House Of The Dragon Retcons The Prince That Was Promised & Explains A Game Of Thrones Mystery

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 3, episode 8, "The Treasons at Tumbleton."House of the Dragon's season 3 finale is another momentous occasion for the Prince That Was Promised prophecy. In Game of Thrones, the idea was first raised by Melisandre, who believed that Stannis Baratheon was the prophesied hero (with the show typically conflating it with prophecies around Azor Ahai). That, of course, proved not to be the case, and the show never actually answered who the Prince That Was Promised was. Though it was most commonly believed to be Jon Snow or Daenerys Targaryen, the series didn't actually spend much time on the question.

In contrast, House of the Dragon has devoted considerable time to it since the very beginning. Initially, this started with the reveal of Aegon the Conqueror's dream, called his Song of Ice and Fire. The prophecy foretold of a darkness coming from the far north that would sweep over the world (or in other words, the White Walkers), and only a Targaryen could unite the realm to defeat it. Later, it worked the Prince That Was Promised directly into the text via an inscription on the Valyrian steel dagger (the same one used by Arya Stark to kill the Night King).

It's continued to be referenced throughout the series, which brings us to the end of House of the Dragon season 3. There, we get one of the biggest scenes yet regarding the prophecy, which could have ramifications on what happens between the Dance of the Dragons and Game of Thrones.

Rhaenyra Targaryen Makes Aegon's Song Of Ice & Fire Prophecy Public Knowledge

House of the Dragon season 3, episode 8 finds Rhaenyra becoming increasingly desperate. Due to a confluence of events, she feels the tide of the civil war turning against her, and the walls of the Red Keep closing in. She's panicked and paranoid, which is made much worse by the reveal that Sunfyre is still alive and has reunited with Aegon, news that is spreading through the realm despite her previously declaring the death of her half-brother and former king.

The High Septon sees the Aegon and Sunfyre news as a sign from the Gods, but Rhaenyra serves what she believes is a higher power. Thus, she has the Septon killed, and then speaks directly to the people of King's Landing about Aegon the Conqueror's prophecy. She speaks to them of the Doom of Valyria and the Targaryens being spared, of Aegon the Conqueror's dream, and of the coming darkness. She names herself "Rhaenyra the Chosen," and then, in High Valyrian, says she is the Prince That Was Promised, when previously there was no suggestion these things had ever been made public.

Could This Be How The Prince That Was Promised Prophecy Is Known In Game Of Thrones?

In Game of Thrones, the Prince That Was Promised prophecy isn't widespread, but it is at least known by some people. Obviously, Melisandre is the one who is most aware of it, but there's also some recent history that ties into it. Rhaegar Targaryen knew about the prophecy, and while his words didn't make it into the show, in the books, Daenerys has a vision of him where he talks about his son being "the Prince That Was Promised, and his shall be the Song of Ice and Fire." Maester Aemon also knows about the prophecy, as does another from the book, Archmaester Marwyn.

Some of this can be explained away as coming from other legends, for instance Azor Ahai, that then gets combined with the Prince That Was Promised. But some of the language is specific, and Rhaenyra's speech could be how it continues to exist and be passed down, especially if it does not survive the Dance. While the crowd is mostly comprised of smallfolk, and the Prince That Was Promised line itself is in High Valyrian, it is plausible that there are records made of what she says here that are later found by the likes of Rhaegar or Maesters of the Citadel.

The people of King's Landing will no doubt be confused by Rhaenyra's words, and might not even care too much: they're poor and starving and see that as a direct result of Rhaenyra's rule and the civil war, not some vague threat from far beyond the Wall. So it'd make sense if most people didn't take too much heed of it, but at the same time, this is the ruling monarch giving a notable, powerful address about prophecies, threats from the north, and only dragons being able to combat it, and it'd make sense if something about it existed.

Of course, Aegon's dream and the Prince That Was Promised are not in George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, the book House of the Dragon adapts. That fits with the information not being widespread, but it might still be something the author has planned. After all, Aegon's dream came directly from Martin, and he's been talking about it as far back as 2018 (the year Fire & Blood was published). So I think it's possible The Winds of Winter will include something that ties the prophecy with Aegon's Song of Ice and Fire in some way, and it could be as simple as Rhaenyra's words here.

House Of The Dragon Uses The Prince That Was Promised Better Than Game Of Thrones

Whether this explains it or not, what is clear is that House of the Dragon has used the Prince That Was Promised prophecy better than Game of Thrones. This isn't just about the latter not giving a concrete answer: it's entirely possible Martin won't have one in the books, either. The point of prophecy in Westeros is usually much more about how people interpret it and how it defines their actions than it is what the literal meaning is, and that's something the prequel understands very well.

Game of Thrones only really paid lip service to the prophecy, and while Daenerys' arc in season 8 was driven by a belief in her own destiny and birthright, it hadn't fully formed the Prince That Was Promised as being part of that. In contrast, House of the Dragon has baked Aegon's dream into the very fabric of the Dance of the Dragons. It's a misunderstanding over it that helps to spark the civil war, it is driving so much of Rhaenyra's arc, and is even woven into Daemon's as well.

It's not about Rhaenyra being the Prince That Was Promised - we all know she isn't - but how her belief in that gives her a sense of superiority, how it changes her as a person, and how it both determines her actions and is used as a defense of them. While I didn't love all of Rhaenyra's story in the House of the Dragon finale, and thought some of it was too abrupt, the use of prophecies and dreams is really well done, and much closer to how Martin uses it than Game of Thrones managed.