House Of The Dragon, the spinoff to Game of Thrones, serves as a prequel (200 years before Daenerys Targaryen), but it also changed the game by adding Black characters in the main cast.
Of course it caused a bit of a stink from the haters, but we are now into the second season, so nobody cares about all that dead air. “If we believe in dragons, and shapeshifters and direwolves, we can believe everybody in the story is not white,” Ryan Condal, showrunner for House of the Dragon, tells The Wrap.
In the franchise lore, the Velaryons are described to be closer to the gods than to men with their iconic silver hair and giant, daunting dragons. The time period for HOD starts 110 years after the ‘Doom of Valyria’ and ended the reign of House Velaryon. The creators planned out strategically for House Velaryon to be Black “because that felt like the most fantastical race in the show, and it felt like ... these were people from a lost continent that we don’t really know that much about,” Condal said. “And it always stuck with me, this article ... where George had talked about, at first when he set out to write these books, considering making all of the Velaryons Black. ... Black people with silver hair — and that always really stuck with me as an image.”
There are a few other Black people on the show who are not part of House of Velaryon, but we are going to stick to what we know right now. So, here’s a breakdown of the Black Velaryons you should know and never underestimate:
Lord Corlys “The Sea Snake” Velaryon played by Steven Toussaint:
Also known as “the Sea Snake” and Lord of Driftmark, Lord Corlys is the head of House Velaryon. He is the most famous seafarer in Westeros history. And he knows how to enter a room, with his tall, lean body, dark skin and long silver locs.
Sir Vaemond Velaryon played by Wil Johnson:
Was the commander of the Velaryon army and younger brother of Lord Corlys. Ambitious to be Lord of Driftmark after his brother and more, but ...well...that doesn’t end well.
Sir Laenor Velaryon played by John Macmillan:
Son of Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys. Under the guise to continue his intimate relationship with his male lover, he marries Princess Rhaenyra to carry out their duty and strengthen the bloodline. His “children” are accused of being illegitimate. Uh, well again...things don’t always end well for Black people in this world either.
Lady Leana Velaryon played by Nanna Blondell:
Daughter of Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys. She becomes the second wife of Prince Deamon Targaryen and gives birth to two daughters. She is a strong dragon rider and rides the legendary Vaghar. She has light brown skin and curly white hair.
Lady Baela Velaryon played by Bethany Antonia:
Eldest daughter of Prince Deamon and Lady Laena. She is a dragon rider who rides the young dragon Moondancer. Betrothed to Prince Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon, she has long natural curly hair with bronze skin.
Lady Rhaena Velaryon played by Phoebe Campbell:
Second daughter of Prince Daemon and Lady Laena. She’s the only one in her family that does not have a dragon. She was supposed to get Vaghar after her mother but was robbed by Aemond Targaryan. She is betrothed to Prince Lucerys “Luke” Velaryon. She has those gorgeous long locs and bronze skin.
House of the Dragon is streaming now on Max.
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