The much-awaited episode of ‘House of the Dragon‘ after the brutal Battle of the Rook’s Rest is here, but it hasn’t really answered all the questions the show’s fans might have had. However, it certainly has pushed fans into drawing parallels between the happenings of the show and the original ‘Game of Thrones‘.
In the world of Westeros, even the simplest words carry monumental weight. Case in point is the brutal spell “dracarys.” Fans of ‘Game of Thrones‘ know this High Valyrian term all too well after it became a hallmark of Daenerys Targaryen’s command over her dragons. However, ‘House of the Dragon‘ has given the fiery command a twist that has only made it all the more integral. Here’s how it has enriched the show’s lore and would play a pivotal role in the upcoming events.
“Dracarys” Makes An Unexpected Come Back In A Clever Twist By ‘House Of The Dragon’ Creators
‘Game of Thrones‘ fans were perhaps blown away by what happened when Daenerys Targaryen first uttered “dracarys” in season 2 of the show. The Mad Queen used it to train her dragons to breathe fire. The command later became her go-to phrase for unleashing dragonfire upon her enemies. It gained significance as one of the most brutal moves, especially in wars, leading to devastation.
The return of this iconic word in ‘House of the Dragon‘ was both exciting and controversial for the fans, mostly because it retconned a key aspect of Daenerys’s story. In the prequel series, “dracarys” is used by various Targaryen dragonriders, including Rhaenyra, Jacaerys, Daemon, and Laenor, making it clear that the command has always been part of the Targaryen lore.
However, it is not the case in George R.R. Martin’s ‘A Song of Ice and Fire‘ books, where Daenerys invents the term herself. The change in the show has thus very subtly aligned the prequel more closely with the original series.
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Why “Dracarys” Holds A Significance In Both Past And Future Of The Show
The most compelling use of “dracarys” in ‘House of the Dragon‘ came in season 2, episode 4 of the show. When Aemond attempts to kill Aegon using Vhagar’s dragonfire, he uses the infamous command.
The term gains its weight that may have been forgotten amid all the parts of the franchise. Moreover, it comes back in one of the most brutal and shocking events of the show so far. Targaryens are well aware of the devastation it is likely to cause, and it is used nevertheless, adding a layer of intensity to the sibling rivalry.
“Dracarys” has thus most definitely been cemented as a staple of the Targaryen might. The show makers have definitely ruffled some feathers by rewriting Daenerys’s command as a longstanding Targaryen tradition, but it has also provided a logical and dramatic consistency within the franchise.
Hearing a different command for dragonfire in the prequel would have been jarring for fans, and the choice to maintain “dracarys” is therefore a sound choice, which has also secured the cultural and historical continuity of the Targaryen dynasty.
Moreover, ‘House of the Dragon‘ has also managed to show dragons and their bonds with riders more vividly. Fans can expect “dracarys” to remain a central command, echoing through the halls of Westeros as the show continues.
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