Summary
House of the Dragonseason 2 has furthered one character’s arc into becoming the show’s version of Littlefinger, with one genius detail solidifying their conniving ways. As ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2 episode 3’s ending, the pieces of the board have been set. The Greens and the Blacks have been slowly building towards the climactic civil war, despite Rhaenyra Targaryen’s best efforts to avoid such an outcome. The episode ended with a fantastic scene between Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower - played by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke inHouse of the Dragon’s cast- that all but confirmed war.
Where Alicent is concerned, much of her story inHouse of the Dragonseason 2 has centered around her struggle to influence the Small Council. King Aegon and Aemond, her sons, are increasingly bloodthirsty, whileAlicent’s relationship with Criston Coleis proving detrimental to the newly-appointed Hand of the King. As such, Alicent has been shown to rely on one specific character inHouse of the Dragonto help forward her plans. This character isHouse of the Dragon’s version of Littlefinger fromGame of Thrones, with one subtle detail pushing their scheming nature to the fore.
Game of Thrones: How Petyr Baelish Got His “Littlefinger” Name
Petyr Baelish was given the “Littlefinger” nickname well before the events of Game of Thrones, and here’s the significance behind the moniker.
How Larys Strong Is House Of The Dragon’s Version Of Littlefinger
The Master Of Whisperers Shares Similarities With One Of Game Of Thrones' Biggest Villains
The character in question is, of course, Larys Strong. Since his introduction inHouse of the Dragonseason 1, I have often been invested in Larys' scenes, primarily due to his conniving nature. More so than most other characters inHouse of the Dragon,Larys works from behind the scenes and manipulates events to his advantage, exactly as Littlefinger used to do inGame of Thrones. Much like Larys, Littlefinger was a character I enjoyed watching more than most others for this reason, despite the character being an admittedly awful person.
Larys also has similarities to Varys from Game of Thrones, combining the strengths of the Spider with those of Littlefinger.
InHouse of the Dragon,Larys does what Littlefinger did inGame of Thrones.He often worms his way into situations, sinking his claws unsuspectingly into people who could help him grow in power. He did so with Alicent and has since reaped the rewards without much attention at all, something that Littlefinger was an expert at. Larys is able to manipulate situations that increase his social status without making enemies of anyone directly, which Littlefinger also did inGame of Thronesunless he was sure of a positive outcome when making enemies known, like with Ned Stark, for example.
How Larys Strong Stands With Aegon & Alicent Is A Great Detail
Larys' Body Language Is A Nuanced, Perfect Detail From Actor Matthew Needham
Aside from how much I enjoy watching Larys' scenes for the scheming and intrigue, Matthew Needham nails his performance. Not only does he perform all scenes well and have good chemistry with those around him, but the subtle details in his body language are excellent. InHouse of the Dragonseason 2, these subtle details have become clearer. When talking with Alicent, Larys stands taller and more confidently, almost as if he is proving he has power over her now.
He is subconsciously telling Aegon that he is less powerful than the king, slowly building his trust…
Given that Alicent has often been shown to need Larys to accomplish various things, he can exert his power more openly around Alicent. This is certainly a dark detail, but one that is perfectly conveyed by his posture when around Alicent. In contrast,Larys' scenes with Aegon II Targaryen prove he does not quite have that same level of influence over the king just yet. Needham gives Larys a hunch, making him smaller, weaker, and thus, less powerful in front of Aegon.
In acting smaller and more feeble around Aegon, Larys is manipulating as he always does. He is subconsciously telling Aegon that he is less powerful than the king, slowly building his trust as a result. This was how Larys first acted around Alicent before building up his power over her by making her need him and having secrets about her. Larys is likely planning to do the same to Aegon, as was shown by his manipulation of the king that led to Otto Hightower being replaced as Hand of the King.
What Is Larys Strong Really Up To In House Of The Dragon?
Larys' True Motivations Connect Him To Littlefinger Even More So
When concerning Larys' true intentions, they are relatively simple. At the end of the day, Larys simply wants power. Like everyone else in theGame of Thronesuniverse, power is everything. This was proven inHouse of the Dragonseason 1 when he orchestrated the deaths of his father and brother. Not only did that allow his manipulation skills to increase as it gave Alicent something she wanted by reinstating Otto as Hand of the King, but it just so happened to make him the Lord of Harrenhal in the process.
As Littlefinger once said inGame of Thrones, chaos is a ladder that leads to power. Larys, like many others in Westeros, is trying to climb this ladder. Instead of doing it through battles, feats of strength, or heroic sacrifices, he is taking the route of subterfuge. By worming his way into the trust of powerful people, Larys is rising up the ladder with minimal work on his own part. This makes him one of the more compelling characters ofHouse of the Dragon, and undoubtedly one who will continue to shape the events of the series going forward.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
