House Of The Dragon - Every Main Character Ranked From Worst To Best

Picking up Emilia Clarke's illustrious mantle is no small task. It is fortunate therefore that House of the Dragon have found themselves as captivating a leading lady as one could have hoped for.

While Daenerys was what one would imagine a perfect ruler would look like if it was produced in a laboratory, Rhaenyra's flaws as a character are far more evident, making her a considerably more human and relatable protagonist. The heir to the throne has shown herself willing to lie and deceive to get what she wants, while making a series of impetuously rash snap judgment calls.

What cannot be debated is the quality of the performances turned in by the actresses charged with playing Rhaenyra. Milly Alcock was absolutely mesmerizing in her five episode turn as the Black Queen's younger self, while Emma D'Arcy has seamlessly brought the adult iteration of Rhaenyra to life, older and wiser but still possessing the same indomitable nature. The heartbreaking nature of her many setbacks - losing her parents, her son and her newborn child to name but a few - make her a deeply sympathetic protagonist that audiences find themselves more emotionally invested in with each passing episode.

However, the latest devastating loss that Rhaenyra has suffered, that being her son Lucerys' tragically unintentional death over Storm's End, also means that fans should prepare for a darker, hardened version of the Black Queen, one solely intent on vengeance against the Greens. One imagines that the accidental nature of Aemond's transgression will have little bearing on what Rhaenyra perceives as cold blooded murder.