Like its predecessor, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon is notorious for killing off characters. Some characters are too big to die in season 2.
House of the Dragon, much like its parent show Game of Thrones, isn’t afraid to kill off characters. It deals in high-stakes games of war and politics where nobody is truly safe. There have been several notable deaths in the first season alone. Chief among these was the tragic passing of King Viserys I Targaryen and the sudden murder of Prince Lucerys Velaryon.
Things are only going to get more dangerous in House of the Dragon‘s second season. The Dance of the Dragons is about to break out in earnest, plunging Westeros and all of the principal cast into war. Even then, there are some characters who are unlikely to die this early in the show.
10/10Aegon Targaryen Is A Major Antagonist
Aegon II Targaryen ends House of the Dragon‘s first season as Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and king of Westeros. He usurps the throne from his half-sister Rhaenyra Targaryen with the backing of the Targaryen faction known as the Greens. The Dance of the Dragons will be fought between his supporters and Rhaenyra’s.
Given his major status, Aegon’s not likely to die in HOTD‘s second season. Nobody knows how long the Dance of the Dragons will last in the show, but Aegon is almost certain to survive to its end. He has lots of ground to cover as an unwilling and unworthy king who might be starting to enjoy his role and he’s starting to enjoy himself, even if he’s not up to the job.
9/10Larys Strong Doesn’t Have Many Weaknesses
King’s Landing is full of duplicitous schemers in House of the Dragon, but few are more cunning or evil than Larys Strong. Larys is the Lord Confessor for the throne and a major supporter of Alicent and her family. He’s shown himself to be adept at the game of politics and is one of the biggest plotters in Westeros.
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Larys is disabled and never shows much martial skill. However, this places him far from the front lines of the war. He’s also described his lack of weaknesses like love or moral standards to Alicent and is completely ruthless, willing to do anything to better himself.
8/10Laenor Velaryon May Well Have Left The Conflict
House of the Dragon actually diverges from its source material regarding Laenor Velaryon’s fate. In Fire & Blood Qarl Correy kills Laenor in a squabble. In House of the Dragon, the two conspire with Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen to fake Laenor’s death and let him flee to Essos.
Laenor isn’t in Westeros. As such, he may be one of the safest people in HOTD‘s entire cast. It’s unknown whether Laenor will appear in House of the Dragon‘s second season, or whether he’s left the narrative for good. Either way, he’s in much less danger than most other characters.
7/10Mysaria Has Keen Instincts And Ties To Both Sides
Mysaria is connected to both of House of the Dragons‘ factions. She’s a King’s Landing information broker who has worked with Otto Hightower in the past and is also Daemon Targaryen’s ex-lover. As such, her life might not actually be in danger from either side. She isn’t completely safe since Larys set her house on fire, but she’s not a major target.
Mysaria is also hard to kill. She has the instincts for self-preservation and a very sharp mind. It’s likely that Mysaria will be able to leverage her connections and resources to stay alive, even if the Greens have decided they have no more use for her.
6/10Rhaenyra Targaryen Is The Show’s Central Character
House of the Dragon is an ensemble piece, much like Game of Thrones before it. However, it also has a prominent central figure in Rhaenyra Targaryen. Much of the first season follows pivotal moments in Rhaenyra’s life leading up to her coronation and conflict with her half-brother, Aegon.
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It would be a very unusual choice for the show to kill Rhaenyra off anywhere close to HOTD‘s second season. The character has won widespread acclaim in both her young and adult iterations, and many of the show’s storylines are focused on her. If anyone can be safe in House of the Dragon, Rhaenyra is.
5/10Harrold Westerling Is Taking No Part
By the time of the Dance of the Dragons in Fire & Blood, Harrold Westerling is long dead. He dies of illness and Ser Criston Cole becomes Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Westerling has already survived longer than many expected and it doesn’t look like he’ll be dying soon.
Harrold’s last act on the show is declaring himself neutral. He refuses to assassinate Rhaenyra on Otto Hightower’s orders. Instead, he says that he’s only charged with obeying the king, and he recognizes no king. His neutrality might cost him if both factions want him dead. However, it looks more likely that he’ll either be overlooked or choose one side eventually.
4/10Aemond Targaryen Is One Of Westeros’ Most Accomplished Warriors
Aemond Targaryen is one of the Greens’ most prominent members on House of the Dragon. However, his likely survival also hinges on his martial skills since he’s one of the finest fighters in Westeros. Few characters can match him on foot and he also rides Vhagar, the single largest dragon in the world.
As such, Aemond looks almost unkillable for the foreseeable future in House of the Dragon. Lucerys Velaryon’s death at the end of the first season showed fans just how outmatched most dragons are against Vhagar. Even Vermithor, awakened in an attempt to match Vhagar’s threat, isn’t as powerful or as large.
3/10Alicent Hightower Is A Clear Noncombatant
Alicent Hightower is one of the central players in House of the Dragon‘s first season. She becomes Rhaenyra’s fiercest opposition and one of the leaders of the Greens faction. However, she also looks to be safer than most of her co-conspirators.
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Alicent isn’t a warrior and this has its advantages. Aemond Targaryen, Criston Cole, and even Otto Hightower might be called upon to fight, but Alicent won’t. Furthermore, few people in the show actually want her dead. Despite everything, Rhaenyra still cares about her. Nobody else thinks of her as a significant threat. As such, she’s very likely to survive, even if she might not enjoy it.
2/10Corlys Velaryon Has Cheated Death Several Times
The Velaryons are one of Westeros’ most powerful Houses. As of the end of House of the Dragon‘s first season, they’ve thrown their lot in Rhaenyra Targaryen and become major backers of the Blacks. Corlys is essential to Rhaenyra’s ongoing military strategy. He plans to establish a military blockade of King’s Landing.
Corlys Velaryon will be involved in the fighting and may risk his life. However, he’s also extremely hardy. He’s known for many voyages to the world’s most dangerous and distant lands. He spent years fighting in the Stepstones. Even when he sustains serious injuries and his succession is called into question, he recovers. It will take a lot to bring Corlys down.
1/10Daemon Targaryen Is Westeros’ Most Dangerous Man
Positioned alongside Rhaenyra, Daemon Targaryen is one of House of the Dragon‘s central characters. He’s prominent throughout the first season, particularly in its earliest episodes. Daemon is integral to the show’s military, political, and personal aspects. The show would lose a lot if he died.
Furthermore, Daemon is very hard to kill. He’s one of the few people in Westeros with meaningful military experience, having been a general in the Stepstones. He’s also a skilled and experienced dragon rider. Daemon will likely fighting a lot in House of the Dragon‘s second season, but it’s unlikely it will end with him dead.
