House of the Dragon Season 3 is the strongest chapter of the Game of Thrones spinoff yet, and multiple factors contribute to its success. The action and political scheming is top-notch throughout the latest episodes, but the standout performances also bring them to new heights. The entirety of the House of the Dragon cast are excellent in their roles, and they have been since the show began back in 2022. The stars continue to breathe new life into their characters years later, and the newcomers prove impressive amid the established stars.
Of course, given the direction House of the Dragon Season 3 takes, some of the actors get to show off their range more than others. The best performances of the season come from the cast members who are handed hard-hitting and transformative character arcs. There are a few who benefit from leaning into humor, too. Here’s how the most impactful performances of Season 3 rank.
Why You Should Trust Me: I’ve been writing about pop culture for a decade now, and I’ve crafted and edited a number of rankings over that time. I understand the importance of arguing each placement, and I’m accustomed to analyzing every aspect of TV shows.
Honorable Mentions
If I could, I’d just praise everyone in the House of the Dragon cast. However, these stars come close to making the main list. I hope we see more from some of them in House of the Dragon Season 4.
- Abubakar Salim as Alyn Velaryon: Abubakar Salim plays a very reserved character with Alyn. Despite this, the actor captures his complicated feelings about his role in Rhaenyra’s court and his relationship with Corlys well. I’d love to see what pushes him beyond his usual calm. Fingers crossed for Season 4!
- Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Daeron Targaryen: Benjamin Evan Ainsworth debuts as Daeron Targaryen in Season 3, and he quickly comes to feel like he’s always been part of the Dance. He evokes so much sympathy through his character, and some respect as well. I wish we’d seen more of him.
- Harry Collett as Prince Jacaerys Velaryon: Harry Collett is barely in House of the Dragon Season 3 — RIP, Prince Jace — but I have to give him his flowers for the premiere. He goes out with a bang, nailing his character’s desperation to protect his family and prove himself.
- Freddie Fox as Gwayne Hightower: Gwayne Hightower is an unexpected highlight of House of the Dragon Season 3, and Freddie Fox’s performance contributes to that. He brings Gwayne to life with charm, snark, and a surprising bit of vulnerability when it comes to Daeron.
- Tommy Flanagan as Roddy the Ruin: I’d be remiss to forget Tommy Flanagan’s performance as Roddy the Ruin, and part of me still wants to put it on the main list. Flanagan raises the energy of every scene he’s in, and the finale wouldn’t be nearly as fun without him. I only wish we’d gotten more of that from the Winter Wolves earlier.
Tom Bennett as Ulf
Ulf’s Terrible, but the Actor Who Plays Him Deserves His Flowers
Ulf might be the most-hated character in the House of the Dragon fandom right now, but Tom Bennett plays the treacherous dragonseed masterfully. He gives a layered performance, capturing his character’s impulsive nature, growing resentment, and greed gradually until they all boil over. He injects humor into his scenes, and he manages to evoke anger from the audience as well. It’s a juggling act, but Bennett pulls it off. He deserves his flowers for delivering a great Season 3 character arc.
Why It’s #10: Bennett nails Ulf’s character, but he doesn’t have any huge emotional sequences for the actor to sink his teeth into.
Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
Season 3 Shows Off a New Side of Aemond
Ewan Mitchell is always fantastic as Aemond Targaryen, but House of the Dragon Season 3 gives the actor a new challenge. Aemond spends much of this outing at Harrenhal, which is not the most exciting storyline. However, it does force Aemond to contend with his deeper emotions. It takes the character’s demeanor from calmly cruel to more vulnerable. That’s a big shift, and Mitchell leans into it seamlessly. His final scene with Aegon is some of the most interesting acting fans have gotten from the actor so far.
Why It’s #9: Mitchell does a great job with everything from his character’s mommy issues to his guilt over Aegon. However, despite how convincing both he and Gayle Rankin (Alys Rivers) are, their storyline doesn’t give them the most grabbing material.
Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
She Works With What ‘House of the Dragon’ Gives Her
House of the Dragon Season 3 doesn’t give Alicent much to do until the very end — and when it does, it’s a filicide storyline invented for the show. It’s clear the spin-off still wants Olivia Cooke on-screen, which is no surprise. She has a strong presence, and that continues throughout Season 3. In some ways, Alicent’s confinement makes it more impressive that Cooke still shines. Her flipped dynamic with Rhaenyra makes it so that Alicent must grapple with being truly powerless for the first time. Cookie conveys the discomfort of that well. She also does great work with her growing concern over Helaena and betrayal of Aemond, even when both occasionally feel out of character.
Why It’s #8: Cooke is compelling whenever she’s on-screen, and she sells Alicent. Unfortunately, the writing doesn’t always help her.
Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon
He Gives a Well-Rounded Performance in Season 3
Steve Toussaint takes Corlys Velaryon on an interesting journey in House of the Dragon Season 3, starting with the Battle of the Gullet and ending the outing as a prisoner at Tumbleton. Corlys loses everything, and Rhaenyra adds insult to injury by refusing to legitimize his sons. It gives Toussaint some great acting moments, from his wildly shocking takedown of her own kids to his negotiations before the First Battle of Tumbleton. Viewers see all sides of Corlys, and Toussaint makes them all feel believable. He gives a well-rounded performance with a few explosive moments that will remain memorable.
Why It’s #7: Toussaint plays a convincing Corlys, whatever he’s doing, but other characters get more meaty individual scenes — either because their arcs are ending or because they’re more central.
Fabian Frankel as Criston Cole
The Actor Infuses Humanity Into an Unlikable Character
House of the Dragon fans were not sad to say goodbye to Criston Cole, but they should clap for Fabian Frankel all the same. It takes a talented actor to make audiences root for a character’s demise for multiple seasons. And Frankel’s acting ensures that Criston is frustrating and unlikable until his very last moments on-screen. Despite this, he also adds a nice layer of humanity to Criston’s final episodes. He drives home his frustration with being a pawn in the Dance, as well as how cynical he’s become. It almost makes us feel for him, which is also impressive. Almost.
Why It’s #6: Criston’s send-off isn’t as emotional as the next character’s, and Frankel doesn’t get as much screen time or scene variety as the others. He does an incredible job with what he has, however.
Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen
Her Performance Is as Devastating as Her Character’s Arc
Helaena Targaryen is confined to Maegor’s Holdfast with Alicent in House of the Dragon Season 3, but her pregnancy and spiraling emotional state give Phia Saban meaty storylines to dig into. Saban is already impressive with how well she captures Helaena’s “fragile state.” However, her performance this season is something else. She takes her character from disinterested in the Dance and desiring true freedom to a state of despondency and despair. She’s convincing, and it makes Helaena’s tragic fate more gutting. She also gives us great glimpses into other sides of Helaena. It’s great to see her push back against Alicent, revealing there’s frustration there, and she has a few adorably comical moments. (Just give her the chickens!)
Why It’s #5: Saban’s performance as Helaena is equal parts charming and heartbreaking, but she doesn’t get enough time or story compared to the next four characters.
Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
He Continues to Be Magnetic as Daemon
Matt Smith is always magnetic as Daemon Targaryen, and he somehow manages to be even more entertaining in House of the Dragon Season 3. He fully demonstrates his dedication to Rhaenyra this season, which results in some of his best moments. His fierce approach to reclaiming and holding her throne is compelling, and it shows the merciless side of Daemon that fans know and love. Smith captures new aspects of the character as well. From his merriment in the Riverlands to his vulnerability with Rhaena, he paints Daemon as such a layered character. And his utter shock at the end of the finale drives home his performance as one of the best.
Why It’s #4: It’s intriguing to see small cracks in Daemon’s usually unshakable demeanor, but the majority of his Season 3 behavior isn’t new.
James Norton as Lord Ormund Hightower
Season 3’s Best New Performance
If there’s one new actor in House of the Dragon Season 3 that deserves all the applause, it’s James Norton. Ormund Hightower is a despicable character, but Norton brings him to life with such charisma. He steals every scene he’s in, making us despise the show’s newest villain — but also making it a delight to see more of him. His cruelty never lets fans forget that he’s a credible threat, but he still proves comically absurd and inept at times. It’s sad to see him go ahead of House of the Dragon‘s final outing.
Why It’s #3: Norton’s time on-screen is great, but Ormund doesn’t get the transformative arc that the two contenders for the Iron Throne do.
Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen
He’s So Good, He Makes It Hard to Hate His Character
Tom Glynn-Carney is a revelation as Aegon II Targaryen, and that’s especially obvious in House of the Dragon Season 3. Aegon is another character that fans are primed to hate from the beginning, but Glynn-Carney makes that really, really hard to keep up. He brings such nuance to the role that it’s easy to forget where he started — and that he’s still not operating from a place of good intentions, even now. His grief over Sunfyre and euphoric response to reuniting with the dragon are prime examples of why he’s one of the best stars of Season 3. His comedic moments are also great. People will be quoting “I’m alive!” until House of the Dragon Season 4.
Why It’s #2: It’s a very close call between Glynn-Carney and Emma D’Arcy’s performances, but D’Arcy delivers one Emmy-worthy scene that pushes their Season 3 work to the top.
Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen
Jace’s Death Leads to an Emmy-Worthy Performance
Emma D’Arcy is the standout performer of House of the Dragon Season 3, and they cement themselves as such as early as the second episode. D’Arcy captures Rhaenyra’s grief over Jace’s death in such a raw and heart-wrenching way. They then go on to portray Rhaenyra’s dark Season 3 arc in a manner that’s both compelling and as frustrating as it should be. Game of Thrones fans may feel that Daenerys’s villain turn is rushed, but House of the Dragon fully builds to Rhaenyra’s. Thanks to D’Arcy, that steady descent receives the nuance and weight it deserves.
Why It’s #1: D’Arcy’s performance is easily one of the top ones of Season 3. The increased focus on Rhaenyra, and the Episode 2 scene where the queen learns of Jace’s death, allow it to pull past Glynn-Carney’s. D’Arcy deserves an Emmy for that moment.
- Release Date
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August 21, 2022
- Network
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HBO
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Fabien Frankel
Ser Criston Cole
