House of the Dragon has provided audiences with some excellent performances. One of the standouts this season has unquestionably been Paddy Considine's performance as Viserys, and it seems George R.R. Martin was more than pleased with Considine's turn on the show.
House of the Dragon was somewhat more dynamic in its presentation of King Viserys than the source material. Fire & Blood was written as a historical document with multiple sources. As such, the House of the Dragon characters and their motivations are more open to interpretation. When it came time to adapt the novel for the screen, however, there could only be one interpretation of the character. At times maddeningly frustrating and indecisive, while at others honorable and caring for his family, Viserys was explored more deeply in the series than in the novel.
In an interview with GQ, Considine revealed that House of the Dragon author and series creator Martin was impressed with his portrayal of the character. Considine said that Martin's response to his acting as Viserys was laconic but meaningful. “I got a text message that simply said: ‘Your Viserys is better than my Viserys’," Considine recalled. "It was from George RR Martin. And I thought: that’ll do it. Thanks for trusting me."
Considine has been one of the hidden gems in the show. Many fans expected him to die rather early on, and perhaps that would have been kinder to the character since Considine portrays the character as wasting away over a matter of years. Though he is one of the few members of House Targaryen who does not currently ride a dragon, he was the last rider of the greatest Targaryen dragon of all, Balerion, who died shortly after Viserys claimed him. That fact is probably symbolic of Viserys' role in the Targaryen dynasty, as it is under him that the House is at its apex but soon falls apart and begins destroying itself after his own death.
And Considine's performance made Viserys' death one of the most impactful in House of the Dragon thus far. Viserys' died at the end of episode 8, "The Lord of the Tides." In an emotional performance, Considine portrays Viserys' death with the weight it deserves. His final scene sees the character confusing Alicent (Olivia Cooke) for Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy), beseeching her to protect the country, which causes Alicent to think he is naming his son the heir instead of Rhaenyra. With a last, strangled cry, Viserys calls out, "my love," and passes away.
Some have argued that House of the Dragon's character development is its weakness, but Viserys is undoubtedly an exception to that. Considine made the role his own, and audiences could relate and grapple with the character's struggle throughout the season. It is not until his final ascension to the Iron Throne that Viserys sits comfortably on it and finally receives no wounds from it - he's a king worthy of sitting on it.
House of the Dragon airs new episodes every Sunday at 9 PM EST on HBO and HBO Max.
Source: GQ