Paddy Considine has been “waiting” to play a character like King Viserys

The premiere episode of House of the Dragon introduced us to a whole new raft of characters who immediately set up shop in our hearts. One of them was King Viserys I Targaryen, the ruler of Westeros at this time, some 200 years before Game of Thrones. He’s played by Paddy Considine, an English actor known for his roles in stuff like Peaky Blinders and In America. House of the Dragon is a whole new ballgame, though.

“I was a bit cautious because sometimes I’ve been offered things in the past and it sounds exciting, and then you get the script and you just have three scenes or something,” Considine told The Hollywood Reporter. “I didn’t want to be in the background waving a sword. I got the first three scripts and it was a really rich, beautiful and conflicted character. A beautiful character. I’ve been waiting for a role like this, if I’m being honest.”

"He’s a good man, but a bad king in that he tries to please everybody. At the heart of him, he’s also a dragon, too, and there’s only so much Viserys can take. There’s a part of his DNA where he does have that [anger] in him and he has to hold his temper. So he’s not a cliché king. He’s a very human man with huge emotions and responsibilities that weigh on him physically and mentally."

Even just going by the first episode, we can see some of the complexity that Considine is talking about. In particular, that anger comes out when Considine has to deal with his younger brother Daemon, played by Matt Smith. “He loves his brother very much, but he knows if his brother turns up at a wedding there’s going to be trouble,” Considine said. “Being king has estranged him from Daemon. Daemon has a head for adventure and can behave irresponsibly at times. He’s always pushing the boundaries of what’s acceptable, and Viserys is always making excuses for him. Hopefully, we see their love tested in the show.”

House of the Dragon won’t rely on Easter eggs

Although King Viserys is the role Considine has been waiting for, there are a few things he doesn’t get to do, most notably ride a dragon; Viserys rode Balerion the Black Dread in his younger years, but has since hung up his saddle. “It’s a shame for me because all my nephews thought it was exciting their uncle was going to be a dragon rider. I could see their little faces getting more and more disappointed when I told them, ‘Well, I don’t actually ride a dragon,'” Considine said.

"Viserys sees dragons as atomic bombs. He knows their power. And he also understands the Targaryens wouldn’t be the force they were in the world without them. So he understands their importance and is very responsible about how they’re used and that they’re not to be messed with."

As for whether Considine consulted with any Game of Thrones veterans before diving into the role, he did not. He wants this show to stand on its own, and sounds very passionate about it. “I don’t want it to be one of those Easter egg-y shows — ‘Oh there’s Boba Fett’s helmet,’ and all that,” he said. “There will be little things where fans will go, ‘Is that what I think it is?’ But it’s not a show relying on Easter eggs to get by. It’s a great narrative. It’s a family drama. There are all kinds of great stuff in it. It’s very much steeped in the world of Game of Thrones and not a spinoff where they’re trying out new stuff. Hopefully, fans dig it.”

So far, so good. Also, I enjoy the little swipe and Disney and their baskets full of Easter eggs they call TV shows…not that there’s anything wrong with that!

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