House of the Dragon returned with devastating events. After almost two years of waiting, the series showed the consequences and the characters’ grief after the death of Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) in the last episode of last season. However, a crucial detail in one of the saddest scenes in Sunday’s episode (16) went almost unnoticed by most fans: Queen Rhaenyra was mourning two children, a double mourning, a loss that almost no one noticed.
The Coup d’état and the Devastating Loss
About 10 days separate the two seasons, and Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) is on a tireless search for her son, holding out a ray of hope for the boy’s survival. In the most painful scene of the episode, the queen finds the remains of Lucerys’ dragon wing and breaks down when faced with reality. However, the full extent of her grief was not fully understood: in addition to Lucerys, Rhaenyra also lost her other son, Jaehaerys, at almost the same time, due to the coup d’état carried out by the Greens. This double tragedy made the queen’s grief even more profound and distressing.
However, Rhaenyra is not the only one in pain. At the scene, it is possible to notice that Syrax also shares the pain of its automaker. Not only because of the connection they have, but also because of the grief of losing Arrax, who was also her son. In addition to the deceased creature, Syrax is also the mother of the other dragons that belong to Rhaenyra’s children.
“Just wanted to point out that Arrax (Lucerys’ dragon) is also the son of Syrax (Rhaenyra’s dragon)… so both mothers are mourning in this scene 😭” – 𝑨𝑲𝑰𝑹𝑨/𝑪𝑽𝑳𝑻𝑽𝑹𝑬 (@RON1NSenju)
Luke’s Tragedy and Rhaenyra’s Misunderstanding of Pain
The first season ended with Luke’s tragic death, after being persecuted by his uncle, Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell). The bad weather and the terror caused by the older Targaryen leave Arrax and his rider fearful. In desperation to escape, the young dragon attacks Vhagar, the creature of conquest, who in turn disobeys Aemond and kills both Lucerys and Arrax.
This event alone was devastating, but Rhaenyra’s grief was amplified by the almost simultaneous loss of Jaehaerys, a detail many fans missed. The coup d’état by the Greens resulted in the loss of not just one child, but two, creating a double pain that went unnoticed by many spectators. This lack of full understanding of the queen’s grief highlights the depth of the tragedy and the emotional complexity that the series attempts to portray.
House of the Dragon returns next Sunday (23) from 10pm (Brasília time). Meanwhile, fans are beginning to realize the depth of Rhaenyra’s grief, not just over the loss of one child, but two, almost at the same time, due to the Greens’ coup. This crucial detail, which went almost unnoticed, adds an even darker and sadder layer to the series’ already devastating narrative.
Source: Atrevida
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
