House of the Dragon Betting: Which Characters Die In Season 1?
When the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones reached its climactic – and to a good many invested viewers, criminally unfulfilling – end in May 2019, it seemed only a matter of time before a spin-off would ride on its coattails to fill the void left on our screens.
Enter the Dragon! House of the Dragon, that is, a prequel to the epic HBO series that will air some time this year.
Avid fans will be swept into the world of Westeros once more, on familiar territory, but in an unfamiliar time: two entire centuries before the houses of Stark and Lannister made their indelible mark in Game of Thrones. House of the Dragon will hopefully contextualise much of the backstories of the various houses and commanding characters, such as the events that led to the demise of House Targaryen.
Thankfully, for fans, the televised version of the prequel has been kept all in the family, having also been penned by the masterful George R. R. Martin under the hardcover Fire & Blood. In George we trust, right?
House of the Dragon Cast
Of course, by necessity, most of the House of the Dragon cast will be new names and fresh faces, though we do have confirmation that Jefferson Hall will be returning as Lord Jason Lannister, alongside a familiar Matt Smith, or Dr Who himself, as Prince Daemon Targaryen
Other soon-to-be household names include Paddy Considine as King Viserys I Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, and Olivia Cooke as Lady Alicent Hightower.
House of Dragon Betting
Old habits die hard with Martin at the helm, as do his main characters; we expect them to be picked off one by one as they were in Game of Thrones, but you won’t get ahead of the reveal. The plot is a closely guarded secret until the time each episode airs.
This “no spoilers” policy is what made betting on the original series so damned popular, and with the House of the Dragon release date (another anticipated reveal not yet spoilt) inevitably edging closer, the Thrones team are on it again, with Bodog Casino making our own predictions for the slaughterfest.
King Viserys I Targaryen (-10000)
It won’t be much of a surprise that the King, and head of the House Targaryen, is the running favourite to be killed off in the first season of House of Dragon, given that the main premise of the show is to chronicle his dynasty’s downfall.
Viserys I, portrayed by Paddy Considine, succeeded his grandfather to become the fifth ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, and in a pseudo-democratic way, no less. But after eight seasons of GoT, we know too well that power never exists in a Westeros vacuum.
If anyone takes the idiom nice guys finish last as a truism, it is the dear creator of Westeros. Characterised as possessing all of those noble traits that might give the average commoner a better night’s sleep, with his or her head resting right where they prefer it, Martin’s Viserys I feels doomed to finish anything but last.
We naturally conclude, then, that occupying the throne, multiplied by the number of decent human traits makes it extremely likely that King Viserys I Targaryen will be the prequel’s first fatality, with current odds of -10,000 from Bodog. He is brave who wagers in dissent.
Ser Harrold Westerling (-5000)
Next up on the list for a potential off-ing is Ser Harrold Westerling. Played by Graham McTavish, the noble Knight has served valiantly and loyally in the Kingsguard for many years. Favourably described as a paragon of chivalry and honour, Westerling is part of an exclusive character group whose individual qualities are often not rewarded in Martin’s Game of Thrones lore.
With odds of -5000, the prognosis is grim that Ser Harrold will make it through the entirety of season one.
Grand Maester Mellos (-5000)
Grand Maester Mellos is one of King Viserys I’s most trusted advisors, often providing the leader with a much-needed voice of reason in the chaos of the Seven Kingdoms. Little else is currently known about the character played by David Horovitch, but his close connections to the king naturally places a target on his head.
The odds of Mellos being killed in season one of House of the Dragon are -5000, but as a textbook demonstration of how difficult the inner working of George R. R. Martin’s mind is to predict, he is also the third favourite to survive, with odds of -150. Have a bob each way.
Lord Lyman Beesbury (-5000)
Lord Lyman Beesbury is another contender for the season one grave, with his short life expectancy setting steep odds of -5000. Beesbury, played by Bill Patterson, is both the Lord of Honeyholt and the Master of Coin for King Viserys’ council. Being the head of the monarch’s treasury, the good Lord plays a key role in both raising money for the regime and making budgetary decisions on the proceeds. So practical; so disposable.
Death is certain in the mythical Seven Kingdoms, but, just as in the real world, taxes are not. Also aligned is the tendency of the populace to complain about them, even as they call for public monies to be allocated to their benefit.
This ubiquitous social norm may not threaten those who hold the budget strings on terra firma (thankfully), but in Westeros, you’d better tug those strings like a puppet master. Lyman’s vulnerability is also compounded by his general close proximity to the king during a turbulent period in House Targaryen’s history.
Princess Rhaenys Velaryon (-2500)
The cousin of King Viserys I is Princess Rhaenys Valaryon, a consequential presence in House of the Dragon played by Eve Best. Known as “The Queen Who Never Was” after the Great Council favoured her cousin.
Rhaenys is a dragonrider, as dedicated to harnessing the power of these mystical creatures as she is her husband, Lord Corlys Velaryon.
Rhaenys’ close proximity to power, her resentment of her cousin and the system that put him in power, and her fierce nature all significantly increase her risk of death in the first season of House of the Dragon. This is why Bodog is currently giving her odds of -2500 to meet her demise by season’s end.
Otto Hightower (-1000)
Things are a little more clear-cut – perhaps by the sword – in the case of Alicent’s father, Otto Hightower. Played by Rhys Ifans, he is the Hand of the King, Otto is someone who is caught up in the day-to-day running of the Seven Kingdoms. His loyalty may have helped to elevate him to positions of power, but it may also result in his demise.
At present, Bodog is giving Otto Hightower odds of -1000 of dying in the first season of House of the Dragon.
Alicent Hightower (+500)
With +500 odds of being killed in the debut season of House of the Dragon, Alicent Hightower’s likelihood of survival is comparatively good; but the beauty could still very easily bite the bullet. Played by Olivia Cooke, Alicent is the daughter of Ser Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King.
She is a key part of the story as a member of the king’s inner circle and as an astute political player.
On the flipside, Alicent also has odds of -500 to still be alive by the end of the show. This one really could go either way because of her close connections to power but her ability to manoeuvre.
That Westeros-sized hole that Game of Thrones left in your life back in 2019 is about to be filled in with the blood, the grit and the power grabs of its prequel. Expect House of the Dragon to be riddled with plot twists here, surprises there, and blood everywhere. So be sure to get your predictions in early at Bodog Casino, then sit back and get yourself as ready as a wedding.