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House Of The Dragon has put Jacaerys Velaryon as a possible counterpart for Jon Snow from Game of Thrones. Although both characters have certain similarities, "The Red Sowing," the seventh episode of season two, shows a depth of sadness in Jacaerys's narrative Jon Snow never had the chance to investigate. Jacaerys, the eldest son of Rhaenyra Targaryen, has become a major player in the Targaryen Civil War juggling his obligations and the consequences of his lineage.
Not least of their startling parallels is their position as bastards. Born to Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, Jon is not stigmatized; Jacaerys, the son of Ser Harwin Strong and Rhaenyra, experiences the same. Further connections are created by Jacaerys's long, curly hair and his trip to the Wall, which reflect Jon's legendary appearance and relationship to the North. But their stories diveriate in their face with the truth of their parentage.
Jon Snow never had the moving exchange Jacaerys had with Rhaenyra on his father in "The Red Sowing." Although Jon's parentage was finally made public, he had no chance to question the story behind his birth. On the other hand, fully knowing of his actual father, Jacaerys struggles with the validity of his inheritance and the consequences of supporting bastard dragonriders. This inner conflict captures the great emotional weight Jacaerys bears, weight Jon Snow never had to deal with.
The struggle of Jacaerys emphasizes the terrible results of his birth and the strain he underlines to be acknowledged as a valid heir. Jon Snow embraced his reputation as a bastard and found comfort in his identity; Jacaerys, stuck between the reality and her mother's attempts to keep a front, is driven to prove himself. He is much influenced by the weight of legitimacy and his concern of being undercut by other bastards. This battle for acceptability and the ongoing examination of his background produce a sorrow more than what Jon Snow has gone through.
In the end, the difference in Jacaerys' and Jon Snow's fates emphasizes their different paths. Jon lived to witness the end of Game of Thrones, while Jacaerys—as told in Fire & Blood—died during the Dance of the Dragons. A terrible reminder of the terrible cost of the Targaryen fight and the human sacrifices committed in the name of power, his death in the Battle of the Gullet marks the end of the war. Born under similar conditions but traversing rather distinct realities, their fortunes clearly highlight the varied paths and results these two characters follow.