George R. R. Martin is known to be no big fan of House of the Dragon after the first season. But one actor impressed him so much that he found his character better than in the book.
Which character is it? George R. R. Martin has his issues with House of the Dragon, especially from season 2 onwards. He told the Hollywood Reporter, for instance: Then it went to the second season, and [the showrunner] pretty much stopped listening to me
.
But he doesn’t find everything bad, at least one important character from season 1: Viserys I. Targaryen. In an interview with GQ, the actor Paddy Considine said that he received a message from Martin: Your Viserys is better than my Viserys
.
Although Viserys is a boring character on paper, he plays it really well – especially thanks to Paddy Considine.
A Tragic and Loving King
What makes Viserys I so interesting? Viserys I is, as a king and character in House of the Dragon, quite boring at first glance. He rules during a time of peace, so at first, he doesn’t have much to do, and he is a rather quiet character overshadowed by more present
figures like his brother Daemon or his daughter Rhaenyra.
But that’s precisely what makes him interesting. He is one of the few kings who did not resort to conflicts, even avoiding them, to maintain an era of peace in Westeros that his ancestor had achieved. He slowly succumbs to his illness, but strives to keep his country and family together – a tragedy without having to actively present it outwardly.
Exactly this calmness is conveyed by Paddy Considine as the actor of Viserys on screen. At the same time, he embodies, even in the later stages of Viserys’ illness, a certain grace and respect. Other characters are in the foreground compared to him, but he is always a great addition to every scene.
He is a calm presence for the viewer, but also at the same time the futile hope that the conflict of the Targaryens can still be prevented. Although he is boring, he is a special character in the entire Westeros universe, a world full of eccentric characters driven by the urge for power.
Until his tragic death, Viserys I was a venerable king who accidentally was probably responsible for the doom of the dragon.
What do you think of Viserys and who do you like the most in House of the Dragon? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. Westeros is not just made up of warriors and kings; there are some puppeteers in the background: The 10 smartest puppeteers in the Game of Thrones universe ranked
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