House of the Dragon Viserys Actor Explains Why [SPOILER] Was Chosen as the New Successor

(Warning: This article contains SPOILER for House of the Dragon)

The long wait is over as the highly-anticipated prequel House of the Dragon has finally arrived on HBO Max. The prequel series centers on House Targaryen set 172 years before Daenarys (Emilia Clark) was born and conquered for the Iron Throne during the events of Game of Thrones.

House of the Dragon Episode 1 Foreshadows Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen as the next Big Players for the Iron Throne

Episode one of House of the Dragon introduces the main cast that foreshadows another epic battle for the Iron Throne that centers on Viserys (Paddy Considine), Daemon (Matt Smith), and Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), who was surprisingly crowned as the successor of the Iron Throne after Aemma Arryn (Sian Brooke) had a misfortune in giving birth to an intended male successor.

Now, following Aemma Aryn's demise together with the supposed next inheritor of the Iron Throne, Viserys was forced to abruptly name the next ruler who would sit on the Throne after him. However, instead of naming his brother Daemon, he chose his daughter Rhaenyra and banished Daemon, who is officially no longer in succession for the throne.

Paddy Considine Explains Why Viserys Chose Rhaenyra as Successor Instead of Daemon

Thankfully, in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Viserys Targaryen actor Paddy Considine sheds some new light on the King's bizarre decision that might cause the central conflict of the show. Check out Considine's full quote below:

"He absolutely understands that Daemon cannot be king and that’s it. He does not have the temperament. Daemon would burn everything. He’s way too volatile. ‘My next real choice is my daughter and I’m taking a big gamble because she’s female. But I trust that there’s something inside of her, that she has the best of her mother,’ who was the love of Viserys’ life. He feels instinctively that he can entrust her and that she would listen enough to understand what it takes to be a ruler of that kingdom. It’s almost like giving your kid a burden and knowing that on the surface looks like a gift but that it’s a curse. It’s like I’m giving you something that is gonna be the most difficult thing you are ever going have to do in your life. I’m burdening you with all this shit. She’s the only one that he believes in and can trust. I don’t think it’s particularly political and I don’t think it’s to snub Daemon, I just think he believes she’s the one."

Following the already eventful first episode, it's safe to assume that it would be Rhaenyra and Daemon who would be the next big players for the Iron Throne. But knowing that it's a prequel to Game of Thrones, there's no doubt that there would be massive twists that no one can prepare for, especially after George R.R. Martin claimed that there would be a sequence in the prequel that could rival Game of Thrones' contentious Red Wedding episode.

Episode 1 of House of the Dragon is now streaming on HBO Max.

Also read: House of the Dragon Showrunners Tease Plans for Season 2