House Of The Dragon: Every Main Character Ranked From Worst To Best

"House of the Dragon" is filled with memorable characters, and while we'd go to battle for some, others are downright despicable. Based on George R.R. Martin's book "Fire & Blood," the show follows the Dance of the Dragons, the war that pits Targaryen against Targaryen and asks the question: Are any of these people actually fit to rule?

In the HBO series, King Viserys I Targaryen names his daughter, Rhaenyra Targaryen, his heir before marrying her childhood best friend, Alicent Hightower. On Viserys' deathbed, he speaks of Aegon the Conqueror and the prophecy of the Prince That Was Promised. Alicent misunderstands Viserys' final words, believing he wants their son, also named Aegon, to succeed him. The Hightowers, aka the Greens, then install Aegon II Targaryen on the throne. This forces Rhaenyra and her side of the family, aka the Blacks, into a bloody civil war that could've been prevented if people in Westeros would pick new names.

At the time of this writing, "House of the Dragon" has released three of its four seasons. Based on the actions of 20 main characters throughout those seasons, we've ranked them from worst to best. This list is based on the show, not the book. There are major spoilers from the series ahead, but none that could spoil the impending fourth season.

Ormund Hightower was a cruel man-child and borderline psychopath. Played by James Norton, Ormund was Alicent's cousin who believed her son, Daeron Targaryen, should rule. Ormund threw tantrums and verbally abused Daeron. He was callous, weak, and had an aversion to bad odors, which is an objectively hilarious weakness.

While Ormund was always unlikable, it was his actions in the Season 3 finale that solidified his place as the worst character. During the Tumbleton battle, he used children as human shields, which is unforgivable. Ormund's own downfall began when he chopped off Roderick Dustin's arm. He gagged at the blood, which gave Roddy the chance to shove his sword right up Ormund's backside. There's little chance Ormund would've survived the blow, but it wasn't his official end. Ulf the White flew by on Silverwing and burnt him to a crisp.  

Second-to-last place is perfect for Criston Cole, because he doesn't deserve anything, even the title of "worst." Played by Fabien Frankel, Criston proves you don't need the Internet to be an incel. You'd think being Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and Hand of the King would make someone act worthy of those positions, but Criston behaved as though he was owed everything.

Criston spent years acting bitter about Rhaenyra choosing her claim to the throne over being with him. His acts of jealousy were unbecoming, and his sexual relationship with Alicent was hypocritical. He treated Rhaenyra like a harlot for having sex with him, but acted as though Alicent was a virtuous angel. It's no surprise he eventually allowed his soldiers to rape women.

After Rhaenyra's ascension, Criston gave up. He failed his men, leading them to their deaths so he could die with glory. Much to our delight, he died as he lived: embarrassingly. He was killed when Alysanne Blackwood shot an arrow through his smug face.

It's hard to side with the Greens when Aegon II Targaryen is their chosen king. He's vicious and unwise. As a child, he bullied his siblings and nephews, and his behavior didn't let up when he got older. Played by Tom Glynn-Carney, Aegon was an awful king from the jump. He was quick to anger, didn't heed the advice of his council, and made rash decisions.

Aegon was also cruel to Helaena, his wife/sister. He shouldn't be expected to be romantically interested in his own sister, but he could've at least respected her as a human being. Despite all of that, Aegon had some delightful moments in Season 3. While we're not rooting for him to take back the throne, the revival of his dragon, Sunfyre, was epic. It was also undeniably funny when he confronted his brother, Aemond, at Harrenhal with the declaration, "I'm alive, imbecile!" Glynn-Carney has so much fun playing Aegon that we could never fully hate the character.

After Season 2, Ulf White would've earned a more respectable placement on this list. Unfortunately, he went too far with the unruly behavior that once made him likable. Played by Tom Bennett, Ulf had an unprecedented rise in power when he went from a tavern-dwelling lowborn to a dragonrider. After claiming Silverwing, Ulf didn't fit in with the Targaryens. He was brash and ill-mannered, and while it was humorous for a time, Ulf did the unforgivable when he switched sides in Season 3.

What makes Ulf's defection so deplorable is that he did it because he felt disrespected by people he'd never shown any respect to. He was mad Rhaenyra forbade him from going to the tavern, and embarrassed after Daemon throttled him in public for disobeying her. The Blacks trusted this man with a whole dragon, and he switched sides at the drop of a hat.

As if Ulf's reputation couldn't be any more tarnished, he also turned on the Greens. As soon as Ormund shamed him, he chose to kill people on both sides in Tumbleton. Ulf is a man without honor.

Aemond Targaryen is one of the best characters, but his abhorrent actions earned him a low ranking. Aemond didn't have it easy as a child. He struggled to claim a dragon, which left him a vulnerable target for his brother and nephews. Soon after he claimed Vhagar, he lost his eye in a fight with said nephews. Between that incident and gaining access to the biggest living dragon, Aemond went on to mask his insecurities with ruthlessness. 

Played by Ewan Mitchell as an adult, Aemond did many horrendous things throughout the show's first two seasons. He even attempted to murder his own brother, Aegon. In truth, Aemond would make a better king than Aegon, but that's not saying much.

Throughout Season 3, Aemond began to feel remorse for his actions while at Harrenhal, but then his own mother attempted to kill him. It's hard to believe Aemond will be fully redeemed, but we feel for him. He's a complex character whose evil deeds are rooted in trauma.

Viserys I Targaryen is one of the kindest characters in "House of the Dragon," but that doesn't exempt him from a low ranking. Viserys' ignorance and nonconfrontational approach to ruling helped set the Dance of the Dragons in motion, and no amount of pleasantries will make viewers forget it.

In the first episode, Viserys let his own wife die in the hopes that he'd be left with a son. When the baby died, too, he named Rhaenyra his heir. He then went on to marry his daughter's friend, Alicent, and have sons with her, which muddied the waters. While an argument could be made that he treated Alicent kindly, it doesn't change the fact that she was a child.

He didn't properly prepare Rhaenyra to rule, and was oblivious to the infighting happening within his family. Viserys was a good man, but his mild manner made him a bad king. He was easily manipulated by his advisors, particularly his Hand and eventual father-in-law, Otto Hightower. Had Viserys been a little more assertive and aware, he could've prevented the war.

Alicent Hightower is someone fans want to support, but she's made so many mistakes. It's hard not to initially side with a girl who's forced to marry her best friend's father and bear his children. However, her growing resentment toward Rhaenyra was a sickness that infected her judgement. She jumped to conclusions when Viserys spoke about Aegon the Conqueror on his deathbed. Had she considered the possibility that she was misunderstanding the ramblings of a dying man, a war could've been averted.

Portrayed by Olivia Cooke as an adult, Alicent did her duties as queen, but she allowed her sons to run rampant. She was responsible for making Aegon II king, and he was terrible at it. Alicent finally came to her senses at the end of Season 2, making a deal that would help Rhaenyra take the Iron Throne. Unfortunately, Alicent's decision to prioritize self-preservation led to more bad choices. She tried to force her daughter Helaena into having an abortion, and then agreed to assassinate her own son, Aemond.

That said, Alicent is one of the more decent characters. She means well, so we're rooting for her to get her act together in Season 4.

Ranking Rhaenyra Targaryen low is heartbreaking, but she started losing us in Season 3. Audiences were thrilled when she finally took the throne, but ruling instantly proved more difficult than conquering. Rhaenyra made decisions in her younger years that suggested she'd be a good queen, but once the Hightowers stood in her way, she struggled to live up to the challenge.

Played by Emma D'Arcy, adult Rhaenyra has been put through the wringer. Her throne was stolen, her eldest sons were killed, her husband undermined her, and she was rarely afforded respect from her subordinates. This laundry list of tragedies would make anyone snap. Rhaenyra spent Season 3 desperately trying to hold on to her power, and she began to focus on the wrong things while pushing back against good advice.

However, Rhaenyra's better moments are worth noting. It was awesome the way she killed Otto Hightower and took the throne. It was also incredible when she served rats to a group of nobles. Hopefully, she can channel more of that energy and turn things around in the final season. Either way, D'Arcy has given an incredible performance and deserves Emmy recognition.

Corlys Velaryon is an ambitious and wise man who sometimes succumbs to his pride. Portrayed by Steve Toussaint, Corlys is the Lord of the Tides and husband to Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. His adventures and strategic sense helped him amass power, but he's closed off and unyielding.

After the deaths of Rhaenys and their children, Corlys was hesitant to embrace his illegitimate sons, Addam and Alyn of Hull. Their relationship started off strained, but Corlys ultimately wanted to do right by them. However, he tried to make up for his bad parenting too quickly, which caused an unnecessary rift with his queen.

Rhaenyra turned down Corlys' request to legitimize Addam and Alyn. It was day one of her reign, and she explained that it'd be a bad look to elevate bastards so quickly. Corlys ignored his sons for decades, but he couldn't tolerate Rhaenyra putting their future on hold for a little longer. At least he didn't accept the Greens' offer to restore his wealth in exchange for betraying Rhaenyra. The Sea Snake may be frustrating, but at least he has honor.

Mysaria is an enigma, so it was hard to pinpoint her ranking. Portrayed by Sonoya Mizuno, Mysaria has had a unique arc. She went from being a sex worker to Daemon's paramour and eventually Rhaenyra's confidant. As the White Worm, she essentially acted as Rhaenyra's Mistress of Whisperers. Mysaria seemed to be one of the few people in the Red Keep who was genuinely concerned about the commonfolk, and she often offered Rhaenyra sound advice when it came to their well-being.

Mysaria can't be trusted, though. Her relationship with Rhaenyra became sexual, but she was still willing to keep secrets for Alicent. Despite caring about the good of the realm, Mysaria's number one priority still seems to be Mysaria.

The way Mysaria managed to rise through the ranks will always be impressive. At the end of Season 3, Rhaenyra sent her away, so it'll be interesting to see Mysaria's next move.

Rhaena Targaryen has made major mistakes, but she's meant well. As the daughter of Daemon Targaryen and Laena Velaryon, Rhaena longed for a dragon. Her determination led to her claiming the wild Sheepstealer. While it's impossible not to admire Rhaena's tenacity, her reckless actions had dire consequences.

Played by Phoebe Campbell, Rhaena took Sheepstealer to assist her family during the Battle of the Gullet. She was unable to control the dragon and accidentally killed Jace Velaryon, her cousin/stepbrother/future brother-in-law. While it was Rhaena's recklessness that left Jace dead, viewers know she had good intentions.

After Sheepstealer fought Syrax, Seasmoke, and Caraxes in a battle that spared all four dragons, Rhaena was able to rejoin her family at the Red Keep. While her sister Baela offered her forgiveness, it's unclear what Rhaenyra will do with her now that she knows the truth about Sheepstealer. We can only hope Rhaena will come out unscathed, because she's a sweet girl.

As the youngest son of Alicent and Viserys, Daeron Targaryen had the luxury of growing up away from King's Landing. Growing up away from King's Landing left him much kinder and better-mannered than his brothers. Unfortunately, it also put him under Ormund's thumb, and it's genuinely impressive that his cousin's villainy didn't rub off on him.

Played by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Daeron clearly didn't want to be king and only went along with Ormund's plan because he felt he had no choice. Daeron might've made a decent king, considering he's a dragonrider who's both gentle and intelligent. Now that Ormund is dead, it's unclear what the future may hold for him. For now, he's given us reason to believe he could do good on behalf of the Greens, but he may be too timid, like his father.

Played by Abubakar Salim, Alyn of Hull earns a high ranking for his loyalty and honor. Alyn has many great attributes: He's intelligent, forbearing, and strong. As the illegitimate son of Corlys, he was initially uninterested in having a relationship with his father. He resented Corlys, but never behaved bitterly. He went on to serve as the acting Hand of the Queen when his father was away. He gave advice based on facts rather than feelings. While that's not always a good thing, Alyn's pragmatic nature is something Rhaenyra needs.

During Season 3, Alyn strikes up a romance with his niece, Baela Targaryen, and it's one of the rare times when viewers aren't fully disgusted by an incestuous relationship. They're cute together, and it's nice to see Alyn's walls come down, even for a brief moment. If it weren't for Alyn's stoicism and newfound faith in his father, he might be even higher on this list. However, it's unclear if his loyalty to Corlys will outweigh his allegiance to Rhaenyra.

Gwayne Hightower is the brother of Alicent, who always gets saddled with the worst men. Played by Freddie Fox, Gwayne nearly died while following Criston and again after being reunited with his cousin, Ormund. Gwayne is a decent knight with an honorable sense of justice. He doesn't blindly follow orders, but he does his best to remain loyal. Ultimately, it's his compassion and flair that make him likable.

Gwayne was one of the few good influences on his nephew, Daeron. He's sensible and one of the only realists in the show. While Gwayne's sexuality isn't explicitly noted, LGBTQ+ fans have claimed him thanks to his effortless panache. This has left us wanting more from him. If any Greens come out of the Dance of the Dragons unscathed, we hope it's Gwayne.

Daemon Targaryen is arguably the hardest "House of the Dragon" character to rank. He's done terrible things. He murdered his first wife, frequently ignored his daughters, and consistently undermined Rhaenyra. Daemon is an arrogant, self-righteous show-off who resented his brother and spent much of his life coveting the throne for himself. Regardless of all that, fans cannot get enough of him. Daemon is one of the only characters who bettered himself, and that shouldn't go unnoticed.

After a stint at Harrenhal, Daemon began to see the error of his ways and returned to Rhaenyra, ready to support her claim. He finally did right by his daughter, Rhaena, when he discovered the truth about Sheepstealer. He spent much of Season 3 behaving bravely while finally leading with reason rather than desire. Daemon overcame a lot to earn this high ranking.  

Baela Targaryen always tried to do her duty, and she deserves respect. She shouldn't have disobeyed Rhaenyra and followed her betrothed/step-brother/cousin, Jace, into the Battle of the Gullet. However, that worked out for her, because now she can pursue a romance with her uncle, Alyn of Hull. Baela clearly cared for Jace, but she has genuine chemistry with Alyn, and we're hoping they get a happy ending.

Played by Bethany Antonia, Baela spent much of Season 3 working hard for Rhaenyra by scouting the Greens on her dragon, Moondancer. When Addam of Hull tried to defend her to Rhaenyra, saying she needed rest, Baela insisted she could continue. While she did eventually push back against Rhaenyra, it was mostly in defense of her sister, Rhether or not you believe she was right to complain, Baela should be credited for how fiercely she loves her family.

Played by Kieran Bew, Hugh Hammer is one of the show's most sympathetic characters. As a lowborn who lived in Flea Bottom, he did what he could to provide for his family. Sadly, his daughter died, inspiring him to go to Dragonstone and try to claim a dragon, knowing his mother was a Targaryen.

Not only did Hugh claim Vermithor, but he was also a more respectful addition to Rhaenyra's cause than Ulf. He spent Season 3 behaving bravely and following Rhaenyra's orders. That is, until the fighting at Tumbleton. Hugh proved that protecting his wife was more important to him than obeying his queen, which is noble in its own right. Hugh's wife, Kat, did not survive the siege, so it's hard to know how he will behave in Season 4 now that he's lost everything. Will he blame Rhaenyra and betray her as Ulf did? He doesn't seem the type.

Played by Clinton Liberty, Addam of Hull was another lowborn who claimed a dragon. As the illegitimate son of Corlys, Addam longed for a grander life. Once he claimed Seasmoke and began riding for Rhaenyra's cause, Addam finally found his place. He is steadfast and true, but there's also a sweetness to him. Addam is the type of character whose charm is infectious, and Rhaenyra is lucky to have him on her side.

It was heartbreaking to watch Addam fall for Baela in Season 3, knowing she was falling for his brother, Alyn. Baela was completely unaware of Addam's feelings, and he was crushed when he realized the truth. He also didn't push, which was very gentlemanly. Hopefully, his feelings won't cause a rift between him and his brother because acting jealous is a surefire way to lose favor with audiences.

Played by Eve Best, Rhaenys Targaryen died in Season 2, and her absence was felt throughout the entirety of Season 3. Known as the "Queen Who Never Was," Rhaenys proved time and again that she was worthy of the throne she lost out on. She was brave, never hesitating to ride into battle on her dragon, Meleys. She always offered Rhaenyra wise counsel and was a kind mother and grandmother as well as a loving wife.

If Rhaenys had been around during Season 3, she might've prevented many of the bad decisions made by the Blacks. Rhaenyra desperately needed someone willing to challenge her without undermining her authority, and Rhaenys consistently filled that role. She might've quelled the tempers of those around her and helped the Blacks secure a stronger position in King's Landing. We'll never forgive Aemond for killing her.

Congratulations to Helaena Targaryen, who earned her spot as the best character in "House of the Dragon." As the only daughter of Viserys and Alicent, Helaena was an odd girl. She kept to herself, fixated on bugs, and always said bizarre things. As time went on, it became clear that Helaena's unique way of viewing the world was a gift. She was a Dreamer, someone who gets prophetic visions. While Helaena was a dragonrider, she chose not to engage in warfare with her dragon, Dreamfyre. She was sensitive but also possessed a rare type of wisdom.

Played by Phia Saban, Helaena emerged as the show's best character in Season 3. She pushed back against her mother, and she fiercely called out Rhaenyra for her increasingly "ugly" behavior. Her dreams alluded to her playing a bigger role in her family's feud, but tragically, Season 3 ended with Helaena committing suicide. While Helaena also dies this way in the book, it was still the most disappointing moment of the series. RIP Helaena, who deserved the chance to shine even more in Season 4.