‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Cast Guide: Every Main Character, Explained

This is a good year to be a Game of Thrones fan. For starters, the prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms took the winter by storm and restored faith in the franchise. Now, this summer, audiences can look forward to House of the Dragon Season 3, which will crank up the Dance of the Dragons to an 11. While Season 2 skated below expectations and adapted significantly less of George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood than its predecessor, it set the stage for a propulsive, action-packed third season. A major battle slated for the end of Season 2 will now kick off Season 3, reminding viewers why this war of succession is considered the bloodiest in the history of Westeros.

Season 3 will also see the arrival of new pivotal characters in the Targaryen civil war, along with the power players who have been spearheading the conflict since the beginning. Let’s dive into every new and returning character poised to appear in House of the Dragon Season 3.

Every Power Player on Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen’s Team Black

Emma D Arcy House of the Dragon Season 3

Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) has a host of supporters at her back who believe she’s the true heir to the Iron Throne. The eldest of the late King Viserys Targaryen’s children, Rhaenyra was promised the Iron Throne by her father before his death. She’s reluctant to resort to bloodshed and even sneaks into King’s Landing to meet with Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) to strike a compromise. Despite mounting losses on her side, Rhaenyra holds fast to the belief that she can stop the war before it passes the point of no return.

She slowly starts to embrace her inner warrior and hosts the Sowing, an event in the Dragonmont where those with Targaryen blood attempt to claim one of the riderless dragons. After walking away with a few more dragonriders under her wing and with her husband Prince Daemon Targaryen’s (Matt Smith) renewed sense of purpose, Rhaenyra prepares to take King’s Landing. However, Alicent arrives at Dragonstone at the end of House of the Dragon Season 2 to hand over the Iron Throne to Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra agrees to Alicent’s terms after Alicent offers to sacrifice Rhaenyra’s rival, King Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney).

Daemon spends most of Season 2 trying to lay claim to the derelict Harrenhal, the largest castle in Westeros, before Team Green can seize it. There, Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), a bastard of House Strong and wet nurse purported to be a witch, manipulates Daemon’s memories. In the Season 2 finale, he sees visions of his house’s future, including the arrival of the Night King, the Three-Eyed Raven, and Daenerys Targaryen with her three hatching dragons.

Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), a.k.a. the Sea Snake, is another major power player on Team Black. Season 2 sees him rebuild a large vessel for the legendary Velaryon naval fleet. Following the valiant sacrifice of his wife, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, during the Battle at Rook’s Rest, a grieving Corlys almost abandons his post until Rhaenyra makes him her Hand of the Queen.

Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, Rhaenyra’s firstborn son, steps up in a significant way in House of the Dragon Season 2. He flies across Westeros on his dragon Vermax to forge alliances in Rhaenyra’s name. Notably, he brings House Stark to Team Black and strikes up a friendship with young Lord Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor). Jace also meets with House Frey at the Twins to secure their support. His betrothed, Princess Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia), performs reconnaissance on Team Green in Season 2. Her sister, Princess Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell), still dragonless, stumbles upon the wild dragon Sheepstealer while in the Vale. It’s assumed she’ll take the story of Nettles from Fire & Blood, presumably claiming Sheepstealer for herself.

Here are the other crucial fighters for Team Black:

Mysaria, a.k.a. the White Worm – Rhaenyra’s most trusted advisor and information broker (played by Sonoya Mizuno)
Alyn of Hull – Corlys’ bastard son and a sailor in the Velaryon fleet (played by Abubakar Salim)
Addam of Hull – Corlys’ bastard son and a dragonseed who claims Laenor Velaryon’s dragon, Seasmoke (played by Clinton Liberty)
Ulf – A dragonseed who claims Queen Alysanne Targaryen’s dragon, Silverwing (played by Tom Bennett)
Hugh – A dragonseed who claims King Jaehaerys Targaryen’s dragon, Vermithor (played by Kieran Bew)

Every Main Character on King Aegon Targaryen’s Team Green

King Aegon Targaryen doesn’t have quite as many dragons at his disposal as his adversary. Season 2 finds him at a distinct disadvantage. The Battle at Rook’s Rest critically injures his dragon, Sunfyre, and he walks away with serious burns courtesy of his brother, Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell). Aemond rules as Prince Regent in Aegon’s stead while he convalesces. Before this, Aegon had fired his grandfather, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), from his position as Hand of the King. Aegon promotes Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) to the role. Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), Aegon’s Master of Whisperers, ingratiates himself with the recovering Aegon, claiming that Team Green doesn’t have his best interests at heart. Aegon and Larys flee King’s Landing for Braavos at the end of Season 2.

Meanwhile, Aemond patrols the realm on his dragon, Vhagar, the oldest and biggest of all the dragons. He burns the town of Sharp Point, which had allied itself with Team Black, while astride Vhagar. Later, Aemond demands that his sister, Queen Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban), ride her dragon Dreamfyre in support of Team Green. However, she refuses, citing that she knows about Aemond purposely burning Aegon at Rook’s Rest to take him off the board. Helaena also experiences dragon dreams and states that she’s seen how Aemond will die.

Alicent finds herself at a moral crossroads during House of the Dragon Season 2, notably after Aemond removes her from the Small Council. Like Rhaenyra, she doesn’t want more bloodshed and violence. She realizes her mistake led to multiple casualties on both sides, and later recognizes Rhaenyra as the rightful ruler of Westeros. Alicent begs Rhaenyra to spare her, Helaena, and Helaena’s daughter, Jaehaera, especially after the tragedy of Blood and Cheese, which saw the murder of Helaena’s young son, Jaehaerys, at the behest of Daemon.

Alicent’s brother, Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox), also joins Team Green and accompanies Criston and Aegon’s host to the Crownlands to force the houses declared for Rhaenyra to submit to Aegon instead. Gwayne and Criston end Season 2 with a march toward Harrenhal to seize control of the castle. At the same time, Ser Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) travels to Tyrosh to forge an alliance with the Triarchy per Aemond’s demands. He bonds with Admiral Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn), who agrees to fight for Aegon. His Season 2 arc culminates in his accompanying Lohar and the Triarchy armada to the Gullet, to which the Velaryon fleet is also sailing.

All the New Faces Joining the War in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3

James Norton as Lord Ormund Hightower in House of the Dragon season 3

There’s one new character that book readers, in particular, are excited to see, and that’s Prince Daeron Targaryen, the youngest child of Alicent and Viserys. As of this writing, no official outlet has reported on Daeron’s casting. However, House of the Dragon has mentioned him multiple times in both seasons. In Season 2, Otto plans to return to Oldtown to check on Daeron. Alicent asks Gwayne about Daeron, who was sent to Oldtown at a young age to be fostered by Lord Hobert Hightower. He’s now Lord Ormund Hightower’s (James Norton) ward. Gwayne describes Daeron as “stalwart” and “clever.” He’s as skillful with a lute as he is with a sword. He rides the dragon Tessarion, who was introduced in the Season 2 finale as she flew above the Hightower army. Daeron is Team Green’s MVP and plays a vital role in the battles to come.

Here are the other newcomers to expect in House of the Dragon Season 3:

Lord Ormund Hightower – Otto’s nephew and Alicent’s cousin, Ormund is the head of House Hightower and the Lord of Oldtown during the Dance of the Dragons
Ser Luthor Largent – Luthor is a lowborn knight who serves in the City Watch at King’s Landing (played by Tom Cullen)
Lord Roderick Dustin, a.k.a. Roddy the Ruin – Roderick is the head of House Dustin and the Lord of Barrowton during the Dance of the Dragons (played by Tommy Flanagan)
Ser Torrhen Manderly – Torrhen is a knight of House Manderly who swears fealty to House Stark (played by Dan Fogler)
Ser Jon Roxton – Also known as Bold Jon Roxton, Jon is a knight of House Roxton (played by Joplin Sibtain)
Ser Adrian Redfort – Adrian is a knight of House Redfort, a vassal house in the Vale (played by Barry Sloane)