One Quote From Each Character That Sums Up Their Personality


House of the Dragon has finally aired the last installment of its first season, masterfully setting up the upcoming Targaryen Civil War, also known as the Dance of Dragons. Future seasons of this phenomenal series promise to change the world of Westeros forever, leading into the events of Game of Thrones.


This prequel series deals with a number of compelling characters, with whom fans have fallen in love over the course of the first ten episodes. Each of these characters has a distinct and recognizable personality which can be summed up with a single meaningful quote from the first season of the series.

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10/10 “I Recognize No Authority But The King’s…”

Harrold Westerling, “The Green Council”

“I recognize no authority but the king’s. And, until there is one, I have no place here.”

One of the commonly overlooked characters in House of the Dragon, Ser Harrold Westerling, is portrayed by the fantasy genre icon, Graham McTavish. Westerling does get one memorable scene, however, when he forgoes his title as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard after the Hightower’s silent coup, claiming that there is no king amongst them.

Westerling’s stark and meaningful words resonate of his loyalty to the crown. After having served the Targaryens faithfully for decades, the honorable knight was not about to tarnish his reputation based on the words of the Hightowers.

9/10 “When One Is Never Invited To Speak…”

Larys Strong, “We Light The Way”

“When one is never invited to speak, one learns instead to observe.”

Lord Larys Strong, the son of Lyonel Strong and brother of Harwin Strong, quickly established himself as one of the least trustworthy characters in Westeros when he was first introduced in episode five. During his initial conversation with Alicent, he remarks that his low status among his family allowed him to learn about other people.

Because of his secondborn position in his family and his clubfoot, Larys Strong was often looked down upon by Westerosi elite. However, he managed to turn their scorn into his benefit, quietly climbing the political ladder in a very similar way to Littlefinger from the original Game of Thrones series.

8/10 “The Gods Have Yet To Make A Man…”

Otto Hightower, “The Heirs Of The Dragon”

“The gods have yet to make a man who lacks the patience for absolute power.”

Otto Hightower was the Hand to King Viserys I and, though he claimed to serve the king loyally, Otto schemed behind his back to put his own grandson on the Iron Throne. The Hand foreshadowed his true intentions in the very first episode of the series, reminding Viserys of the sway that absolute power has on men.

Though Otto veiled his quote by pretending to be speaking of Prince Daemon, he truly spoke of himself in this scene. Ultimately, Otto desires as much power as he can garner for himself and his family, even betraying the memory of his king to do so.

7/10 “Do You Want Me To Kill Him?”

Criston Cole, “Second Of His Name”

Ser Criston Cole, portrayed by Fabien Frankel, is one of the strongest fighters on the series, who is perhaps too easily pushed to anger. Ser Criston lets a touch of this anger peak through when Rhaenyra vents to him about her Lannister suitor, asking whether the princess wants him to kill him for her.

While this line was taken in jest at the time, viewers have come to see that Ser Criston was not joking at all, but rather letting a piece of his true personality peak through in this moment. In fact, Criston is a snivveling traitor to the Crown, murdering his enemies in a rage when it befits him.

6/10 “Men Would Sooner Put Their Realm To Torch…”

Rhaenys Targaryen, “The Rogue Prince”

“Men would sooner put the realm to the torch than see a woman ascent the Iron Throne.”

Lady Rhaenys Targaryen is “the Queen who never was,” having been passed up for the Iron Throne in favor of her cousin, Viserys. She later watches as Viserys’s daughter, Rhaenyra, is named heir, remarking to her later that men would rather watch Westeros burn than see a queen rule over their country.

Rhaenys’s entire backstory is defined by men who put themselves above her on the political ladder in an attempt to dictate her life. While she initially allowed them to do so, the Queen who never was has since taken her life into her own hands, inspiring a social media flurry after her actions in the penultimate episode.

5/10 “History Does Not Remember Blood. It Remembers Names.”

Corlys Velaryon, “Driftmark”

Lord Coryls Velaryon, ruler of Driftmark and husband of Lady Rhaenys Targaryen, spends much of the first season with his eye set on the Iron Throne. When he fails to capture that, he instead seeks to establish his legacy through his grandchildren, at one point remarking to his wife that history remembers names, not blood.

Coryls’s words harkened back on the rumors that his grandchildren were not related to him at all, but were rather sired illegitimately. Nevertheless, the Sea Snake proved his true character with this quote, as he truly does not seem to care who fathered his grandchildren, so long as his legacy lives on through them.

4/10 “Where Is Duty? Where Is Sacrifice?”

Alicent Hightower, “Driftmark”

“Where is duty? Where is sacrifice? It’s trampled under your pretty foot again.”

Queen Alicent Hightower takes a stark turn halfway through the first season of House of the Dragon, particularly regarding her former best friend, Rhaenyra. At one point, Alicent angrily questions what has happened to duty and sacrifice in her kingdom, only to lament that Rhaenyra has trampled upon such virtues.

This moment perfectly summarized Alicent’s revised view of Rhaenyra, having become obsessed with the princess’s misdoings. Alicent is so blinded by Rhaenyra’s mistakes that she makes dozens more of her own, yet never seems to realize her own moral misdoings.

3/10 “We’re A Family. Let Us Put Aside These Childish Quarrels.”

Viserys Targaryen, “The Princess And The Queen”

King Viserys Targaryen spent much of his time on House of the Dragon attempting to keep fights from raging on within his own family. At one point during a particularly tense confrontation, Viserys requests that his family “put aside these childish quarrels” and remain united.

Unfortunately for Viserys, the most difficult aspect of his reign proved to be keeping the Targaryen household united. Though he attempted to do so with all his might, he ultimately proved unsuccessful, with a war breaking out amidst the Targaryens only days after his death.

2/10 “Dreams Didn’t Make Us Kings. Dragons Did.”

Daemon Targaryen, “The Black Queen”

Prince Daemon Targaryen is the younger brother of King Viserys and the current husband of Rhaenyra Targaryen, the heir to the Iron Throne. However, when his wife’s rulership is questioned, Daemon becomes angry and, in the midst of an argument regarding how to proceed, he voices his support for using dragons to claim the throne.

In this moment, Daemon lets his anger breach his better judgement, revealing his true nature. While many fans have been quick to defend Daemon’s misdeeds, it is difficult to deny that he is a far more brutal and bloodthirsty character than Rhaenyra, as is proven in this tense conversation.

1/10 “We Don’t Choose Our Destiny. It Chooses Us.”

Rhaenyra Targaryen, “The Black Queen”

Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen is the daughter of King Viserys and the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. During a conversation with her son in the season finale, Rhaenyra thinks back on the hand of destiny in her life, giving her own opinion on the place of fate in one’s future.

Rhaenyra is very much the subject of fate’s hand. For much of the first season, she succumbed to its will, allowing herself to be taken in various different directions at destiny’s whim. However, as the final episode clearly shows, Rhaenyra is no longer submitting to anyone, least of all destiny. Instead, she has taken her life into her own hands once and for all.NEXT: 10 Overlooked House Of The Dragon Characters Who Need More Screentime In Season 2



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