As with Game Of Thrones before it, the big question hanging over House Of The Dragon is: who should ascend the Iron Throne? In fact, should anybody? (A question answered with some finality in the ending of Thrones.) The Targaryen Civil War explodes when the descendants of King Viserys are divided over who they think he intended as his successor – and all kinds of terrible things have already unfolded across both Team Black and Team Green, as different factions of the family tree all vie for power. Given the current state of play in the immediate aftermath of the Season 3 finale, who is the current best candidate to rule Westeros right now?
This is exactly what Empire posed to Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal – via the Pilot TV podcast – asking for his best pick to ensure a sane and stable rule. And, after 17 seconds of mulling over his answer, his pick wasn’t a Targaryen. “I mean, honestly I think Alicent,” he says, pointing to the experience held by Rhaenyra’s matriarchal rival. “There’s not a character in the show that has seen more of a differential between power, to lack of power. She’s seen it all. She doesn’t ride a dragon, which I think is probably important for a sane and stable leader. But I think where she is now, where we find her now in the story, and certainly where I think she’s going, she’s a person that has the proper experience and training to make the right choices.”
While the events of the Dance Of The Dragons has, so far, brought up all kinds of personal grievances (fair play, given the number of bodies piling up, children included), Condal sees Alicent as a figure capable of reconciliation. “Even though Alicent could be vindictive about things – and we’ll see where it goes from here based on what happens in the [Season 3] finale – we have seen her let go of vindictiveness, in a way that other people seem to double down on it as things get darker,” he says. “And that’s where I think you get to see the real true nature of a character.”
Aside from Alicent? The creator points to Lord Corlys as a promising candidate. “I think Sea Snake would be a great king too, in terms of experience,” says Condal. “I was just trying to pick somebody that wasn’t blonde.” Hear that, Targaryens? You’re not the good guys!
Listen to the full Ryan Condal interview – talk about the entirety of House Of The Dragon Season 3 in full spoiler detail – on the Pilot TV podcast, coming soon. House Of The Dragon is streaming in full on HBO Max / NOW.
