In House of the Dragon, Rhaena Targaryen’s infused storyline revolves around firebreathing dragons and a violent wreckage as she faced the dangerous fury in season 3 of House of the Dragon. HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series introduced the Black noble family dynasty, House Velaryon, into the TV franchise two seasons ago, a creative choice to that visually separates them from House Targaryen and reflects a diverse audience. As a fantasy fan yearning for more Black representation onscreen, having more diverse characters weaved into the narrative through the way of House Velaryon and Rhaena Targaryen was a welcomed. But it hasn’t been a perfect integration.
@freddiesroommate Let’s talk about Rhaena #houseofthedragon #hotd #gameofthrones #tvtok ♬ original sound – Justin
The Velaryons darker skins strikingly contrasts the revered Targaryens and emphasize the dramatic, political and emotional conflict arising between each other’s historic lineages. Fans were heavily enjoying the powerful Black sea families arc in the previous seasons. But as season three comes to a close, some are wondering why Rhaena Targaryen seemingly never reached her full potential as a dragonrider and force and is now teetering into damaging Black character tropes that characterize her as more of an antagonist and obstacle for every other character in the House of the Dragon series to resolve.
Actor Phoebe Campbell’s embodiment of Rhaena Targaryen anchors the misled Targaryen with emotional depth and precision in her performance. After all, she is a severely neglected voice in House of the Dragon. She wishes to be a respected dragonrider like her other family members, and Black viewers have gotten to explore her complex feelings. But across this season, the other Black Velaryons have fewer screentimes as we watched a tortured Rhaena Targaryen arrive at King’s Landing.
George R.R. Martin first penned the House Velaryon characters as being “pale-skinned” in his original fictional universe, so seeing Black family dynamics is a victory in its own right; despite Rhaena’s overarching efforts to achieve power. The House of the Dragon franchise sidelines Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) of the Tides, who is also one of the most debated characters for book purists and Black audience members alike. Mostly, because he seems like a nondimensional character who is there to bolster up the Princess Targaryen.
I am aligned with the online discourse, mainly from Black women who are torn for Rhaena — her merged on-screen storyline with the text showcases a troubled character. Black audiences crave for a world where Rhaena is awarded with enough independence to find herself outside of the sociopolitical ties that define her as part Targaryen and Velaryon. The pain she endures as a Black female character is a byproduct of wanting to belong to a white-reigned society that demoralizes her.
In Westeros, the Black family bloodlines are opulent yet estranged. Even in fantasy, Black families deserve togetherness. The finale will expand the plot on what truly is in store for Rhaena Targaryen’s future as someone who earlier experienced insurmountable suffrage and turmoil. This past penultimate episode of the season has placed Rhaena in the middle of the dragon and political warfare.
As the main Black focal point of the series, Rhaena Targaryen deserves to evolve from her disenfranchised state (with Sheepstealer by her side). Will she ever reach her full potential and soar in the sky with her dragon or will she be another fail-safe Black character whose story is built to cause more conflict?
In House of the Dragon so far, there are many evident examples of creative liberties being taken and stretched thin for more entertaining lore but at what expense? If the masters of the sea, House Velaryon, were recrafted to be seen as a powerful Black family to circumvent superpowers already established in Game of Thrones’ and their lineage, Rhaena Targaryen is worthy of the highest honor.
House of the Dragon, the season’s final episode, airs August 9 on HBO.