Remember how on House of the Dragon in season 1 they unloaded a school bus of new kids and new actors not once, but twice? The big time jump in season 1 episode 6 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 3. [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.]
Unfortunately, some of the children on this list are no longer living, which is a huge bummer. Season 3 started off with a major death, leaving Rhaenyra reeling. And in the previous two seasons, it seems like we got to know the Green kids way more. Why do I know so much about the boy with the eyepatch's sexual preferences, and so little about the girl who went rogue and claimed her own 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 3, Alicent still has one MIA son (who allegedly went to King’s Landing in the last episode, but it was a fake-out). 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 (presumed dead)
Status: Alive, but badly injured
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.
He’s currently on the road with Larys Strong, trying to remain incognito.
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
Status: Alive and captive in King’s Landing
Alicent’s daughter is a former bug girl turned queen, who has prophetic dreams. Unfortunately, those prophetic dreams don’t stop a lot of bad things from happening to her. In season 1 she gets betrothed to her own brother Aegon. In season 2, one of their children is murdered in front of her. In season 3, she’s currently being held captive. A really tough run.
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
Status: Alive??? But injured
Aegon and Helaena’s younger brother is originally timid and short compared to them, but we watched him claim Vhagar and then provoke his nephews to the point of getting his eye quite literally poked out. 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!! In season 3, he’s currently “missing,” but actually injured at Harrenhal.
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. But he has been mentioned a lot. More on that...
Alicent and Viserys’s son Daeron Targaryen
Played by: TBD
Parents: Alicent Hightower and Viserys Targaryen
Dragon: Tessarion
Status: Alive
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 it was explained that he was sent to ward when he was younger and didn't grow up in the Red Keep.
In season 3, Daeron is central to a pivotal power play on Ormund Hightower’s part. When Daemon comes to force him to surrender, he demands to take Daeron captive. Ormund sends “Daeron” with him, but it’s actually just a kid with dyed hair. The real Daeron is still alive and with Ormund.
Here’s the fake Daeron:
And here’s who I think is the real Daeron. You’re going to have to zoom in, but I think they’re going to reveal that he’s the redheaded young man next to Ormund in this scene from episode 1:
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), both deceased
Status: Both deceased
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.
They're also not great at protecting kids in Westeros. Luke died at the end of season 1, killed by Aemond and his dragon, and Jace died in the season 3 premiere.
Rhaenyra’s son Joffrey Velaryon
Played by: A baby in season 1, Oscar Eskinazi in season 2, TBD in season 3
Parents: Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon (officially), Harwin Strong (allegedly definitely)
Dragon: Tyraxes
Status: Alive
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!
In season 3, he still hasn’t appeared on screen, but he’s being sent for from the Vale.
Rhaenyra and Daemon’s kids Aegon, Viserys, and Visenya Targaryen
Played by: infant actors
Parents: Rhaenyra Targaryen and Daemon Targaryen
Dragon(s): let’s circle back
Status: Aegon and Viserys are alive, Visenya is deceased
We haven’t seen them much in the show, but as of now, the two boys, Aegon and Viserys, are on their way to Pentos from the Vale. They are being guarded by a very small number of soldiers, so... I'll be curious to see whether they make it there alive. Visenya died when Rhaenyra went into labor early upon the news of her father's death.
Daemon’s daughter Baela Targaryen
Played by: Shani Smethurst originally, Bethany Antonia as an adult
Parents: Laena Velaryon and Daemon Targaryen
Dragon: Moondancer
Status: Alive
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. 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 until Jace dies while fighting in the Battle of the Gullet. Since then, Rhaenyra has been giving her the cold shoulder, even though it’s not really her fault. She and her father have seemingly no relationship despite living in the same house. Can’t say I blame her!
Daemon’s daughter Rhaena Targaryen
Played by: Eva Ossei-Gerning originally, Phoebe Campbell as an adult
Parents: Laena Velaryon and Daemon Targaryen
Dragon: Sheepstealer
Status: Alive
Rhaena, on the other hand, loves dancing and dresses and is a late bloomer when it comes to dragon riding. The fact that it took her so long to claim a dragon is a major source of insecurity for her, actually, so let's not dwell on it. In season 2, Rhaena is tasked with protecting Joffrey, the younger boys, 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.
In the first episode of season 3, we saw her claim Sheepstealer, to disastrous results. This is a departure from the book, where Sheepstealer was actually claimed by a rider named Nettles, and Rhaena ended up with a different dragon later on. She also has basically no relationship with her dad, fwiw.
