House of the Dragon Characters, Ranked from Yawn Fest to Total Faves

While House of the Dragon 's literary source material isn't the most narrative-driven one, showrunner Ryan Condal has managed to create complex and contradictory characters whose evolution is fascinating to watch.

10. Rhaena Targaryen

Perhaps some will find this decision unfair, and yet Rhaena is far from the most outstanding character in the series. The daughter of Daemon and Laena is the only one who still doesn't have a dragon. And it's not just because of the limited number of these creatures, but also because Rhaena herself is too quiet and gentle to be a rider.

If the showrunners decide to stick to the canon, we will still see Rhaena riding a dragon in the finale. However, in the middle of the second season, she was removed from any intrigue and sent to a safe place along with Rhaenyra's children.

9. Corlys Velaryon

Corlys is another promising book character who hasn't had a chance to really shine. Rhaenys Targaryen's husband has yet to show his talents.

Yes, he's a surprisingly loving husband – which isn't the most common thing in the world of Westeros – but Corlys is increasingly overshadowed by his more powerful wife, who once missed out on the Iron Throne. Perhaps he'll get more screen time after Rhaenys' death.

8. Aegon Targaryen

Despite his high status in the Game of Thrones universe, Aegon is hardly a major antagonist. It was Aegon who sparked the Dance of the Dragons – a bloody battle between the Targaryens for the right to the Iron Throne.

Viewers familiar with the show's lore understand that Aegon is but a puppet in the hands of his mother, Alicent, and grandfather, Otto Hightower.

Unlike, say, Joffrey Baratheon, brilliantly played by Jack Gleeson, Aegon has neither a repulsive charisma nor psychopathic traits. Most of the time, Aegon demands love and approval and drowns his inner pain in alcohol.

7. Rhaenys Targaryen

Strong and independent, Rhaenys was unable to claim the Iron Throne because of her gender. In House of the Dragon, her niece Rhaenyra attempts to right this centuries-old systemic wrong. Not surprisingly, in the confrontation between the Blacks and the Greens, Rhaenys sides with the former.

In the book, she plays a very significant role – Rhaenys was on Rhaenyra's war council and personally participated in several particularly bloody battles. In the series, Rhaenys' role has been noticeably reduced, probably due to an abundance of other characters.

Fortunately, in the second season, she returned to the forefront, albeit briefly – the dragon fight in the fourth episode is the most violent and sad scene with her participation.

6. Otto Hightower

Otto Hightower is one of the most unpleasant yet wise characters in House of Dragons, resembling both Littlefinger and Tyrion Lannister. Otto is a typical manipulative father who used his own daughter to gain authority at the royal court.

However, the power he sought was short-lived – the grown-up Aegon quickly expelled his grandfather from his council. Recent events in the second season of House of the Dragon make it clear that Hightower has every chance of returning to the court.

5. Criston Cole

Christon Cole is a character that is too easy to hate. Cole was supposed to be the embodiment of honor, nobility, and dignity, but an affair with Rhaenyra quickly exposed his rotten nature.

In the show's second season, Cole was given a lot more time – during his years in the palace, he grew close to Queen Alicent and became the embodiment of very dangerous and aggressive masculinity.

4. Alicent Hightower

At the beginning of House of the Dragon, Alicent seemed like a character to rival Cersei Lannister, but in reality she has become a pawn in the game for the Iron Throne.

The worst begins when Alicent gives up her friendship with Rhaenyra for the sake of her father's selfish ambitions – that is the moment she goes off the rails. Everything that happens next is already history, and a very bloody one at that.

In the second season of House of the Dragon, Alicent hardly grows as a person. She continues to live in deep self-rejection: the murder of Aegon's son becomes yet another reason for Alicent to retreat into a sense of guilt and refuse to perceive reality.

Unfortunately, there seems to be no hope for balanced decisions in Alicent's case – the confrontation with Rhaenyra has gone too far, it is simply impossible to admit that she is wrong.

3. Daemon Targaryen

As Viserys' younger brother and Rhaenyra's second husband, Daemon often plays the hero in the series: smart, strong, and sexy, especially when it comes to seducing his underage niece.

The show's creators often try to put Daemon in a good position to make the audience doubt his evilness, and sometimes they succeed. His rare warm moments with Rhaenyra can fool even the most cynical viewer.

And yet, the first episode of House of the Dragon Season 2 finally puts an end to any redemption for the character. Daemon Targaryen is a ruthless and treacherous man who pursues only his own ends.

2. Rhaenyra Targaryen

The protagonist of a show is not always its best character, just think of Jon Snow from Game of Thrones. But Rhaenyra almost succeeded. At first glance, she may evoke associations with Daenerys, but in fact Rhaenyra is a much less emotional and much more calculating, mature, brave and fair woman.

Rhaenyra inherited a sharp mind and intelligence from her father, which sets her apart from other contenders for the Iron Throne. However, it is time for her to stop procrastinating and take more decisive action.

1. Aemond Targaryen

In just a few final episodes of House of the Dragon Season 1, Aemond transformed from a child into a sinister ladies' man who can kill with the power of one eye. As a character, Aemond undergoes tremendous growth: from an outcast and second son to a powerful warrior and seasoned strategist.

He wrested the right to a personal dragon and then the Iron Throne with his bare hands. In the second season, we are shown a less obvious side of Aemond – a man who is quite emotionally stable and even gentle, desperately seeking deep, trusting relationships. This is evidenced, for example, by Aemond's childhood attachment to a woman from a brothel.