'House of the Dragon': Why Harwin Strong was a better match for Rhaenyra Targaryen

Harwin Strong and Rhaenyra Targaryen had an affair while she was in an open marriage with Laenor Velaryon
PUBLISHED JUN 7, 2024
Ser Harwin Strong is the biological father to Rhaenyra Targaryen's children when she is married to Laenor Velaryon (@hbo)
Ser Harwin Strong is the biological father to Rhaenyra Targaryen's children when she is married to Laenor Velaryon (@hbo)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 will stream on HBO on June 16, 2024. 'House of the Dragon' is the prequel to the cult show 'Game of Thrones' and takes fans into the infinite depths of George R R Martin's literature. This show centers around the controversial world of the Targaryen family. 

The show's protagonist is an adventurous Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and her journey from being declared the heir to the throne to eventually being denied the right to her claim as her best friend and later step-mother Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) gives birth to a male offspring Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) who she has to now compete with for the throne. 

Among the biggest talking points of 'House of the Dragon', is Rhaenyra's love life. She starts an affair with Ser Criston Cole (Fabian Frankel) and then goes on to marry Laenor Velaryon ( John Macmillan) in an open marriage where she has an affair with Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr).

By the end of the season, Harwin is dead and Laenor has escaped to Essos and Rhaenyra is now married to Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith).

Fans consider Harwin to be the best match for Rhaenyra

Ser Harwin Strong is rumored to be the biological father of Rhaenyra's three sons (@hbo)
A still from the series 'House of the Dragon' (@hbo)

Of all the men Rhaenyra has had in her life, fans seem to think that Harwin was the perfect match for her. Even though their romance gets very little screen space in 'House of the Dragon', it gave fans a glimpse into what might have been a beautiful union. 

A Reddit user said, "Harwin Strong was the better match for Rhaenyra, for a lot of reasons. To name a few: He accepted her as she was, he would protect her without a second thought, he would have done anything for her & their children, and if she wanted to be with Daemon he would have stood aside for him."

Some fans complained about the couple getting less screen time. A Reddit user commented, "In theory Harwin is the better match, the problems is that we were shown very little of them together as a couple. People like Daemon x Rhaenyra more because they have a lot of scenes together, we saw their relationship develop and there's just a lot more to work with when it comes to them".

Some fans disagree though as a Reddit user commented, "I love harwin but daemon is better match for sure", referring to Rhaenyra's uncle and later husband as a perfect match.

What happened to Harwin Strong?

A still from the series 'House of the Dragon' (YouTube/@Max)
Harwin Strong died in a fire in 'House of the Dragon' (youtube/@max)

Harwin Strong had to return to his home in Harrenhall where he died in a fire that was instigated by his brother Lord Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) to prove his loyalty to Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke).

In the book though, Harwin's killer is not determined and there are rumors of him being killed by Daemon to clear the way for him to marry Rhaenyra. 

Harwin's character is dead though and the potential romance between Rhaenyra and Harwin came to a screeching halt leaving fans disappointed. 

How to stream 'House of the Dragon' Season 2?

A still from the series 'House of the Dragon' (@hbo)
A still from the series 'House of the Dragon' (@hbo)

'House of the Dragon' will stream on HBO Max on Sunday, June 16, 2024. To watch the series, you will need a Max Subscription.

The streaming platform typically offers three packages that you can choose from depending on your budget.

The low-cost plan that supports advertising costs at $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually.

The second package, which does not support advertising, costs $15.99 per month or $149.99.

Meanwhile, the third package, titled Ultimate Ad-Free, costs $19.99 per month or $199.99 annually.

'House of the Dragon' Season 2 trailer



 

'House of the Dragon' Season 2 is streaming on HBO on June 16, 2024.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

The latest episode saw Jessica Jones join Matt Murdock's efforts to end the Kingpin's reign over New York City
13 minutes ago
As the hit Prime Video series reaches the midway mark, the latest rumored leaks tease an absolute bloodbath.
41 minutes ago
‘Unchosen’ revolves around Adam (Asa Butterfield) and his wife Rosie (Molly Windsor) as they navigate life in a strict religious community
48 minutes ago
In a video on social media, Sonja Sohn claims that there is much more to her exit from 'Will Trent' than people know.
1 hour ago
A desperate escape and a haunting chase lead to a final twist, as ‘Unchosen’ ends with one character in control while others struggle to break free.
2 hours ago
LL Cool J returns as Special Agent Sam Hanna and helps the NCIS team with their latest case
2 hours ago
Episode 6 sees Jessica Jones return as she reaches out to Murdock to join his resistance efforts against Fisk
3 hours ago
‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2 welcomes Jessica Jones back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and she's now a mother
5 hours ago
'The Rookie' Season 8 Episode 16, titled 'Out of Time,' sets the tone for the season's remaining two episodes, promising a humdinger finale.
14 hours ago
The streamer dropped the trailer for the new season of 'Silo,' which hints at picking up from the events of Season 2.
14 hours ago