In Game of Thrones, we’ve witnessed how the web of lies tangles narratives and festers fire and blood. And when it comes to Westeros's history, we know that truth is as rare as George R.R. Martin resisting the urge to give key characters names that all sound alike. We've seen the truth being twisted, hidden, whispered, and sometimes buried under one's guilt. So, it is only natural that lies come rather naturally to the players of this game. And House of the Dragon is no different.
In a world where lying is the key to survival, sometimes to manipulate succession, secure reputation, avoid conflict, or even justify decisions, those lies didn't just shape King Viserys's legacy, but with it brought upon House Targaryen a dreadful fate.
Let’s take a look at the 10 biggest lies, half-truths, and straight-up delusions that make the characters and their stories in season 1 more intriguing to watch.
1. Daemon’s denial of saying “heir for a day”
Daemon might wear his arrogance and valor like armor, but when it comes to facing his brother’s wrath, he shies away, pretending innocence.
The day after King Viserys lost both his wife Aemma and son Baelon, Otto Hightower brought news of Daemon's celebration, supposedly mocking the tragedy by calling the late prince “heir for a day.” When confronted by Viserys, Daemon didn't address the accusation directly. Instead, he retreated, shifting blame to Otto for scheming and diverting the conversation to how Viserys wronged him by sending him away for duty rather than appointing him Hand.
Already fragile with grief, Viserys saw Daemon’s evasiveness as further proof he could not be trusted. The rift between the brothers deepened, and Viserys banished Daemon from court, essentially denying him the crown. This marked the second time the crown had passed by Daemon. His actions and their aftermath caused a lasting wedge that lingered throughout the series and prevented reconciliation between the two.
This incident also led Daemon to believe that Viserys named Rhaenyra his heir purely out of spite, to put him in his place. Daemon's perception prevented him from considering that the consequences of his actions wouldn't simply go away by fixing blame on others. By refusing responsibility for his misconduct, he not only lost his brother's trust but also allowed the Hightowers to fill the power vacuum in his absence.
Daemon’s denial of those words didn’t protect him; it isolated him, pushing him further away from the very thing he wanted—proximity to the crown.
2. Viserys's assurance that the realm would accept Rhaenyra
In the history of Westeros, no singular decision has cost so big a consequence as Viserys's choice to name Rhaenyra the first Queen of Westeros.
Viserys was not a bad king, but he was a king whose reign was defined by a deep longing for peace. And in order to keep the peace, he found himself in the greatest lies of his rule, that he could simply will a future Queen into existence by breaking centuries of tradition. By naming Rhaenyra heir, he believed the realm would simply fall in line. Without the strength to enforce it, Viserys convinced himself that the power-hungry noble houses of the patriarchy would accept being ruled by a queen, especially after the birth of his male heir, Aegon.
It was Viserys’s well-meaning and even well-calculated decision, considering how much the prophecy of “The Song of Ice and Fire” meant to him. But that very decision—a lie to himself and to Rhaenyra—split the realm and laid the foundation for a civil war.
He ignored every warning sign: the discontent murmurs at court, the pressure from his council, and the silent resentment growing between Alicent and Rhaenyra. Even when his health began to decline and House Targaryen was visibly fracturing, especially after the vicious fight between their children that left Lucerys bloodied and Aemond one-eyed, Viserys refused to confront the realities of his decision.
The truth is Viserys lied to himself, and this lie cost House Targaryen its legacy and power. His belief that the realm would simply obey his decision became a comforting lie, one that doomed his house.
3. Alicent acting like she stood on a moral high ground
Alicent Hightower’s most dangerous lie wasn’t the one she told others, it was the one she told herself.
From the beginning, her true intentions were unclear. But one thing that stood out most about her was that she considered herself to be dutiful, righteous, and respectful of tradition. She positioned herself as someone who stood on a moral high ground (at least in her own mind), obeying expectations rather than desires, even while engaging in morally dubious acts and decisions.
Alicent believed that following the path of what was expected of her was an honorable thing to do and that every step she took was "duty." So, supporting her father, Otto’s political maneuvers? Also duty. Marrying King Viserys? Also duty. Even sabotaging her friendship with Rhaenyra, while secretly meeting with Viserys under Otto’s instructions? Still duty, not betrayal.
By the end, Alicent had convinced herself, with Otto’s constant manipulation, that Aegon must be king for peace in the realm. Yet she ignored the reality. Aegon was neither prepared nor worthy to rule, and placing him on the throne would have always led to devastation regardless. For Alicent, it wasn’t about justice or questioning the system; it was about maintaining the order of things and the illusion that her son’s ascension was the righteous path.
What Alicent never realized was that she was fueling the very conflict she wanted to prevent. Her self-image of righteousness didn’t preserve peace; it shattered it. From the moment she was pushed toward Viserys for marriage, leading to the day she crowned Aegon, she became the main piece that brought chaos into House Targaryen and the realm.
4. Rhaenyra’s night out with Daemon and Criston
Rhaenyra Targaryen’s first major lie wasn’t an outright fabrication; rather, it was an omission of the truth and a deliberate misdirection.
After a secretive night out with Daemon through the Street of Silk, the escapade ended with her sneaking back into the Red Keep and sharing an intimate night with Ser Criston Cole. For the heir to the Iron Throne, to make such a reckless decision and put herself in a morally compromising position for moments of pleasure was extremely risky, especially considering the hovering threat to her claim after Aegon’s birth.
When confronted by both Alicent and Viserys, Rhaenyra denied the allegations and swore that nothing happened with Daemon. They didn’t sleep together, but they got dangerously close. Plus, she smoothly omitted the part where she invited Criston Cole to her bed. She also deflected attention by pointing to Otto Hightower’s manipulation and spying, persuading Viserys to remove him as Hand of the King.
Rhaneyra’s lie was one of omission and deflection, as she believed no harm would come from enjoying life the Targaryen style. But her careful dodging of the situation ended up being just as devastating after Alicent found out the truth of the night. On Larys Strong’s urging, Alicent eventually questioned Criston directly and learned the truth. The revelation left her feeling deeply betrayed, not only by the act itself, but by Rhaenyra’s failure to be honest with her. That betrayal marked a turning point, marking the beginning of their rivalry.
5. Criston Cole twisting the truth
I can't emphasize enough how this singular incident in House of the Dragon turned many viewers completely against Ser Criston Cole, cementing him as one of the most hated characters in the series.
After Rhaenyra rejected his proposal to elope, Cole didn’t take it well. He felt betrayed and taken advantage of, blaming Rhaenyra for enticing him to bed and causing him to break his sacred oath as a Kingsguard. To him, her rejection was selfish. He couldn’t, or wouldn’t, understand her position as heir to the Iron Throne. Rhaenyra's desire to be free to pursue her heart while also performing her duties to the crown and House Targaryen was, in his eyes, proof of her self-interest.
Now burdened with a secret that could cost him his life or destroy his reputation, Cole turned bitter. When Alicent summoned him to discuss rumors of that night, he immediately confessed, not with quiet remorse, but with pointed bitterness, stating it happened “at her instigation.” His confession wasn’t about honesty; it was about vengeance. By framing himself as Rhaenyra’s victim, he deflected blame and recast himself as the wronged party. It was a desperate plea, drenched in guilt and self-loathing.
The truth, of course, was more complicated. Criston felt a sense of relief letting out his truth that was weighing on him and his guilt, portraying himself as the victim. Cole had been a willing participant, fully aware he might never marry the princess. What was highlighted from this incident was Criston's twisted perspective of the encounter—painting himself as betrayed, dishonoured, seduced, needing revenge and redemption in an obsessive way.
That obsession reached its peak on Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding night, when Cole brutally murdered Ser Joffrey Lonmouth in cold blood. Afterward, Alicent took him under her wing, turning him into a weapon willing to do anything, above and beyond, even morally crossing limits, channeling his guilt into righteous fury.
Ironically, Rhaenyra’s refusal to run away with him came from a place of duty; she knew the crown was bigger than herself.
Criston’s version of the event lets him avoid responsibility while fueling bitterness against Rhaenyra just enough to make her seem like a scheming, self-interested person, unworthy of trust and the throne. His confession was technically true, but morally dishonest. It was a well-placed dagger meant to wound her reputation. From that moment on, every kill, every betrayal, every reckless act, and every betrayal he committed was justified in his mind as vengeance for a wrong that never truly existed.
6. Legitimacy of Rhaenyra and Laenor’s dark-haired children
Let’s be honest, everyone knows it. The boys look nothing like Laenor Velaryon and everything like Ser Harwin Strong.
Laenor may have accepted Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey as his own, but the truth of their parentage was an open secret. In a realm where bloodline is everything, this was a dangerous gamble. Had she had children with Laenor or had they inherited the traditional silver hair, her claim wouldn’t be so easily challenged. Instead, their dark hair became a visible vulnerability, one that many, including Alicent Hightower, seized upon.
The cost of this lie went beyond politics. Every whisper not only challenged Rhaenyra’s right to rule, but every glance at the boys became a silent accusation. It placed her sons in a permanent position of defense, teaching them to hold their heads high through all the gossip and ignore the truth of their parentage. This lie has also handed Alicent’s silver-haired children an undeniable advantage as their appearance bears a clear sign of Targaryen blood.
The tragedy is that the lie meant to protect her family became a weapon most often used against them. It fueled every insult, every political maneuver, and every argument for Aegon’s accension. In trying to shield her children from danger, Rhaenyra ensured they would have to fight twice as hard to prove their worth, not because of their abilities, but because of the truth everyone could see in their physical features.
7. Otto Hightower seeking peace and "stability" of the realm
It has been quite clear from Otto Hightower’s decisions and actions that from the very beginning, he intended to see his bloodline on the Iron Throne.
The day Queen Aemma and Prince Baelon died, Otto took it upon himself to directly or indirectly decide on the succession. That very night, in the council meeting, Otto pressed Viserys to choose his heir between Rhaenyra and Daemon. Though he supported Rhaenyra then, it was more of a calculated step to sideline Daemon. But as Viserys refused to make a decision and stormed off, upset at the council members playing their politics at a time of mourning, Otto immediately took matters into his hands—to influence the crown in the name of “stability” of the realm.
Almost immediately, Otto began his pivotal play, placing his daughter, Alicent, into Viserys’s life, scheming to get him to marry Alicent.
Had Otto truly sought peace, he would have been in favour of Corlys Velaryon’s proposal for Viserys to marry Laena. That union would have cemented ties with one of the realm’s strongest houses and also ensured Rhaenyra’s position as heir (considering House Velaryon would keep their pledge). Furthermore, had Viserys not married Alicent, Otto wouldn’t have had as much power as he did, nor would he have been reappointed as Hand, and the Hightowers wouldn’t have been a threat to House Targaryen. Instead, Otto ensured House Velaryon’s trust was fractured, Rhaenyra's trust was betrayed, and the Targaryen family was split in two.
Otto watches, plots, manipulates, and justifies it all in the name of peace. He is the one who created the challenge in the first place, and without his interference, war might have been avoided.
In the greed for power and in orchestrating the pawns in his game, Otto caused more chaos and harm than he did good for the realm. Otto didn’t lie with words alone; he lied with strategy, with maneuvering power, and with ambition dressed in noble cause. Every scheme was justified as “service to the realm,” yet each one fractured it further.
8. Laenor’s “death”
This is probably the only lie in the history of Westeros that did more good than it did harm to all parties involved.
In one of the most unexpected turns, Rhaenyra, along with her husband Ser Laenor Velaryon, Daemon, and Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, staged Laenor’s death to free him from the burdens of the crown, and free herself to marry Daemon.
In truth, Laenor sailed away with him to live a quieter, freer life, where he could pursue his interests freely. This lie and orchestration saved House Targaryen and Rhaenyra from becoming the Greens’ easy target and being completely isolated from the crown. A strategic plan to marry Daemon helped Rhaenyra regain strength, power, and support from the great houses, which would turn out to be most essential for her in preparing for the upcoming war.
This incident highlights Rhaenyra’s foresight and ability to play the game, without collateral damages. She knew Laenor wasn’t built for politics or the game of thrones, and was also aware that the Greens would at some point target Laenor or use his lifestyle preferences to harm his and even House Velaryon’s reputation, weaking support for the Blacks. As along with this lie came the burden of another layer of suspicion for having a hand in her husband’s murder, risk of rejection of support from House Velaryon and doubt in her worthiness of the throne. And not to forget, looking ruthless was exactly what this decision intended.
Rhaenyra’s decision brought more insight to the person she is, as the hidden truth showed us what her intentions were, and her lie showed us her ability to strategize and execute.
9. Alicent's misinterpretation of King Viserys's final words
This incident of Alicent misinterpreting Viserys's final words could be one of the most infuriating moments in the show so far, to be honest.
King Viserys, in his final moments, mumbled about the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy, meant for Rhaenyra. But unfortunately, Alicent was the one sitting beside him. Viserys, in his sleepy, unconscious state, mentions “Aegon” and the prince that was promised, referring to Aegon the Conqueror, which, unaware, Alicent mistook it for their son Aegon. Sadly, Viserys passed that very night, leaving Alicent with his final words, which she later interpreted as his dying wish of placing Aegon on the Iron Throne.
Although Alicent stating that Viserys wished for Aegon to be king wasn’t exactly a lie; it was rather a falsehood made true by biased interpretation.
It is also worth noting that, considering Viserys’s state at that moment, Alicent knew he was under the influence of medicines and was babbling words that didn’t make any comprehensive sense to her. But as Viserys spoke, “you must do this," she interpreted it as not his final words but concluded it as his dying wish.
This “lie” helped fire up Otto’s already existing plan of usurping the throne, fuel the lords who were already in favour of Aegon’s accession, and also helped move the needle for those who were indecisive and gain support from them.
This moment not only left viewers to dislike the fact that it marks the beginning of House Targaryen’s downfall, but also the fact that there is no single person to be blamed for this catastrophic error.
Alicent cannot be held responsible for hearing what she wanted to hear, and neither can Viserys be blamed for using those exact words and for not having noticed who was beside him at that moment. It may not be a deliberate lie, but it's a deadly one. One that hit the last blow to finally divide the realm and clearly establish it into two factions.
10. "Viserys changed his mind" on his chosen heir
There is no lie so big as this that broke the realm apart, causing devastation for generations to suffer.
In truth, King Viserys never changed his mind on his chosen heir. Even in his final hours, he stood by his decision he had made decades ago; where the error occurred is in the ears that heard his final words. Even on the day of his death, at his final family dinner, he reaffirmed the need to keep House Targaryen united and made no mention of altering the line of succession.
Yet his last conversation in fragmented words, meant for someone else, entirely became the foundation for one of the realm’s most dangerous lies, which is that he changed his mind on his heir.
This was not just a misunderstanding; it was a rebranding of the succession. Alicent, convinced of her interpretation, presented it as an undeniable truth to Aegon, to the court, and eventually to the realm.
By morning, she believed Viserys had cast aside his daughter Rhaenyra and chosen Aegon as heir. This lie born of half-heard words and wishful thinking became Alicent’s truth. And eventually, it was a lie she convinced Aegon to believe in, too.
Alicent’s words transformed him from an unwilling prince into a pawn, and Aegon became the king made not by merit or will but by misheard words. Had Alicent not believed in the words she heard, she could have prevented Otto from usurping the throne, as she had shown her support for Rhaenyra’s claim on the very previous night at dinner.
Viserys never changed his mind, but the realm believed he had. And for Aegon, reluctant and insecure, this lie became the ultimate justification; not that he wanted the crown, but that his father had willed it. The lie of the change of succession became the first act of open war.
In Westeros, truth is fragile, easily bent, often buried, and rarely agreed upon. The lies told by kings, queens, and those in their shadows have built and broken empires. Whether born from ambition, fear, love, or a simple refusal to see the truth, these lies shaped the fate of House Targaryen and proved that in the game of thrones, a well-placed falsehood can be as deadly as dragonfire.
House of the Dragon season 3 is currently filming.