Larys Strong might be one of the smartest characters on House of the Dragon, but he also happens to be one of the most evil. As he repeatedly shows, he is willing to do almost anything to get the power that he craves, though he does prefer to slink behind the throne rather than seizing it outright.
Daemon Targaryen is one of the most interesting characters on House of the Dragon. An argument can be made about his villainous qualities. Daemon Targaryen is a polarizing figure on House of the Dragon.
Before he died of old age in 94 AC (After Conquest), Balerion was known throughout the Seven Kingdoms as the most terrifying creature alive, and he was no doubt the most fearsome asset to House Targaryen's rule.
In two separate Reddit polls, none other than Sir Criston Cole has been voted the worst character on the show. Initially, Sir Criston was a character that people enjoyed. He was loyal, and he loved and protected a young Rhaenyra early on.
1 Daemon Targaryen
To achieve power, Daemon would go to any lengths. He has killed people who stood in his way and married for power. At the same time, he is also a very skilled fighter and he rides the dragon Caraxes, which makes him a feared man across the Seven Kingdoms.
Aegon I is the pinnacle of Targaryen greatness. His name is mentioned so often across the course of the show that book-averters and die-hard fans alike can both recite his history. He is the reason that the Seven Kingdoms exist as we know them. He is the legendary rider of the largest dragon, Balerion the Black Dread.
After Baelon died, Jaehaerys gave Dark Sister to Prince Daemon Targaryen, who takes ownership of the sword seriously.
Rhaenyra Targaryen is disliked for many reasons, but the primary reasons for why she is hated is because she didn't act like a woman, and because her actions are believed to have caused much chaos in Westeros. We have to remember that in Westeros, history is written by the Maesters, and their histories are biased.
They were brought to the castle ward, where they found an injured Sunfyre and King Aegon II Targaryen. Prince Aegon watched in horror as Sunfyre devoured his mother. Aegon was forever mentally scarred, and this event cemented his later fierce hatred for and terror of dragons.
All four were killed in the ensuing Battle Above the Gods Eye, when the dragons locked together, Caraxes's jaws closed around Vhagar's neck, Daemon leapt from his dragon to Vhagar to put Dark Sister through Aemond's eye, and the dragons crashed into the lake.
Sunfyre devoured Rhaenyra in six bites, leaving only her left leg below the shin. Prince Aegon the Younger was forced to watch his mother die, and Elinda Massey allegedly gouged out her eyes in horror.
After 29 years, Vhagar was claimed by Jaehaerys's son, Prince Baelon "the Brave" Targaryen, who had earned his name from whacking Balerion on the snout as a child.
Daemon Targaryen has done some pretty awful things across the first season of House of the Dragon and gives some of the cruelest Game of Thrones characters a run for their money. In the show, he has committed evil acts for selfish reasons, through manipulation and murder. However, it is hard to deny his charisma.
Queen Alicent Hightower is a major character of the epic fantasy franchise A Song of Ice and Fire. She is also one of the two secondary antagonists of the 2022 television adaptation House of the Dragon (alongside Aemond Targaryen).
Though Rhaenyra Targaryen isn't a terrible person, she's far from perfect. Viserys I Targaryen's death automatically makes Rhaenyra Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
It was abundantly clear in the season finale that Daemon truly values Rhaenyra as the queen, and it doesn't appear to be for his own gain. All of his actions indicate that he looks to her as his leader even before she's taken power and has every intention to get her to her rightful throne.
According to the accounts of Septon Eustace, prior to her turning sixteen, Rhaenyra lost her virginity to her uncle, Prince Daemon, after he seduced her.
— then Rhaenyra officially loses her virginity to Ser Criston Cole. After Daemon leaves Rhaenyra all horned up and alone, she sneaks back into the castle and lets Ser Criston see her in her page boy disguise.
Prince Daemon Targaryen was given Dark Sister by King Jaehaerys I for his prowess. Ser Criston Cole defeated Daemon in the tourney for King Viserys I's accession, knocking Dark Sister from the prince's hand with a morningstar.
According to Fire & Blood (the source material for House of the Dragon), Daemon dies after an epic dragon fight with Prince Aemond… who also dies, womp.
After the death of Prince Daemon, the sword was recovered, and the next known person to wield Dark Sister was his grandson, Prince Aemon the Dragonknight. After the Dragonknight died, the sword presumably went to Brynden Rivers (or perhaps some other Targaryen used it between them, but we don't hear about it).
Aegon the Unworthy. Aegon IV was the son of King Viserys II, and is considered one of the worst kings to ever sit the Iron Throne, earning him the nickname “the Unworthy.” I see many similarities between Aegon IV and Baron Harkonnen from Dune.
At the age of thirteen, Helaena was plumper than most Targaryens, and less striking as well. Nonetheless, she was a pleasant and happy girl, and all agreed she would be an excellent mother.
Rhaegar was tall and beautiful, with dark indigo eyes and the silver hair of House Targaryen, worn long. Rhaegar Targaryen was said to be capable of excelling at anything he put his mind to.