For years, Rhaenyra Targaryen was one of the characters House of the Dragon fans could rally behind. But after Season 3, Episode 4, even one longtime supporter has reached a very different conclusion about the would-be queen.

The writer admits that the series has accomplished something he once thought was impossible: it has turned him against Rhaenyra.

That is a dramatic change for someone who once defended her without hesitation.

From Rhaenyra Supporter To Her Harshest Critic

Nearly a decade ago, the writer published an article about Rhaenyra during the height of Game of Thrones. At the time, one furious reader accused him of writing “propaganda” for the fictional Targaryen princess.

The criticism was amusing, but there was one part of it that was accurate: he absolutely supported Rhaenyra.

His reasoning was straightforward. King Viserys had named his daughter as his heir, and the lords of Westeros had sworn to uphold her claim. In his view, the Dance of the Dragons never should have happened.

Rhaenyra was hardly perfect, but her flaws were part of what made her compelling. Her anger, impulsiveness, fierce love for her children and hatred of her enemies made her feel authentically human.

That loyalty, however, has disappeared.

After watching the television version of Rhaenyra throughout the series, the writer now believes the character has become increasingly ineffective as a ruler.

The Problem With HBO’s Rhaenyra

The criticism is not about Rhaenyra grieving her children or showing emotion.

Instead, it centers on what she does with those emotions.

According to the writer, TV Rhaenyra too often responds to political crises by crying, complaining or appearing powerless rather than taking decisive action.

One example came when she finally claimed the Iron Throne. Instead of appearing triumphant, she broke down in front of the royal court after being forced to execute Otto Hightower, the man who had helped challenge her claim.

The issue, the writer argues, is not that Rhaenyra feels deeply. Her emotions were always part of what made her fascinating.

The issue is that the television version increasingly appears unable to turn those emotions into effective leadership.

Rhaenyra Keeps Making Decisions That Hurt Her Cause

The writer also points to Rhaenyra’s actions throughout the earlier seasons.

In Season 2, she secretly traveled to King’s Landing to meet Alicent, putting herself and those around her at enormous risk. The decision is described as selfish and reckless because there was no clear political benefit that justified the danger.

Her decision-making has allegedly become even more problematic since taking the capital.

Rather than finding effective ways to work with King’s Landing’s powerful families to feed its starving population, she resorted to feeding people rats.

She also alienated potential allies instead of building relationships that could strengthen her position.

Her treatment of supporters has created further problems. The City Watch has been used against Green supporters who spread information about her, while revelations concerning her three eldest sons have contributed to tensions with her own Hand.

Ser Corlys has also been angered by Rhaenyra’s refusal to legitimize his sons Addam and Alyn.

The Dragonriders Are Another Missed Opportunity

Rhaenyra’s handling of her new dragonriders has also become a major source of criticism.

Ulf, Hugh and Addam are powerful new assets for her side, yet the writer argues that Rhaenyra has done little to make them feel valued.

Hugh’s situation is highlighted in particular. Despite possessing a dragon and therefore representing an enormous military advantage, he struggled to receive something as basic as a suitable home.

The criticism is essentially that Rhaenyra has entrusted ordinary people with incredibly powerful weapons while failing to provide the recognition and security they need to remain loyal.

For a ruler fighting a civil war, those relationships could be crucial.

Book Rhaenyra Was More Capable

The contrast with George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood makes the television version even more frustrating for the writer.

Book Rhaenyra certainly makes terrible decisions, but she also demonstrates greater competence. Most notably, she manages to take King’s Landing with relatively little bloodshed.

That creates an important question about HBO’s version of the character: what would Rhaenyra have done if Alicent had not effectively opened the door for her?

The television series has shown Rhaenyra spending much of her time frustrated, grieving and questioning why others refuse to recognize her authority.

The writer argues that this makes her appear less like a queen taking control of her kingdom and more like someone waiting for events to happen around her.

Grief Changed Rhaenyra In The Book — But Not In The Same Way On TV

One of the biggest differences comes after the death of Lucerys.

In Fire & Blood, Luke’s death becomes a turning point. Rhaenyra’s grief transforms into rage, and that rage drives her deeper into the destructive conflict that becomes the Dance of the Dragons.

On television, however, the writer believes her grief has produced far less decisive action.

Even after reaching King’s Landing, Rhaenyra continues to appear overwhelmed by emotion rather than driven by the kind of determination expected from someone fighting for the throne.

That contrast has fundamentally changed how the character is viewed.

Rhaenyra Is No Longer The Queen He Wants To See Win

After years of supporting Rhaenyra, the writer now admits that he has reached the point where he does not particularly care who ultimately sits on the Iron Throne.

In his view, none of the major players have demonstrated enough qualities to make their claim an easy one to support.

But there is one thing he does regret: House of the Dragon has taken one of his favorite tragic figures from Westeros and turned her into someone he can no longer root for.

It is a harsh conclusion, especially coming from someone who once considered himself a committed Rhaenyra supporter.

And perhaps the biggest irony is that, nearly ten years after being accused of writing “Rhaenyra propaganda,” he now has no such problem.

Source: Compiled from various sources