Who are Alicent’s, Rhaenyra’s, and Daemon’s children in House of the Dragon?
Remember how on House of the Dragon in season one they unloaded a school bus of new kids and new actors not once, but twice? The big time jump in season one episode six felt like the HotD pilot all over again, and then the cast changed again. We had just figured out how to spell “Rhaenyra” (I’m honestly still struggling) and learned who Larys and Harwin Strong were, too. Those crazy kids and their crazy kids have gotten up to a lot since. Here’s your guide to Alicent’s, Rhaenyra’s, and/or Daemon’s kids on House of the Dragon and what they're getting up to in season 2. [There are some slight paternity and, uh…personality spoilers from the Fire & Blood book here. If you want to be totally surprised by House of the Dragon, tread lightly.]
It really feels like season 2 has focused more on the Team Green kids than the Team Black kids, which is unfortunate if you ask me. Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen's brood seem chill and like a much better hang than Alicent Hightower's kids and their laundry list of issues. Why do I know so much about the boy with the eyepatch's sexual preferences, and so little about the girl who went rogue on her dragon?? It's not fair!
Spoiler for those who haven’t read the books: We’re not done adding kids to this scenario. Even though we're well into season 2, Alicent still has one MIA son and Rhaenyra has a daughter cooking in the womb. They should call it Full House of the Dragon, if you ask me. Here’s the who’s who and what to know about all these dang kids.
Alicent and Viserys’s son Aegon Targaryen
Played by: Ty Tennant originally, Tom Glynn-Carney as an adult
Parents: Alicent Hightower and Viserys Targaryen
Dragon: Sunfyre
Alicent’s oldest son, who we’ve seen before as an infant and toddler, is now an adult — and a rude one, to say the least. He may have let the knowledge that he is Princess Rhaenyra’s most legitimate rival to the Iron Throne go to his head. In season 1, he rapes a handmaiden named Dyana. In season 2, as the usurper king of Team Green, he pisses off King's Landing by ordering every ratcatcher to die and leads Westeros into all-out war. He may have been badly injured in a dragon battle, but he doesn't have my sympathy.
Alicent and Viserys’s daughter Helaena Targaryen
Played by: Evie Allen originally, Phia Saban as an adult
Parents: Alicent Hightower and Viserys Targaryen
Dragon: Dreamfyre
Alicent’s daughter, who looks a lot like Alicent’s former bestie and stepdaughter Rhaenya, has a bug collection. Shout-out to the bug girls! She also has prophetic dreams, but that doesn't stop a lot of bad things from happening to her. In season 1 she gets betrothed to her own brother Aegon. Bummer! In season 2, one of their children is murdered in front of her.
Alicent and Viserys’s son Aemond Targaryen
Played by: Leo Ashton originally, Ewan Mitchell as an adult
Parents: Alicent Hightower and Viserys Targaryen
Dragon: Vhagar
Aegon and Helaena’s younger brother is originally timid and short compared to them, but as of last episode, we watched him claim Vhagar and then provoke his nephews to the point of getting his eye quite literally poked out. Don’t worry, there’s more to come considering he…goes through it in the book. At the end of season 1, he murders one of his cousins and in season 2 his thirst for revenge and power is still not quenched. When Aegon gets injured, he takes his place on the Iron Throne!!
Queen Alicent has a third son with Viserys Targaryen in the book Fire & Blood, Daeron, who hasn’t shown up in the show in season 1 or season 2. Sorry to that man! Apparently he's with the rest of House Hightower in Oldtower.
Alicent and Viserys’s son Daeron Targaryen
Played by: TBD
Parents: Alicent Hightower and Viserys Targaryen
Dragon: Tessarion
In the sixth episode of season 2, it was confirmed/revealed(?) that Alicent and Viserys have another son. Who knew!? Book readers knew, but he had yet to be mentioned in the show in any consequential way. There was speculation among book fans that the show's creators had decided they weren't going to include the character at all. But in 22nd July's episode, it was explained that he was sent to ward when he was younger and didn't grow up in the Red Keep. He has yet to make an appearance onscreen. But he does have a dragon, so someone will need to redo the dragon math sometime soon.
Rhaenyra’s oldest sons Jacaerys Velaryon and Lucerys Velaryon
Played by: Leo Hart and Harvey Sadler originally, Harry Collett and Elliot Grihault as adults
Parents: Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon (officially), Harwin Strong (allegedly definitely)
Dragons: Vermax (Jacaerys), Arrax (Lucerys)
Rhaenyra’s eldest son, called Jace, and middle son, called Luke, are Laenor’s legally — but not biologically. The princess' husband was very, very gay, and so they decided to have an open marriage. Her lover, Ser Harwin Strong, is the father of her three oldest children. and their true parentage is kind of an open secret in King's Landing. (If you may remember from Game of Thrones season 1, it took several episodes for Ned Stark to work out that Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella Baratheon’s father was very obviously not Robert Baratheon but instead Jaime Lannister. They’re not great at genetics in Westeros.)
They're also not great at protecting kids in Westeros. Luke died at the end of season 1, killed by Aemond and his dragon. Jace is still around, betrothed to his cousin Baela, and slowly earning his mother's respect.
Rhaenyra’s son Joffrey Velaryon
Played by: A baby in season 1, Oscar Eskinazi in Season 2
Parents: Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon (officially), Harwin Strong (allegedly definitely)
Dragon: Tyraxes
The youngest son of Rhaenyra and Laenor, although not by blood, is named not after a future evil lil king but instead after Joffrey Lonmouth, Laenor’s boyfriend who was murdered at the wedding feast by Ser Criston Cole. Giving him this name is pretty bold, IMO, but clearly Rhaenyra and Laenor were all out of f*cks to give!
Rhaenyra and Daemon’s sons Aegon, Viserys, and Visenya Targaryen
Played by: Infant actors
Parents: Rhaenyra Targaryen and Daemon Targaryen
Dragon(s): Let’s circle back
We haven’t seen them much in the show, and not all of them have been born yet, but Daemon and Rhaenyra have two super-blonde sons and one daughter together.
Daemon’s daughter Baela Targaryen
Played by: Shani Smethurst originally, Bethany Antonia as an adult
Parents: Laena Velaryon and Daemon Targaryen
Dragon: Moondancer
Laena and Daemon have twin girls. Baela, the older of the two, is somewhat of a tomboy and might remind you a little of Arya Stark. Like her mother, she is more interested in dragons than boys and famously cuts her hair short so it doesn’t blow in her face while riding. On the show, she's a valuable member of Rhaenyra's council and honestly gets along really well with her cousin/fiancé Jace. I wish we got more of their relationship on the show!
Daemon’s daughter Rhaena Targaryen
Played by: Eva Ossei-Gerning originally, Phoebe Campbell as an adult
Parents: Laena Velaryon and Daemon Targaryen
Dragon: Morning (eventually)
Rhaena, on the other hand, loves dancing and dresses and is a late bloomer when it comes to dragon riding. The fact that she has not yet claimed a dragon is a major source of insecurity for her, actually, so let's not dwell on it. In Season two, Rhaena is tasked with protecting Joffrey and four dragon eggs in the Vale. She's not thrilled about it, but the civil war is very much an all-hands-on-deck situation.
The twins’ mother, Laena Velaryon, was pregnant with a third baby on House of the Dragon, but like Queen Aemma in the first episode, the baby is stillborn. Laena dies by the fire of her dragon during childbirth.
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