House of the Dragon fans have taken to Reddit to level criticism at one of the show’s main characters, calling her leadership skills into question and suggesting another better choice to rule.
Rhaenyra Targaryen has certainly made her share of mistakes, with some costing her far more than others. But is she fit to be Queen? Fans seem to feel that her son, Jacaerys, would do the job far better.
The original post on Reddit asserting this idea has been removed, however, that has not stopped a lively discussion from continuing below where it would have stood. Most seem to agree that Rhaenyra has become far too comfortable with being the guaranteed heir to the throne and as a result, has failed to bother developing genuine leadership skills.
This has cost her dearly, and by the end of the first season, the father of her firstborn three children, and one of her sons are dead due almost entirely to her own poor decisions.
Now, for those who wish to point out that it’s actually Aemond Targaryen who is responsible for Lucerys’ demise, you would be technically correct. But his actions were spurred as a direct result of the rift between his mother and Rhaenyra.
A rift that Rhaenyra herself caused with her dishonesty and betrayals over the years. It was also Rhaenyra who allowed Lucerys to travel to Storm’s End, on his own, inaccurately assessing the danger that lie there.
Rhaenyra’s delay in taking any solid action against the rising usurpers made the situation escalate far beyond what it otherwise would have if she had been firm. Fans criticise her for too often not being able to consider the likely consequences of her actions. For example, the lifelong rumours (which were true) that would plague her children regarding their parentage. Her decision to carry on an affair with Ser Harwin Strong, instead of bedding her husband, led to Strong fathering all three of her firstborn sons.
She also seems to be poor at managing stakeholder relationships. She swings between doing too much and too little on the political side of things, which leaves people either feeling harassed or ignored. She lacks that delicate balance of true rule.
By contrast, her eldest son, Jacaerys, affectionately known as Jace, seems to possess many of the crucial leadership qualities his mother lacks. This is quite an impressive achievement and not just due to his tender, young age. Jace also has had very little screen time so far in the first season, so to be able to convincingly demonstrate such resolve to the fans already, speaks volumes about the strength of his character.
Jace is calm, patient, and considerate in his approach.
He seems able to read situations and people very well, and his bravery sees him defend his brothers when attacked by their uncle Aegon. Despite the talk of his parentage, he seems unaffected by it, choosing not to dwell upon the scandal, even though he seems fully aware that it is all true.
Fans overall feel that Jace would be a stronger leader than his mother as he is less emotional, but not heartless or cruel. He is logical, clever, and fair-minded. And he is also brave, and strong, and acts decisively with noble motivations in his heart.