House of the Dragon continues to present the unique bond between dragons and their riders, reiterating how unique it was for Daenerys Targaryen to control her dragons throughout Game of Thrones. Before Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion were born, dragons were said to be extinct, dying out during or shortly after the Dance of the Dragons. With the Targaryen conflict getting more serious within House of the Dragon‘s timeline, dragons have been in the spotlight more than ever. The dragons seen in House of the Dragon have been a highlight, but it also makes Daenerys’ power more remarkable.

One of the most interesting concepts throughout House of the Dragon thus far has been the relationship between dragons and their riders. The bond has been most evident through Rhaenyra and her dragon, Syrax, who can even feel her rider’s pain and mental anguish. House of the Dragon has also made it clear how selective dragons can be when choosing their rider. While the process involves House Targaryen ancestry, that doesn’t mean anyone with family ties can become a rider, and even when they do, sometimes the dragon can’t be fully controlled, even in the case of an extra special bond.

Daenerys Had A Unique Bond With Her Dragons Compared To Other Targaryens

The births of Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion were seen as miracles

In Game of Thrones season 1, Daenerys was gifted three petrified dragon eggs. From the start, she felt a special connection to the eggs through her Targaryen heritage. However, the eggs didn’t hatch without some help from blood magic and a funeral pyre, which allowed her to emerge as the “Mother of Dragons,” a title that stuck through all eight seasons of Game of Thrones. The births of Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion were seen as miracles, but for Daenerys, they served as her children.

From the start, it was clear that Daenerys shared a deeper bond with her dragons than any Targaryen likely ever experienced. House of the Dragon effectively showcases the connection between a dragon and their rider, but it’s not to the same degree as Daenerys’ bond to Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion. In Game of Thrones, Daenerys was even able to lead all three of her dragons into battle in the case of season 6’s attack on Mereen and the fight against the Night King’s army in season 7’s “Beyond the Wall.”

Daenerys’ Dragons
Game of Thrones Fates

Drogon
Alive (went missing after Daenerys death)

Rhaegal
Dead (killed during the Battle at Dragonstone)

Viserion
Dead (killed by the Night King, reanimated, and then destroyed at Winterfell)

Even Daenerys Couldn’t Fully Control Her Dragons In Game Of Thrones

Though Daenerys didn’t need extra riders for her dragons, Rhaegal did allow Jon Snow to serve as his dragonrider in Game of Thrones season 8. Like the case with Rhaenerys’ search for dragonriders in House of the Dragon, dragons are brilliant assets, but they are still complicated and unpredictable. For a time, Daenerys couldn’t fully control her dragons as they started growing, leading to Rhaegal and Viserion being locked up in the Great Pyramid. Their reckless nature was brief, but it got so bad that Daenerys felt separation was the only option.

If Rhaenyra had the power to control several dragons into battle without riders, it would solve a lot of Team Black’s problems in House of the Dragon. Instead, she’s forced to rely on a new set of dragonriders. Rhaenyra may not have to worry about growing dragons learning to feed or the beasts turning their aggression toward her like Daenerys experienced in Game of Thrones, but she’s fully aware that her only chance to win the Dance of the Dragons is if she has more control over the dragons in existence. She can’t do it alone, but then again, Daenerys having multiple dragons didn’t result in a happy ending either.