Warning: This post contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 2
House of the Dragon has secretly insulted Jaime Lannister’s Kingsguard. The Kingsguard played a pivotal role in Game of Thrones. Historically, they’ve been tasked with the highest order — to protect the Iron Throne and the royal family against any threats. It’s considered an honor to serve on the Kingsguard, though House of the Dragon, set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, quietly foreshadows Jaime’s time in its service.
Jaime served in the Kingsguard for a number of years and, for the majority of his time in service, did his civic duty protecting King Robert Baratheon. He would eventually become the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, but the more time passed, the more the Kingsguard lost its shine. House of the Dragon season 1, episode 2 saw Rhaenyra Targaryen tasked with choosing new members of the Kingsguard. With Ser Ryam Redwyne, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, dead, Ser Harold Westerling has taken his place in the position. While Ser Ryam Redwyne’s reputation was that of a spectacular knight, a man with so much honor, battle experience, and strength that no one could live up to him, House of the Dragon’s choices for potential new members were not considered good enough to join at all. Tourney knights, according to Rhaenyra, were not fit to guard the king because of a lack of experience in actual battle.
The idea that no one was good enough to join the Kingsguard, and that only tourney knights and inexperienced men were being put forth ultimately foreshadowed the downfall of the Kingsguard in Game of Thrones, which had more than its fair share of problems. In George R.R. Martin’s books, Jaime ponders how the Kingsguard have “fallen so low.” What’s more, he chastises himself for not doing anything to prevent certain types of men from joining the Kingsguard. Considering that many of the men who served with Jaime were considered vermin in his eyes, House of the Dragon is a blow to Jaime’s time in the Kingsguard because it confirms that anyone who is not skilled in battle is therefore inferior. The Game of Thrones prequel suggests men who don’t meet a specific kind of criteria aren’t fit to defend the king, or even stand by his side. Such men are what defined Jaime's time as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Being a tourney knight or a soldier who has not seen war was not good or honorable enough. If only Ser Ryam Redwine, and even Rhaenerys, could see how far the Kingsguard had fallen, they might be appalled. In their eyes, Jaime’s Kingsguard would likely have been seen as a complete failure, a mockery of the values House of the Dragon’s Kingsguard seemingly upholds.
Why The Kingsguard Changes So Much By Jaime Lannister's Time As Lord Commander
The Dance of the Dragons, which split the realm between those who followed Rhaenyra and those who believed Aegon II Targaryen to be the rightful king, was one of the first major events to divide the Kingsguard in their duties. Robert’s Rebellion in later years heavily diminished their ranks and also changed who could serve, especially as Baratheon’s men killed the majority of Aerys’ Kingsguard, who were considered some of the most skilled in battle. The Kingsguard saw further degradation when Jaime murdered Aerys, the king he was meant to protect and serve. So while Jaime may be disgusted by the men who later joined the Kingsguard under Lannister rule, he also set a precedent for their inclusion in the ranks.
Although there were many knights who served and were considered the best of the best in terms of skill and battle, the Kingsguard itself was never truly honorable. The institution itself was corrupt, tasked solely with protecting the Iron Throne instead of the people of Westeros. Despite everything, however, the Kingsguard gave Jaime Lannister some purpose in his life, even though it had fallen from its pedestal since the events of House of the Dragon.
New episodes of House of the Dragon release Sundays at 9pm on HBO and HBO Max.