The new House of the Dragon series takes us back to the same universe where Game of Thrones was set, but it also introduces a set of new characters. Who are the main characters in the show that you need to know about them and what roles do they play in the complex plot?
King Viserys I Targaryen
While he dies in the first season of House of the Dragon, King Viserys I Targaryen is a crucial character in helping us to understand the overall plot. Played by Paddy Considine, he’s the fifth king to rule the Seven Kingdoms and is portrayed as a wise and sensible monarch. However, poor health finally takes its toll on him and his death leads to a civil war of succession that sees the kingdoms divided up among his successors.
What may cause confusion among viewers is the fact that the show is set a couple of centuries before the events seen in Game of Thrones. This Targaryen family tree shows us how he’s linked to the other characters in this series as well as to Game of Thrones favorites such as Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen. It shows his marriage to Alicent Hightower and their child, together with Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen from his marriage to Aemma Arryn.
Prince Daemon Targaryen
Matt Smith plays the younger brother of King Targaryen and is known as the Rogue Prince because of his erratic behavior. He’s known as an extremely tough warrior who expertly uses the Valyrian steel sword known as Dark Sister in battle. His other skills include riding the powerful dragon called Caraxes or “The Blood Wyrm”.
As part of the Blacks faction, he supports Rhaenyra Targaryen in her attempt to become the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. We see him in the first episode, where we learn of his reputation for being ruthless in his role as the City Watch commander and where he then competes in a tournament against the knight Ser Criston Cole.
Queen Alicent Hightower
Queen Alicent Hightower is the King’s second wife and she’s part of the Greens faction, who want to see her son Aegon II installed on the Iron Throne following the King’s death. She’s brilliantly played by Olivia Cooke, with Emily Carey playing the younger version of the Queen.
We’re introduced to her at the start of the series when she’s sent to console the grieving King and then marries him, which causes a division among the region’s different royal houses. We then see how she gets increasingly caught up in the war of succession as she looks to help her son reach the throne and secure the family’s future.
These are just some of the important characters that can be seen in the House of the Dragon. With a second season already confirmed, we can expect to see more fascinating characters introduced when these episodes are released. For the moment, there’s enough drama and intrigue in the first season to let us get to know its main characters.
