House Of The Dragon Characters That Mean More Than You Think

With every episode, "House Of The Dragon" ramps up the political scandals and dragon drama that has become synonymous with the "Game of Thrones" universe. The HBO prequel series, set nearly 200 years before the original show starring Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke, chronicles the civil war that destroyed House Targaryen midway through their reign from the Iron Throne: the Dance of the Dragons.

On one side, there is Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock/Emma D'Arcy), the named heir of King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine), as well as the rogue Prince Daemon (Matt Smith). On the other side is Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey/Olivia Cooke), Rhaenyra's former best friend and current stepmother, who spearheads the campaign for her son, Prince Aegon (Ty Tennant/Tom Glynn-Carney).

Each week new characters are introduced to the game of thrones — some win, and some die. The Targaryen family tree begins to unravel in Season 1 of "House Of The Dragon," as the last dragon lords of Old Valyria turn on each other, influenced by the likes of Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) and Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans). But it isn't just the main players who move the pieces in this political game. Here are the "House of the Dragon" characters that are more important than you might have guessed.

Helaena is a dreamer -– appropriate for someone who rides a dragon called Dreamfyre. Like her father Viserys, Helaena demonstrates an affinity for prophetic dreams that foreshadow future events. During Episode 6, Helaena quietly remarks that Aemond must "close an eye" to ride a dragon; the following episode sees Aemond lose an eye to Lucerys Velaryon after Aemond claims Vhagar. In the same episode, Helaena speaks to herself of "dragons of flesh weaving dragons of threads," symbolizing the opposing banners created by Rhaenyra and Aegon during the Dance of the Dragons.

Both a dragon rider and a dreamer, Helaena is overlooked by many due to her quirky nature and fascination with bugs. But the Targaryen princess plays an important role in "Fire and Blood." Helaena marries her brother Aegon, becoming his queen. Together they have three children: the twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, and Maelor. Jaehaerys is murdered by Blood and Cheese, assassins sent by Daemon to avenge Lucerys' death. Not only is Helaena forced to watch, but the queen is also forced to choose which child dies. Helaena chooses Maelor, but Blood and Cheese have other ideas.

"Fire and Blood” chronicles Helaena's depression following her son's death. The queen shuns Dreamfyre, her beloved dragon, and eventually becomes Rhaenyra's hostage when she take King's Landing from Aegon. Helaena eventually commits suicide by throwing herself from the Red Keep. Her death ignites the people of King's Landing who, after suffering Rhaenyra's tax hikes, storm the Dragonpit in protest of the Targaryens' rule.

"House of the Dragon" introduces Baela Targaryen (Shani Smethurst/Bethany Antonia) as the eldest daughter of Daemon Targaryen and Laena Velaryon (a minor deviation from the books — in "Fire and Blood," Baela and Rhaena are twins). Baela is the Arya to Rhaena's Sansa, the spirited rebel to her sister's dutiful lady. Baela bonds with her dragon, Moondancer, from birth, after sharing a cradle with her dragon's egg. The princess is betrothed to Jacaerys Velaryon, though, sadly, the prince is killed in battle before the two marry.

Although Baela is forbidden from fighting during the Dance in the books, the princess insists on accompanying Jacaerys on Moondancer, despite the dragon being too small to ride. Moondancer and Baela play a vital role when Aegon and the greens attack Dragonstone: Baela flees the castle, saddles her dragon and meets Aegon in the air on his dragon, Sunfyre, both of them still recovering from a battle against Rhaenys, Baela's grandmother, and Rhaenys' dragon, Meleys.

Compared to Sunfyre, Moondancer is minuscule. But Baela is undeterred. The four fight, and the dragons plummet to the ground: Moondancer dies, as does Sunfyre nine days later. An enraged Aegon plans to kill Baela in recompense, before changing his mind, opting to use her as leverage to win Corlys Velaryon's fealty instead. After the war, Baela eventually marries Lord Alyn Velaryon, a legitimized bastard son of Corlys. Alyn and Baela later have a daughter, who Baela names Laena in honor of her mother.

Rhaena Targaryen (Eva Ossei-Gerning/Phoebe Campbell), the second daughter of Daemon and Laena Velaryon, is first introduced in Episode 6. Like Aemond, she's the only member of her family without a dragon: Daemon has Caraxes, Laena has Vhagar, and Baela has young Moondancer. Because of this, Rhaena's relationship with her father suffers. While Daemon spends time teaching Rhaena's sister Baela to speak Valyrian commands to her dragon, Rhaena goes ignored.

This explains Rhaena's reaction when Aemond claims Vhagar — not only has he 'stolen' her mother's dragon, but he has also deprived Rhaena of her chance to bond with her father. When Aemond returns from his midnight flight on Vhagar (with a new bad attitude to boot), the Targaryen princess attacks him, provoking the fight that eventually claims Aemond's eye and further divides House Targaryen. After Daemon marries Rhaenyra, Rhaena is betrothed to Lucerys Velaryon, who perishes early in the war. After the Dance, Rhaena marries twice: first to Ser Corwyn Corbray, who she befriends while fostering at the Eyrie, and then Garmund Hightower, with whom she has six daughters.

Rhaena does eventually claim a dragon when an egg hatches at the Eyre. Morning, the princess' hatchling, troubles the greens — without any dragons left, they fear the blacks now retain more legitimacy in the eyes of the realm. When Rhaenyra and Daemon's son, Aegon III, ascends the throne, Rhaena and Baela return to King's Landing to assist their half-brother. Unfortunately, a traumatized Aegon isn't thrilled to see Rhaena's dragon.

Rhaenys Targaryen — less favorably known as the Queen Who Never Was — is a needed voice of reason in the royal family. "House of the Dragon" opens with the Great Council of 101 AC: King Jaehaerys convenes the lords of Westeros at Harrenhal to choose his successor for the Iron Throne. Of the names put forward, only Rhaenys (Eve Best) and her younger cousin Viserys are considered. Rhaenys is passed over thanks to Westerosi patriarchy, a slight that Corlys, her husband, takes offense to for years to come.

Judging by Rhaenys' mature approach to the snub that cost her a crown, she should, arguably, be titled the Queen Who Should Have Been. When Corlys brings the issue up in Episode 5 "We Light The Way," Rhaenys rebuffs him — she has made peace with the decision, and so should he. Episode 7 sees the couple rehashing the argument in the wake of Laena's death, with Rhaenys arguing that Driftmark should pass to Laena's daughter Baela, instead of the bastard-born Lucerys.

Throughout her life, Rhaenys is a bold, daring character that loves to fly on her dragon, Meleys the Red Queen (nicknamed for her red scales). Rhaenys and Meleys both meet their end during the Dance, after they are ambushed at Rook's Rest while attacking Ser Criston Cole's forces by Aemond and Vhagar, and Aegon and Sunfyre. Rhaenys doesn't go down without a fight, however. Meleys badly wounds Sunfyre, forcing the dragon to remain at Rook Rest's, and badly wounds Aegon.

Another character that features in "House of the Dragon” from its premiere episode, Ser Criston Cole (Fabian Frankel) unhorses Daemon Targaryen during the tourney for Prince Baelon's birth, and later defeats the prince in combat. Criston is a likeable guy — at first. In Episode 2, "The Rogue Prince," Rhaenyra appoints Criston to the Kingsguard, a considerable elevation in status for the Dornish knight. Ser Criston accompanies Rhaenyra during the princess' impromptu trip through the Kingswood in Episode 3, and the two give in to passion during Episode 4, after Daemon lures Rhaenyra to a brothel — then abandons her.

Criston's tryst with Rhaenyra continues to haunt him, however. After Rhaenyra rejects his offer to elope, the knight blames her for tarnishing his honor (breaking their vow of celibacy is a big no-no for the Kingsguard). That blame festers into resentment. In Episode 7 — ten years after Rhaenyra rejects him — Criston is firmly aligned with Alicent Hightower, sworn to her as her personal shield, and has some pretty despicable things to say about his former lover.

Criston is instrumental for the greens throughout the Dance. The knight crowns Aegon after Viserys; death, earning him the nickname Criston the Kingmaker. Aegon names Criston his Hand, and the two lead an attack on several castles that declare for Rhaenyra, as well as luring Rhaenys and Meleys into a trap that kills them both. Criston eventually meets his end during a fight with rivermen and Northerners sworn to Rhaenyra in a battle known as the Butcher's Ball, after unsuccessfully challenging the opposition to single combat ... and getting hit with arrows instead.

Lord Lyman Beesbury (Bill Paterson) serves on Viserys' small council throughout Season 1, alongside Corlys Velaryon, Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes), and Otto Hightower. As Viserys' Master of Coin, Lyman is in charge of the realm's expenditures, a job that falls to Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) in Season 3 of "Game of Thrones." As well as his small council position, Lyman maintains a wealthy status as the Lord of Honeyholt, a castle in the Reach near Oldtown and the Honeywine river.

Lyman is loyal to Viserys, as he was to Viserys' predecessor, King Jaehaerys (Michael Carter). After Viserys dies, Lyman's loyalty extends to Rhaenyra, the named heir to the Iron Throne. This doesn't go over too well with the greens. When Lyman accuses Aegon of stealing Rhaenyra's crown, Criston Cole executes the long-standing Master of Coin. Lyman's death sends a chilling warning to the rest of Rhaenyra's supporters in King's Landing.