Throughout ‘House of the Dragon’, Corlys Velaryon has been a man of ambition. Throughout his life, the legendary Sea Snake had built a strong legacy through wealth, exploration, and politics, with his eyes always on ensuring his family’s legacy.
However, season 3 seems to have its sights set on him in a much more personal manner. Star Steve Toussaint says the next installment of Corlys’ story will not only be about war and succession, but it will be about facing the repercussions of the decisions he has been dodging for years.
Corlys Is Being Forced To Face His Past In ‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 3
The most interesting of the pairings going into season 3 is Corlys’ relationship with his half-brother Alyn. Corlys is ready to call him son, but Alyn isn’t exactly eager for a father-son reunion. Corlys sees a lot of himself in Alyn, as Toussaint explains. They’re both very independent, wanting to do things their way and not take any help.
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The difference is that Alyn is stubborn because of years of hurt. “What Corlys would expect is that he sort of goes, ‘All right, now I’m ready to acknowledge you as my son.’ And he expects Alyn to go, ‘Oh, thank god. Great. Yeah.” But no, Alyn’s like, ‘H*** no, I don’t need you. Where were you 20 years ago?’ And so that forces, I think, Corlys to reassess what is important, and what is important is not the trinkets and that stuff,” he told SR.
Corlys is pushed into uncharted territory when he is rejected. Titles, ships, and political triumphs are of little significance. It’s an intriguing change for a character who has always defined success by legacy and achievement. “That forces, I think, Corlys to reassess what is important, and what is important is not the trinkets and that stuff. It is about being there. And I hope that he’s on his way to learning that lesson, and I think he is.”
A Legacy Built On More Than A Name
This reckoning is a particularly opportune moment. Corlys is still grappling with a tremendous personal loss. His children are gone, and Rhaenys has passed away. That is a void that no political victory will ever fill. Toussaint suggests that losing Rhaenys may have affected Corlys even more deeply than any other tragedy.
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“I often say that the one time that Corlys is really, truly himself and unguarded, the only times that ever happens are with his wife. And with her gone now, he doesn’t have that.” She was the only person who could be his true friend and his confidante. If she isn’t there, he will have to deal with grief and guilt on his own.
He can’t forget his responsibility before Rhaenys’ death: to do right by Alyn and Addam. It may be the ultimate legacy to Corlys. He struggled for years to make sure that the name Velaryon would last. Now he understands that a family’s destiny is not just defined by blood or politics, but by being present for those who need him.
In season 3, where there’s a lot of big, bloody action, it’s easy to lose sight of these more subtle emotional narratives. However, Corlys’ arc may be one of the strongest, as some of ‘House of the Dragon’s greatest wounds are not inflicted by dragons or war, but by family.
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