New GoT Spinoff Vindicates Rhaenyra's Sons

The recently aired episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms have already highlighted significant differences from House of the Dragon, particularly concerning Targaryen appearances. While House of the Dragon predominantly featured the traditional white-haired Targaryens, the new series introduces characters like Prince Baelor, who possesses dark hair, a trait inherited from his Dornish mother, Myriah Martell.

This inclusion of dark-haired Targaryens in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms provides a fresh perspective on lineage and legitimacy. It suggests that having dark hair does not inherently invalidate a Targaryen's claim to the throne, as seen with Baelor and his siblings who share the same royal parents.

This portrayal offers a form of vindication for Rhaenyra from House of the Dragon. Her dark-haired sons, Jace, Luke, and Joffrey, faced considerable doubt and were legally challenged due to their appearance. The new series implicitly argues that if dark-haired Targaryens are accepted now, Rhaenyra's children should have been accepted as well.

The article suggests that House of the Dragon could have better represented George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood by adhering more closely to book details, such as Princess Rhaenys having dark hair. Had Rhaenys been depicted with dark hair, Rhaenyra could have more plausibly claimed her sons' dark hair came from their grandmother, strengthening her political position.