House of the Dragon, the much-awaited prequel to the hit series Game of Thrones set about 200 years before, debuted last August 21 and instantly gained about 10 million viewers during its premiere. Now gearing toward the release of its third episode, this series still continuously draws immense public attention.
For some who have already dived in and those who have yet to do so, here’s a quick look at the fascinating main characters of this talk-of-the-town series.
King Viserys Targaryen
Played by Paddy Considine, Viserys is the father of Rhaenyra, the older brother of Daemon, and the current king of Westeros. Known to be a kind king, he seeks to continue the good legacy of his grandfather and is now in need of choosing his heir.
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen
Played by Emma D’Arcy, Rhaenyra is the firstborn of King Viserys, a pure Valyrian blood, and an experienced dragonrider. However, for the mere reason that she was not born a man, she was not entitled to the Iron Throne.
Prince Daemon Targaryen
Played by Matt Smith, Daemon is the younger brother of King Viserys and the heir to the Iron Throne. As a fierce dragonrider and a strong warrior, he undoubtedly possesses the true dragon spirit.
Alicent Hightower
Played by Olivia Cooke, Alicent is Otto Hightower’s daughter, Rhaenyra’s closest friend, and the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms. She was raised in the Red Keep of King’s Landing, making her close to the king, including his innermost circle.
Otto Hightower
Played by Rhys Ifans, Otto is the Hand of the King and the father of Alicent. He is loyal both to his king and his realm, and he sees Daemon as the greatest threat to the kingdom.
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
Played by Eve Best, Rhaenys is a dragonrider, a cousin of King Viserys, and the wife of Lord Corlys Velaryon. Labeled as “the queen who never was”, Viserys was chosen as heir to the throne at the Great Council over her–merely because she was not a man.
Lord Corlys Velaryon
Played by Steve Toussaint, Corlys is the hand of the House Velaryon, husband of Princess Rhaenys, and is known as the “Sea Snake” because of his naval expertise. He made his house into a mighty one that is even richer than the Lannisters and has the most advanced navy in the world.
Ser Criston Cole
Played by Fabien Frankel, Criston is a skilled Dornish swordsman. All he has to his name is his remarkable capability in using swords.
Mysaria
Played by Sonoya Mizuno, Mysaria was a former prostitute who came to Westeros with nothing. Surprisingly, she will be Prince Daemon’s most trusted ally.
As the series progresses, other exciting details about these characters will soon unfold. In the meantime, you may check the Character Guide via the HBO website for a closer look at the Major Houses and other relevant facts concerning the characters.
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