Worst Decisions Made By Characters In House Of The Dragon Season 1

Counting down and exploring the worst decisions made by characters such as Princess Rhaenyra and Queen Alicent in House of the Dragon season 1.

By Chandraboli Majumdar
December 5,2022
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House of the Dragon characters take several decisions in the heat of the moment. This has often led to some disastrous decision-making in Westeros. Some of these decisions have literally led to wars that ended with the annihilation of entire Kingdoms. So let us list some of the worst decisions that characters have made in House of the Dragon season 1 including Princess Rhaenyra, King Viserys and Queen Alicent.

1. King Viserys bringing back Otto Hightower as the Hand of the King

Ser Lyonel Strong is replaced by Otto Hightower as Hand of the King
Ser Lyonel Strong is replaced by Otto Hightower as Hand of the King

King Viserys took several terribly wrong decisions that pretty much accumulated and then resulted in the Targaryen Civil War aka the Dance of the Dragons. One such decision was to bring back Otto Hightower as Hand of the King after the death of Lord Lyonel Strong. He had already established Otto Hightower as a cunning and manipulative man with ulterior motives. Still, King Viserys chose to bring him back only for him to then go and order the death of Princess Rhaenyra after the death of Viserys.

2. Queen Alicent befriending Lord Larys Strong in House of the Dragon 

Larys Strong and Queen Alicent become friends in House of the Dragon season 1
Larys Strong and Queen Alicent become friends in House of the Dragon season 1

An unlikely friendship was struck between Queen Alicent Hightower and Lord Larys Strong. What started off as simply an alliance quickly escalated into a weird fetishized friendship. However, Queen Alicent had no idea what she was getting herself into. Larys Strong practically turned her into a coconspirator to murder. She should have really known who she was getting into business with.

3. Ser Criston Cole asking Princess Rhaenyra to run away with him

Ser Criston Cole asks Princess Rhaenyra to elope in House of the Dragon
Ser Criston Cole asks Princess Rhaenyra to elope in House of the Dragon

This was by far one of the most ambitious yet dumbest decisions ever. Ser Criston Cole thought that it was okay to ask Princess Rhaenyra to leave her life behind and elope with him. Its hilarious that he even thought it was a possibility. But I guess a man can dream. Of course he was shot down and he retaliated by killing a man.

4. Princess Rhaenys refusing to kill the Green Council when she had the chance

Princess Rhaenys disrupts Aegon's coronation and warns the Green Council in House of the Dragon episode 9
Princess Rhaenys disrupts Aegon’s coronation and warns the Green Council in House of the Dragon episode 9

Despite being face to face with the Green Council while riding Meleys and crashing into Aegon’s coronation, Princess Rhaenys did nothing to them. She said that it wasn’t her war to start and thus did not harm even a hair of the Green Council. Unfortunately, this might be a decision she regrets later. After all, Aegon and Aemond together kill both Princess Rhaenys and her dragon Meleys in battle.

5. King Viserys producing heirs despite declaring Rhaenyra as his successor 

King Viserys weakens the claim of Princess Rhaenyra by producing more heirs with Queen Alicent
King Viserys weakens the claim of Princess Rhaenyra by producing more heirs

It was already a decision that the patriarchal society of Westeros had rejected. So it wasn’t the smartest decision when King Viserys married Alicent and continued producing male heirs despite having declared Rhaenyra as his successor. He made her claim increasingly shaky and did not do much to dissuade those who opposed her claim.

6. Princess Rhaenyra going to the Street of Silk with her uncle Daemon

Princess Rhaenyra and Daemon in House of the Dragon season 1
Princess Rhaenyra and Daemon in House of the Dragon season 1

During her teenage years Princess Rhaenyra has made far too many terrible decisions to even count. She was quite the rebellious punk rock princess who broke every rule and stereotype in Westeros. However, she may have jeopardized her very future when she let her emotions drive her instead of her mind. She followed her uncle Prince Daemon Targaryen into the Street of Silk even without her disguise.

7. Princess Rhaenyra producing 3 sons with Ser Harwin Strong

Ser Harwin Strong and Princess Rhaenyra after the 10 year time jump
Ser Harwin Strong and Princess Rhaenyra after the 10 year time jump

Like we said, she made several bad decisions. While this one’s definitely more understandable, it still doesn’t make much sense why she would parent 3 sons with Ser Harwin Strong when the rumors were already rife.

8. Arrax breathing fire on Vhagar in House of the Dragon episode 10

Vhagar killing Arrax and Lucerys Velaryon
Vhagar killing Arrax and Lucerys Velaryon

Arrax breathing fire on Vhagar and antagonizing the huge she-dragon might just have cost Lucerys his life. The moment Arrax showed the tiniest bit of aggression, Aemond pretty much lost control over Vhagar who then snapped Arrax and Lucerys into 2.

9. Marrying Helaena to Aegon II Targaryen in House of the Dragon season 1

Queen Alicent marries Princess Helaena to Aegon II
Queen Alicent marries Princess Helaena to Aegon II

This was one of Alicent’s poorest judgements. While we understand her political motivations to strike such a pairing, Princess Helaena deserved so much better. Alicent should have put her duty as a mother first and given her daughter a life of happiness instead of one with Aegon.

10. Queen Alicent putting Aegon II on the Iron Throne

Queen Alicent Hightower puts Aegon II on the throne in House of the Dragon
Queen Alicent Hightower puts Aegon II on the throne in House of the Dragon

Alicent Hightower might just be one of the smartest women to make the worst decisions ever. Knowing the lack of responsibility in her son, his complete disregard for rules and the fact that he has sexually assaulted a maid, should have been enough for Queen Alicent to not put him on the Iron Throne.