#hbo don’t ruin the tragic soulmates trope

[nightsister-juisid]

HBO, Don’t mess this up

I have the feeling HBO tried to sell us this problematic ship by playing the “soulmates” card. And it did work. As much as Lannister incest made me sick, I’m actually in love with Daemon and Rhaenyra’s relationship and how they developed it through the chapters. But, as they presented both characters as “meant to be together” while they chased after the other and always gravitated back to them, I believe Daemon and his “affair issues” during the war would be anti climatic and leave a bad taste in the audience. Which, except for some groups, are really invested in this couple. Even if they are fans of GOT or just casual spectators.

For that reason, I believe the best way to achieve the eventual rupture of Daemon’s and Rhae’s relationship is not the typical and boring cheating way, but the lack of trust and communication from both of them. (Which would further explain how the house of the dragon cannot be defeated but can fall if their own people tear it down)

As the book is based on rumors, and is stated on the series already that Daemon and Rhaenyra were a powerful match the greens needed to dissipate somehow, I think Mysaria and the greens creating rumors about Daemon having another lover, to abuse and improve Rhae’s fall into insanity, would be a smart move in the series (for the greens) and for HBO to start this couple downfall without breaking the “true love” narrative.

I can imagine Rhaenyra completely paranoid, wiping out her last dragonriders, vital to the war, out of her fear of more traitors and fear that Nettles was her husband's lover. She was already broken with the lost of her children and mentally unstable with her gain of weight, the war, the poverty, etc. So, her being completely afraid of losing her best warrior and love of her life is pretty understandable from a human perspective (who wants to be left alone in such critic moments?). But instead of talking about it, or search for another way for them both to understand the situation, she forces her husband to kill Nettles which would offend Daemon to the core that she just thinks somehow he isn’t loyal to her, and prefers to trust Mysaria rather than him. And as he appreciated Nettles as his own daughter (as stated in the books in which narrators keeps open the question if Daemon fucked or only appreciated Nettles as a daughter), he would let the young girl go out in spite. Because the girl never did anything wrong as to deserve that.

But he wouldn’t disobey and wouldn’t be mad because he doesn’t love Rhae. He would be mad because he does love her and she doesn’t trust him. As much as Viserys never trusted him. After all he did for her (being the one who faced most of the battles to give her the victory). He killed many for her, he avenged her son, he even let go Nettles and most of their dragonriders for her and she doesn’t trusts him. So, Daemon, being the toxic shit he is, would not go back and instead wait for Aemond to kill him and end that nonsense soon. Because that will prove to Rhae his loyalty to her.

And If he died, what else he had to lose? He lost Laena, Viserys, his warriors, his step sons, his wife’s mind. If he died fighting against Aemond, it didn’t mattered. At least he would have taken with him, one of the most feared warriors AND the biggest dragon the greens had.

However, this word never reaches Rhae and she stays depressed thinking her husband betrayed her with another woman. Having no prove of his body, as a way to torment her and think he fleed away (But instead Daemon DOES die epically against Aemond because DAMN THAT BATTLE IS SUCH A HONORING WAY TO DIE. Like, damn, Daemon killing Aemond and dying aten/cremated by Aemond’s dragon or crashed by Aemond is just tragic medieval stuff and a warrior’s death).

So 1. That would prove NO MATTER HOW MUCH SOMEONE LOVES A PERSON, and if you die for that person. IT WOULD NEVER WORK IF ONE DOESN’T COMMUNICATE (And please, we know Rhae and Daemon are more actions than stopping to think first).

2. House Targaryen can not be defeated unless they defeat themselves.

3. It would be really angsty and depressing having the two lovers dying thinking the other didn’t loved them anymore. But Rhae did love Daemon and Daemon died sacrificing himself in a crazy way to regain her love.

I just think it being a plot of the greens and Mysaria, and Daemon dying gloriously in the middle of battle against Aemond, is thousands times better than the lazy storyline of him, giving up Rhae for other women, and then running away with Nettles as a coward. Having him after all the propaganda of their love and relationship, being infidel because he can, sounds like the crappy end GOT gave us with season 8.

No way. Daemon deserves a warrior’s death to Aemond.

Also, I really want to believe their lack of communication being the reason that tore their relationship apart. I can picture Rhae becoming way more shy about having sex with Daemon because everyone points out her gain of weight and mocks her, and she’s afraid of him not wanting her anymore, while he just keeps thinking she’s the most beautiful woman he has seen in his whole life.