10 House of the Dragon Characters Who Could Have a Much Bigger Role in Season 3

This list contains spoilers for Fire and Blood and potential future plots for House of the Dragon.

Season 2 of House of the Dragon has received mixed reviews, with even George R.R. Martin voicing his opinions in a blog post that was quickly removed, presumably under pressure from CEO Zaslav. HBO MAX, part of Warner Bros. Discovery for two years, looks set to significantly impact the show’s trajectory.

Originally planned as a 10-episode season, Season 2 was cut to 8 episodes shortly before filming began, leading to concerns that Seasons 3 and 4 might be similarly cut. Given these uncertainties, it is difficult to predict exact storylines, but the characters on this list will play pivotal roles.

10 Lord Ormund Hightower is leading his forces into war

Debut: Season 2, Episode 1 — “A Son for a Son”

Ormund Hightower, Lord of the Hightower seat in Oldtown, is the grandson of Otto Hightower. He wields the Valyrian steel sword Vigilance. Ormund fought in several battles during the Dance of the Dragons. He won the Battle of Honeywine with the help of his nephew Daeron and his dragon Tessarion.

After the victory, he knighted his nephew and coined the nickname “Daeron the Bold”. After that, they besieged Longtable and Bitterbridge. In the book, Ormund dies at the hands of Lord Rokerick Duston in the First Battle of Tumbleton.

9 The Wolf of the North will play an important role in future events

Debut: Season 2, Episode 1 — “A Son for a Son”

Cregan Stark, known as the “Wolf of the North”, was the Lord of Winterfell during the Dance of the Dragons. In Season 2, Episode 1, he receives Jacaerys Targaryen at Winterfell and the duo visits the Wall together. Cregan promised Rhaenyra's son that he would send the Greybeards south to fight Rhaenyra and in the final scene of Season 2, they arrive at the crossroads. However, Cregan was not part of that scene. In a leaked set image, Cregan appeared to have filmed the scene, but the shot was cut. Since House of the DragonSeason 2 was cut two episodes short a month before filming, it seems likely that Cregan was in one of the originally planned episodes.

As for season 3, it remains to be seen whether the HBO MAX CEO will give the production 10 episodes or just 8. Depending on the outcome, viewers may not see as much of Cregan in season 3 as they should, but hopefully he will have more screen time. Unlike most characters who lived during the Dance of the Dragons, Cregan lived to a ripe old age. He actually became Hand of the King to Young Aegon, Rhaenyra's son, when he ascended to the throne after the Dance of the Dragons. But he returned to the North soon after. The exact year of his death is unknown.

8 Viserys and Aegon the Younger May Become Hostages

Debut: Season 1, Episode 8 — “Lord of the Tides”

Rhaenyra Targaryen and Daemon's children will have a more prominent role in Season 3. At the end of Season 2, the two boys are sent to Essos for refuge. In Episode 8, Tyland Lannister goes to the Free Cities to make a pact with the pirates and successfully recruits them to fight Lord Corlys' fleet. In the final montage scene, Tyland sails with Admiral Lohar.

In season three, the pirates are expected to encounter the Gay Abandon, the ship with Rhaenyra's children, and if they do, they will capture them. Fire and BloodYoung Aegon flees on his dragon Tempest and abandons his brother.

Aegon returns to Dragonstone but never recovers from this trauma. He later becomes the seventh king of Westeros. However, the TV adaptation has aged Rhaenyra's children, so it is unlikely that Condal and his writing team will follow the book's plot. Instead of escaping on his baby dragon, it seems more likely that both boys will be captured and held hostage by pirates.

7 Daemon's daughter, Baela Targaryen, will fight for her queen

Debut: Season 1, Episode 6 — “The Princess and the Queen”

While Baela's role has expanded in the second season of House of the DragonBaela had little to do, aside from advising Lord Corlys and Prince Jacaerys and a scene where he chased Cole through the woods. His role is expected to expand considerably in season three. In the book, Baela's dragon is too small to participate in any of the earlier battles during the Dance of the Dragons.

However, showrunner Condal has changed this plot point. Baela's storyline is expected to include some battle scenes in Season 3. Perhaps she will be involved in the long-awaited Battle of the Gullet to support her betrothed and grandfather Corlys.

In Fire and BloodBaela becomes a central figure after the rise of her half-brother Aegon III (Aegon the Younger) and spends much of her life in King's Landing. Baela eventually marries Alyn Velaryon, son of Corlys and Lord of the Tides.

6 Helaena Targaryen's fate could have a tragic end

Debut: Season 1, Episode 8 — “Lord of the Tides”

Helaena, sister-wife of King Aegon II, is alone in King's Landing at the end of season two, as Aegon has left with Larys Strong. In the book, Helaena is not a prominent character. She is mentioned in the Blood & Cheese event and later commits suicide, after her third son, Maelor (who is not in the series), tragically dies at the hands of a mob in Bitterbridge.

However, Helaena's story in House of the Dragon has been significantly altered. Helaena is definitely a Dragon Dreamer and possibly a Greenseer. During the first two seasons, Helaena prophesies the doom of her family, but her comments are often ignored or dismissed. In the season two finale, she takes on a much larger role. She appears in Daemon's final vision at the Weirwood tree and tells Aemond that he will die at the Gods Eye. It seems likely that Helaena's role will be further expanded in season three.

5 Turncoat Alfred Ginster might try his luck with Aemond

Debut: Season 2, Episode 1 — “A Son for a Son”

Alfred Ginster, a member of the Black Council, seems to have more screen time in season three. In season two, he repeatedly opposes Rhaenyra and questions her choices, and when she sends him to Harrenhal to deal with Daemon, he turns on her and encourages the King Consort to claim the throne for himself. When Rhaenyra arrives at Harrenhal and Daemon declares his fealty to her, Alfred slips out the back door.

It seems plausible that Ser Alfred might head to King's Landing to support the Greens after all, since Daemon would no doubt execute him for treason. Since he has nowhere else to go, King's Landing might be the best option. Aemond would welcome the Turncloak with open arms, since he has information about the Blacks and their plans.

4 Rhaena Targaryen will have friction with Rhaenyra

Debut: Season 1, Episode 6 — “The Princess and the Queen”

Baela's younger twin sister has little to do during the Dance of the Dragons in Fire and Blood. She is sent to the Vale and then returned to King's Landing after the war ends. In the TV series, Rhaena's story has changed significantly. When the queen demands that she take her youngest children to the Vale and her two youngest to Essos, she is visibly frustrated. She obeys Rhaenyra's wishes but abandons Young Aegon and Viserys when the boys board a ship to Pentos. Rhaena wants to find the wild dragon that was sighted in the Vale. In the season two finale, Rhaena finally comes face to face with Sheepstealer.

Showrunner Condal has purposely left out Sheepstealer's claim. He could still try to bring Nettles into the show, who claimed Sheepstealer in the book, or he'll save Rhaena's success as a surprise for the third season opener. Either way, Rhaena will have issues with Rhaenyra for abandoning her young children, and as such, her storyline should be much larger than in the previous two seasons.

3 Dragon seeds will be crucial to the war effort

Debut: Season 2, Multiple Episodes

Some of the most intriguing new characters in season two were the Dragonseeds, the survivors of Vermithor's Jurassic Park-style attack. Ulf the White, Hugh Hammer, and Addam of Hull (the bastard of Corlys) have all claimed dragons, and their personalities couldn't be more different. Addam is friendly and humble and seems eager to serve his queen, while Ulf is a drunken prankster with no regard for etiquette, while Hugh Hammer seems serious and committed to the cause.

All three will undoubtedly have significant roles in the upcoming season 3, as all three will participate in various battles. However, if the TV adaptation follows Fire and Blood In any form, Rhaenyra is bound for some serious trouble. In the book, Hugh and Ulf turn on Rhaenyra when she refuses to grant them a castle and the wife they desire. The two end up in the history books as the Two Traitors who defected to Team Green. Poor Addam is subject to Rhaenyra's paranoia after Ulf and Hugh betray her, and he dies at the Battle of Tumbleton, eager to prove his loyalty to his queen.

2 The mysterious shepherd will ignite a rebellion

Debut: N/A

The character Shepherd has not yet appeared in House of the Dragon, but will do so in Season 3. Shepherd, whose real name is unknown, is an important figure in King's Landing during the Dance of the Dragons. He leads an uprising in the capital known as Shepherd's Rebellion. Shepherd, a follower of the Faith of the Seven, believes that dragons are demons.

When Rhaenyra sits on the throne in King's Landing, the Shepherd starts a riot and leads a mob into the Dragonpit, and several dragons are slaughtered. Rumor has it that the Shepherd was responsible for Syrax's death. Grand Maester Munkun also believes that the Shepherd spread rumors that Rhaenyra had killed Queen Helaena, beloved of the Small Folk.

1 Daeron “The Daring” Targaryen will be a great asset to the Greens

Debut: Season 2, Episode 8 — “The Queen That Never Was”

Daeron's name has been mentioned several times in season two. He is the youngest son of Alicent Hightower and the late King Viserys and was raised in Oldtown as a ward of Ormund Hightower. The audience gets a glimpse of his dragon Tessarion, known as the Blue Queen, in the season two finale.

Second Fire and BloodDaeron will play an important role in the Dance of the Dragons. First, he will support his family in their upcoming Battle of Honeywine. After the fall of King's Landing, the death of Aemond, and with his older brother Aegon II still missing, Daeron becomes the greatest threat to Rhaenyra. He later dies in the Second Battle of Tumbleton.