One of the most brutal battles in fiction is about to begin on House of the Dragon . Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma Darcy) and Allison Hightower (Olivia Cooke)'s friendship grows over weeks in Game of Thrones spinoff disappear. At the end of Episode 8, it seemed like the former friends had a chance to put aside their disdain and reunite as a family. However, with Aegon II (Tom Green-Carney) usurping the throne from Rhaenyra in Episode 9, there seems to be no turning back for the royal family of Westeros.
The coming Targaryen Civil War is what George R.R. Martin calls the Dance of Dragons in his book Fire and Blood . In their endless battle for the Iron Throne, the once great house would eventually cannibalize itself. The earliest signs of the schism can be traced back to Rhaenyra's marriage to Lannor Velaryon (John MacMillan). Days before her wedding, Rhaenyra begs her father to remove Otto Hightower (Lys Ifans) from his position as Hand of the King. This decision ostracized Alicent, but not until the young queen learned that Rhaenyra had lied about her close relationship with Daemon (Matt Smith) and Ser Criston Cole (Fabian Frankel). , things got worse.
Alison later wore a striking green gown to Rhaenyra's wedding, the color of her house's banner. When the Hightowers wish to call their banners to war, they light their towers with green flames. It was here that the supporters of Alicent and Aegon II earned the name "Greens". Instead, Rhaenyra and her supporters were called "blacks."
In Martin's book, the title Green and Black originates from the opening feast of a tourney. At the banquet, Rhaenyra wore a red and black gown, while Alison wore her signature green, with each character becoming synonymous with their respective colors. After the civil war began, divided supporters within the kingdom came to support each queen, either black or green.
Who's backing Alicent's green team?
In episode 9 of House of the Dragon , the main members of the Green Party are Allison Hightower, Otto Hightower, and Sir Criston Cole. Tyrann Lannister (Jefferson Hall), Jasper Wilder (Paul Kennedy), Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), and Grand Maester Orwell (Ku. Walter Ejiawan) also jointly supports Alicent's career. Aric Cargill (Luke Titanthal) was one of the twins who searched for Aegon II in King's Landing and later joined the Kingsguard. Although Tyran has yet to reappear on the show, his brother Jason (Jefferson Hall) is also a member of the Green Party.
In addition to the Lannister family, other familiar "Game of Thrones" families also join the Green Party's crusade in the book, including Lord Boros Baratheon of Storm's End, Grotto of Riverrun. Lord F. Tully and Ser Simon Strong of Harrenhal.
Not surprisingly, other members of the Allison family have also joined the Greens. Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and Helana (Fia Saban) both sided with Aegon II. Helana and Aegon II's children - Jaehaerys, Jaehra and Maelor - as well as Viserys and Alicent's youngest son, Daeron Targaryen, all support the Green Party.
Who sides with Rhaenyra's black team?
While House of the Dragon has yet to reveal Rhaenyra's reaction to her father's death and Aegon II's coronation, we already have a good idea of who will support the princess' succession to the Iron Throne. Based on the show's direction and source material , Daemon, Rhaenys (Eve Best), and Corlys (Steve Toussaint) all chose to side with the Targaryen princess. The same goes for her and Daemon's heirs, including Jakaris (Harry Collett), Lucerys (Elliot Grihalt), Joffrey, Bella (Bethany) Antonia), Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell), Aegon III and Viserys II.
Grand Maester Geraldis (played by Phil Daniels) also sides with Rhaenyra and served as the maester of Dragonstone. In episode 9, Lady Fell also bravely expressed her support for Rhaenyra. Additionally, Daimon's confidant and former lover Mysalia (Sonoya Mizuno) will likely join Black as Mistress of the Whisperers. Her Queen's Guard includes Aric's twin brother Eric (Elliot Titanthal), and Sir Stephen Duckling (Anthony Flanagan). In the books, Ser Steffon informs Rhaenyra of her father's death and the coronation of Aegon II, prompting a distraught Rhaenyra to be crowned Queen of the Realm.
The other houses in Game of Thrones ended up siding with Rhaenyra in the war. If the series follows the books, it's expected to feature Lord Cregan Stark of Winterfell, Lord Kermit Tully of Riverrun, Lord Forrest Frey of the Crossroads, and Jeyne Arryn of the Vale Mrs. Support.
