House of the Dragon
Summary
Harrold Westerling ( Graham McTavish ) not returning forHouse of the Dragonseason 2 suggests a repetition of Jeyne Westerling ’s omission fromGame of Thrones . The Hobbitactor Graham McTavish was an exciting plus to the supporting cast ofHouse of the Dragonseason 1 , in which he play Ser Harrold Westerling , the patriotic knight and eventual Lord Commander of Viserys ’ Kingsguard . Despite only appearing in a few scenes , Harrold ’s loyalty to King Viserys and adoration for his girl Rhaenyra were strongly portrayed , which increased the anticipation for his purpose inHouse of the Dragonseason 2 ’s polite war .
Shockingly , Graham McTavish is missing fromHouse of the Dragonseason 2 ’s mould list , which derive as an even bigger surprise yield Harrold Westerling ’s equivocal destiny in the season 1 last . Harrold ’s allegiance to Rhaenyra as the princess suggested that he would become an integral member of the Black Queen ’s court inHouse of the Dragonseason 2 . TheGame of Thronesfranchise is known for cutting characters or leaving the destiny of notable histrion unknown , but Harrold ’s absence in season 2 is particularly frustrating as it relates to the original series ’ notable rebuff against House Westerling ’s representation .
Watch on Max
House of the Dragon season 2 has landed on HBO , and will have to build upon the dramatic events of the season 1 last . Here ’s everything to know .
Harrold Westerling Missing House Of The Dragon S2 Doubles-Down On GOT Cutting Jeyne Westerling
House Westerling Is A Notable House Which Once Again Goes Unused
Although many reference from George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Firenovels were cut fromGame of Thrones , one of the most notable examples was that of Jeyne Westerling . In the books , Robb Stark ’s wife was Jeyne Westerling , who was replaced by Talisa Maegyr inGame of Thrones . House Westerling continued to encounter a significant role in the War of the Five King and House Stark ’s betrayal in the books , such as how Robb and Jeyne ’s wedding led to the Red Wedding , Jeyne ’s mother was complicit in Robb ’s downfall , and the Westerlings were later pardoned by King Tommen .
Unlike Talisa inGame of Thrones , Jeyne Westerling was notkilled at the Red Wedding , so Robb ’s widow woman is still alive in the books . However , Game of Thronesessentially rub out the noble menage ’s presence . GivenGame of Thrones ’ failures to include House Westerling despite their notable book function , Harrold Westerling ’s heightened presence inHouse of the Dragonseason 1 create a immense chance for the enfranchisement to redeem the kinsperson ’s deficiency of representation . Of of course , this potentiality is now being reverse as Graham McTavish ’s name is missing fromHouse of the Dragonseason 2 ’s cast list .
AfterGame of Thronescut Jeyne , House of the Dragonis making the adaptations ’ House Westerling slights tough by failing to bring back Ser Harrold . House Westerling ca n’t catch a break with HBO’sGame of Thronesfranchise adaptation , intimate Harrold and Jeyne ’s imposing house may never win large representation and historic exploration on screen .
House of the Dragon time of year 2 returns in Summer 2024 . Here are some primal minute from the Fire & Blood book to seem forward to as the Dance pick up .
Why Game Of Thrones & House Of The Dragon Both Made Big Westerling Changes
Harrold Westerling’s House Of The Dragon Changes Suggested A More Substantial Role
The convergence ofGame of ThronesandHouse of the Dragonmaking large changes to members of House Westerling has n’t go unnoticed and is fructify an odd trend . While Jeyne Westerling was reduce altogether fromGame of Thrones , Harrold Westerling was give a bigger role inHouse of the Dragonseason 1 before ostensibly being trim down from the second season .
Since the rough-cut denominator is House Westerling , part of the cause for their odd removals could be explicate by the family not having a massive enough influence on the larger chain of events . Still , it is n’t just because they hail from House Westerling that the fictional character are omit , as Jeyne and Harrold ’s story would have taken major release from their Quran roles anyway .
Jeyne Westerling was replace inGame of Thronesin order to give the reference a deeper backstory , a impregnable amatory bow with Robb , and removal from the factual politics of the warfare , which apply the show one of its only genuine love stories . After her chronicle became too remarkably dissimilar from Jeyne Westerling in the books , George R.R. Martin intimate that HBO change her name wholly , which he bring out at Worldcon 2012 ( viaHuffPost ) . Consequently , Talisa Maegyr replaced House Westerling ’s endure purpose inGame of Thronesseasons 2 and 3 with House Lannister ’s bannermen being exclude after several re - writes .
Taking place about 172 years before the events ofGame of Thrones,House of the Dragontells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.
ConsideringHouse of the Dragonseason 1 actor Graham McTavish is now missing from time of year 2 ’s shape list , theGame of Thronesprequel series is basically reversing its Harrold Westerling change . In theFire & Bloodbook , Ser Harrold Westerling was Lord Commander of the Kingsguard during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen but die in 112 AC , nearly 20 years before the Dance of the Dragons began .
As such , Harrold should have been absent afterHouse of the Dragonseason 1 ’s first major sentence jumpif following the book ’s timeline of his tale . However , Harrold was given a bigger role in the show as Criston Cole ’s predecessor for Lord Commander of the Kingsguard , with McTavish ’s character also providing a necessary consistency across the first time of year ’s many clip jumps .
InFire & Blood , Criston Cole serve as Lord Commander of Viserys ’ Kingsguard before the King ’s destruction , so Harrold ’s survival allowed for more space between Viserys and Criston as well as a stronger vehemence on Criston ’s dedication to Alicent rather than Viserys . Harrold leaving the Kingsguard after Viserys ’ death was a greater way to mark the change from the honest-to-goodness contemporaries into the novel , but his absence seizure fromHouse of the Dragonseason 2 complicates the weightiness of his purpose as Viserys ’ crown is passed to Rhaenyra .
Since Harrold Westerling ’s luck and future are spontaneous , the fact that he ’s missing fromHouse of the Dragonseason 2 does n’t needfully mean he ’ll be gone perpetually .
In the Dance of the Dragons , Targaryens fought Targaryens in a stock feud that consumed Westeros . But who really come through that “ game of stool ? ”
How Harrold Westerling Can Still Return In House Of The Dragon’s Future
Does Harrold Still Hold Loyalties To Rhaenyra?
WARNING ! pillager in the lead for George R.R. Martin ’s book , Fire & Blood!Harrold Westerling ’s uncertain futurity means that Graham McTavish ’s character could still give back and have an increased impingement later into House Targaryen ’s polite warfare . House of the Dragonseason 2 is expected to cover case fromFire & Bloodlike the horrific Blood and Cheese assassination , Sowing of the Seeds , and Prince Jacaerys Velaryon ’s death , until reaching the Fall of King ’s Landing .
The coherent ending forHouse of the Dragonseason 2 would depict the climactic bend of upshot in which Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen ultimately submit King ’s Landing and the Iron Throne from her sidekick King Aegon II Targaryen , which could also then set up a proper yield for Ser Harrold Westerling .
Harrold is labor more by his personal loyalties and duty than his mob ’s allegiances , suggesting he would do to Rhaenyra ’s aid more than Aegon . Similar to Barristan Selmy pledging his allegiance to Daenerys after being abstracted fromGame of Thronesseason 2,Harrold Westerling could pass to serve Rhaenyra Targaryenin her Queensguard once she takes the Iron Throne .
Harrold could also arrive back inHouse of the Dragonseason 3 when King ’s Landing riot , potentially being a secret aid to the Queen as she eventually flees the castle . to boot , Graham McTavish ’s character could regress inHouse of the Dragon ’s time to come when Rhaenyra ’s Word King Aegon III Targaryen ascends the Iron Throne , witnessing the sequence of three Targaryen generations from the rootage until the death of the Dance .
germ : HuffPost
Taking place about 172 age before the events ofGame of Thrones , House of the Dragontells the tarradiddle of the rise of the Targaryens , the only family of dragonlords to outlast the Doom of Valyria . The popular HBO spinoff show first asterisk Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were interchange by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke , who dally the older versions of the quality . Also star in the serial is Matt Smith ( Prince Daemon Targaryen ) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra ’s founder , King Viserys Targaryen .
