House of the Dragon was released last year and it still remains fresh in the memory of the huge Westeros fanbase. It lived up to the expectations that hardcore fans had set for the prequel to Game of Thrones and even critics were touting it as a worthy prequel.
It’s not only the story that sold the fans on the brutal and tragic setting of the TV series but the well-written characters and their development over the course of 10 episodes. Perhaps one of the more interesting characters in the series was Laenor Velaryon, who was depicted as a gay man in the TV series that married Rhaenyra Targaryen for political reasons- but fans have been hailing the latter as an LGBTQ+ icon too.
Rhaenyra Targaryen
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House of The Dragon‘s Rhaenyra Targaryen Has Always Been An Ally
Emma D’Arcy really put in one hell of a performance as the main character of House of the Dragon, earning a name for themselves in Hollywood as a talented actor, whose breakthrough into the mainstream was long overdue.
Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon
That’s all fine, but even after Rhaenyra Targaryen was getting praise from fans for fighting for her right to the throne, or even having a spine and standing up for herself against the Hightowers, there’s one particular response she made in the TV series that won the heart of the LGBTQ+ community.
Of all the relationships that are depicted in the critically acclaimed TV series, the one between D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra Targaryen and John Macmillan’s Laenor Velaryon is one of the more interesting ones.
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Having wed due to political reasons, the two were never in love as they had different lovers even when their marriage was finalized during their childhood. If fans remember the scene where the two talk about their arrangement as adults, Leanor said-
“I hate the gods for making me as they did.”
And Rhaenyra’s reply ended up with the character getting praise for being a queer ally-
“I do not. You are an honorable man with a good heart. It’s a rare thing”
We all love a character that’s progressive, and in this day and age, it’s absolutely important.
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Fans Tout House Of The Dragon‘s Rhaneyra Targaryen As An LGBTQ+ Icon
Now Emma D’Arcy‘s character in House of the Dragon has been brought up again in the LGBTQ+ community for another reason that is on the same page with her acceptance of her husband’s sexuality.
Rhaenyra Targaryen
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This time they’re hailing Rhaenyra as an icon of the LGBTQ+ community by fans of House of the Dragon on Twitter, and they’ve got their reasons-
There’s a connection here-
It even goes on to the Game of Thrones timeline!-
The thread is quite long, and @Targ_Nation has a compelling argument for everything they’re tweeting. Here’s how other fans reacted to it-
We all do! –
Is this a reach? Well, it’s only a fan expressing their perspective of what D’Arcy’s character has done for the LGBTQ+ community, and it’s nice to be kept as food for thought.
House of the Dragon is currently available for streaming on HBO Max.
Source: Twitter
