House of the Dragon kicked off its third season with an explosive premiere that featured several notable moments. Although the episode was mostly met with positive reviews, there is a glaring change from the source material that has book purists skeptical about the show's future.
Of course, I'm talking about the fact that Rhaena Targaryen has — for better or worse — officially claimed the dragon Sheepstealer, which does not happen in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. While it was essentially already confirmed, any hopes for the book character Nettles appearing in the show can now be put to rest. And the ripple effects of this will be felt for the rest of season 3 and beyond.
WARNING: Fire & Blood spoilers are below.
How will this affect Rhaenyra?
Rhaena riding Sheepstealer into the Battle of the Gullet not only resulted in the death many Velaryon sailors, but also the untimely demise of Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, Queen Rhaenyra's heir. While Jace does indeed die during this battle in the book, Rhaena being somewhat responsible is a new addition to the story, and we don't know how Rhaenyra will react to this.
Since Baela was also at the battle and witnessed her sister Rhaena's botched attempt at helping, she could tell Rhaenyra exactly how Jace died — if she herself realized it was Rhaena riding Sheepstealer. This could result in some messy family drama, as Rhaenyra will clearly be devastated that her oldest son is dead. But knowing that Rhaena played a huge part in his death because of a foolish attempt to control a wild dragon could put Rhaena in Rhaenyra’s crosshairs. Especially when you remember that Rhaena abandoned Rhaenyra's orders to raise her youngest sons.
This could line up with Nettles' arc in the book, as Rhaenyra grows to mistrust her and even orders her death when the other dragonseeds abandon the Blacks. Or Rhaena could simply fly back to the Vale and hide with her guilt. Either way, I think she will eventually link up with her father, Daemon Targaryen.
Daemon and Rhaena
After Rhaenyra takes over King's Landing in the book, she orders Daemon and Nettles to find and kill Aemond and Vhagar, the biggest threat to her power. I think this will still happen, but Rhaena would take Nettles' place. Even if the show doesn't include the whole calling for her head part of the story, perhaps Rhaena will volunteer to help Daemon kill Aemond to make amends for Jace's death.
Either way, I think the show is setting up Rhaena and Daemon to go on this adventure together. It could be a nice callback/follow-up to the visions Daemon had in season 2, where his deceased wife Laena guilts him about not spending time with his daughters. I imagine some fun scenes of Daemon teaching Rhaena how to be a dragonrider and control Sheepstealer.
Some of the sources in Fire & Blood imply that Nettles and Daemon had a romantic relationship during this quest. Seven Hells, please do not do this with Rhaena in the show because we do not need more unnecessary incest in this universe. That being said, Daemon's relationship with Nettles in the book caused Rhaenyra to distrust her husband, so this will also have to be changed in the show somehow.
Rhaena and Sheepstealer's fate
I think the big question here is, where is this storyline going? Rhaena is one of the few characters who survives the Dance of the Dragons in the book, going on to marry a guy named Garmund Hightower and having six daughters with him. As far as we know, these daughters do not meaningfully impact the lineage of House Targaryen, so maybe it's not super important for the show to end Rhaena's story this way?
In the book, Rhaena also eventually does obtain a baby dragon called Morning. We don't know how long this dragon lives, but I think this plot line will likely be cut out entirely or possibly given to a different character in the show.
After Rhaenyra calls for her execution, Nettles flies Sheepstealer into the mountains of the Vale in the book where they apparently live out the rest of their days as nomads. We don't know how long they stay there or if/when Sheepstealer dies. But I don't know how the show can include this ending for Rhaena and have it make sense.
Major lore changes
While Nettles and Sheepstealer are living in the mountains of the Vale in Fire & Blood, they sort of become a fire god duo. The mountain clansmen apparently offer Nettles sacrifices and worship her as a fire witch. In classic Game of Thrones fashion, Sheepstealer also routinely burns some of these people alive, which is why one of these clans is later known as the Burned Men. How original.
We actually see these guys in season 1 of Game of Thrones, when Tyrion recruits the Burned Men and their leader, Timett son of Timett, to join the Lannister army. Without Nettles and Sheepstealer in the Vale to actually burn these guys, it would sort of break the lore a bit unless this is addressed some other way.
Aside from the Burned Men, the exclusion of Nettles also removes some of the intrigue around who can tame dragons and how. From what we know, Nettles is simply a lowborn peasant who answers Rhaenyra's call to tame a dragon. Sheepstealer also isn't in the Vale, but simply an unclaimed dragon living on Dragonstone.
It was an interesting wrinkle that this non-Targaryen/non-Valyrian person was able to tame a dragon, and in a pretty unique way. Knowing that Sheepstealer, uh, loves eating sheep (again, very original), Nettles actually takes the time to bond with him by bringing him mutton snacks until he trusts her enough. I think excluding Nettles takes away some of the intrigue and mystery of the dragons' nature. It questioned whether you actually needed to have a certain lineage to become a dragon rider.
We’ll learn more of where Rhaena’s storyline is going when House of the Dragon returns with season 3 episode 2 this Sunday, June 28.
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