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With only a few days left until the second season of House of the Dragon premieres (set to premiere on Max on June 16th), we’re on the edge of our seats and looking back at what we know so far. We were left with one heck of a cliffhanger: Aemon Targaryen and his dragon, Vhagar, murdered Lucerys Velaryon, Rhaenyra Targaryen’s second son, and his dragon, Arrax. While Rhaenyra had been hesitant to engage in full-out war, we can tell from the fury and grief in her eyes that war is now her only option.

But who is at war? All over social media, we’ve been hearing about Team Black this and Team Green that, but who are the teams, and what are they fighting for? And why? Let’s dive into the basics of the upcoming Dance of the Dragons.

Team Black

If you’re on Team Black, you’re led by Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, daughter to King Viserys I Targaryen and Aemma of House Arryn. Before Viserys I succumbed to a painful death, he formally named Rhaenyra as his heir to the Iron Throne. This was also before Viserys I married Alicent Hightower, daughter of Otto Hightower (Hand of the King), and had two sons and a daughter.

Rhaenyra’s two sons, Jacaerys Velaryon and the late Lucerys Velaryon also join Team Black, along with:

• Daemon Targaryen, husband and uncle to Rhaenyra Targaryen and brother to the late Viserys I.
• Rhaenys Targaryen, “The Queen Who Never Was,” and her husband Lord Corlys Velaryon, the head of House Velaryon, Lord of the Tides, and Master of Driftmark.
• Baela and Rhaena Targaryen, daughters of Daemon Targaryen and the late Laena Velaryon.
• Ser Erryk Cargyll, a knight from House Cargyll and a member of Rhaenyra’s Queensguard.

While we aren’t sure yet which other houses are to side with Rhaenyra in the war, we know she already has an advantage with Lord Corlys’s naval fleet. Team Black has more dragons than Team Green, with Caraxes, Syrax, Melys, Tyraxes, Moondancer, and potentially Vermithor, a wild and enormous beast, and other wild dragons.

Team Black’s simplified argument is that Rhaenyra is the rightful heir to the throne after Viserys I formally named her. They also accuse Team Green of murdering Viserys I and putting Aegon II (Viserys I’s first son) on the Iron Throne against the late King’s wishes. Team Green also murdered Lucerys, so… Make of that what you will.

Team Green

If you’re on Team Green, you’re led by Alicent Hightower, second wife to King Viserys I and Queen of Kings Landing, and King Aegon II Targaryen, son of Alicent and Viserys I. At the end of season one, we see Aegon II named King on the Iron Throne and wearing the crown of Aegon the Conqueror. Also joining Team Green are:

• Otto Hightower, Hand of the King and father to Alicent Hightower.
• Prince Aemond Targaryen, second son of Alicent and Viserys I.
• Ser Criston Cole, knight and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard under King Aegon II.
• Lord Larys Strong, an expert gossiper, manipulator, and Lord Confessor for Alicent and Aegon II.
• Ser Arryk Cargyll, twin brother of Ser Erryk Cargyll, knight, and member of King Aegon II’s Kingsguard.
• Helaena Targaryen, wife and sister of King Aegon II.

We aren’t positive yet which other houses are set to join Team Green, but we’re sure many will join out of obligation and fear. The Hightowers have secured great influence over King’s Landing, and since King Aegon II is a male, he is more likely to gain support for his rule than Rhaenyra, who is female.

Team Green argues that on Viserys I’s deathbed, he changed his mind about who should rule Kings Landing and the rest of the Seven Kingdoms, naming Aegon II as his rightful heir (while the audience knows that this likely isn’t what he meant, possibly referring instead to the prophecy and the Prince Who Was Promised he had informed Rhaenyra of, Alicent doesn’t know this). Since no one other than Alicent was there to hear Viserys I’s last words, many people don’t know what to believe. Besides, they believe it is wrong for a female to ascend the Iron Throne, much like Jaehaerys I Targaryen (King before Viserys I) named Viserys as his heir rather than Princess Rhaenys. If Viserys I hadn’t formally named Rhaenyra as his heir, Aegon II would have been the rightful heir to the throne as the first son of Viserys I. As for dragons, Team Green has Dreamfyre, Sunfyre, and Vhagar.

Even with just the simplified arguments of both sides, we’re unsure which side to choose. Both make good cases for themselves when seen from their perspectives. However, there is also a lot of necessary context that makes it even harder to decide who to support! (Great…!)

Here are a few points to consider when making your choice:

• Alicent Hightower and her immediate family accuse Rhaenyra of bearing bastards as sons and heirs. Lucerys and Jaecerys are accused of being sons to the late Harwin Strong rather than her first husband, Laenor Velaryon, which constitutes high treason in this universe.
• Aemon Targaryen murdered Lucerys Targaryen, kickstarting a war Rhaenyra was trying to stop.
• Daemon Targaryen is a dangerous liability, having craved kingship for himself and doing everything he can to make up for it. He murdered his first wife, choked Rhaenyra, and continues to challenge her word in front of the war council despite swearing his allegiance to her as Queen.
• Above all, Alicent and Rhaenyra have a tangled past and relationship. They grew up as friends until Alicent married Rhaenyra’s father, Viserys I. This turned Rhaenyra against Alicent. Later, however, Alicent turned against Rhaenyra after Rhaenyra was rumored to have slept with Daemon and did sleep with Ser Criston Cole. Was Alicent angry because Rhaenyra had broken the law (breaking her virtue before marriage)? Or was it because she was jealous? Throughout the rest of the series, Alicent appears jealous of Rhaenyra and her ability to get away with anything. Despite Lucerys slashing Aemond’s eye after Aemond took Vhagar, Lucerys wasn’t punished. The following quote reveals one of the reasons for Alicent’s animosity toward Rhaenyra:

“What have I done but what was expected of me? Forever upholding the kingdom, the family, and the law. While you flout all to do all as you please. Where is duty? Where is sacrifice? It’s trampled under your pretty foot again! And now you take my son’s eye, and to even that, you feel entitled.” - Alicent Hightower.

To put it simply, it’s a sticky situation! Like everything humans are involved in, the lines are blurry, and there is no obvious solution to the upcoming conflict. But now that you have the basics, which side will you choose? Will it be Team Black or Team Green? Or do you struggle to choose because they all have their reasons? Or do you simply believe they are all nutjobs?

Whomever you choose, be sure to tune in to the premiere of House of the Dragon, season two, on June 16th!