'House of the Dragon': Why Parading Meleys' Head Through The Streets Of King's Landing Is The Greens' Biggest Mistake Yet

WARNING: SPOILERS for House of the Dragon 2x05, 'Regent'.

After the tragic deaths of Princess Rhaenys and her beloved dragon, Meleys, in House of the Dragon 2xo4, 'The Red Dragon and the Gold', Criston Cole wasted no time attempting to celerate a Green victory by parading Meleys' severed head before the smallfolk of King's Landing, declaring her the 'Traitor Dragon'. Unfortunately, Cole didn't get the hero's welcome he seemed to be aiming for.

Here's a few reasons why the cruel display of Meleys' remains is Team Green's biggest mistake yet.

Rhaenys was a beloved figure of the Smallfolk, And Meleys A Legacy Dragon

Long before the Targaryen Civil War had begun, and even before becoming known as the Queen that Never Was, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen was a popular figure among the smallfolk of Westeros. The first born grandchild of the much loved King Jaehaerys the Wise, Rhaenys's birth was cause for celebration. As the first born child of Jaehaerys's son and original named heir, Prince Aemon, some Westerosi Houses, including the Baratheons (whom claimed Rhaenys as kin through her Mother, Jocelyn), the Velaryons, the Starks, as well as her Grandmother, Queen Alysanne, considered her as next in line for the Iron Throne. Jaehaerys failing to acknowledge Rhaenys in his line of succession after Aemon's death, instead naming their next son, Prince Baelon, as heir, remained a point of contention between Jaehaerys and Alysanne until the Queen's death.

Rhaenys was passed over again by the Great Council after Baelon's sudden death, in favour of Baelon's eldest son, Prince Viserys. Despite expressing disappointment over the decision, Rhaenys never bore any ill will to the eventual King Viserys I, instead acknowledging that he was still her favourite cousin. She never pushed her own claim on the throne after Jaehaerys's death, though she could have, and even accepted her title of 'Queen Who Never Was' in good humour. When the current war began, Rhaenys only became involved once it became clear that her own grandchildren were in danger.

For the smallfolk, Rhaenys was a living reminder of a better, more peaceful time, of the grace with which a succession conflict could be handled. Her death is not something they would celebrate.

Rhaenys's dragon, Meleys, also known as the Red Queen, is a similar reminder of better times. Meleys' previous rider had been Rhaenys's aunt, Princess Alyssa Targaryen. Living during the long peace of her Father King Jaehaerys's reign, Alyssa rode on dragonback mostly for pleasure, and the smallfolk were known to take great joy in spotting the Princess and Meleys on their flights.

Dragons are considered equivalent to Gods, disrespecting them is a bad omen

Dragons are the symbol of House Targaryen. Previous generations of ruling Targaryens held up the dragons as near Godlike, and very much the equal to Kings. Dragons were to be respected, and any who died, in battle or otherwise, were given funeral rites and ceremonies similar to those of a Royal family member. An enemy dragon deserved the same rights as one's own. Even King Maegor the Cruel, known as the most horrible of all the Targaryen Kings, honored and respected dragons.

By parading the remains of Meleys through the streets of King's Landing as little more than a dead enemy, the Greens are showing a deep misunderstanding of Targaryen history, dishonoring a symbol of their King's own House, and disrespecting a creature the smallfolk believe is akin to a God. The Blacks maintain the godlike perception of dragons themselves, explaining why Queen Rhaenyra shares the belief of the smallfolk that the Greens' treatment of Meleys is a bad omen.

Sadly, that's not even the worst part.

The Greens have shown the Smallfolk that Dragons are not invincible

House Targaryen took and keep their power in the Seven Kingdoms through the use of their Dragons, maintaining the belief that it would be futile to rise against them with the dragons under their yoke. Dragon corpses and funerals had before this point been kept away from the eyes of the peasants.

By displaying Meleys' remains so brazenly, the Greens have sent the starving, increasingly desperate smallfolk of King's Landing a dangerous message: The Dragons are not Gods. Dragons are not invincible. Dragons can be killed.

Team Green have jest sewn the seeds of future tragedy for House Targaryen.