House of the Dragon’s season 1 finale features the series’ most traumatizing and violent birth scene, which includes powerful cuts between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her dragon Syrax. After learning about the death of her father Viserys and Aegon’s usurpation of the Iron Throne, Rhaenyra goes into early labor with her stillborn daughter Visenya. The agonizing birth scene is one of the first times that Rhaenyra’s rage is truly seen in House of the Dragon, with such pain being emphasized by quick shots of Syrax, who also happens to be the mother of many dragons.
As Rhaenyra screams while having her miscarriage, House of the Dragon continues to briefly cut to a roaring Syrax. When Rhaenyra’s pain becomes more intense, Syrax is shown to be increasingly anxious and full of rage. House of the Dragon’s shots of Syrax during Visenya's graphic stillbirth scene are meant to represent that Rhaenyra’s dragon can feel her pain, thus further exploring the deep bond between a dragon and its rider.
Dragons may not be able to be completely controlled or tamed, but the bonds they feel with their riders are intense and transcend the typical relationships between animals and humans. Similar to the Starks and their direwolves, the Targaryens and their dragons have powerful connections that go deeper than blood. This is why Vhagar resisted burning Laena in House of the Dragon episode 6 and why Meleys knew to simply roar at and intimidate the Greens without a command from Rhaenys. The Targaryens have always been said to be more than men due to their dragon bonds, which House of the Dragon episode 10’s shots of Syrax and Rhaenyra powerfully demonstrate.
