- 3,719
- Null Island
Seasons:
Two confirmed. Likely three or four seasons total for the Dance of the Dragons.
Showrunners:
Ryan Condal/Miguel Sapochnik
Scored by:
Ramin Djawadi 😁
Air date:
August 21st 2022
Network:
HBO
Based off of:
Fire & Blood by George R.R Martin
(more specifically, it's appearing to be based on the chapters from Heirs of the Dragon to at least The Hour of the Wolf)
TL;DR summary:
Dance of the Dragons or: How the Targaryens Began Their Descent from Greatness to Functional Extinction
Longer Form Summary:
Taking place at the apex of Targaryen rule, the Dance of the Dragons is a war that arguably has been building in some capacity since the births of Jaehaerys I Targaryen's second and third children Daenerys and Aemon in 53 and 55 AC, respectively; the proper buildup, meanwhile, wouldn't begin until the deaths of Aemon and his younger brother Baelon and the Great Council of 101 AC, with the two main factions fully forming about a decade later.
One of the bloodiest wars since the quote-unquote unification of the "Seven" Kingdoms of Westeros, with perhaps only the five Blackfyre Rebellions and two attempts to conquer Dorne by force being equal. The two factions in the war consist of, in broadly simplified terms:
- The Blacks: They are advocating for following King Viserys' decree that his daughter Rhaenyra, his sole living child from his first marriage to his cousin Aemma Arryn, inherit the Iron Throne after his death.
- The Greens: They are advocating for following long-standing tradition that the king's eldest son should inherit, this son being Aegon via the king's second marriage to Alicent Hightower.
Cast (links provided in quotebox divert to A Wiki of Ice and Fire):
[*]Paddy Considine as Viserys I Targaryen
Summary: The fifth man to sit the Iron Throne, Viserys is in general a good king whose main flaw was disregarding the precedent that most considered set by the Great Council of 101 AC (that being a woman or her male descendants cannot inherit) and then doing next to nothing to help shore up their position
[*]Michael Carter as Jaehaerys I Targaryen
Summary: The fourth man to sit the Iron Throne and the longest reign (~55 years) to date, Jaehaerys could be argued to have inadvertently set in motion the events of the Dance by passing over his granddaughter Rhaenys in favor of her uncle Baelon. All but assured to only be in the first episode owing to being in his late 60s at the time of the Great Council of 101.
[*]Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
Summary: Younger brother to Viserys, second husband to Rhaenyra (which leads me to explaining how a uncle/niece marriage is positively mundane by Targaryen standards and not even totally unheard of for other families), possibly the perfect example of both the good and evil that has shown itself in his family. Obligatory Dr. Who joke
[*]Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen
[*]Milly Alcock as younger Rhaenyra
Summary: Her father’s chosen heir and Princess of Dragonstone at the outbreak of the Dance, she is the claimant championed by the Black faction at court in the Red Keep. Not the worst to be heir but not ideal despite gender.
[*]Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon
Leo Hart as younger Jace
Summary: Eldest son of Rhaenyra and as-per his grandfather's decree second in line to the Iron Throne, would adopt the Targaryen name on ascension if the Joffrey Lydden/Lannister precedent from presumably back when the Targaryens were still in Valyria is anything to go off of. TOTALLY a legitimate Velaryon.
[*]Elliot Grihault as Lucerys Velaryon
Harvey Sadler as younger Luke
Summary: Secondborn son of Rhaenyra; much like his brothers Jace and Joff, he is ABSOLUTELY 100% A TRUEBORN VELARYON YESSIREE HE IS A STRONG SEAHORSE. His confrontation with his half-uncle Aemond at Storm's End marks the transition of the Dance from "sharp words" to "outright war"
[*]Sonoya Mizuna as Mysaria
[*]Rosa Escoda as younger Mysaria
Summary: Former dancer, lover of Daemon (to Rhaenyra’s support/apathy), unofficial Mistress of Whispers, chief go-between in the Blood & Cheese incident (which will be probably the most uncomfortable thing to be adapted in the show if it ends up going ahead, just as a heads-up)
[*]Sian Brooke as Aemma Arryn
Summary: First wife and first cousin of Viserys I Targaryen, mother to Rhaenyra, another whose contribution to the Dance was not felt until much further after her death
[*]Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
[*]Emily Carey as younger Alicent
Summary: Second wife and Queen of Viserys, the chief figure of the Green faction, advocating for her son Aegon's right to inherit as per cultural custom
[*]Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower
Summary: Father to Alicent, Hand of the King to three separate Kings (Jaehaerys I, Viserys I, Aegon II); methodical almost to a fault but effective enough at the job, good at the long game
[*]Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon Targaryen (son of Viserys I)
Ty Tennant as younger Aegon
Jake & Rory Heard as infant/toddler Aegon
Summary: Eldest son of Viserys and Alicent and the main claimant championed by the Green faction as per cultural tradition. Either a terrible man or someone thrust into a position he wasn't ready for, truth is somewhere in the middle. To make it a bit confusing later on, Rhaenyra names her first son by her marriage to Daemon the same name.
Side notes: Absolutely brilliant choice as here's a drawing of him from Fire & Blood for comparison, another Dr. Who parallel considering Ty's dad is David Tennant
[*]Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen
Evie Allen as younger Helaena
Summary: Only daughter of Viserys and Alicent, sister-wife to Aegon (THERE'S THE PROPER TARG INCEST), one of the few comparatively pure people which makes the absolutely impossible decision she's forced into during the Blood & Cheese incident that much worse
[*]Ewan Mitchel as Aemond Targaryen
Leo Ashton as younger Aemond
Summary: Second of Alicent Hightower's sons and younger brother to Aegon II. Hotheaded and dangerous player in the Dance
[*]Steve Touissant as Corlys Velaryon
Summary: The Sea Snake and already a legend before his fortieth birthday owing to his nine voyages to essentially every known point in Essos; especially of note is his second voyage going all the way to Asshai, which is about as far east as somewhat solid Westerosi knowledge goes. The few named places beyond Asshai, the Thousand Islands, Nefer, and Mossovy (the last three being on the northern side of Essos and the destination of his third voyage) are essentially THAR BE DRAGONS-level legends.
[*]Wil Johnson as Vaemond Velaryon
Summary: Younger brother of Corlys* and one of the commanders of the Sea Snake's fleet, one of those who raised objections over his plans to name his grandson Lucerys as heir to Driftmark.
*=Show canon as a result of probable family condensing, is a nephew in the books.
[*]Eve Best as Rhaenys Velaryon (née Targaryen)
Summary: Known unofficially as the Queen Who Never Was owing to being passed over in succession on multiple occasions despite technically being the legal heir to her father Aemon, whose death helped accelerate events leading up to the Dance itself.
[*]John Macmillan as Laenor Velaryon
Theo Nate as younger Laenor
Summary: Sole (confirmed) son of the Sea Snake and first husband to his second cousin Rhaenyra, good apparent parallel to Renly Baratheon in certain bedroom preferences, which in-universe kinda makes the parentage of his three sons by Rhaenyra kinda sus
[*]Nanna Blondell as Laena Velaryon
Savannah Steyn as younger Laena
Nova Foueillis-Mosé as child Laena
Summary: Elder sister of Laenor and second of Daemon’s three wives, her part in the Dance is exclusively in the setup. Her twin daughters by Daemon have larger roles both in the war and the immediate aftermath.
[*]Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
Shani Smethurst as younger Baela
Summary: Elder of Daemon's daughters, stepsistercousin to Rhaenyra's three eldest sons, the Arya to Rhaena's Sansa. Not twins in show canon, twins in books. Only a difference of a year in age.
[*]Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
Eva Ossei-Gerning as younger Rhaena
Summary: Younger of the two, she's mostly a minor figure in the Dance seeing as she's still a ward of the then-Lady of the Vale Jeyne Arryn
[*]Gavin Spokes as Lyonel Strong
Summary: Master of Laws under Viserys I and Lord of Harrenhal, misleading reputation as a brute despite years under the rigorous learning at the Citadel
[*]Ryan Corr as Harwin Strong
Summary: Eldest son and heir to Lyonel, nicknamed Breakbones due to his prodigious strength; also totally not the real father of Rhaenyra’s three STRONG eldest sons Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey.
[*]Matthew Needham as Larys Strong
Summary: Younger brother to Harwin, known as the Clubfoot, Master of Whispers during the tail end of Viserys I’s reign and all of Aegon II’s reign, so of course he’ll keep up the fine series tradition of “disfigured Master of Whispers having nobody know exactly where his loyalties lie”
[*]Graham McTavish as Harrold Westerling
Summary: Lord Commander of the Kingsguard under Viserys I and immediate predecessor to Criston, will actually get time to expand on his fleeting mention in Fire & Blood.
[*]Fabian Frankel as Criston Cole
Summary: Lord Commander of the Kingsguard at the time of Viserys I’s death, former champion (and reputed one-time lover) of Rhaenyra, unknown spat caused their split
[*]Bill Paterson as Lyman Beesbury
Summary: Nearly uninterrupted stint as Master of Coin from an unspecified point during Jaehaerys I’s reign all the way to Viserys I’s death; the sole member of the Small Council who, when pressed after the king’s death, advocated for Rhaenyra’s succession
[*]David Horovitch as Grand Maester Mellos
Summary: Voice of reason at court in the Red Keep trying to diffuse tensions between the Blacks and Greens, helped to reconcile the Targaryens and Velaryons after their spat after the Great Council via suggesting the Rhaenyra/Laenor marriage.
[*]Like Tittensor as Arryk Cargyll
Summary: Kingsguard member under Viserys I and Aegon II, known for his duel with his twin brother, the details of which are vague but I’d prefer the singer’s version where they reluctantly fought and died holding one another
[*]Elliot Tittensor as Erryk Cargyll
Summary: Kingsguard under Viserys I, twin to Arryk, defected to Rhaenyra
[*]Jefferson Hall as Jason and Tyland Lannister
Summary: A two-fer but a fair one considering that Jason and Tyland are twins and aren't really in the same area during the Dance. Jason is the elder and Lord of Casterly Rock at the time of the Dance, Tyland replaces Lyman Beesbury as Master of Coin, both are among the more powerful Greens.
[*]Solly McLeod as Joffrey Lonmouth
Summary: Totally not the Loras to Laenor's Renly
[*]Leo Suter, role TBD
Possible role: Qarl Correy, another of Laenor Velaryon’s lovers
[*]Jonny Weldon as "Samwell"
Possible role: Only named Samwell confirmed during the Dance is Samwell Blackwood, Lord of Raventree Hall and one of the Blacks. Unsuccessful attempt in his youth to court Rhaenyra
[*]Freddy Hill as "Corey's Comrade"
Possible roles: clever codename for Qarl Correy, or a possible lover of Qarl and a possible reason behind Laenor’s death
[*]Nina Barker-Francis as "Jayne"
Possible role: Not sure, Jayne/Jeyne is a common-enough name in Westeros to get away with an original character
[*]Bijan Daneshmand as "High Priest"
Possible role: Based off the titleage, will likely have something to do with R'hllor a.k.a the Lord of Light a.k.a why Beric Dondarrion came back to life so much a.k.a Thoros and Melisandre's abilities
[*]Edward Rowe as "Howland Sharp"
Possible role: House Sharp is from the Iron Islands, who did play the role of "lol Lannisters we're gonna harass the seven hells/drowned ones out of you" for Rhaenyra during the Dance. Obligatory possible codename
[*]David Hounslow as Rickon Stark
Summary: Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North during the bulk of the reign of Viserys I Targaryen. Mostly there in the background, whereas his son Cregan has a much larger role, especially during the Hour of the Wolf in the immediate aftermath of the Dance.
[*]Julian Lewis Jones as Boremund Baratheon
Summary: Lord of Storm's End and the Stormlands during the reign of Viserys I Targaryen, yet another instance where the son has a bigger part to play than the father during the Dance, see below.
Sidenote: Uncle to Rhaenys Targaryen as he is the elder brother to her mother Jocelyn.
[*]Roger Evans as Borros Baratheon
Summary: Lord of Storm's End at the end of the reign of Viserys I, would go back on the oath his father swore and would lead to the dragon fight over Shipbreaker Bay in the opening hostilities of the war this series is covering. Said battle would indirectly lead to the Blood & Cheese incident which, without much context, is pretty NSFL.
[*]Emma O'Hara as either Cassandra or Maris Baratheon
Possible role: Borros Baratheon is the Lord of Storms End at the onset of the Dance, with four daughters that Emma could conceivably play, given the collective nickname of the Four Storms: Cassandra, Floris, Maris, and Ellyn. One of the three besides Maris was provisionally betrothed to Aemond Targaryen, the events of which would result in a dragon fight over Shipbreaker Bay and the formal opening of open hostilities in the Dance. Process of elimination leaves one of two of the Four Storms.
[*]Laura Lake as Ellyn Baratheon
Summary: Another of the Four Storms of Borros Baratheon. See above for more deets.
[*]Megan-Rose Barter as Floris Baratheon
Summary: Another of the Four Storms of Borros Baratheon. See above for more deets.
Also in keeping with the theme of talking about the other GOT spinoffs in early production; they are, as of now (and assume all of these are working titles):
9 Voyages
Concept: The voyages of Corlys 'the Sea Snake' Velaryon
Rumored writer: Bruno Heller
10000 Ships
Concept: Princess Nymeria and her people fleeing from the Valyrian conquest of the area around the river Rhoyne in Essos
Rumored writer: Amanda Segel
Tourney of Harrenhal
Concept: What started Robert's Rebellion
Note: Stage production, sole other spinoff with a decent release window, this one in 2023 for now.
Dunk and Egg
Concept: Duncan the Tall and the boy who would become Aegon the Unlikely, based off of the titled novella series
Writer as of now: Steve Conrad
Yi Ti
Concept: ¯\(ツ)/¯ but hey we're getting into the parts of ASOIAF lore I specifically wanted explored in the spinoffs: the stuff that only got passing mention
untitled Jon Snow show
Concept: Everyone's favorite Targstark who has the same name in show canon as his half-brother despite Aemon being a much better fit and what I think his Targ name in the books is; as for what it's about, who knows?
Last edited: