‘Home of the Dragon’ Character Ages

Spoilers forward.

Watching a sequence as advanced as Home of the Dragon may understandably increase just a few questions, particularly, Why is there a Rhaenys, a Rhaena, and a Rhaenyra in the identical household? or, The place is The Vale once more? or maybe, Shouldn’t all this incest trouble me extra? And after the sequence’ quite a few unprompted time jumps, you may’ve particularly discovered your self questioning, Sorry, wait, this dude is how previous once more?

It’s a good question, contemplating episode 2 finds the grownup King Viserys Targaryen asserting his plans to marry Alicent Hightower, who doesn’t look like a lot older than his teenage daughter. (Earlier than that, Viserys’ court docket was pressuring him to wed 12-year-old Laena Velaryon for political functions, so lesson realized: Little one marriage acceptable!). By episode 3, Alicent is pregnant together with her and Viserys’ second youngster, and in episode 4, his daughter is attracting, uh…some older suitors of her personal. By episode 6, a mid-season time soar hurdles us ahead 10 years. However that’s not all! Episode 8 options yet one more flash-forward, this time by a mere six years. These people are growing older so quick we barely have time to squeeze in a rest room break.

So as to add to the chaos, not all of the ages of the Home of the Dragon characters are revealed outright on the present, and the actors aren’t essentially the identical age as their onscreen counterparts. Suffice to say, we may all use somebody holding tabs on this unanticipated math.

Fortunately, we are able to look to George R. R. Martin’s e book Hearth & Blood, the premise for the sequence, for a little bit of steering. Take into accout, although, that some particulars have been modified for the display adaptation, which is at present airing weekly on HBO. What we do know is that episode 1 of Dragon begins within the 12 months 101, when King Jaehaerys broadcasts his grandson Viserys as his inheritor. Then the timeline jumps to the ninth 12 months of King Viserys’ reign, and the next episodes make minor (and, ultimately, main) leaps ahead as they transfer alongside. Right here, we attempt to make sense of how the characters are growing older by all of it.

Alicent Hightower: Based on Hearth & Blood, Alicent, born round 88 years after Aegon’s Conquest (AC), arrives to King’s Touchdown when she is 13 years previous to accompany her father, Otto Hightower. She is 17 when Queen Aemma dies and 18 when she turns into Viserys’ second spouse. Within the e book, she’s 9 years older than Princess Rhaenyra, however in Dragon they’re meant to be across the similar age: 15 years previous as of episode 1, then roughly 17 or 18 throughout episodes 3-5. Emily Carey, the actress who performs younger Alicent, is nineteen years previous.

As of Dragon’s mid-season time soar in episode 6, Alicent is aged up by a decade to someplace round 28. Episode 8 takes place one other six years later, when Alicent is in her mid-30s. Olivia Cooke, who performs the older Alicent, is 28.

Rhaenyra Targaryen: In episode 2, Viserys mentions his daughter, Rhaenyra, is 15 years previous. Then, following a time soar in episode 3, he mentions she is now 17 (and “of age” to marry). This marks a major change from the e book, which states that Rhaenyra was born in 97 AC, and could be solely 9 years previous when her father marries Alicent. Milly Alcock, who performs younger Rhaenyra, is 22.

As of the mid-season time soar, Rhaenyra is aged as much as 27, then—as of episode 8—to 33. Emma D’Arcy, who performs the older Rhaenyra, is 30.

Viserys Targaryen: Within the e book, Viserys—born 77 AC—marries 18-year-old Alicent shortly earlier than he turns 30. They’re meant to be 11 years aside in age. However in Dragon, Viserys is considerably older, as Paddy Considine (who stars as Viserys within the sequence) is 49. Viserys’ actual age hasn’t been confirmed onscreen, however we are able to assume he’s meant to be someplace round 70 by the point episode 8 rolls round.

Otto Hightower: Within the e book, Alicent’s father, born roughly round 76 AC, ought to be a 12 months older than Viserys. Which means he’s about 25 by the point Viserys is known as inheritor, and 30 when Alicent and Viserys marry. As performed by Rhys Ifans in Dragon, he’s likelier to be in his 50s in episodes 1-5, then in his 60s and 70s in episodes 6-8. Though Otto’s actual age stays unconfirmed onscreen, the Notting Hill and Wonderful Spider-Man star who performs him is 55 years previous.

Daemon Targaryen: Born in 81 AC, Daemon is meant to be 4 years youthful than his brother, Viserys, in accordance with the chronology in Hearth & Blood. Matt Smith, who portrays Daemon, is 39 years previous. On condition that Smith’s Daemon doesn’t seem to age a lot through the 10-year time soar from episodes 5 to six, it’s potential Dragon has aged Daemon down just a few years from his authentic inception in Hearth & Blood.

Mysaria: The precise age of Mysaria, a.okay.a. Girl Distress, is unclear in each the e book and the present. However as Daemon’s paramour and ally, she seems to be round his age in Dragon. Sonoya Mizuno, who performs Mysaria, is 36.

Laena Velaryon: Laena’s first look in Dragon is in episode 2, the place she is supposed to be 12 years previous (performed by Nova Fouellis-Mosé). The character isn’t in episodes 3 or 4, however she returns as a youngster in episode 5 after which as an grownup in episode 6, portrayed by actresses Savannah Steyn and Nanna Blondell, respectively. When Laena dies in episode 6, she is probably going round 25 years previous.

Laenor Velaryon: The older son of Corlys and Rhaenys, Laena’s older brother and Rhaenyra’s first husband, Laenor is simply three years older than the princess in Hearth & Blood. If that’s additionally true of the present, he’d be about 20 years previous after we see him preventing within the Stepstones in episode 3, and in his early 30s as of episodes 6 and seven.

Corlys Velaryon: Born in 53 AC within the e book, the famed Sea Snake is meant to be 48 when Jaehaerys names an inheritor, which might make him in his early 80s as of episode 8 of Dragon. However as a result of actor Steve Toussaint is 57, it’s seemingly Corlys has been aged down a bit within the present.

Rhaenys Targaryen: Born 74 AC in Hearth & Blood, Princess Rhaenys was 27 when Jaehaerys handed her over as inheritor and named Viserys subsequent in line for the throne as an alternative. That may place her in her early 60s as of episode 8. Eve Finest, who performs “The Queen Who By no means Was,” is regal at 51.

Ser Criston Cole: Based on Martin’s The World of Ice and Hearth, Ser Criston was born in 81 AC, making him 16 years Rhaenyra’s senior. However Dragon’s Ser Criston is probably going a lot youthful: Fabien Frankel, who portrays the knight onscreen, is 28 years previous, solely 8 years older than Alcock’s younger Rhaenyra. That may place Criston someplace in his late 30s or early 40s as of episode 8.

Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) and Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel).

Aegon II Targaryen: Born in 106 AC within the e book, the primary son of Viserys and Alicent is 2 years previous when he’s first launched in episode 3. In episode 6, we see him for the primary time as a younger adolescent; in episode 9, he confirms he’s 20 years previous. The actor who performs him in episode 8, Tom Glynn-Carney, is 27.

Helaena Targaryen: Viserys and Alicent’s daughter—born in 109 AC in Hearth & Blood—is an toddler after we meet her in episode 3. By the ultimate season time soar in episode 8, she’s seemingly round 17. Phia Saban, who performs Helaena, is 24.

Aemond Targaryen: The third and remaining youngster of Viserys and Alicent, Aemond is a toddler in episode 6, although older than Rhaenyra’s kids. In Hearth & Blood, he’s born in 110 AC, making him solely a 12 months youthful than his sister, Helaena. That may place him someplace round 16 years previous by episode 8. Ewan Mitchell, who locations the newest model of Aemond, is 20.

Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon: Born in 114 AC, Rhaenyra’s first son by Laenor Velaryon (however, actually, by Ser Harwin Sturdy) is supposed to be 4 years youthful than his half-uncle Aemond. Which means he’d be round 12 in episode 8, nevertheless it’s seemingly that Dragon aged his character up a bit: The actor who performs him, Harry Collett, is eighteen.

Lucerys “Luke” Velaryon: Rhaenyra and Laenor’s second son was born in 115 AC, a 12 months after Jace. That may make Luke round 11 in episode 8, although it appears Dragon has made Jace older and widened the age hole between the brothers.

Joffrey Velaryon: On condition that we witness Joffrey’s delivery in episode 6 and he’s nonetheless an toddler in episode 7, the Joffrey we meet in episode 8 is probably going round 6 or 7 years previous.

Rhaena Targaryen: Considered one of two twin daughters born to Laena Velaryon and Daemon Targaryen in 116 AC, in accordance with Martin’s books, Rhaena and her sister, Baela, could be round 9 or 10 in episode 8. However it will seem Dragon has aged them up from Hearth & Blood, making them the identical age or barely older than Rhaenyra’s kids. Phoebe Campbell, who performs the older Rhaena, is 25.

Baela Targaryen: The second twin daughter of Laena and Daemon, Baela is identical age as Rhaena, which means she’s seemingly in her early-to-mid teenagers in episode 8. Bethany Antonia, who performs the older Baela, is 24.