Game of Thrones is back as the HBO franchise traces the political intrigue and personal dramas of the Targaryens to House of the Dragon, a new series adapted from George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood, hundreds of years in time.
Created by Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal and produced by Matt Smith, Paddy Considine, Olivia Cooke and many others, the prequel finds the ruling house in the midst of an intense battle of succession when the king fails to secure his line’s place on the throne. lives. with a male heir. But this is only the beginning of this saga.
Speaking to ET, the ensemble cast, including Emma D’Arcy, Eve Best, Fabian Frankel and Steve Toussaint, breaks down the roles of several of their characters in the upcoming political chess match, which follows members of the extended Targaryen family. claim to the throne.
Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen
Princess Renées Targaryen (Eve Best) was chosen by the Lords of Westeros to succeed the Old King, Jheerys Targaryen, King Viserys Targaryen later finds herself in a similar position when she decides to produce a male heir and continue the line of succession. unable to secure.
“Suddenly, when Rainera’s mother dies while trying to have an heir, she is left without a mother. And Viserys is the one who doesn’t know how to father a teenage girl. So, this in itself There are kind of difficulties,” says Considine, referring to the daughter of the Viserys, Princess Renera Targaryen (Emma d’Arcy), whom he puts next in line. “And then to the fact and scope of naming her successor. What does it mean, what a big decision it is and how does it affect their relationship going forward.”
Despite issues surrounding who would be his successor – either his daughter or his younger brother, Prince Damon Targaryen (Smith) – Viserys is considered a decent man who understands the role as leader and caretaker of King’s Landing. “He is not a tyrant; he is not corrupted by power or any of these things. He is just a good man and a good king,” says Considine of Viserys, whose reign coincides with times of peace. . “There is no war in the kingdom.”
While there is peace, it doesn’t necessarily make things easy for him, especially considering he’s not good at the political game that requires staying one step ahead of his toughest opponents. “In some respects, he’s not great at the political game,” says Considine, explaining that “part of being a king is that you have so many people pulling you, so you have to go in so many different directions.” Being pulled in and you can’t please everyone with your decision making.”
He says that Viserys is “someone who is trying to be a king who pleases all and eventually has a very harmful effect on everyone afterwards.”
At the end of the day, “he thinks about whether he’d have named Renees that he would have been free of all this,” Considine says. “He won’t have to because it’s a burden and it’s quite amusing that so many people are vying for that power. He thinks there is any power to sit on that throne, but it’s actually a curse seat.” ”
Matt Smith as Prince Damon Targaryen
Prince Damon Targaryen is the younger brother of King Viserys and heir to the throne. A warrior unmatched by anyone else in King’s Landing, Damon has the true blood of a dragon. But his fearlessness and ruthless nature on the battlefield (and as a dragonrider) also haunts those who question how he would use his power if he sat on the throne.
“They are oddly similar and strangely opposite,” Smith says of the two brothers, noting that in comparison to Viserys, Damon is “reactionary, fast and violent.” He says that “there’s a madness to them.”
As far as Daemon’s true intentions are concerned, whether or not he wishes to take over as king is at times unclear. “I think his goals vary from day to day, depending on what bed Damon wakes up in, to be honest,” says Smith. “He’s like a Rottweiler. You never really know what you’re going to get.”
He says that “Damon is as much interested in conflict and chaos as he is in power. I think he’s more interested in the inhibition of power than in actually achieving it. So, as much as he can.” As much goes about being problematic, and that’s how he feels interested and alive.”
When it comes to the dynamics between Damon and Rainera, Smith says there is a “very close bond” between uncle and niece. “There is something very unique in their relationship compared to anyone else. I think he treats her with more respect than everyone else,” he continues.