House of the Dragon: Underrated Characters You NEED to Know!

House of the Dragon: The underrated characters Who Stole the Show!

House of the Dragon: Unearthing the Hidden Gems!

House of the Dragon has an amazing cast, folks! So many great actors and actresses, so much drama, but some seriously amazing characters remain somewhat hidden in the mix! Some are unbelievably impactful even with little screen time. It showcases just how good a supporting cast can truly become, delivering unforgettable moments and enhancing some critical story development in that ever-growing world of Westeros. This article looks at ten characters deserving more credit and showcases exactly why they are seriously underrated. Prepare for some major spoilers, because this journey into some unsung heroes requires some real deep dives into what makes these characters truly great!

The show uses George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood as source material, a companion book that serves as more of a historical text – which greatly affected some crucial character design choices. And while that is super useful, those limited descriptions make those supporting cast members dependent on the creative choices by the writers. This article details exactly why some key characters deserve much more attention!

Also Read: House of the Dragon: Is Daemon Targaryen the Next Three-Eyed Raven?

Top 10 Underrated Characters in House of the Dragon

10. Lyonel Strong: The Honorable Hand (for a While…)

Early House of the Dragon gave us Otto Hightower, the quintessential villain – constantly scheming and manipulating! But his replacement? Lyonel Strong! He's the rare, completely likeable character in that world of pure intrigue! That however, was sadly short-lived! He manages to actually maintain honor and dignity even while being stuck amidst the various intense battles, highlighting just how difficult this entire political climate truly is.

Lyonel was awesome. His nobility made a possible avoidance of that entire war seem probable. Sadly, "nice guys finish last" is way too true in Westeros; his death proves why honorable players in that arena get pushed to the sides, almost accidentally highlighting the point that his brief existence really shows how noble leaders could've avoided war!

9. Erryk & Arryk Cargyll: A Tragic Symbol of Needless Conflict

Lyonel Strong looking concerned in House of the Dragon Image

The duel between these twin brothers (described in A Game of Thrones – going way back to 1996!) perfectly embodies this whole war’s horrible brutality – that shocking fight scene is something many people remember; showing those brutal acts caused by those conflicts surrounding that civil war which had no necessary outcome or any reasons for ever having started!

It doesn’t really matter if you feel sympathetic toward Erryk (for supporting Rhaenyra). Their shared fate—this unnecessary tragedy for the brothers—perfectly highlights the war's pointless suffering. This serves as a truly pivotal moment which is what is going to stand out. When dragons clash; innocent people suffer.

8. Addam of Hull: The Unexpected Dragonseed Hero!

Daenerys from GoT and Rhaenyra from HotD Image

Introduced in House of the Dragon season 2, Addam of Hull is one of those surprisingly great characters! He is one of those amazing dragonseeds – gaining Seasmoke— this automatically elevated his status within the political and military landscapes. He gets huge influence! But more surprisingly: He actually has trustworthiness and competence; two almost entirely lacking aspects within some major character designs.

7. Oscar Tully: A Young Lord's Astute Wisdom

Young Ser Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes), who with his grandfather’s passing is now Lord of the Riverlands in House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 7 Image

This seriously unexpected character, totally underused! That amazing showdown at Harrenhal, shows the brilliance in some subtle yet extremely pivotal aspects! Daemon's plotline in this specific setting was problematic, but here's where it shines! That awesome confrontation of the child, that unexpected moment which puts Daemon in his place; it is seriously one of the highlights of season 2; generating another one of those many moments from the unexpected!

Oscar Tully gets his moment! He immediately becomes this incredibly shrewd political operator; playing advantages perfectly! And getting Daemon's approval is a masterstroke.

6. Simon Strong: Subtle Support for the Blacks

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) in Game of Thrones season 8, and a vision of Daenerys in House of the Dragon season 2's finale Image

Another great Harrenhal character, played wonderfully by Sir Simon Russell Beale! He shows just how amazing the supporting cast members truly are. This character, alongside Lyonel and Harwin Strong, really elevates this particular location and these sequences that are discussed. It demonstrates a character displaying kindness and politeness, yet guiding things behind-the-scenes to favor Rhaenyra! This demonstrates another example of how surprisingly great some hidden gems can be.

5. Criston Cole: A Study in Toxic Masculinity

Calling Criston Cole “underrated” might seem insane considering that almost every audience is not at all happy with that character! However, it is important to note why he matters. His role showcases the complexities behind hate. His brutality– that completely vile act; murdering Joffrey Lonmouth! – completely illustrates some problematic, toxic aspects found in House of the Dragon’s early settings, particularly that intensely personal and almost primal aspect concerning personal relationships; those deep conflicts created due to betrayal, intense passions and political rivalries which deeply and irrevocably change this specific individual. This adds some layers!

4. Baela Targaryen: Elegance, Wisdom, and Dragon-Riding Prowess!

She's Rhaenyra's family member and part of her council. Yet that small role and minimal time given is underappreciated! That powerful and critical exchange, that one conversation between her and her betrothed Jacaerys, shutting down his complaining over dragonseeds highlights how important these exchanges actually are and those key events surrounding that particular storyline. Her dragonriding skills make her someone to watch; demonstrating just how impressive she might actually be given opportunities to further develop her own skills in this series! And Moondancer? This one is spectacular!

3. Rhaenys Targaryen: The Subtle Queen Who Almost Was

“The Red Dragon and the Gold” was amazing! That Rhaenys Targaryen's death, in that intense episode truly makes everyone suddenly aware how awesome she really is! She is subtly impressive. That quiet complexity makes her great.

Her story's largely defined by something before the show: the Great Council of 101. She never even considered for the Iron Throne and is given far fewer opportunities despite possessing incredible skill. Despite that she makes smart choices; never driven by spite or revenge. That’s awesome!

2. Corlys Velaryon: The Seasnake’s Unsung Wisdom

That’s the big man! One of the Game of Thrones spin-offs focuses on Corlys Velaryon! But in House of the Dragon he’s seriously underutilized. That wisdom gained from exploring Westeros’s vast regions – immense wealth and influence for a dragonless man – makes Corlys seriously impressive.

Steve Toussaint's awesome performance and presence! He's unbelievably dignified— demonstrating that essential character role: Westerosi nobility in that truest and grandest of manners.

1. Helaena Targaryen: Prophetic Visions and Underrated Humanity

Hats off to Phia Saban! She’s awesome. Her nuanced acting despite limited time–even controversial moments like Blood & Cheese! This completely and deeply impacts those views and shows that there are always hidden facets in seemingly small plot arcs which really show just how intense those narratives are going to become.

Helaena adds unexpected humanity! And expands upon the show's more mystic elements and those aspects left untouched within other related series which would enhance how profound the mysteries surrounding Martin’s created stories.

Also Read: Jon Snow Spinoff Cancelled: House of the Dragon's Prophecy Twist Explains Why

Conclusion: Unsung Heroes Make the Story Epic!

House of the Dragon's success owes much to its supporting characters! Some of these amazing actors and characters barely get used, however, what made House of the Dragon truly compelling involves showcasing how those unsung heroes; the unexpected side characters completely and utterly enhance this particular tale. This demonstrates an overall message to be considered in how such elements could change an entire plotline which greatly increases that production's effectiveness, for this and all other future adaptations and showcases for how these particular productions could deliver intense results.