By the time Game of Thrones came to its fiery, unwieldy end, it was almost impossible to keep track of its ever-changing cast. Some characters died and came back to life, others had personality transplants. Many were burnt by dragons.
With House of the Dragon, HBO’s glossy new entry into George R. R. Martin’s fantasy world, there’s a whole new cast to learn. Handily, a few of them are related to the OG characters (the series is set 200 years before Game of Thrones), and there are some very obvious visual clues. Hint: if they’ve got blonde hair, they’re likely a Targaryen – the dragon-riding dynasty at the centre of the show.
As civil war breaks out over the Iron Throne, here’s a guide to the main power players in Westeros.
House Targaryen
King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine)
Viserys was picked by the Westeros lords as the successor to Jaehaerys Targaryen. Not to be confused with his namesake from Game of Thrones (Dany’s volatile older brother), this Viserys is a generally decent bloke who may not be a particularly efficient ruler. At the start of House of Dragon, he’s in a crisis – with no male heir, who will inherit the Iron Throne?
Queen Aemma Arryn (Sian Brooke)
Viserys’ beloved wife, who has struggled to provide Viserys with a male heir.
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock and Emma D’Arcy)
The first-born child of Viserys and Aemma, the plucky princess is a natural leader – pure Valyrian blood and a dragon rider – but she’s not a boy (her father’s greatest wish). Young Rhaenyra is played by Milly Alcock while Emma D’Arcy portrays her grown up.
Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith)
Daemon is House of the Dragon’s loose cannon. The king’s brother is a fearless warrior but his bloodthirstiness is increasingly a thorn in Viserys’ side. He lives up to one of House Targaryen’s most notorious personality types: insanity (that’ll be the centuries of inbreeding).
House Velaryon
Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (Eve Best)
Rhaenys is Viserys’ cousin, and his one-time rival to taking over the throne. When she was passed over, Rhaenys earned the nickname the Queen Who Never Was. She has two children with her husband Corlys, Laenor (John Macmillan) and Laena (Savannah Steyn).
Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint)
Rhaenys’ husband is a famous nautical explorer and like his wife, also has a jaunty nickname: The Sea Snake. Thanks to his adventures, the lord of House Velaryon (as old as House Targaryen) built up a powerful seat with deep pockets.
House Hightower
Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey and Olivia Cooke)
Alicent is Princess Rhaenyra’s childhood BFF, both a beautiful and strategic presence in King's Landing. As Rhaenyra and Alicent grow up, the machinations of court strain (to put it lightly) their relationship. Young Alicent is played by Emily Carey, while Olivia Cooke plays her adult version.
Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans)
Alicent’s father plays the all-important role of Hand of the King – the monarch’s closest advisor and the second most important position of the realm. Otto is ambitious for himself and his family. His biggest issue? The threat of Daemon to the Iron Throne.
Other people to keep an eye on
Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel)
Criston is the common-born son of the Lord of Blackhaven or Dornish descent (the southernmost region of Westeros). What the Dornish lad lacks in titles, he makes up for in combat.
Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno)
Mysaria is a classic Westeros underdog: originally a dancer, she has risen to prominence as a lover and ally of Daemon.
The dragons
It wouldn’t be a George R. R. Martin adaptation if it didn’t involve dragons. Where Game of Thrones teased viewers with a slow burn on its three dragons, House of the Dragon ramps that paltry figure up to 17 (though not all of them will appear in the first season). Among them are the formidable Caraxes (ridden by Daemon), Syrax (ridden by Rhaenyra) and Meleys (ridden by Rhaenys).
They may have differently-coloured eyes and varying horn shapes, but they all breathe an endless stream of fire. Good luck telling them apart.
Henry Wong is a senior culture writer at Esquire, working across digital and print. He covers film, television, books, and art for the magazine, and also writes profiles.
