Ranking the Targaryens in Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon from worst to best

3. Rhaenyra Targaryen

The protagonist of House of the Dragon, it’s hard not to love Rhaenyra Targaryen even when she makes mistakes. As the firstborn child of Viserys from his marriage to the late Queen Aemma Targaryen, there’s an increasing amount of pressure on Rhaenyra as a child to fulfill her role as the king’s daughter. And once she’s named his heir, life gets a lot more difficult for her. She’s expected to find a husband and follow traditional gender norms when all she wants to do is fly her dragon Syrax and have fun. She’s a teenager, so I really can’t blame her.

The portrayal of Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon is a bit different from Fire & Blood, which I believe is an improvement. Her complicated relationship with her best friend Alicent Hightower, who goes on to become her stepmother, is incredibly compelling, not to mention her romances with Criston Cole and Daemon Targaryen are much more interesting in the show.

Rhaenyra is very complex, and I love how she’s seen as a hero by many but is by no means perfect. I can’t wait to see her transform in House of the Dragon season 2 when the Civil War begins and she can no longer play nice.

2. Daenerys Targaryen

Very similar to Rhaenyra Targaryen, I love Daenerys Targaryen despite her flaws. One of the main characters in Game of Thrones, we watch Dany go through a tremendous amount of character development throughout the seasons, going from a naive and scared girl and turning into a determined and fearless leader who fights for change. Many fans dislike Daenerys because of her choice to burn down King’s Landing in the final season of the show, which I do understand. But this one episode doesn’t take back all of the good she does in the world before that.

Daenerys is incredibly inspiring as one of the last surviving Targaryens in Game of Thrones, having to adapt to new places and demonstrating an impressive amount of determination. And through it all, her compassion is always at the forefront. She is dedicated to ending slavery and oppression and is a fair leader up until season 8. Her commitment to take back the Iron Throne and put House Targaryen back in power is where she gets tripped up. Unfortunately, she turns to violence when she feels scared and hopeless, something she definitely shouldn’t do.

But that’s also what makes Daenerys such a great character. She’s very complicated and not a traditional hero in the end.