Season 2 of House of the Dragon is almost here. Fans will finally get to see how Rhaenyra reacts to her son's death. Those of you who’ve read the book Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin have an idea of what's coming, and know what we should brace for upcoming moments like Blood and Cheese. At the same time, the show could surprise us. The first season changed plenty of things about the book, but one thing that will remain constant is that the characters will continue to be the best part of the show.
Of course, the story is important. Without it, even the best performers can’t make a project good. In this case, the performers are the ones who bring the words to life. Each of them adds something new to the tale. For House of the Dragon, the entire cast is fantastic, all of them bringing something interesting to their characters. Even if you hate the character, it's probably because they're trying and succeeding at being loathesome.
To give you an idea of what I mean, here are the top six characters from House of the Dragon andhow they helped create one of the best TV shows on right now. (With apologies to honorable mentions like Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, her husband Corlys Velaryon, and their daughter Laena Velaryon.)
6. Larys Strong
Played by: Matthew Needham
Every fictional empire needs a character who’s opportunistic in a skeevy way. Game of Thrones has Littlefinger and House of the Dragon has Larys Strong. He did anything that Alicent Hightower told him to...or implied that she might like him to do. That included arranging for her enemies to be killed without it being tied back to Alicent.
Like everything in this universe, Larys' services come with a price. In this case, it's gawking at Alicent's feet. But it seems worth it to have a canny manipulator like Larys on your side.
A moment that solidified his place on this list was his speech towards the end of Episode 6, "The Princess and the Queen." Matthew Needham delivered it perfectly.
"What are children but a weakness, a folly, a futility?" — Larys Strong
5. Princess Rhaenyra (younger)
Played by: Milly Alcock
The first time viewers see Princess Rhaenyra, she’s a teenager riding a dragon. That was a clear sign that she's a spirited and fearless character. As House of the Dragon goes on, Rhaenyra continues to exude those qualities, and not just when riding a dragon. She stands up for herself, her father, and the crown. She must have gotten that side from her mother, since her father didn't display these qualities that often. King Viserys Targaryen wouldn't fly a dragon to confront Daemon like Rhaenyra did.
"If you wish to be restored as heir, you'll need to kill me." — Princess Rhaenyra
4. King Viserys Targaryen
Played by: Paddy Considine
King Viserys was an awful king and foolish at times. He was also a good man at heart. As King T'Chaka said, it's hard for a good man to be king. It’s why he made mistakes when it came to his daughter Rhaenyra. However, he always made up for it by doing things like protecting Rhaenyra when rumors about the true parentage of her children were threatening her place in the line of succession.
King Viserys' decisions (and lack of decisions) contributed to the tension that eventually split the two sides of his family into factions, factions which will go to war in the second season of the show. He may seem too high on this list, but his placement is warranted. All of his mistakes as king can be tied to his insecurities that grew the day he was named heir to the thrown, and the part he played in the death of his wife, for which he always felt ashamed and guilty. He didn’t think he deserved to be king and knew his cousin Princess Rhaenys should be in his place. Viserys was doomed from that moment.
"The idea that we control the dragons is an illusion. They're a power man should never have trifled with. One that brought Valyria its doom. If we don't mind our own histories, it will do the same to us." — King Viserys I Targaryen
3. Daemon Targaryen
Played by: Matt Smith
Daemon Targaryen was a horrible person from the beginning. He plotted against his brother, slept with his niece (gross), and (literally) killed the messenger who delivered the news that his brother was sending aid to help in a war effort, aid that he desperately needed. Nevertheless, he's a great character, at time the best on House of the Dragon.
If Daemon showed an ounce of altruism he would have been number 1. Sure, he went up against an army of people by himself (Episode 3) and defended Rhaenyra and her children’s honor (Episode 8), but he always had something in it for himself, whether it was his pride or reacting to a show of disrespect.
"If the King isn’t feared, he is powerless. If you are to be a strong queen, you must cultivate love and respect, yes, but your subjects must fear you." — Daemon Targaryen
2. Alicent Hightower
Played by: Emiliy Carey (younger) and Olivia Cooke (older)
Alicent Hightower got worse as she got older. She didn’t understand why her closest friend (Rhaenyra) was upset that she married her father. Nor did Alicent attempt to see why Rhaenyra wouldn’t admit to having sex with her uncle. As Alicent got older, she became more bitter towards Rhaenyra, whom she saw as getting away with the kind of immoderate behavior that Alicent had never been given space to enjoy. That tension is what makes her a good character.
Alicent is like a heel wrestler. If you hate her character and hope she’s killed, she’s doing her job. It isn't because of the performances. Both Emily Carey and Olivia Cooke did their jobs perfectly. In many ways, House of the Dragon doesn’t work without her.
"Where is duty? Where is sacrifice? It's trampled under your pretty foot again! " — Alicent Hightower
1. Princess Rhaenyra (older)
Played by: Emma D’Arcy
Like her younger self, adult Rhaenyra’s introduction was powerful. In Episode 6, we meet her as she's giving birth to her third son, Joffrey. But before Rhaenyra can enjoy being a new mom, Alicent calls to see the newborn child. Rhaenyra knows that any show of weakness before her step-mother is unacceptable, so she walks through the Red Keep immediately after giving birth, bleeding all the way. It's a hell of a scene showing Rhaenyra's physical and emotional strength.
Princess (and later Queen) Rhaenyra is the glue that holds the second half of House of the Dragon's first season together. Some of the episodes are lackluster until she shows up. Emma D’Arcy’s presence is commanding and her character demands respect. There will be more of this in season 2 and I expect her to be number 1 on this list again.
"Exhausting, wasn't it? Hiding beneath the cloak of your own righteousness. But now they see you as you are." — Princess Rhaenyra
What did you think of House of the Dragon season 1? Are you excited for its return? Let us know on the Winter is Coming Twitter.
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account, sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel.