the eventual assault by Daemon Targaryen's (Matt Smith) forces could defeat them, especially if Daemon arrives with his and Rhaenyra's other dragons.

The only remaining threat if Aemond dies would be King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Lord Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), who are on the run to Dragonstone in the hopes of one day returning to the Iron Throne. But the loss of Aemond would end the immediate threat of Team Green and end the bloody conflict in favor of Queen Rhaenyra.

All of this could happen if Alys Rivers simply lets Aemond die at her feet. However, she will save him. According to George R.R. Martin's "Fire and Blood," Alys and Aemond become lovers. Aemond's life in peril is an ingenious and unexpected twist from the source material, but the Harrenhal witch will keep the one-eyed Targaryen prince from dying, prolonging the Dance of the Dragons.

Rhaenys Targaryen Could Have Prevented House Of The Dragon’s War In Season 1

Alys Rivers having the chance to end the Dance of the Dragons by simply doing nothing to save Aemond Targaryen is, itself, a twist on a critical turning point in House of the Dragon season 1. Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) could have prevented the Dance of the Dragons from happening at all when she disrupted King Aegon's coronation with her dragon, Meleys.

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King Viserys I names his heir early in the series, defying tradition that would favor his firstborn son. Who does he name as his successor?

ADaemon Targaryen BAegon Targaryen CRhaenyra Targaryen DAemond Targaryen

✓ Correct! Viserys named his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne after the death of his first wife, Aemma, and their infant son. He forced the lords of the realm to swear oaths of fealty to her — oaths many would later break.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Rhaenyra Targaryen. Viserys defied Westerosi precedent by naming his daughter over his brother Daemon. Even after fathering sons with Alicent Hightower, Viserys never changed his decree.

Alicent Hightower’s faction is known as “the Greens.” Who is her father, the cunning Hand of the King who orchestrates much of their political strategy?

ACorlys Velaryon BOtto Hightower CLyonel Strong DTyland Lannister

✓ Correct! Otto Hightower served as Hand of the King and was the mastermind behind the Green faction. He strategically positioned his daughter Alicent to marry Viserys, and spent decades maneuvering to place Alicent’s son Aegon on the throne.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Otto Hightower. He served as Hand to both Jaehaerys I and Viserys I, and engineered the marriage between Alicent and the King. Corlys Velaryon sided with the Blacks, and Lyonel Strong served as Hand before Otto’s return.

Daemon Targaryen rides a fierce, battle-scarred dragon known for its Blood Wyrm nickname. What is the name of his fearsome mount?

ASyrax BVhagar CMeleys DCaraxes

✓ Correct! Caraxes, known as “the Blood Wyrm,” is Daemon’s dragon — a lean, red, battle-scarred beast. While Vhagar is the largest and oldest dragon alive, Caraxes is the most experienced in combat and fiercely loyal to Daemon.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Caraxes. Syrax is Rhaenyra’s dragon, Vhagar is the oldest dragon (ridden by Aemond), and Meleys “the Red Queen” is Rhaenys’s mount. Caraxes the Blood Wyrm is Daemon’s partner in the skies.

Princess Rhaenys Targaryen is known by a nickname reflecting the fact she was passed over for the throne in favor of Viserys. What is she called?

AThe Queen Who Never Was BThe Dragon Queen CThe Realm’s Delight DThe Black Queen

✓ Correct! Rhaenys was dubbed “The Queen Who Never Was” after the Great Council of 101 AC chose Viserys over her, despite her strong claim. Married to Corlys Velaryon, she became one of the most formidable figures in the Dance, riding Meleys the Red Queen.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is The Queen Who Never Was. “The Realm’s Delight” is actually young Rhaenyra’s nickname. Rhaenys earned her title when the lords of the realm chose Viserys over her at the Great Council, setting the precedent that later fueled the Dance.

Vhagar is the largest living dragon during the Dance. Which Targaryen prince claims her — dramatically shifting the balance of power to the Greens?

AAegon II Targaryen BJacaerys Velaryon CAemond Targaryen DDaeron Targaryen

✓ Correct! Aemond Targaryen claimed Vhagar at Driftmark after the funeral of Laena Velaryon — Vhagar’s previous rider. This bold act gave the Greens their most devastating weapon and sparked the confrontation that cost Aemond his eye.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Aemond Targaryen. Aegon II rides Sunfyre, Jacaerys rides Vermax, and Daeron rides Tessarion. Aemond’s daring claim of Vhagar at Driftmark was a pivotal moment that made him the Greens’ most dangerous warrior.

Viserys shares a secret Targaryen prophecy with Rhaenyra about a threat from the North and a promised prince. What is this prophecy called?

AThe Prince That Was Promised BA Song of Ice and Fire CThe Long Night Prophecy DAegon’s Conquest

✓ Correct! Aegon the Conqueror had a prophetic dream he called “A Song of Ice and Fire” — a vision of a terrible winter coming from the North that would destroy the world of the living. This secret was passed from king to heir, and Viserys shared it with Rhaenyra on the night he named her heir.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is A Song of Ice and Fire. Aegon the Conqueror’s dream foretold a great threat from the North requiring a Targaryen on the Iron Throne to unite the realm. Viserys revealed this to Rhaenyra, connecting House of the Dragon directly to the events of Game of Thrones.

Corlys Velaryon is one of the richest and most powerful men in Westeros, famous for his legendary voyages. What is his well-known title?

AThe Master of Ships BThe Lord of Tides CThe Kraken DThe Sea Snake

✓ Correct! Corlys Velaryon earned the name “The Sea Snake” through his legendary nine voyages across the known world aboard his ship. He amassed a fortune that made House Velaryon wealthier than even the Lannisters, and his naval power proved crucial in the Dance.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is The Sea Snake. While Corlys did serve on the Small Council, his legendary title comes from his nine great voyages. “Lord of the Tides” is the formal title of the head of House Velaryon, but “The Sea Snake” is his personal epithet.

The Season 1 finale ends with a devastating loss for Rhaenyra when one of her sons is killed in a dragonback confrontation. Which son does she lose, and who kills him?

ALucerys, killed by Aemond and Vhagar BJacaerys, killed by Aegon and Sunfyre CJoffrey, killed by Daeron and Tessarion DLucerys, killed by Daemon and Caraxes

✓ Correct! Lucerys Velaryon, riding his young dragon Arrax, was pursued and killed by Aemond on the colossal Vhagar above Shipbreaker Bay near Storm’s End. The show portrays this as partly accidental — Vhagar acted on her own — but the result ignited the Dance of the Dragons into open war.

✗ Dracarys! The answer is Lucerys, killed by Aemond and Vhagar. Luke was sent as an envoy to Storm’s End but was confronted by Aemond. The massive Vhagar devoured young Arrax and his rider above Shipbreaker Bay — the act that turned a succession dispute into a full-scale civil war.

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All Rhaenys had to do was say, "Dracarys!" and Meleys would have burned Aegon, Alicent, and the entire Hightower family to ashes. This would have punished the usurpers to Rhaenyra's throne and prevented the deaths of thousands, including Rhaenys and Meleys' own deaths at the hands of Aemond and Vhagar in House of the Dragon season 2.

Of course, Rhaenys couldn't kill the Hightowers at that point, because then there would be no show and story for House of the Dragon to tell. Yet that doesn't make Rhaenys' decision any less frustrating for viewers. Rhaenyra even called out Rhaenys' decision not to prevent the Targaryen civil war from starting, and a multitude of tragedies stemmed from the inaction of the Queen Who Never Was.

House of the Dragon season 3 courts the same frustration again, because viewers know that Alys Rivers has the chance to stop the bloodshed yet to come by letting arguably the biggest threat to Rhaenyra die. Alys likely doesn't know, at this point, that Rhaenyra has taken King's Landing, and how close the war is to being over.

The easiest thing in House of the Dragon for Alys to do is nothing, but she is bound to save Aemond and play her part in the continuation of the Dance of the Dragons. Yet the audience will always know and hold Alys' next actions against her, knowing what could have happened otherwise.