Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 4 just killed off one of its most powerful players in what I can only describe as another boneheaded military move by Daenerys Stormborn.
It all started when Daenerys refused the advice of Sansa Stark and decided to march their forces down to King’s Landing. However, for some odd reason, they decided to split their forces. Daenerys would lead her forces south via boat with her two dragons. Jon Snow would take the rest of their soldiers via overland.
With their forces split, Daenerys continued her journey south. When she arrived at Dragonstone, she decided to issue a show of force with her dragons having them do a Top Gun style fly by of the keep. However, it doesn’t go too well for Daenerys. Daenerys would lose her second dragon. This time Rhaegal would fall to Euron Greyjoy.
Greyjoy and his Iron Fleet ambush Daenerys and her fleet with a number of ballistae. They shoot Rhaegal out of the air, and when Daenerys decides to flee with Drogon, he sets his sights on the rest of Daenerys’ fleet and utterly wipes them out. Not only does he wipe them out, but he captures Missandei.
This poor lack of military strategy by Daenerys’ forces comes just after their absolutely horrible battle strategy when facing the Night King at the Battle of Winterfell.
It’s unclear why they decided to split their forces. It’s also unclear why they weren’t scouting the enemy’s position and gathering information on their forces with their fleet. They knew Euron Greyjoy was still controlling the waters, but failed to ascertain where exactly he was.
In fact, it doesn’t make any sense why they would be trying any kind of invasion by sea even with their dragons. If you remember Tyrion had effectively repulsed Stannis Baratheon’s attack on King’s Landing. Tyrion was literally on the ship with Daenerys, but didn’t advise against a naval attack.
Nevertheless, Rhaegal is dead and killed by the hands of Euron Greyjoy.
What do you make of Rhaegal’s death? What did you think about Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 4?