Westeros is back, and with it, a slew of new contenders for the Iron Throne. The Seven Kingdoms’ highest seat of power stays firmly within House Targaryen right up until the events of Game of Thrones, sure, but which Targaryen will wear the crown by the end? And who will help them win the thing?
The House of the Dragon series premiere, “The Heirs of the Dragon,” introduces a small army of Iron Throne influencers over the course of its hour-plus runtime. As is often the case with the Thrones universe, it takes some time to memorize the names and faces of the most prominent players in the game — and just as you lock your fan-favorite character into place, George R.R. Martin and his hit squad of television assassins cruelly do their thing.
So, who are all the people Martin and friends plan on making you fall in love with this time, only to savagely dispatch them at a future date? Let’s take a closer look at Westeros’ latest (and soon-to-be late) arrivals.
Jaehaerys Targaryen
While he’s barely in the series, we should start with Jaehaerys (Michael Carter), also known as “The Old King”—i.e. the man on the throne at the very start of the premiere. While we’re not likely to revisit him and his reign, it’s worth emphasizing him as a widely loved figure throughout Westeros. Jaehaerys inherited the crown at a very young age, coming on the heels of a brutal reign from the aptly named King Maegor the Cruel. Following his ascension, Jaehaerys ruled for more than 50 years, bringing peace and prosperity to the Seven Realms. His personal life, however, was marked by tragedy, with the premature deaths of many of his children, including sons who were set to sit upon the Iron Throne. In order to select a successor, Jaehaerys called upon great houses throughout the Seven Kingdoms to make their voices heard.
Viserys Targaryen
The resounding pick for Jaehaerys’ successor was the man sitting upon the Iron Throne through the rest of the episode: Viserys (Paddy Considine), first of his name, though certainly not the last. The fifth of the Targaryen kings, Viserys is a level-headed ruler who is smart enough to recognize the ambitious power players within his own court, but not cunning enough to outmaneuver them. Think of him as an Eddard Stark in a Targaryen suit; just as the late Lord of Winterfell was honorable but ill-fitted for the machinations of King’s Landing, so too will Viserys find himself overwhelmed by the dangers that come with sitting on the Iron Throne.
Daemon Targaryen
Without a son to his name, Viserys’ heir apparent is his brother, Daemon (Matt Smith). The so-called “rogue prince” earns his nickname through fire and blood, with a violent reputation that conjures memories of Maegor for some. Daemon’s cruel tactics and crude tongue get him in enough hot water that even his one true ally, Viserys, turns his back on him by the end of the premiere. No longer in line for the Iron Throne, Daemon’s brutality will only increase in size and scope, making him a threat to the realm at large, and specifically to the person chosen to replace him as Viserys’s heir.
Rhaenyra Targaryen
That person, of course, is Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), Viserys’ daughter and — following the death of his wife and his infant son — only child. Identified as the king’s heir, Rhaenyra stands ready to become the first woman to rule over Westeros, an unlikely and unwelcome prospect in the eyes of many in the realm. It’s easy to compare Rhaenyra to Daenerys, due to her position in the story and, of course, the dragons of it all. But there’s an Arya Stark streak within her as well: she’s a fierce fighter in her own right who can (and, sadly, will) endure untold amounts of pain, and dish it back out in kind.
Rhaenys Velaryon and Lord Corlys Velaryon
It’s easy enough to confuse Rhaenyra with Rhaenys (Eve Best), due to both their names and their relationships with Westeros’ power structure. Before Viserys was selected as king, Rhaenys was in line to rule over the Seven Kingdoms as Jaehaerys’ oldest living descendant. As such, she’s known as “The Queen Who Never Was.” Despite missing out on the Iron Throne, Rhaenys still holds tremendous influence in Westeros, both through her own well-loved reputation and her marriage to Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint). “The Sea Snake,” as he’s known, is the most accomplished sailor in all of Westeros and likely well beyond it. (His early exploits at sea are already the subject of an in-development spinoff series, “The Sea Snake,” which has yet to receive a greenlight from HBO.)
As a Velaryon, Corlys is a descendant of Old Valyria, just like the Targaryens, and is among the wealthiest individuals in all of Westeros. Money aside, he commands the greatest fleet in the realm; what the Targaryens boast in air power through their dragons, Lord Corlys more than compensates with his command of the seas.
The Men of the Small Council
The Sea Snake sits on Viserys’ small council as the Master of Ships, and is joined at that table by a few other notable mentions. First up is Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes), the Master of Laws, who actually, shockingly, lives up to his title; he’s a rare example of a politician who cares less about absolute power than he cares about well-reasoned peace. Next up is Lyman Beesbury (Bill Paterson) as Master of Coin, a man who has little to do or say at this point in the story, but will eventually have an unforgettable role in the question of Rhaenyra’s succession. Then there’s Grand Maester Mellos (David Horovitch), another of Viserys’ trusted advisors, often seen helping the king with the literal and figurative cuts sustained from sitting on the Iron Throne.
Otto Hightower
Above all these names, the most notable figure on the council is Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), Hand of the King to Viserys. Beyond his service to the current king, Otto served as Hand in the final years of Jaehaerys’ reign. As such, he boasts a strong point of view about what the realm needs in order to operate at its finest — and from his vantage point, that means keeping Daemon as far away from the Iron Throne as possible. There’s great irony in Otto pitching Viserys so fervently on naming Rhaenyra as the new heir, however, as House Hightower’s opinion of the princess stands to change dramatically in the episodes ahead.
Alicent Hightower
Sadly, the change in opinion extends to Otto’s daughter Alicent (Emily Carey), Rhaenyra’s best friend and closest confidant. It’s hard to fathom Alicent and Rhaenyra standing in fierce opposition to one another, and yet, the divide between these two veritable sisters is right at the core of House of the Dragon. Saying much more is saying too much, though Lady Alicent’s final role in the premiere — visiting the widowed Viserys as instructed by her father Otto — tells you all you need to know for now.
Ser Criston Cole
There’s one more person who is worth emphasizing as we walk away from the series premiere: Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), the Dornish mystery knight who bests Daemon at the tournament and wins Princess Rhaenyra’s favor. Criston’s relationship with the newly-minted heir is a crucial part of the tragic events yet to unfold. Ironically enough, Criston’s most notable act in the premiere is not just winning against Daemon in battle, but showing mercy to the rogue prince. It’s an act of kindness that flies not just in the face of Criston’s future as a knight of Westeros, but the entire series’ attitude toward its main cast.
All the characters we just met and went over in this primer? Brace yourself to see rough endings for most, if not all, of them. Game of Thrones had its Red Weddings and Stark beheadings aplenty, but House of the Dragon is waiting in the wings with big “hold my ale” energy. While you might need a guide to remember who’s who in the premiere right now, by the time House of the Dragon is done with these folks, you’ll never forget how their stories ended.
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