House of the Dragon may arrive tomorrow (at last!) but HBO is still churning out promotional material to teach us how the world of Westeros was almost two centuries before Game of Thrones, this time focusing on the two main families we never met in the original show: House Hightower and House Velaryon.
The video is narrated by George R.R. Martin, Fire & Blood author and House of the Dragon executive producer; Miguel Sapochnik, co-showrunner and director; Ryan Condal, co-showrunner and writer; Jim Clay, production designer; Rhys Ifans, Ser Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King; Emily Carey, who appears in the first half of the season as the young Lady Alicent Hightower; Emma D’Arcy, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in the later episodes; Paddy Considine, King Viserys I Targaryen; Steve Toussaint, Lord Corlys Velaryon; and Eve Best, Lady Rhaenys Targaryen.
Martin introduces us to these two houses at the center of the story, besides the Targaryens, starting with the Hightowers of Oldtown, which was “for many thousands of years the biggest city in Westeros.” Ifans describes them as an “ancient, powerful household”, while Carey talks about their house words (“We Light The Way”) and what they mean. D’Arcy emphasizes the “strong connection” the Hightowers have to the High Septon, which is the case because, as Martin points out, “the Faith was headquarterted [in Oldtown] for many years.”
Of his character Ser Otto, Ifans says: “There’s a saying: when the king eats, the hand shits. [Otto] steers the small council on the king’s behalf, when it’s necessary, and ensures the king’s wishes are enforced.” At least, that’s how Otto sees himself, and who better to advocate for his perspectice than the actor who brings him to life.
Others see him differently: according to Considine, King Viserys “is quite suspicious of him.” As Sapochnik elegantly puts it: “Otto sees the danger in everything, and even though his intentions are good, he’s also persuaded himself that there’s nothing but good intention behind his actions.”
As for the Velaryons, Martin tells of their early escape from the Doom of Valyria to Westeros, which they did before the Targaryens, with whom they’ve had a special relationship ever since, as fellow Valyrians that they are.
Clay introduces the castle Corlys himself had built in Driftmark as the new Velaryon household: High Tide, filmed in Saint Michael’s Mount in Cornwall. Though the real castle is shown in the video’s behind the scene footage, we’ve yet to see if in the show proper the exterior of High Tide will merely be the existing castle at Saint Michael’s Mount or a purely VFX creation. Or perhaps a mix of both.
Toussaint says of his character, Lord Corlys Velaryon of Driftmark: “He’s the Master of Ships. He’s the greatest sailor of the land. He’s the one who’s done these famous nine voyages. The Velaryons control the greatest and strongest ships.”
“The Sea Snake is a collector and a trophy hunter, and very proud of his voyages, so he festoons his hall in all the won objects from his nine voyages across the Narrow Sea and beyond,” Condal adds. “[He’s] the richest man in Westeros aside from the throne, but it’s not quite good enough for him. He wants his blood on the throne.”
“He was there when Viserys was chosen as king,” Toussaint continues. “He felt it should’ve been his wife, and he’s never really ever forgotten that.” Of his bond with his wife Rhaenys, Best says: “To have your husband as your champion constantly is fantastic. It’s a classic example of a healthy, strong marriage.”
It’s a short but meaty featurette, and I’m sure it’ll help the uninitiated get acquainted with these characters… before we meet them properly tomorrow night!
