7 House of the Dragon Characters, Ranked from Everyone’s Fav to Dracarys Them

On June 16, the second season of House of the Dragon will premiere, a prequel to Game of Thrones that focuses on the reign of the Targaryen family, ancient rulers of dragons and owners of stormy temperaments.

In honor of the release of a new chapter of a great story, we have compiled a rating of the show's main characters – from the most fan favorite to straight up villains (and yes, we know how funny that sounds in the world of this particular show).

7. Viserys Targaryen

Throughout the first season, Viserys dies of an illness. However, despite this, Viserys retains a sharp mind to the very end, unlike most of the other characters. The only person who actually makes an effort to mend fences and bring the family together is Viserys. Especially his young wife Alicent and eldest daughter Rhaenyra.

Paddy Considine's character also deserves the title of the world's best dad – it is hard to imagine anyone in an epochal medieval fantasy so fiercely defending a woman's right to power and independence.

6. Rhaenyra Targaryen

Like all humans, Rhaenyra is not perfect. Yet she has a sense of dignity and honor, as well as a great inner freedom – a rare feature for female characters in medieval fantasy.

Of course, Rhaenyra's relationship with Daemon is not exactly what civilized society would consider acceptable. On the other hand, in royal families, such marriages have been considered something normal. Rhaenyra's desire to fight for her right to the throne, her fearlessness, and her wisdom are the qualities that make her a perfect queen.

5. Alicent Hightower

In the first episodes, Alicent seems to be a modest and polite girl, always ready to help. However, as the story progresses, she transforms into something completely different.

All her life, Alicent has sacrificed herself for others. As she grew older, however, this became increasingly difficult – her inner frustration turned into powerful, uncontrollable aggression.

Much of it is directed at Rhaenyra – a woman who allowed herself to be free and did not bend to the patriarchal foundations of the world of Westeros. Alicent's worst quality is her refusal to accept the unpleasant truth: she was merely a plaything for powerful men who openly exploited her desire to earn love.

4. Daemon Targaryen

For most of the series, Daemon balances the image of a two-faced villain and an attractive anti-hero. However, as practice shows, the fans love him more than they hate him.

Daemon manages to commit absolutely monstrous acts while remaining an extremely charming character. His fearlessness on the battlefield, his sincere love for Rhaenyra and his older brother Viserys evoke sympathy. And yet that in no way diminishes the harm he has done to other people.

3. Otto Hightower

Hand of the King Otto Hightower is not nearly as cunning as Littlefinger from Game of Thrones. But even his feeble manipulations have managed to ruin several lives at once. The first to suffer at Otto's hands, of course, was his daughter Alicent, whom he sold to the king, thus making his grandson Aegon the main contender for the Iron Throne.

Otto continued to influence the events even after he left King Viserys' inner circle. As a result, he caused unrest at court, and Rhaenyra's authority began to be questioned. The feud between Alicent and Rhaenyra also began due to Otto's pressure on his overly trusting daughter.

2. Larys Strong

Westeros has seen its share of cold-blooded killers, but Larys belongs to a special breed of people who are willing to kill those closest to them without blinking an eye. It is surprising that such a decent man as Lyonel Strong would have a son like Larys – an envious, manipulative psychopath willing to sacrifice the lives of loved ones on the altar of his own ambition.

Like Tyrion Lannister, Larys is a handicapped man with a sharp mind and a certain foresight. Unfortunately, that's where the similarities end. He doesn't have Tyrion's wit or warmth. The new Lord of Harrenhal prefers to sit in the shadows, his motives are not always clear, and his loyalty to the Queen is constantly questioned.

1. Criston Cole

In the early episodes, Criston appears as a classic romantic hero, a kind-hearted knight. However, as the show neared its season finale, his character slowly evolves into something entirely different.

Cole's desire for revenge on Rhaenyra for rejecting him literally knows no bounds – he openly wishes for her death. His devotion to Alicent seems completely false, and his behavior at Rhaenyra's wedding is downright creepy. Criston is probably the last character who cares about the fate of the kingdom.