HotD's Paddy Considine Was 'Shocked' to Learn Fans Hated Viserys

House of The Dragon season 1 proved to be a massive hit, not only with Game of Thrones fans, but with general audiences as well, drawing HBO viewers to their screens and keeping them there until the finale.

One of the more prominent and ambiguous characters was the patriarch of the Targaryen family, King Viserys I Targaryen.

Love him or hate him, there is no denying the impact the character had on the story. As portrayed by Paddy Considine, Viserys proved to be even more complex on screen than he was in the books.

The actor received a lot of recognition for his brilliant skills not only from the audience but also from George R. R. Martin, the creator of the universe, himself.

Although it must be hard to see the character you put so much work and soul into so misunderstood, Paddy Considine is very determined and patient in explaining what drove his character to the decisions he made.

In Deadline's recent interview with the cast and creators of House of The Dragon, he shared how surprised he was to find out fans were not that approving of the characters in the beginning:

“I was sort of shocked in the first episode or so when people commented that they hated him. <...> I think it was difficult for people to place him because he wasn’t particularly archetypal and he wasn’t what they were expecting from what they’d read in the books, either.”

Fortunately, the fan base grew to love and understand Viserys as the season progressed.

So much so that when it came time to say goodbye to him in episode 8, people were crying their eyes out. The emotional speech at the end of the family dinner should win the actor every award possible, viewers believe.

As much as everyone is devastated that Paddy Considine won't be returning for House of The Dragon season 2, there are still many exciting plot twists and great performances to come.

So buckle up and stay tuned for more news and behind-the-scenes updates from the show.

Source: Deadline