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Whether you’re a long-time devotee of George R.R. Martin’s books or have only ever watched the TV shows, you’re well aware by now that bothGame of ThronesandHouse of the Dragonhave established that neither the wise nor the strong are safe from death. However, while certain demises left a hole in our hearts, a few seemingly sparked outrage among fans.
One such death took place inHouse of the DragonSeason 2 when the show reached a critical juncture with Episode 4. Exploring the intense conflicts depicted by George R.R. Martin, S2E4 marked a significant turning point with the demise of Rhaenys Targaryen. However, while her assumed death broke fans’ hearts, it later sparked chaos when people learned how her impactful death sequence was blatantly deleted.
The Battle of Rook’s Rest Took Down Rhaenys Targaryen
AlthoughHouse of the Dragonshowrunner Ryan Condal didn’t exactly remain loyal to George R.R. Martin’sFire and Blood,he faithfully dealt with the beloved dragonrider Rhaenys Targaryen’s death, in the show. Initially, introducing Rhaenys as the firstborn and only child of Aemon Targaryen, who later became the first-ever woman named heir to the Iron Throne, Condal established the character as a fan-favorite hero in the show.
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However, considering that all good things come to a tragic end, even Rhaenys Targaryen suffered the same fate as expected from a dragonrider. AsHouse of the Dragontook a major turn from Season 2 Episode 4, actressEve Best’s beloved character went forward to meet Ser Criston Cole’s battalion at Rook’s Rest on her own, to assist Lord Staunton. Volunteering herself and her dragon Meleys to defend the castle, Rhaenys then came across Aegon and soon got outnumbered by Aemond and his dragon Vhagar.
Aemond instructed Vhagar to rain fire, which forced Aegon and his dragon Sunfyre to fall out of the sky, while Rhaenys Targaryen narrowly escaped the blaze. However, instead of fleeing, Rhaenys went back to face Aemond, which led to a fight between Vhagar and Meleys. The two dragons began breathing out spiraling towers of fire, eventually leading Vhagar to fall to the ground.
Although it seemed like Rhaenys Targaryen had won the fight, she later faced Aemond’s dragonone last time. This time Vhagar attacked Meleysʼ neck leading to the dragon’s death while toppling off the Rook’s Rest fortress. Unfortunately, Meleysʼ plunge to the ground also led Rhaenys to drop from thousands of feet in the sky.
Now althoughHouse of the Dragondidn’t technically show a close-up of her death, it’s safe to assume that she didn’t survive a thousand-foot fall onto a castle. Well, that’s howEve Best’s beloved character succumbed to deathin the show.
House of the DragonFans are Infuriated by Rhaenys’ Deleted Scene
But hold on, althoughHouse of the Dragondidn’t pinpoint Rhaenys Targaryen’s death, X account@westerosiesrecently released an edited scene from the show. And as fans discovered that the highly anticipated andemotionally charged death scene of Rhaenyswas cut from S2E4, netizens took to the comment section to express their grave disappointment.
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Feeling betrayed byRyan Condal’s decision to delete the crucial scene from the show, fans sparked outrage and expressed their frustration. Considering that the removed scene highlighted Rhaenys Targaryen’s legacy, her sacrifice, and her bravery, viewers were left puzzled by why the showrunner edited the pivotal moment.
Moreover, given thatHouse of the Dragonretained a separate sequence featuring Rhaenyra and Alicent that, while compelling, did not match the emotional weight of the deleted scene, fans questioned the creative decision. Ryan Condal’s contrasting choices have thus led fans to spark backlash on social media.
they cut this scene but keep the rhaenyra and alicent scene in.. sara and ryan are clueless lol
The last look of the Queen who never was.It should not have been deleted
Why were so many scenes removed? I want to fight every single person. 😭😭😭
They cut this scene and showed us Lord Corlys going to the docks countless times 🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️
Damn they deleted all the cool scenes
Netizens argued that the removal of such a significant moment not only diminished the depth of Rhaenys’ character but also affected the overall narrative. Considering how the gut-wrenching scene was expected to offer a tribute to the beloved character, fans noted that with the scene being shot and later deleted seemingly missed an opportunity to properly conclude Rhaenys’ complex storyline.
House of the Dragonis available on Max.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3217
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
