Who’s Who in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2
Proma Khosla
It’s been two years since Season 1 of “House of the Dragon” debuted, which is a long time to spend away from House Targaryen, its divided allies and enemies, and a whole buncha dragons. Who do we like, who do we hate, who’s married to their brother or uncle or just a casual cousin once removed?
Season 1 of “House of the Dragon” began during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine), chronicling the last decade and change of his life before he died of an unidentified wasting disease. After his first wife and son died, Viserys named his daughter Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) as the rightful heir, overturning a council ruling that actually put Viserys on the throne in the first place and rattling minds across the realm. Upon his death, Viserys’ second wife Alicent (Olivia Cooke) claimed that he named their son Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) as King, officially igniting a brutal and bloody war among House Targaryen as factions vie for the throne. Those who support Alicent with her son on the throne became known as the Greens, and Rhaenyra’s supporters as the Blacks.
To celebrate the season and stop us from going as insane as the Mad King (just kidding, he’s not in this show!), here’s a list of key “House of the Dragon” Season 2 cast members along with who they play, what side they play for, and key information from Season 1.
Rhaenyra Targaryen
Team: Black
Viserys’ eldest child and the one he originally named as his successor, before he married Alicent and sired multiple sons (but still didn’t change his mind!). Rhaenyra was married to her cousin Laenor Velaryon (Theo Nate) before his untimely death, shortly after which she wed her uncle Daemon (Matt Smith). Rhaenyra has two children with Laenor (though they look suspiciously like her former guard who died in a tragic and totally accidental housefire), and two with Daemon. As a girl, she was best friends with Alicent before the powerful men of the realm drove them apart.
Alicent Targaryen, née Hightower
Team: Green
The Queen Dowager and daughter to Hand of the King Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), Alicent’s family has been close to the Crown her whole life, right up until the moment she put her eldest son Aegon II on the throne in Season 1. This was fairly treasonous, but gained much support because Aegon is male and his half-sister Rhaenyra is not — and though the throne will pass to one of them, the war is largely perceived to be between Rhaenyra and Alicent.
Also, I don’t want to mention this, but sometimes Alicent manipulates circumstances by showing her feet to Larys Strong (Matthew Needham).
Aegon II Targaryen
Team: Green
Named after Aegon the Conquerer, the first Targaryen to sit upon the Iron Throne after conquering the seven kingdoms, Aegon II is — at press time — a piece of shit. He’s referred to by his foes as the usurper, an unpredictable and somewhat reluctant ruler to the point that his own brother doesn’t think he deserves it (said brother does however enjoy fighting for his bloodline, but more on that later). Now that he’s acting ruler, we’ll be seeing a lot more of Aegon this season, with Glynn-Carney firmly in the role after sharing it as Aegon grew up during Season 1.
Helaena Targaryen
Team: Green
Younger sister and wife of Aegon II, mother to twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. Helaena is an oddball in a family of oddballs, more taken with stitching and spiders than incest and warfare (good for her!). You can find her muttering in a corner about “a beast beneath the boards” or whatever other visions of which she is possessed.
Daemon Targaryen
Team: Black
Brother of the late king Viserys and former Commander of the City Watch, where he earned a reputation for being a hothead who doles out brutal punishment. Some of the hesitation about Rhaenyra on the throne stems from people who fear Daemon’s influence on her and worry that theirs will be a cruel and violent reign. He also killed his first wife, probably had a hand in the “death” of Rhaenyra’s husband, and I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say he hasn’t given up his ways and we should all be worried. He has two daughters from his marriage to Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell) and two young children with Rhaenyra.
Mysaria
Team: Gold (coin)
Prince Daemon’s former brothel-favorite, also known as the White Worm, has traveled the world since Season 1, with eyes and ears everywhere just like Larys Strong. Mysaria’s return is of less concern to Daemon and Rhaenyra’s marriage than to literally everyone who stands to lose something based on her knowledge and connections. Some now her as “Lady Misery.”
Aemond Targaryen
Team: Green
A boy born in the image of his half-brother-in-law / uncle Daemon (apologies to my editors who had to read that), Aemond is another known for his proficient battle skills and a degree of ruthlessness therein. He lost his eye in a knife fight as a child, which led to demanding cousin Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) “GIVE ME YOUR EYE!” in the Season 1 finale. The two of them took to the skies on their dragons, and only Aemond returned. As a child, Aemond excelled at combat under the instruction of Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), and despite being late among his cousins and siblings to take a dragon, he eventually mounted Vhagar, the oldest and most fearsome dragon in the world.
Rhaenys and Corlys Velaryon
Team: Black
Mother and Father The Queen That Never Was and the Sea Snake himself, the Velaryons have always been staunchly on Rhaenyra’s side because they believe the Crown can and should pass through the female bloodline (as it could have to Rhaenys’ son Laenor). Rhaenys rode her dragon Meleys to Aegon’s coronation to intimidate the Greens and all assembled, while Corlys’ proficiency at sea made him a fearsome opponent in any war. They mourn their children Laenor and Laena but care ever more fiercely for their grandchildren, all of whom are descended from Rhaenyra and Daemon’s first marriages.
Larys Strong
Team: Feet Green
The Master of Whisperers and Lord of Harrenhal (after the unfortunate house fire that killed his father and brother in Season 1, during which Larys was definitely busy and definitely somewhere else) is never far from Alicent and her ilk, using information as currency and carrying out orders both decreed and implied by the Greens.
Jacaerys Velaryon
Team: Black
The eldest son of Rhaenyra and Laenor’s marriage, Jace was on his own mission while brother Lucerys met his untimely death at Storm’s End. Expect him to step up in strategy and battle in Season 2, not only to avenge Luke but to protect his remaining family, including younger siblings descended from Rhaenyra and his cousin-slash-fiancée, Baela (Bethany Antonia).
Otto Hightower
Team: Green
Hand of not just one but three kings (he served Viserys’ grandfather Jaehaerys as well), Otto is well past the age to retire from conniving, but he just loves it so much. He got his daughter to be Queen and now his grandson is King, yet still this man will not rest! He didn’t even balk when Viserys fired him, nor did he take the time off to learn and listen and work on himself. Anyway he’s still around.
Baela & Rhaena Targaryen
Team: Black
Daughters of Daemon Targaryen and his late wife Laena, betrothed to Rhaenyra’s sons Jacaerys and Lucerys (R.I.P.). Rhaena is not a dragon rider at present, but as the family collectively grieves Luke’s death and continues to defend Rhaenyra, both sisters will play a part in war and peace throughout the realm.
Ser Criston Cole
Team: Green
The knight who would have laid it all down for Rhaenyra back when she was a princess turned firmly against her once she rejected him and wed Laenor Velaryon for a more strategic (and appropriate) match. After killing Laenor’s “friend” Joffrey Lonmouth (Solly McLeod) at the wedding, Criston turned firmly Team Green and will not rest until all seven kingdoms hate the woman who dumped him.
Alicent and Viserys also had a third son, Daeron, whom we haven’t met yet. And I’m sorry to tell you this, but Rhaenyra and Daemon named their sons Aegon and Viserys.
“House of the Dragon” Season 2 premieres Sunday, June 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.
