WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1!A deleted scene of Baela Targaryen in House of the Dragon’s season 1 finale was released at the Game of Thrones convention, which would have fixed a problem regarding Daemon’s insistence on going to war. The GOT convention featured interviews from the cast, behind-the-scenes details, and a highly anticipated deleted scene from House of the Dragon. While other still-unseen moments include Criston Cole’s ascension to the Kingsguard, young Rhaenyra confronting Alicent about marrying Viserys, and Daemon comforting his daughters after Laena’s death, House of the Dragon has now shared a cut scene between Rhaenys and Baela Targaryen from the season 1 finale.
In House of the Dragon’s deleted scene, Daemon’s eldest daughter Baela Targaryen is approached by her grandmother Rhaenys, who has just arrived at Dragonstone after fleeing King’s Landing. Rhaenys warns Baela that the Greens will attack, so she and Rhaena must flee to Driftmark. Baela responds that if war is coming, it is coming for everyone, and that the Greens need to pay for their crimes “with fire and blood.” Reaffirming her identity as a dragonrider like her father and mother, Baela refuses to back down against the Greens after they stole Rhaenyra’s throne. House of the Dragon’s cut season 1 finale scene ends with Rhaenys proudly remarking that Baela reminds her of the deceased Laena Velaryon.
Baela Proves Daemon Wasn’t The Only Targaryen Intent On War
House of the Dragon’s season 1 finale implied that Daemon was the only Targaryen who was fervently intent on declaring war against the greens, which contributed to Daemon’s perception as an unreasonably belligerent figure. However, the deleted scene of Baela and Rhaenys works to recontextualize this, showing that more of the Blacks were ready to go to war and wouldn’t accept Aegon’s ascension without a fight. Baela’s resolve that Aegon and the Greens must pay with fire and blood further emphasizes that the Dance of the Dragons wasn’t simply Daemon’s war, as several Targaryens in the Black party were intent on seeking vengeance for the stolen throne.
While Rhaenyra and Rhaenys wanted to avoid war, House of the Dragon’s deleted scene stresses that the younger generation of Targaryens would have pushed for it either way. Rhaenyra and Alicent’s generation had already sown the seeds of enmity and disdain between the two Targaryen factions, so Baela and Jace wouldn’t have sat idly by while Aegon and Aemond stole their birthrights. The cut scene proves that Baela and Jacaerys were not simply being forced into a war of their parents’ making, as it was just as much their own fight by the time of House of the Dragon’s season 1 finale.
Baela’s Deleted Scene Helps Explain Rhaenys’ Support Of Rhaenyra
Rhaenys’ support for Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen wasn’t secure heading into House of the Dragon’s season 1 finale, with the deleted scene further implying that Rhaenys wanted to stay out of the war. The last episode indicated that Rhaenys sealed her loyalty to Rhaenyra after seeing her constraint in declaring war, her command over men during councils, and the fact that dozens of men kneeled to her as their rightful Queen, but the deleted scene gives a more compelling reason for Rhaenys’ support. Baela’s desire to wage war is what firmly brings Rhaenys to Rhaenyra’s side, as her brave granddaughter was determined to battle on dragonback to defend Rhaenyra’s cause.
Seeing the courage and spirit of Baela’s mother, Laena Velaryon, proved to Rhaenys that she had to stand alongside her family in this war. If Rhaenyra ascended the throne, Jacaerys would eventually follow her, which meant her granddaughter Baela would one day be the Queen of Westeros. Deleting this scene was a mistake, as it’s a powerful look into the personality and character of Baela Targaryen and an important explanation of why Rhaenys was so hesitant to go to war. When House of the Dragon season 2 arrives, the true context of Baela and Rhaenys’ decisions to play major roles in the Dance is now better understood.