Games of thrones was HBO’s primal adaptation of a World of A Song of Ice and Fire. Its first two seasons were brought to screen primarily from the pages of A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, and A Storm of Swords. From the third season onward, the showrunners decided to adapt A Song of Ice and Fire as a whole [which included other novels such as A Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons, A Dream of Spring, and the outline of the yet-to-be-published, The Winds of Winter] to allow them the creative freedom to move events across novels as the screen adaptation required rather than the individual novels. That decision, coupled with challenges paused by George R. R. Martin leaving to complete The Winds of Winter and the storyline outpacing the published novels in the sixth season, led to what most viewers felt was a rushed ending leading to incomplete or unconvincing character arcs for some of the main cast.
Despite the negative reviews from many viewers, Weiss and Benioff’s adaptation won numerous awards throughout its run, including 59 Emmy Awards. In 2013, the Writers Guild of America listed Game of Thrones as the 40th best-written series in television history after breaking several television-related records.
In an interview in May 2022, speaking exclusively to The Independent at the inaugural Santa Fe Literary Festival that took place in the capital of New Mexico, George R. R. Martin spoke on the viciousness and the hate the final season of Game of Thrones got from a section of the online community of fans, “I don’t understand how people can come to hate so much something that they once loved.” Regarding House of the Dragon’s supposed rivalry with The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, George said, “I hope both shows succeed. I’m competitive enough. I hope we succeed more. If they win six Emmys – and I hope they do – I hope we win seven. Nonetheless, it’s good for fantasy. I love fantasy. I love science fiction. I want more shows on television.”
All that in the rear-view mirror, HBO, in October 2019, greenlit yet another adaptation titled House of The Dragon, created by George R. R. Martin based on his 2018 novel Fire and Blood. The events of the new fantasy drama television series, which is scheduled to premiere on August 21, 2022, will be set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. To allay the fears and doubts of apprehensive viewers with vivid memories of the final season of Game of Thrones – HBO announced Ryan J. Condal and Miguel Sapochnik as the showrunners. Appearing on the Coupledom podcast, George explained why he was happy to have Condal on the team:
“Mostly, when I would come out to L.A. once or twice a year, we would have drinks at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills and just talk about what we were doing. And over these dinners and these meetings, I learned certain things about Ryan. Number one, he liked my work, which was good. He knew a lot about my world because he’d read all the books about Westeros. He knew a lot about fantasy in general…”
George continued, “Meanwhile, at the same time, HBO was gearing up to try – they could see that Game of Thrones was ending – they wanted a successor show. I pitched them several ideas and one of them was the Targaryen civil war, which I call the Dance of the Dragons. But we did have other writers – you know how this business works – we went through some other writers. Some of them didn’t get very far, and some of them got considerably far and did good work. But at one point, we found ourselves without a writer, and…we were at the Four Seasons, and I thought ‘hey, you would be great for this.”
Regarding Miguel Sapochnik – he is not new to Westeros- In 2015, he directed two episodes of Game of Thrones for the show’s fifth season, “The Gift” and “Hardhome.” He returned to direct the final two episodes of Game of Thrones’ sixth season, “Battle of the Bastards” and “The Winds of Winter.” All these episodes received acclaim from both critics and viewers. Sapochnik won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards for directing “Battle of the Bastards.”
Ramin Djawadi, whose award-winning score for Game of Thrones inspired a world tour, is also returning to compose music for House of The Dragon.
If HBO aimed to allay fears of pragmatic viewers with their pick of showrunners, then in the words of Tormund Giantsbane, they have given us “chunks o’ ice to cool our wine all summer.”
Plot And Timeline
“I’ve always agreed with William Faulkner—he said that the human heart in conflict with itself is the only thing worth writing about. I’ve always taken that as my guiding principle, and the rest is just set dressing.” – George RR Martin.
The showrunners of House of The Dragon have given us a glimpse of that guiding principle in a snippet of the two minutes fifty seconds official trailer released by HBO on July 20, 2022. In the trailer, we hear Viserys I Targaryen, played by Paddy Considine, say ‘’I will not be made to choose between my brother and my daughter”. Those familiar with The Dance of the Dragons as depicted in Fire and Blood will know that Viserys’ choice of heir and his insistence on that choice will precipitate the events that brought the Targaryen dynasty to its knees. At the beginning of the trailer, the showrunners tease the entire plot of the series – we hear Viserys I Targaryen say, “The dream…… it was clearer than a memory, And I heard the sound of thundering hooves, splintering shields, and ringing swords, And I placed my heir upon the iron throne, And all the dragons roared as one.”
House of the Dragon is a prequel series to Game of Thrones based on George R. R. Martin’s Fire and Blood which tells the history of House Targaryen, covering the history of Westeros from Aegon’s Conquest up to and through the regency of the boy king, Aegon III Targaryen. The fantasy drama television series is expected to cover, for the most part, the events in and around The Dance of the Dragons, which for the uninitiated was a civil war during Targaryen rule of the Seven Kingdoms. A war of succession between Aegon II and his half-sister Rhaenyra over their father Viserys I’s throne. The war was fought from 129 AC to 131 AC. In this context, AC simply means After Aegon’s Conquest of Westeros.
The Targaryen civil war was mentioned or alluded to more than once in HBO’s Game of Thrones. Keen viewers will remember the ninth episode of the fifth season (titled The Dance of Dragons). The last scene before Princess Shireen’s burning at the stake by Melisandre (the Red Priestess). A sacrifice which, according to the “Red Priestess,” would melt the snows away and clear Stannis’ path to Winterfell. In that scene, Stannis walks into Shireen’s tent and asks her, “What are you reading?” Shireen answers “The Dance of Dragons,” to which Stannis replies, “what’s it about” Shireen replies, “It’s the story of the fight between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon for control of the Seven Kingdoms.” Rewind several episodes to the second season……. Tyrion Lannister, in one of his conversations with his cousin Lancel, says to him, “Cersei must have great trust in you, allowing you into her chamber during the hour of the Wolf.” The Hour of the Wolf is a callback to Lord Cregan Stark – a phrase coined by Grand Maester Munkun referring to the six days in 131 AC when Cregan Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, governed in King’s Landing at the end of the Dance of the Dragons after the poisoning of Aegon II. The Old Man of the North, as he was known, spent his six days as Hand of the King overseeing banishments to the Wall and executions of those he deemed responsible for the poisoning, bringing peace and order back to the Seven Kingdoms.
The cogs of the wheel of the civil war were set in motion during the Great Council of 101 AC convened by old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen after the unexpected death of his second son and heir, Baelon Targaryen. The lords of the Seven Kingdoms were summoned to assess and settle who should succeed him on the Iron Throne. The old king’s first son and heir, Prince Aemon, had died much earlier in 92 AC, prompting him to choose Aemon’s younger brother, Prince Baelon, as his heir, passing over Aemon’s daughter and only child, Princess Rhaenys. The council met for thirteen days and discussed fourteen claims. Nine lesser claims were quickly discarded. In subsequent deliberations, Archmaester Vaegon, the only surviving son of the King, was then passed over due to his vows, and Princess Rhaenys and her daughter Laena were passed over again on account of their sex. The assembled lords then focused on two major candidates: Prince Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine’s Character) and Rhaenys’ son Laenor Velaryon.
The precedent set by the Great Council of 101 AC contradicted Viserys I Targaryen’s decision to name his daughter and first-born Rhaenyra as his heir, opening the door for his second wife and now dowager queen Alicent to convince her son Aegon II after Viserys’ death to take the Iron Throne leading to the civil war.
The Cast
The ensemble of actors cast to bring to life the major and minor players of The Dance of Dragons in HBO’s fantasy drama series not only invoke the characters that are canon to the source material but are also rich in experience and look the part. Viewers will be happy to know that some of their favorite Houses in Game of Thrones will still have a role to play in the prequel – you will see some House sigils that you fell in love with – Houses Stark and Lannister in particular. You will also see Houses that are new to live adaptation but are old and major in George R. R. Martin’s fantasy world. Looking at the cast and the roles that they are set to play, book lovers will be delighted to see on screen House Velaryon of Driftmark – one of the few houses of the Seven Kingdoms besides the Targaryens that originated in Essos and House Hightower – one of the most powerful of the noble houses in the Reach whose seat is the Hightower, located in the city of Oldtown. Minor Houses canon to the books set to play major roles in House of The Dragon are House Cole, Strong, Beesbury, and Westerling. Let’s take a closer look at the top cast of the first season and attempt to establish the bit of real estate they are set to occupy in the plot of the series:
Paddy Considine (King Viserys Targaryen)
Considine became prominent in the early 2000s with a string of performances in independent films. He has received two British Academy Film Awards, three Evening Standard British Film Awards, British Independent Film Awards, and a Silver Lion for Best Short Film at the 2007 Venice Film Festival. Considine has the gravitas to bring to screen from the pages of Fire and Blood King Viserys I Targaryen, who ruled the Seven Kingdoms at a time when the Targaryen dynasty was at the peak of its powers, ruling from 103 AC to 129 AC, having succeeded his grandfather the Old King Jaehaerys I. The seeds of the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons that would much later engulf the realm were inadvertently watered during his reign. He was a dragonrider who rode Balerion, called the Black Dread, until the dragon died of old age during the reign of Jaehaerys I, after which he never bonded with another dragon. Balerion was originally bonded to Aegon I during and after his conquest of Westeros alongside his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys, who were bonded to Vhagar and Meraxes. Balerion is widely considered to be the biggest and the greatest of all the Targaryen dragons – that having been said, conclude what you will about Viserys I. Speaking on July 23, 2022, at the San Diego Comic-Con, Considine said, “My character will have a tough time maintaining stability, despite his best efforts. He’s a kind man who’s trying to keep the peacetime going within the kingdom,”. Considine continued, teasing a secret that Viserys is concealing. “There’s great tragedy in it. He loves his family and cares about his position, but he’s carrying something else.”
Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower)
Olivia is known for her starring role as Emma Decody in the A&E drama thriller series Bates Motel (2013–2017) and as Becky Sharp in the period drama miniseries Vanity Fair (2018). She also starred in the horror film Ouija (2014), the comedy-drama film Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015), the period horror mystery film The Limehouse Golem (2016), the thriller film Thoroughbreds (2017), the sci-fi film Ready Player One (2018), and the drama film Sound of Metal (2020). Having started acting at Eight years old, Olivia has in her bag of tools all it takes to deliver justice to her character in her portrayal of Alicent Hightower – a major player in the Dance of the Dragons. The daughter of Ser Otto Hightower – the Hand of the King, Alicent is a member of House Hightower who became the second wife to King Viserys I Targaryen. She is the mother of King Aegon II, Queen Helaena, Prince Aemond, and Prince Daeron. Her son Aegon II was the sixth Targaryen king to sit on the Iron Throne, succeeding his father, Viserys I Targaryen, as Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. His ascent was disputed by his older half-sister, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, who had been their father’s preferred and heir apparent. Speaking at the San Diego Comic-Con on July 23, 2022, Olivia emphasized that the team had worked so hard on the show and that she hoped House of the Dragon would live up to the expectation of the fans. She stated, “We’re so grateful for what came before, and we hope this has the same legacy. I just hope you like it.”
Speaking exclusively to Entertainment Weekly, Olivia teased her character in the show, “Alicent starts off as Rhaenyra’s best friend and daughter to the Hand of the King; she is quite an anxious rule follower compared to how free and mischievous Rhaenyra is.”
Emma D’Arcy (Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen)
Emma D’Arcy identifies as non-binary and uses the pronouns they/them. In addition to appearing in theatre, Emma has also appeared in several television productions, including Truth Seekers, a comedy horror series starring Nick Frost for Amazon Prime Video in 2020. They have also appeared in Nick Payne’s BBC One and Netflix co-produced series Wanderlust, which debuted in 2018, as well as the second season of the Amazon Prime Video series Hanna. In early December 2020, it was announced that Emma would be playing Rhaenyra Targaryen, King Viserys’ first born and heir apparent – one of (if not) the main player in the Dance of the Dragons. Known as the Realm’s Delight when she was younger and later dubbed the Half-Year Queen, Rhaenyra was a dragonrider and the only one who mounted Syrax – a dragon named after a goddess of Valyria. Queen Alicent, Rhaenyra’s stepmother convinced her firstborn son Aegon II Targaryen – Rhaenyra’s half-brother to challenge her claim to the Iron Throne, sparking the civil war.
Based on George R. R. Martin’s stamp of approval at the San Diego Comic-Con, having already watched nine out of the ten episodes of the first season, House of the Dragon will more than likely get HBO’s nod for several additional seasons bringing to full circle the words of Considine’s character in the main trailer, “…And I placed my heir upon the iron throne….”. Whether that heir will be Rhaenyra or not, time will tell. What the source material will tell you is that Rhaenyra will be the mother of two kings – Aegon III and Viserys II.
Also speaking at the San Diego Comic-Con, Emma D’Arcy said her character is motivated by fire. “I think she is fueled by that old Targaryen stuff,”
Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen)
Matt Smith shot to fame in the UK aged 26 when he was cast by producer Steven Moffat as the Eleventh Doctor in the BBC’s iconic science-fiction adventure series Doctor Who. Smith is best known for his role as Prince Philip in the Netflix series The Crown, for which he earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. He is an experienced actor, much like a magician with a bag full of tricks to bring to life a portrayal of Prince Daemon Targaryen that the showrunners and viewers will be proud to see.
In a sit down with Den of Geeks, Ryan Condal said, “Matt is really the only person we talked about,” he continued “We would say, ‘Like a Matt Smith or a Matt Smith type’ when talking about Daemon. I just absolutely loved his work in The Crown as Prince Philip, who somewhat ironically is a similar character. He’s the second fiddle, in that case to the Queen of England, his wife, and is a bit adrift. [Daemon] is similarly a bit of a rogue prince trying to find his footing and place in the world.” Looking at those sentiments closely, it was as if Ryan was invoking or quoting lines from The Rogue Prince – George R. R. Martin’s novelette focusing on the reign of Viserys I, from his grandfather Jaehaerys I Targaryen’s death to his own. It chronicles the evolving relationship between Viserys and his brother Prince Daemon and the king’s plan for succession to his daughter from his first marriage.
At the San Diego Comic-Con, Smith promised that things would get tense between his character, Prince Daemon Targaryen, and his older brother, King Viserys Targaryen. “It’s complicated – for Daemon, everything is about his brother.”
“He was the grandson of a king, the brother of a king, husband to a queen. Two of his sons and three of his grandsons would sit the Iron Throne, but the only crown that Daemon Targaryen ever wore was the crown of the Stepstones, a meager realm he made himself with blood and steel and Dragonfire and soon abandoned.” – The Rogue Prince.
For a time, Daemon Targaryen was heir to the Iron Throne when Viserys had no children – bad blood between him and Ser Otto Hightower changed all that when Rhaenyra came of age. In the official trailer of House of the Dragon, we are privy to what appears to be a conversation between Viserys and Daemon:
“I have decided to name a new heir,” Viserys Targaryen says. Daemon Targaryen responds, “I’m your heir.”
“Better the Realm’s Delight than the Lord of Flea Bottom” – Ser Otto Hightower
Prince Daemon Targaryen is a prince of the Targaryen dynasty, the younger brother of King Viserys I Targaryen, and the uncle of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. He is also the second husband of the same Rhaenyra Targaryen, Princess of Dragonstone. Daemon is the most experienced warrior of his time – he wields the Valyrian steel blade Dark Sister and is a dragonrider whose mount is Caraxes, the Blood Wyrm. A polarizing figure, much of his life was written about by Archmaester Gyldayn in The Rogue Prince, or, A King’s Brother.
“Over the centuries, House Targaryen has produced both great men and monsters. Prince Daemon was both. In his day, there was not a man so admired, so beloved, and so reviled in all Westeros. He was made of light and darkness in equal parts. To some, he was a hero, to others the blackest of villains.” – writings of Archmaester Gyldayn.
George R. R. Martin, in an interview speaking about the Targaryens, said this when he was asked which Targaryen was his favorite. “I’m notorious for my love of gray characters, and one of the grayest characters in the entire story of Westeros is Daemon Targaryen, the Rogue Prince…. He is very colorful and unpredictable.”
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Smith intimated the nature of his character “Daemon and Caraxes are sort of one entity, they are sort of one spirit – avatars of each other. They are both just grumpy and moody.”
Matt Smith’s character is a central player in the Dance of the Dragons, viewers will have a love-hate relationship with him. What is abundantly clear from the source material is that he is fiercely loyal to those he loves and will sacrifice everything, if need be, for them.
Steve Toussaint (Lord Corlys Velaryon)
Toussaint is known for his roles in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010), Mutant Chronicles (2008), and Judge Dredd (1995). He is not green in the fantasy world, and being a writer and an astute actor, he has what it takes to channel the spirit of Lord Corlys Velaryon known as the Sea Snake, from the pages of George R. R. Martin’s writings to our screens.
Also speaking at the San Diego Comic-Con, Toussaint teased his character, “He is a famed nautical man, he did his first solo voyage in his teens, he built his first ship called the Sea Snake at the age of about twenty – twenty-one, and he went on his famed nine voyages – which is the basis of the fortune that he has amassed when we meet him in the series. When we meet him, he is an extremely wealthy man – a self-made man.”
Corlys Velaryon, Lord of the Tides known as the Sea Snake is the Master of Driftmark and head of House Velaryon – one of the few houses of the Seven Kingdoms besides the Targaryens with the blood of Old Valyria in their veins originating in Essos. He is the husband of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, the cousin of Viserys I Targaryen, with whom he has two children named Laena and Laenor. During the Dance of the Dragons, he became Hand to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly on the set of House of the Dragon, showrunner Ryan Condal addressed the decision to reimagine House Velaryon as black, stating that it was an idea initially conceived by George R. R. Martin that led to the decision to make House Velaryon a House of noble Black seafarers, the wealthiest family in Westeros apart from the crown.
“The world is very different now than it was ten years ago when Game of Thrones all started. It’s different than 20 years ago when Peter Jackson made The Lord of the Rings. These types of stories need to be more inclusive than they traditionally have been. It was very important for Miguel and I to create a show that was not another bunch of white people on the screen, just to put it very bluntly.”
Eve Best (Princess Rhaenys Velaryon)
Besides directing, Eve is known for her television roles as Dr. Eleanor O’Hara in the Showtime series Nurse Jackie (2009–13), First Lady Dolley Madison in the American Experience television special (2011), and Monica Chatwin in the BBC miniseries The Honourable Woman (2014). She also played Wallis Simpson in the 2010 film The King’s Speech. She has been nominated for Tony Awards and won numerous other accolades, including the 2005 Olivier Award for Best Actress & London Critics Circle Theatre Award for Best Actress for her performance in the title role in Hedda Gabler. She was also awarded the 2003 London Critics Circle Theatre Award for Best Actress for her performance in Mourning Becomes Electra, performed at the Royal National Theatre. Eve will take on the heavy role of portraying Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, known as the Queen Who Never Was – the daughter of Prince Aemon Targaryen and the wife to Lord Corlys Velaryon of Driftmark. Also known as Rhaenys Velaryon, she is a dragonrider bonded to the dragon Meleys, the Red Queen.
Named after her grandfather Jaehaerys’ grandmother (her great-great-grandmother): Rhaenys Targaryen, the sister-wife of Aegon the Conqueror, she is the first cousin of Viserys I Targaryen and Daemon Targaryen. The firstborn of Prince Aemon Targaryen, the heir to Old King Jaehaerys, many considered her next in line for the Iron Throne. She was spurned by the Great Council of 101 AC convened at Harrenhal by Old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen to settle on his successor after the unexpected death of his son and heir, Baelon Targaryen. Having been passed over twice for the crown on account of her sex and in complete disregard to traditional inheritance law based on primogeniture, Rhaenys and the Velaryons became estranged from her cousin Viserys’ royal court.
Asked at the San Diego Comic-Con what her character thinks of the moniker “The Queen Who Never Was,” Eva responded, “It really pisses her off – she should have been the queen, and it’s kind of annoying that she isn’t, and it’s also kind of annoying that people keep remembering and reminding her that she isn’t.”
Rhys Ifans (Ser Otto Hightower)
Rhys was the frontman of Welsh rock music bands the Peth and Super Furry Animals. As an actor, he is best known for his roles in Notting Hill (1999), Kevin & Perry Go Large (2000), and Enduring Love (2004), as well as his portrayals of Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010), the supervillain Dr. Curt Connors / Lizard in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), and Grigori Rasputin in The King’s Man (2021). Other roles include Hector DeJean in the Epix thriller series Berlin Station and Mycroft Holmes in the CBS series Elementary.
“I’m a factory-floor actor. I learn the lines; I get there on time. I don’t sit around with other actors and talk about the pain and the magic of acting. I’d rather just go down to the pub. That’s where the real magic happens. That’s often where the ideas take flight. Very underrated, the pub, in terms of the history of creativity.”
“I work hard, and I party hard. When I go to work, I know what I am doing, and I do it to the best of my abilities. When I party, I take the same rule book with me.”
Those are personal quotes from Rhys, and they summarize the sort of actor he is. When it comes to work, he takes no prisoners. With that kind of industry, lovers of the source material can rest easy knowing he will deliver justice in his portrayal of Ser Otto Hightower. Otto is the father of Alicent Hightower (the second queen of King Viserys I Targaryen) and Ser Gwayne Hightower, second in command of the gold cloaks. He is the Hand of the King to Viserys I Targaryen and considers the king’s brother and one-time heir, Prince Daemon, the greatest threat to the realm. He is a younger son of House Hightower, meaning he is not the head of his House. Otto is famous for his knowledge, an ability that enabled him to serve as Hand of the King to three Kings, though not continuously. Some find him arrogant, a quality that doesn’t tilt the scales against his methodical and cautious nature. Before the Dance of the Dragons, Otto played a crucial role in crowning his eldest grandson as King Aegon II in defiance of the last will of Viserys I, which specified Rhaenyra as the successor – an act of defiance that precipitated the civil war.
Sonoya Mizuno (Mysaria)
Sonoya is an actress, model, and ballet dancer who has performed in director Alex Garland’s works Ex Machina, Annihilation, and Devs. She had minor roles in the films La La Land, Beauty and the Beast, and Crazy Rich Asians and starred in the Netflix miniseries Maniac. Looking at Sonoya’s resume, particularly in the performing arts, she has more than enough to portray the guile of the woman that eases the storms of the Lord of Flea Bottom. Known to her enemies as Lady Misery, Sonoya will play Mysaria, a former prostitute from the free city of Lys in Essos now living in Westeros. Mysaria worked her way up the ranks in the criminal underbelly of King’s Landing to not only become the most trusted ally and one-time paramour of Prince Daemon Targaryen but also the unofficial mistress of whisperers to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen during the Dance of the Dragons. Mysaria will be a recurring character in House of the Dragon. The breakdown of Sonoya’s character on HBO’s website reads as follows:
“She came to Westeros with nothing, sold more times than she can recall, and she could have wilted…, but instead, she rose to become the most trusted – and most unlikely – ally of Prince Daemon Targaryen, the heir to the throne.”
Fabien Frankel (Ser Criston Cole)
The son of the late English actor Mark Frankel, and Caroline Frankel, Fabien is a rising Hollywood star. It was announced on April 15, 2021, that he would be playing Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon. He graduated from drama school in 2017 with a BA (Hons) Professional Acting course, having received the Examiner’s Gold Star award for Advanced level 3 Single Sword Stage Combat – a skill that will come in handy in his portrayal of the knight of House Cole, a minor House of the Dornish Marches in service to House Dondarrion. His father is the steward at Blackhaven. Ser Criston Cole rose to become the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard for King Viserys I Targaryen. Before turning adversarial, he had a friendly relationship at first with Viserys’ daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. Known as Criston the Kingmaker, he convinced Viserys’ son, Prince Aegon II Targaryen, to claim the Iron Throne as his father lay dead, leading to the Dance of the Dragons. HBO’s overview of Ser Criston Cole reads as follows:
“Of Dornish descent, Ser Criston is the common-born son of the steward to the Lord of Blackhaven. He has no claim to land or titles; all he has to his name is his honor and his preternatural skill with a sword.”
Welcoming Fabien to the team after the announcement of his casting, George R. R. Martin posted this message on his blog:
“He is a challenger, a champion, cheered by the commons, beloved of the ladies. He is a lover (or is he?), a seducer (or is he?), a betrayer (or is he?), a breaker of hearts, and a maker of kings. FIRE & BLOOD readers know him as Ser Criston Cole.”
Milly Alcock (Young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen) │ Emily Carey (Young Alicent Hightower)
Milly is best known for roles that include Janet King (2017), A Place to Call Home (2018), Fighting Season (2018), Pine Gap (2018), Les Norton (2019), The Gloaming (2020), Reckoning (2020), and Upright (2019–2022).
On the other hand, Emily is famous for her roles as Grace Beauchamp in BBC One’s Casualty (2014–2017, 2021) and Mika Cavanaugh in iPlayer and Netflix’s Get Even. As well as her roles in Casualty and Get Even, Emily also played the young Diana Prince (Wonder Woman), portrayed by Gal Gadot as an adult, in the Warner Brothers movie Wonder Woman (2017). She appeared as a young Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider reboot film, released in March 2018.
Milly and Emily are set to appear in recurring roles as Young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Young Alicent Hightower, respectively. Paraphrasing what Olivia Cooke teased in her exclusive with Entertainment Weekly about the two younger versions of Alicent and Rhaenyra; they start off as best friends, Alicent is the daughter of the Hand of the King, and she is quite an anxious rule follower in comparison to the free and mischievous Rhaenyra. Through these characters, we will see the dynamics of the relationship between Alicent and Rhaenyra – the sweet innocence of youth and the corruption of the latter over time – in other words, the journey to the Dance of Dragons.
Ryan Corr (Ser Harwin ‘Breakbones’ Strong)
Ryan is known for his roles in the Australian drama series Packed to the Rafters and Love Child, along with film roles in Wolf Creek 2 (2013), The Water Diviner (2014), and Holding the Man (2015). He was honored to be named the GQ Breakthrough Actor of 2015 and has been the recipient of the Australians in Film Heath Ledger Scholarship and the IF Out of the Box award. On September 24, 2021, HBO announced that Ryan had been cast to play the role of Ser Harwin Strong – popularly known as Breakbones and said to be the strongest man in the Seven Kingdoms. Ser Harwin is the eldest son and heir of Lord Lyonel Strong of Harrenhal and the brother of Larys Strong. He served as a captain in the City Watch of King’s Landing and Princess Rhaenyra’s sworn shield for a time. Due to His closeness to Princess Rhaenyra, it was alleged that he might be the father of her first three children, Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon.
Jefferson Hall (Lord Jason Lannister │ Ser Tyland Lannister)
Jefferson is best known for his roles in Tenet (2020), Halloween (2018), and Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015). He will take on the role of Jason Lannister, the Lord of Casterly Rock, and the head of House Lannister during the reigns of King Viserys I and Aegon II Targaryen. Lord Jason is the older twin of Ser Tyland Lannister, the master of coin for Aegon II Targaryen. Ser Tyland also served on the small council at King’s Landing as master of ships for Viserys I Targaryen and as Hand of the King for Aegon III Targaryen. The twins played major roles during the Dance of the dragons and will be recurring characters in House of the Dragon. Jefferson will play both roles.
David Horovitch (Grand Maester Mellos)
David is best known for The Young Victoria (2009), Mr. Turner (2014), 102 Dalmatians (2000), and for his role as Inspector Slack in Miss Marple. A voice of reason and trusted advisor to King Viserys I, David will portray Grand Maester Mellos, the moderating voice on the small council, always urging calm and compromise. He was appointed as Grand Maester after the death of Runciter, who was the Grand Maester at the end of King Jaehaerys’ reign, mere months before the death of his second son Baelon sparked the need for the Great Council at Harrenhal. Runciter also served as Grand Maester for a couple of years during the reign of Viserys I. The showrunners of House of the Dragon have amalgamated Mellos and Runciter into one character who will be portrayed by David Horovitch. Grand Maester Mellos was the cool head during the Dance of the Dragons – an impartial member of the small council.
Graham McTavish (Ser Harrold Westerling)
McTavish is best known for his roles as Dougal Mackenzie in the popular TV series Outlander (2014-16), Dwalin in The Hobbit film trilogy (2012-14), and the Saint of Killers in the AMC series Preacher. He is also known for his roles in numerous other TV shows and movies, including Red Dwarf (1998), 24 (2009), Rome (2004), The Finest Hours (2015), Colombiana (2011), as well as for his voice work in animated series, films and video games. A paragon of chivalry and honor: has served in the Kingsguard since the days of King Jaehaerys, McTavish will take on the role of Ser Harrold Westerling, a knight of House Westerling and the Lord Commander of Viserys I Targaryen’s Kingsguard. According to the source material, Ser Criston Cole succeeded him as the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Ser Harrold will be a recurring character in the first season of House of the Dragon.
Matthew Needham (Larys Strong)
Matthew has performed on stage for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Court, National Theatre, Almeida Theatre, and Shakespeare’s Globe and was nominated for the Ian Charleson Award 2011. He is best known for his roles in The Ritual (2017), Sherlock (2010), and Stutterer (2015). Matthew will portray Larys Strong, the second son of Lord Lyonel Strong of Harrenhal and the younger brother of Ser Harwin Strong. According to his character description on HBO’s website, he was brought to court by his father, who was the Master of Laws during the reign of Viserys I Targaryen. Enigmatic and cunning, Larys Strong would later serve on the small council as the Master of whisperers and Lord Confessor for Viserys I and Aegon II Targaryen. For the uninitiated, Lord Confessor was a position at the royal court of the Seven Kingdoms during the reign of House Targaryen. The Lord Confessor served as the royal torturer and was overseen by the royal executioner. Larys Strong will also be a recurring character in the first season of House of the Dragon.
Bill Paterson (Lord Lyman Beesbury)
Paterson is an actor and writer known for The Witches (1990), Miss Potter (2006), and How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008). His professional acting debut was in 1967, appearing alongside Leonard Rossiter in Bertolt Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui at the Glasgow Citizens Theatre. Since then, Paterson has appeared in numerous theatrical performances, television, and films, including a guest starring role as Professor Edwin Bracewell in the third episode in the fifth series of science fiction television series Doctor Who, with his character making a second appearance in the opening half of the season finale, and lawyer Ned Gowan in the 2014 Starz period TV series, Outlander. HBO announced on September 24, 2021, that Bill Paterson was cast to play Lyman Beesbury, the Lord of Honeyholt and Master of Coin in King Viserys’ small council, a position he also served in during the reign of Jaehaerys I. He was a man of eighty when King Viserys I Targaryen passed away before the Dance of the Dragons and the only one to espouse the claim of Princess Rhaenyra, Viserys’ daughter and preferred heir, over the claim of Prince Aegon II Targaryen, Alicent’s eldest son when the small council gathered in the chambers of Queen Alicent Hightower. Lord Lyman Beesbury will also be a recurring character in the first season of House of the Dragon.
“I am an old man, but not so old that I will sit here meekly whilst the likes of you plot to steal her crown.” – Lyman to the small council of Viserys I Targaryen.
Gavin Spokes (Lord Lyonel Strong)
Gavin Spokes is an English actor and producer known for his roles in The Ipcress File (2022), Hitmen (2020), and the 2012 drama She Stoops to Conquer. He will take on the role of Lyonel Strong, the Lord of Harrenhal, and the head of House Strong during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen. He is the father of Ser Harwin Strong and Larys Strong. He served as Master of Laws for King Viserys and later replaced Ser Otto Hightower, as Hand of the King when Otto was removed from office in 109 AC. Slow of speech and quiet, Lyonel was often mistaken for a brute – on the contrary, he was extremely intelligent and well learned owing to his six years of study at the Citadel, from which he grew very skilled in the law.
Anthony Flanagan (Ser Steffon Darklyn)
Anthony is best known for his roles in Doctor Who (2005), Life on Mars (2006), and Prisoners Wives (2012). He is set to portray Ser Steffon Darklyn, a knight of House Darklyn of Duskendale, a powerful House in the Crownlands sworn directly to the Iron Throne. Steffon Darklyn is a member of Viserys I Targaryen’s Kingsguard. He played a key role when the Dance of the Dragons began. The source material will tell you that he was on the right side of the civil war though he made a questionable decision that cost him his life. For the uninitiated, the Crownlands is one of the nine constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms ruled directly by the monarch on the Iron Throne from the city of King’s Landing. Three centuries before the death of King Robert Baratheon, the Crownlands were contested between the Riverlands, the Stormlands, and other regions for thousands of years until Aegon the Conqueror seized control of the area during his invasion and made it his primary foothold on the continent.
Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon II Targaryen)
Born in Greater Manchester, England, Tom Glynn-Carney is known for his roles in Dunkirk (2017), The King (2019), and Tolkien (2019). He also partakes in an indie band, Sleep Walking Animals, as its lead singer. On March 30, 2022, HBO announced that Tom Glynn-Carney had been cast to portray Aegon Targaryen in House of the Dragon. known as Aegon the Elder, Tom’s character is the firstborn son of King Viserys I Targaryen and Alicent Hightower. He is a dragonrider bonded to Sunfyre, the Golden. His claim to the Iron Throne was disputed by his older half-sister, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, who had been their father’s designated heir leading to what the singers call the Dance of the Dragons. Named by his mother after Aegon the Conqueror, he has three younger siblings: two brothers, Aemond and Daeron, and a sister, Helaena. Besides Tom Glynn-Carney, multiple actors have been cast to play Aegon II over the time jumps of Season one. Four-year-old Aegon will be played by twins Jake and Rory Heard in alternating roles in a bit to comply with labor laws limiting the time spent on set by child actors. Ty Tennant joined the cast in an undisclosed role, it is widely speculated that he will portray Aegon as a teenager.
Ewan Mitchell (Aemond Targaryen)
Ewan Mitchell is known for his roles in High Life (2018), The Halcyon (2017), and The Last Kingdom (2015). He is set to portray Aemond Targaryen, the second-born son of King Viserys I by his second wife, Alicent Hightower. Known as Aemond One-Eye, like his siblings, he is a dragonrider bonded to the dragon Vhagar, initially bonded to Queen Visenya Targaryen during the conquest of Westeros. According to Tyrion Lannister, Vhagar was large enough that one could ride a horse down her gullet. It is said that Vhagar’s breath was so hot that it could melt a knight’s armor and cook him inside. Aemond was bold, wild, willful, hot-tempered, and unforgiving as a child. When he was ten years old, he lost his eye in a tiff that book lovers are anxious to see in HBO’s adaptation.
“You only lost one eye; how could you be so blind?” – Otto Hightower to Aemond.
John Macmillan (Ser Laenor Velaryon) │ Theo Nate (Young Ser Laenor Velaryon)
HBO announced on October 5, 2021, that John Macmillan and Theo Nate were cast for House of the Dragon to portray the older and younger versions of Laenor Velaryon, the second child and only son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen. His older sister is Lady Laena, the only daughter of Corlys and Rhaenys. Ser Laenor Velaryon is the heir to Driftmark and the first husband of his second cousin, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. During their marriage, Rhaenyra gave birth to three sons, Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey, although rumored that he had not fathered them. Laenor is a dragonrider bonded to the dragon Seasmoke. His maternal grandfather was Prince Aemon Targaryen, the eldest son and heir of old King Jaehaerys. Aemon died shortly after Rhaenys learned she was pregnant in 92 AC. Rhaenys and her first child were controversially disregarded in the succession order because of their sex favoring Jaehaerys’ second son Baelon. Jaehaerys’ second son also died a few years later in 101 AC, after which the old King wanted his grandson through him, Viserys I, to be named the new heir. Before the death of Baelon, Rhaenys had given birth to Laenor, whose claim through his maternal grandfather many had considered superior to that of Viserys. The two claims divided the realm causing the old King to convene the Great Council of 101 AC.
Michael Carter (Jaehaerys Targaryen)
Michael Carter is best known for his roles in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983), An American Werewolf in London (1981), and The Illusionist (2006). He will have a brief stint in House of the Dragon portraying Jaehaerys I Targaryen whom the singers call the Conciliator, the Wise, and later in life, the Old King. Jaehaerys I was the fourth Targaryen king and the longest reigning monarch, ruling the Seven Kingdoms for fifty-five years. If you are wondering, this is the same king whose name we have dropped throughout this article, the convener of the Great Council of 101 AC.
The casting of his character means the showrunners will address the events that caused Viserys I to sit on the Iron Throne, setting the stage for the circumstances that would later precipitate the Dance of the Dragons. In his sunset years, the Old King made controversial decisions regarding his successor, causing the realm to be divided due to the interpretation of inheritance law. One argument was made citing primogeniture, meaning a lord’s daughter should inherit before his younger brother, and another argument was made invoking unbroken male-line descent. Like most Targaryens, Jaehaerys was a dragonrider bonded to the dragon Vermithor, the largest dragon after Balerion and Vhagar. During his reign, the Seven Kingdoms prospered, and the Targaryen dynasty was at the peak of its powers.
“He was nine-and-sixty at his death and had ruled wisely and well for five-and-fifty years. Westeros mourned, and it was claimed that even in Dorne, men wept and women tore their garments in lament for a king who had been so just and good. His ashes were interred with that of his beloved, the Good Queen Alysanne, beneath the Red Keep. And the realm never saw their like again.” – writings of Maester Yandel
Savannah Steyn (Lady Laena Velayron)
Savannah is best known for Crawl (2019), The Tunnel (2013), and portraying Ash Harper in Sky’s Intergalactic. HBO announced on October 5, 2021, that she was cast to portray Laena Velayron in House of the Dragon. Savannah’s character can be seen in the official teaser appearing in the same shot as the younger version of her brother played by Theo Nate, making it safe to infer that she will be portraying the younger version of Laena Velayron. HBO’s website at the time of this article’s publication does not distinguish her as such, and thus it is safe to assume that at some point, the casting of the actor playing the adult version will be done. Also, the IMDB cast page for House of the Dragon lists 1 episode under Savannah’s character, which may or may not be accurate information.
Lady Laena Velayron is the eldest child and only daughter of Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. She was for a time the second wife of Prince Daemon Targaryen and gave birth to his twin daughters, Rhaena and Baela Targaryen. Considered a great feminine beauty and admired at court, Lady Laena was at some point a dragonrider whose mount was Vhagar.
Harry Collett (Jacaerys Velaryon)
Harry is best known for his roles in Dunkirk (2017), Dolittle (2020), and Galavant (2015). His casting for House of the Dragon to portray Jacaerys Velaryon was announced by HBO on March 30, 2022. Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, also known as Jace, is the firstborn son of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and her first husband, Ser Laenor Velaryon. He is a dragonrider bound to the dragon Vermax. A strapping boy who grew to become a handsome teenager. Like his brothers, Lucerys and Joffrey, Jace has brown hair and eyes and a pug nose – features that make many at court cast aspersions on his parentage.
Phia Saban (Helaena Targaryen)
Phia is known for portraying Ælfwynn in the television show The Last Kingdom (2015). She is set to play Princess Helaena Targaryen, the only daughter of King Viserys I Targaryen and Alicent Hightower. Princess Helaena has two brothers, Aegon II and Aemond, and one half-sister, Rhaenyra. Like her siblings, Helaena is a dragonrider bound to the dragon Dreamfyre.
Bethany Antonia (Baela Targaryen)
Bethany is best known for her roles in the Netflix shows Get Even (2020) and Stay Close (2021). She will portray Lady Baela Targaryen the daughter of Prince Daemon Targaryen and Lady Laena Velaryon. Baela has a younger twin sister, Rhaena Targaryen, and is a dragonrider bound to the young dragon Moondancer.
Wil Johnson (Ser Vaemond Velaryon)
Wilbert “Wil” Johnson has had notable television roles in Waking the Dead and Babyfather, and on stage in Othello. He played Dom Andrews in Emmerdale from 2012 to 2014. He will portray Ser Vaemond Velaryon, the younger brother to Coryls Velaryon and commander in the Velaryon navy – a role repurposed for the show. In the source material, Ser Vaemond is Lord Corlys’ eldest nephew.
Phoebe Campbell (Rhaena Targaryen)
Phoebe is known for her roles in Midsomer Murders (1997) and Home from Home (2016). She will portray Lady Rhaena Targaryen, the second daughter of Prince Daemon Targaryen and Lady Laena Velaryon. Rhaena has an older twin sister, Baela Targaryen, and is a dragonrider bound to Morning – a she-dragon hatched during the Dance of the Dragons.
Having endeavored to give the backstories of the characters that will be involved in the Dance of the Dragons, either directly or indirectly, it is worth mentioning that the character list for House of the Dragon consists of other actors cast to play minor roles, repurposed or created originally by the showrunners for the adaptation of Fire and Blood. After all, this is an adaptation, and if anything, as lovers of the source material, we expect slight deviations and a bit of ingenuity. The mark of a proper book adaptation is the element of surprise, anxiety, and sometimes not knowing what to expect in the spur-of-the-moment – both the uninitiated and source material savvy viewers should expect this from Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik. George R. R. Martin gave his stamp of approval at the San Diego Comic-con when he was asked what it was like for him to see the characters come to life:
“It’s pretty exciting, nervous at the beginning because these books, these characters are like my kids and when you give your kid to people for adoption you wonder how they will be treated, will you recognize them when they come back to you and all that, but I have been very fortunate here, and I think Ryan has done a great job of adapting the books so far.” He continued, “I have seen nine of the ten episodes, and it’s pretty amazing. I’m very happy.”
The Black and The Green Factions
We already know that House of the dragon will primarily be based on the events happening before, during, and after the Targaryen civil war. Talking of source material adaptation, the costume designers of the Game of Thrones successor show, based on what we have seen so far from the set photos, teaser, and the official trailer, have been true to the colors of the backdrop of the tapestry that is the Dance of the Dragons. If you are keen, you will notice that Olivia Cooke’s version of Alicent Hightower is always, if not, in most cases, dressed in green, and Emma D’Arcy’s version of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen is dressed in black. The dress colors foreshadow the different factions on opposite sides of what the singers in the source material call the Dance of the Dragons.
The greens, originally known as the queen’s party, were the faction of House Targaryen and their loyalists who supported the claim of Aegon II as King of the Seven Kingdoms during the Dance of the Dragons and the years that preceded it. They were opposed by the blacks. The blacks, on the other hand, previously known as the party of the princess, were the faction of House Targaryen and their loyalists who supported the claim of Rhaenyra Targaryen as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
The titles were derived from a great tournament held in 111 AC at King’s Landing on the fifth anniversary of King Viserys’ marriage to Queen Alicent Hightower. At the opening feast, Queen Alicent wore a green gown, while Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen dressed dramatically in Targaryen red and black. Acknowledgments were made, and thereafter it became the norm to refer to “greens” and “blacks” when talking of the queen’s party and the party of the princess.
The Dragons
Afolabi Alli was cast for House of the Dragon to play a character whose description is simply; DragonKeeper Acolyte. According to the source material, Dragonkeepers are an order of guards – seventy-seven men tasked with protecting the dragons of House Targaryen at the Dragonpit in King’s Landing and on Dragonstone. The Targaryens and their ancestors in Valyria before the doom derived their power from their dragons, with which they subjugated the continent of Essos and, many years later, the continent of Westeros, where the Dance of the Dragons would take place many years later. The civil war was not only a dance between the Targaryens – the dragons bonded to them danced as well and dance they did. It was by design that we left out most of the dragons involved in the civil war and only dropped the names of a few. At the height of the Targaryen dynasty, during the reigns of Jaehaerys I and Viserys I, the Targaryens counted seventeen dragons which we have left for the show to depict. We are looking forward to seeing these majestic beasts come to life on screen. From the largest to the smallest…. Balerion to Morning, and for those of us who are greedy, seeing Sheepstealer would be the icing on the cake. And yes, we want to see Nettles, a dragonseed who bonded with Sheepstealer, the only dragon whose whereabouts remained unknown after the Dance of the dragons, much like Drogon at the end of the eighth season of Game of Thrones.
Speaking at the San Diego Comic-Con, having been asked about the dragons’ differences in size and personality Ryan Condal said:
“Well, that was important for the show because there are seventeen of them at the height of this. So it is really important to differentiate them not only in the way they look but how they behave and act and the way they bond with their riders…………… George who writes very detailed books gave us the gift of specifying color, size, and age, so we took all those things that are given to us in the book and tried to extrapolate them and add personalities to them – Caraxes is very cantankerous and agitated, he is always moving and flexing and never sits still.”
The first episode of House of the Dragon will air on August 21, 2022. We will be posting episode reviews every week; until then, ruminate on these words:
“History does not remember blood. It remembers names” – Lord Corlys Velaryon.
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