The terrible end in house of the dragon for Rhaenyra Targaryen
Long before Game of Thrones takes place, Rhaenyra Targaryen, the main character of House Of The Dragon, is set for a sad end. Her path as queen is one of ambition and fortitude, but it finally ends brutally. Author of the Fire & Blood series George R.R. Martin has divulged the specifics of Rhaenyra's death, which has excited viewers to see how the HBO series treats it.
A queen's downfall: Rhaenyra's last moments
Rhaenyra bears the marks of a terrible civil war inside the Targaryen family, The Dance of the Dragons. She rises to the Iron Throne, at last satisfying her long-held ambition, but her rule is difficult. King's Landing witnesses riots; the Dragonpit, a haven for the dragons, falls to a mob and several dragons—including Rhaenyra's own son Joffrey—are lost. She must leave the capital and must travel desperately, her once-strong rule vanishing into a fight for survival.
Rhaenyra is presented in her last days as a broken figure, a shadow of her former self. Seeking safety on Dragonstone, driven to sell her crown to pay for her passage, she discovers Ser Alfred Broome has betrayed her. Rhaenyra has nowhere to flee when Aegon, her half-brother and challenger to the throne, takes over the island.
Rhaenyra's final fate is horrifying. Driven by resentment, Aegon brings his own dragon, half-sister to Sunfyre. Originally apathetic, Sunfyre is awakened by the blood scent after Broome cuts Rhaenyra. Her fury as the dragon descends upon her consumes her in flames. Rhaenyra curses Aegon defiantly before her death. As Fire & Blood describes, her reign—a time of strife and ambition—ends in a graphic act of dragon fire, leaving only a broken leg.
Timing Rhaenyra's Death in House of the Dragon
House Of The Dragon is still showing events that preceded Rhaenyra's passing. The Dance of the Dragons is in full flow as the show is presently in its third season. Rhaenyra has secured King's Landing, but many important battles and betrayals still lie ahead before her terrible end.
Knowing Rhaenyra's central part in the show, HBO probably wants to keep her alive for a good chunk of the series—maybe until the penultimate or last season. The pace of the show and the general story arc will decide the exact moment of her death, but it's reasonable to suppose it won't happen until the latter phases of House of the Dragon.
Although Rhaenyra's death is a turning point, there are still several important events that have to happen following her passing including the death of Aegon II and the end of the civil war. A few episodes could perhaps capture these events. Depending on the total running length of the show, Rhaenyra's death most likely falls between the middle to three-quarters mark of either season 4 or 5 of House of the Dragon.
A spoiled tragedy: Rhaenyra dies in Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones revealed the terrible specifics of Rhaenyra's death too soon. Known for his savagery, Joffrey Baratheon enjoys telling Margaery Tyrell, his soon-to-be wife, Rhaenyra's terrible fate during a tour of the Great Sept of Baelor. Years before Fire & Blood was released, Joffrey's casual mention of the dragon eating Rhaenyra and her son watching in horror unintentionally ruined the narrative for viewers of Game of Thrones.
Although the House of the Dragon showrunners have shown a readiness to stray from the source material, the death of Rhaenyra within the greater story makes it quite improbable that they will fundamentally change the main points of view. The production schedule of the show, however, points to the brutal scene not being revealed for several more years, so keeping viewers in suspenseful expectancy.
