10 Most Underrated Characters In House of the Dragon, So Far

House of the Dragon boasts such an impressive ensemble that some of its supporting characters stand out as being highly underrated. The constantly growing House of the Dragon cast is composed of outstanding acting talent, all of whom bring impressive definition to characters who aren’t particularly well-defined in George R.R. Martin’s writings. That, of course, isn’t a knock on Fire & Blood or Martin’s work, but it’s important to note that the basis for these characters is much more limited than what went into Game of Thrones.

Fire & Blood is a prequel companion text to Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire book series that examines the events of the Targaryen dynasty, similar to a real-world historical text. With that in mind, much of the character design in House of the Dragon is reliant on the show writers’ creativity to provide context and definition. There are prominent examples of well-written characters, like Paddy Considine’s Viserys Targaryen, and then there are the supporting characters who make an unforgettable, dynamic impact despite having minimal foundation.

10 Lyonel Strong

One Of HOTD’s Easiest Characters To Root For

In the early episodes of House of the Dragon season 1, Otto Hightower quickly becomes the guy to hate as he pushes his daughter toward the mourning King Viserys and begins to manipulate events that will eventually lead to war. When he’s finally removed from his position and replaced by the far more likable Lyonel Strong, viewers encounter that rare presence in the Game of Thrones universe: a character who’s entirely easy to root for. But, of course, it doesn’t last very long.

Lyonel Strong not only plays the Game of Thrones well, but he also plays it with honor and dignity. For a brief period of time, the Dance of the Dragons seems like it can possibly be averted, as Rhaenyra’s claim is supported by a noble king and a noble hand. Unfortunately, nice things aren’t long for Westeros, and Lyonel has minimal screen time before he steps down from his position and is subsequently killed.

9 Erryk & Arryk Cargyll

The Cargyll Twins Are The Embodiment Of The Dance’s Devestation

Dating back to 1996’s A Game of Thrones, the duel between the Cargyll twins is one of the first moments of the Dance of the Dragons introduced to readers. When Martin first describes the civil war, he uses the description of twin brothers fighting to demonstrate the barbarous nature of the conflict. Nearly three decades later, the sword fight on Dragonstone between Arryk and Erryk was every bit as gruesome and upsetting as one would imagine.

While many audiences will prefer to sympathize with Ser Erryk for his support of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, these characters’ tragedy and ultimate weight come in their pairing. Arryk and Erryk are the perfect symbolism for the horrific needlessness of the Dance. When dragons fight, it’s the common folk that suffer. Arryk and Erryk may come from some nobility, but their heartbreaking deaths can be blamed on no one but House Targaryen.

8 Addam Of Hull

Addam Is The Most Promising New Dragonrider

House of the Dragon season 2 introduced audiences to a number of new characters, including the four dragonseeds. So far, Addam of Hull is the one who’s stood out as being the most likable, with interesting dynamics forming between him and the other new dragonriders as well as his father, Corlys Velaryon. For good measure, Alyn of Hull is also appealing, but his scenes in season 2 felt rather repetitive, and the show hasn’t given him the same room to grow just yet.

As for Addam, claiming Seasmoke instantly bumped him up on the show’s list of characters to keep an eye on. He’s immediately become one of the most powerful men in Westeros, and he has the rare temperament where it actually seems like he can be trusted with that responsibility. Addam is one character who will be very exciting going forward.

7 Oscar Tully

Seeing Daemon get put in his place is tremendously satisfying, and even more so when it’s done by a literal child.

Daemon’s plotline in Harrenhal has commonly been cited as one of the major flaws of House of the Dragon season 2. But in the world of Game of Thrones, there are always diamonds in the rough, as even minor characters can appear out of nowhere and become iconic. Oscar Tully doesn’t do much with his introduction scene, but his entire dynamic shifts once he’s made Lord Paramount of the Riverlands.

Seeing Daemon get put in his place is tremendously satisfying, and even more so when it’s done by a literal child. Oscar Tully is quick to prove himself in the Riverlords’ assembly at Harrenhal, acknowledging the inherent disadvantage of his youth and still demonstrating an advanced understanding of his current political situation. He plays his advantages in a way that honors the wise nobility of House Tully, proving he’s here to stay and even getting an affirming smile out of King Regent Daemon Targaryen.

6 Simon Strong

Harrenhal’s Castellan Quickly Became A Fan Favorite

Played magnificently by the always elegant Sir Simon Russell Beale, Ser Simon Strong is another perk of season 2’s venture at Harrenhal. Lyonel and Harwin Strong are two outstanding characters, and Simon Strong continues to represent the best of the noble Riverlands house, constantly displaying a mild-mannered temperament. He’s a lovable guy who just wants to wear fancy clothes and eat yummy medieval meals, but war sadly knocks on his door.

Simon knows he doesn’t want to be caught in the middle of the Queen and King Consort, so he does what’s in his power to ensure Daemon stays by his wife’s side.

What’s most enjoyable about Ser Simon Strong is that, while he’s accepting and courteous of Daemon, he constantly nudges events toward supporting Rhaenyra. He displays immediate wisdom and a fine judge of character, assessing Daemon and coming to the proper conclusions about the falling out with Rhaenyra. Simon knows he doesn’t want to be caught in the middle of the Queen and King Consort, so he does what’s in his power to ensure Daemon stays by his wife’s side.

5 Criston Cole

House Of The Dragon Wouldn’t Be The Same Without Him

Declaring Criston Cole as an “underrated” character is a drastic statement that requires immediate justification. The important distinction to make here is that while Criston Cole deserves much of the hate he receives for his actions in the story, his existence deserves more praise as an entity on the show. Fabien Frankel is extraordinarily talented, and there’s so much that goes into why audiences hate Criston, which isn’t often spoken about.

A crucial difference between HOTD and GOT is that the prequel show begins in a far more insular environment. With the entire cast centered in King’s Landing in season 1, the dynamics established are more intimate, bringing an almost primal nature to many of the conflicts, i.e., Cole beating Joffrey Lonmouth to death at a wedding. Criston Cole is the emblem of this, as his only emotional stake in the conflict is due to past sexual relations. He’s a fascinating study of masculinity and the interference of sex and power dynamics, and the show wouldn’t be the same without him.

4 Baela Targaryen

Baela Needs More Screen Time In Season 3

Despite being one of the main members of Rhaenyra’s council and royal family, Baela Targaryen is someone who’s barely given any screentime or dialogue opportunities. However, in her few moments to shine, Baela is consistently elegant, wise, and valuable to her side. Rather than embrace Jacaerys’ frustrations over the dragonseeds, Baela has the gall to tell it straight to her betrothed, reminding him to stop pouting and support his mother.

Aside from just being a stern supporter of the Black faction, Baela got to show off some dragonriding prowess early in season 2. An important aspect of her character from the book is that Baela draws much of her behavior from her mother and father, and it’s clear that the ferocity of Daemon and Laena Velaryon is within her. It will be exciting to see that finally unleashed in battle later in the series. Not to mention, Moondancer is one of the most stunning dragons in the show so far.

3 Rhaenys Targaryen

Rhaenys Is One Of HOTD’s Most Complex Characters

“The Red Dragon and the Gold” was commonly believed to be the strongest episode of House of the Dragon season 2, fully delivering on the show’s premise of dragon warfare. The emotional highlight of that episode was Rhaenys Targaryen’s death, as it doesn’t seem like audiences realized how excellent of a character she was until she was taken off the board. She’s rather subtle, particularly in season 1, but there’s an important complexity to Rhaenys that makes her one of the show’s strongest characters.

In
Fire & Blood
, Rhaenys was never considered a finalist contender for the Iron Throne in the Great Council of 101.

Rhaenys’ story is overshadowed by an event that occurred before the TV series at the Great Council of 101, where Viserys was selected over her to be the next ruling monarch after Jaehaerys I. Rhaenys is then forced to watch as Rhaenyra is handed the opportunity she was essentially robbed of, but then she’s constantly placed in positions where she can dictate the future course of events. Despite never getting the chance to rule, Rhaenys isn’t driven by bitterness and makes respectable choices until her end.

2 Corlys Velaryon

The Seasnake Is One Of The Most Accomplished Westerosi Noblemen Ever

As the subject of one of the upcoming Game of Thrones spinoffs, one would think that House of the Dragon would spend more time examining Corlys Velaryon. He’s one of the most accomplished men in the history of Westeros, with vast worldly wisdom on the far corners of George R.R. Martin’s universe and immense wealth and power for a man without a dragon. The version of the Seasnake audiences have met is past his prime, but he’s still underrated in the scheme of the show.

Actor Steve Toussaint delivers a charming and consistently dignified performance, making Corlys one of the most respectable characters in House of the Dragon. Corlys Velaryon maintains a screen presence in a way few characters in the Game of Thrones universe can match, demonstrating the very best of what it means to be a Westerosi noble. In terms of being effective in minimal screen time, Corlys is hard to match.

1 Helaena Targaryen

Helaena Embraces The Mystical Side Of The GOT Universe

Hats off to Phia Saban for delivering one of the show’s most nuanced, emotionally impactful performances despite having minimal screen time. Love or hate the changes surrounding Blood & Cheese, Saban’s performance as Helaena is outstanding throughout, and all the credit is deserved to the performer and show creators for fleshing out her character. Helaena is an interesting character in Fire & Blood, but she’s a shell of what House of the Dragon allows her to be.

Helaena not only adds vital humanity to the Greens, but she also allows the HBO prequel series to explore facets of George R.R. Martin’s universe that Game of Thrones largely ignored. She’s the first character to be portrayed with prophetic visions who’s allowed to prominently explore those powers in a manner that’s crucial to the overall narrative. Helaena is a strong individual character on top of being a vessel for the often omitted mystical elements of Martin’s world, giving House of the Dragon a sense of the fantastical beyond just the dragons.