Familial ties play an essential role in House of the Dragon, but three members of the Targaryen family do not appear to belong. The show, which spun off of Game of Thrones, follows the events of the Targaryen civil war, the Dance of the Dragons. The war began in earnest when Queen Rhaenyra’s son, Lucerys, was murdered by Prince Aemond. With the battle having begun, Rhaenyra continues to see criticism, owing to the uncertain parentage of her sons. Their light skin and dark brown hair hints that they are likely the children of Harwin Strong, rather than Laenor Velaryon.
Considering that the Greens have used Rhaenyra’s heirs as evidence of her unworthiness as Queen, Reddit user KingRich6812 elected to consider another reality. Their art imagines her eldest son, Jacaerys, as a silver-haired Targaryen:
Rather than dark brown hair, the art features silvery strands that blend into the white background. This version of Jacaerys also features the book-accurate purple eyes, which were excluded from the show for practical reasons.
What Would A Valyrian-Look ing Jacaerys Have Meant For Westeros?
The War Would Still Have Happened
The majority of the Greens use Jacaerys’ appearance as proof that Aegon deserves to be the king. They cite Jacaerys’ apparent bastardy as proof that Rhaenyra’s heir is unfit to be king and that she is an undeserving queen. Queen Alicent, who once loved Rhaenyra, has come to despise her, due to her refusal to remain virtuous in her marriage bed. Jacaerys’ appearance is proof of her adultery. Arguably, Alicent might not have moved against Rhaenyra if not for Jacaerys’ looks.
Unfortunately, that reality is unlikely. Otto Hightower was pushing for Aegon to take the throne long before Aegon or Jacaerys were born. Alicent firmly believed that her son’s safety was at stake. Even if she did not, she had no power to stop the Green Small Council, who planned the war without her. The Greens use a patriarchal viewpoint, which argues that matriarchal heritage does not define the royal lineage. To them, the crown could not pass through Rhaenyra, no matter what Jacaerys’ hair color was. It would not have made much of a difference at all.
Our Take On A Valyrian Jacaerys
The Book Made His Parentage Less Evident
Jacaerys having a more Valyrian appearance is not especially important, even in the books, where his parentage is not evident. Having Baratheon heritage, Rhaenys has dark hair in George R. R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, and numerous other Targaryens do as well. Additionally, the Velaryons are also generally light-skinned in the books, making Jacaerys’ true parentage more mysterious. Even there, his hair color is not considered anything more than a minor factor in the war. While it is fun to imagine a silver-haired Jaecerys, House of the Dragon would not be different with more dominant Targaryen genes.