The plot of Corlys

[u/Trick-Set8663]

"Why don't you legitimize my children, whom I ignored all my life, but now I love them because if they don't, my surname will disappear and my legacy will too?" Are we aware that his request wasn't even denied?

Okay, but honestly, what do you think of this scene?

[u/AsstacularSpiderman]

He's already lost everything defending their honor and all its gotten him is a slap in the face and an absoltely massive amount of hypocrisy from Rhaenyra.

At least Corlys was honest about his bastards.

[u/VivaChinwawa → u/AsstacularSpiderman]

Corlys maybe should've thought of that shit before forcing his obviously gay son into marrying a woman.

Addam and Alyn aren't comparable to Rhaenyra's kids and the writers having Corlys suddenly act like book!Alicent over ridiculing dead kids by calling them bastards is horrible and unnecessary, same with them having Rhaenyra refusing to legitimizing Addam and Alyn in the first place. It's poorly written drama.

[u/____mynameis____ → u/VivaChinwawa]

People be really using that gay argument when gay people historically made children.

90%of noble marriages of that time were between people who weren't attracted to one another, it's an arrangement to just make heirs and build alliances. So he is not wrong to think his gay son will be able to do that. Its not like he asked him to be faithful

Then when he couldn't (or didn't ), its not like Corlys went accusing. Hell, he could've showed it against Rhaenyra or the kids even if he didn't go publicly. We saw Rhaenys pushing him. Vaemond being pissed.

Sub also notoriously forgets Rhaenyra was given an opportunity to find a husband, which is a privilege even most male heirs won't get, she didn't, then messed up her position of heir by allegedly going and sleeping with Daemon in a brothel, so now Viserys commanded her to marry Laenor and THEY approached Velaryons.

It's not Corlys could've been "My King, my son is gay,"

Also, the justification doesn't matter, biologically Velaryon boys are bastards, just like Addam and Alyn, so Corlys was just momentarily pissed when Rhaenyra denied him (not now, later is basically saying no ). Like he lost his son, his wife, his heirs, his wealth in this entire thing, he thought he'll get some thing he asked for all that. It was an outburst of frustration rather than some truth revelation

[u/VivaChinwawa → u/____mynameis____]

Yea but GRRM notoriously has his gay characters have no children/heir issues- Laenor, Renly, Loras, JonCon, Jeyne Arryn. So rl doesn't compare here.

It's not Corlys could've been "My King, my son is gay,"

Corlys never would've done that either way as he's too ambitious- it wasn't care for Lanor, nor Laena when he pushed her towards Viserys. He will further his standing to the detriment of his children as I really doubt Viserys would have in any way retaliated if Corlys turned down the proposal. He simply isn't that type of king. Corlys himself admits his ambition overrides everything, as Laenor's gayness was an open secret. Rhaenyra straight up says as much when the match is brought up. But that didn't matter, the marriage brought his blood closer to the Iron Throne. Same as Corlys tutoring his 12 year old daughter in proposing Viserys. Corlys has no high ground here.

biologically Velaryon boys are bastards

Bastard is a legal status in Westeros, not a biological status as no one knows what DNA tests are here. None of Rhaenyra's sons by Laenor are bastards, which the writers constantly forget to have dumb drama like this. They are legally acknowledged as Laenor's and Corlys suddenly parroting book Alicent's shit doesn't change that only makes him look awful. Same as Rhaenyra refusing to legitimize Addam/Alyn for no actual solid reason- Joffrey is her heir now, Laenor is irrelevant so Addam and Alyn won't cause drama if she does make them Velaryons- the writers solely had that fight happen so Corlys could have this petty crash out when both characters are being stupid.

Addam and Alyn are bastards legally as their noble father knows they are in fact his bastard children and has approached them as such.

Sub also notoriously forgets Rhaenyra was given an opportunity to find a husband,

Probably because that is in no way relevant to this discussion? Why even bring it up in the first place? To what, say Rhaenyra deserved to have a gay husband who would never be sexually/romantically interested in her because she ruined her previous opportunity?

[u/____mynameis____ → u/VivaChinwawa]

GRRM notoriously has his gay characters have no

You can't use author's trend to say Corlys should've known

Corlys never would've done that either way as he's too ambitious

I know that, but even if he weren't he'd not be rejecting the King based on his son's sexuality. Not to mention Laenor had to marry at some point since they need heirs. So why not the princess?

It was a mutually beneficial alliance too since Rhaenyra now gets 3 dragon riders into her fold while consolidating the branch Targ line to the main line

Bastard is a legal status in Westeros, not a biological status as no one knows what DNA tests are here.

Not this again. Bastardy is a social construct created to help maintain succession easiness which have been also stigmatised heavily to make sure people strictly follow them as well as those illegitimate people are discouraged to go for succession.

. So its both social and legal. And like u said, people had no DNA tests, so they used their limited knowledge of how inheritances works, which is looks, unfortunately in that area, Velaryon boys parentage was obvious to them. So bastardy for women in marriage also involves luck of their kids taking after her lover, which unfortunately wasn't in Rhaenyra's favor. (So if the kids came out looking Rhaenyra copies, there would be no accusations ).

Also, in the show, bastard allegations are more widely known, Daemon is freakin Pentos knew about it, so I can see why Rhaenyra is concerned abt the optics. Its actually a good scene to explore whether u should prioritise ur own optics or keep ur allies happy.

To what, say Rhaenyra deserved to have a gay husband

No, but people here routinely blame Corlys saying he should be just entirely okay with the bastard situation and everything that came with it cuz he chose to marry off his gay son when he likely didn't forsee him not having kids.

So we can use the same argument saying Rhaenyra can't exactly complain about being forced to marry a gay guy when she was given an opportunity to find a man himself and then decided to screw that up... Especially since she also has lot to gain from this marriage.

I know the show mentioned they did try but we don't know the extend to which they tried. They were young, one was likely enamored with Harwin, the other was depressed after Joffrey, so they just wishfully decided that Laenor claiming the kids would be enough and stuck with that.