How Aegon & Rhaenyra Tore Westeros Apart

the dance isnt about who the rightful heir is, its about who your favorite war criminal is

It's pretty fucking pathetic how easily and quick the targaryens were turned against each other. Less than 150 years into their Rule and they've already lost their greatest asset

I like how Corlys multiple times attempted to convince both Aegon and Rhaneyra to end the war in very effective solutions that would make everyone happy but both had gone power hungry and refused. Unlike the show the book really shows that neither were good or deserved to rule.

Aegon and Rhaenyra’s face off was literally Clown to Clown Communication, Clown to Clown Conversation

It was Otto, Alicent and Viserys. Aegon and Rhaenyra were mere victims of the failure of their parents.

It’s hard to tell who would be a better ruler. Aegon didn’t truly want the throne and wasn’t fit to rule. And while Rhanerya was those two things: the decisions she made was riddled in grief, rage and hatred: she wasn’t in her prime as an ruler. We never truly seen them govern to an high enough degree to choose who would be a better ruler.

I think in hindsight, Viserys was not fit to be a king to begin with. But since the realm was not ready for a queen ruling, he should’ve left Damon as his heir and should NOT have married again. Then when the time came, should’ve married rhaenyra to Damon to reinforce that his child will be queen and his brother king. I don’t think too many ppl would’ve contested this. But Viserys not being formally fit to rule in the beginning and every decision he made afterwards lead to this bloodfest.

Daemon is the true winner with all of his 4 childeren surviving.

“It turns out that a chair made of pointy sharp swords, is pointy and sharp.” 😂😂😂

There's this phenomena that Grr Martin creates with his writings such that he creates a scenario where each opposing character (which in this case Aegon and rhaenyra) are both right on who deserves to sit the iron throne aswell as giving the reader a chance to choose a side. But the trick here is None of them ( Aegon and rhaenyra) are in the right to rule westeros. Grr Martin knows this so its easier to kill off characters we've grown to like by progressing the plot.I think Martin has fallen into his own trap with the winds of winter. He's grown to understand the characters he's made and logically speaking, none of them are easier to kill making it harder to progress with the plot no matter how hard he tries to control their destinies. This is why it's taking so long. He writes an arc of a character then later questions himself wether it's what the character would do or not, then ends up throwing the sheet away or rewriting as he said himself.

From the standpoint of family, this is one of the saddest stories of all time.

The foolishness of this war cost House Targaryen and technically House Velaryon everything.

I'm team 'Everybody Sucks' but also I love all the Dragons and Helaena. Vhagar is best girl.

The Dance of Dragons was bascially World War I for Westeros. How Aegon III kept the continent under Targaryen rule after that catastrophe is amazing. Aegon III is probably the most underrated ruler in their history.

Hatred so strong, family killed family... even the dragons couldn't escape... saddest thing.

The Crusader telling it how it is. Fans will die on each of the factions hills spouting their virtues. Truth is both of them left the realm and their families in a ruined state. None of them were fit to be monarchs.

Both of them probably would’ve went on to become unremarkable rulers. I do think Rhaenyra would make the better ruler if her ascension was uncontested. Mainly down to Aegon being so unlikable. I really want to see how season 2 handles Aemond’s return to Kingslanding following the Lucerys incident. Otto scorns him and his mom prays for the mothers mercy but Aegon celebrates. Also based on the way they’ve treated Aemonds character in the show I think there will be more malicious intent behind Aemond and Vhagar’s actions at Rooks Rest

It was Otto's ruthless ambition, Viserys' weakness, and Alicent's envy and malice towards Rhaenyra that caused the destruction...Rhaenyra was a victim of the three.

I wonder how dragon eggs were hatching before the dotd but after they stopped hatching despite the fact that 3 missing dragon could've lived a fue decade keeping magic alive in the world.

After reading about the Dance, all of a sudden going the High Sparrow rout of "fuck the nobles, let's have a theocracy of the people!" Doesn't sound so bad...