When HBO announced that it was releasing a spinoff to Game of Thrones, the news was met with some scepticism. The ending to the epic fantasy had displeased a vast number of fans, and something special was needed to win them back.
House of the Dragon has already achieved its aims, and George R.R. Martin’s world is back with a bang. Some fine acting by its cast members has helped this, with Rhys Ifans in one of the leading roles. Now, the question is whether Ifans is the greatest Welshman to have graced Westeros so far.
Ifans Relishing the Role of Ser Otto Hightower
The excellent casting choice of Sean Bean spearheaded game of Thrones’ early success in the lead role of Eddard Stark. HBO knew that it needed to deploy a similar tactic with House of the Dragon and stumped for two of Britain’s finest actors for key parts. Paddy Considine took on Viserys I Targaryen, and Ifans was cast as Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower.
Ifans has clearly enjoyed playing the part of scheming advisor to the king and has delivered some of his best lines when conspiring with his on-screen daughter, Alicent Hightower. This is one of the most serious roles in Ifans’ career, and he has shown a new level of acting that few have witnessed before. At 55 years of age, the Haverfordwest-born performer still has some of his best years ahead of him, and House of the Dragon could put him firmly in the Hollywood spotlight once again.
House of the Dragon’s Impact on the Entertainment Industry Already Apparent
House of the Dragon has been one of the greatest success stories of 2022, and it has been met with widespread critical acclaim. In the wake of Game of Thrones finishing, there was a vacuum in which various television networks tried to fill the void with their own offerings. But it’s clear now that nobody does it better than Martin himself. The writer has played an integral role in bringing his ideas to the screen this time and is credited with the show’s creation alongside Ryan Condal.
There’s no doubt that House of the Dragon’s influence is already spreading out into other areas of the entertainment industry. An example of this can be found in the mobile gaming sector, where titles like Dragon City and Dragon Mania Legends are picking up loads of new players. There are also tons of casino games making the most of players’ rekindled interest in dragons. These include the likes of Dragon’s Breath, Dragon’s Luck, and Dragons Cluster Buster. These games feature mythical beasts and will stand out to anyone who’s watched House of the Dragon.
Stiff Competition From Iwan Rheon
Despite Ifans putting on a career-defining performance as one of the most powerful men in Westeros, he faces stiff competition to earn the title of the best Welsh actor in the Game of Thrones universe. There have been many people from Wales in the two series, but one stands out above the rest.
Iwan Rheon was a highlight of Game of Thrones. His turn as Ramsay Bolton was incredible, as he portrayed one of the most sinister and twisted villains ever seen on screen. Indeed, some publications even went as far as saying he was too evil. Rheon was featured in 20 episodes of the original series and stole the show in every scene he was in.
Ifans has been an amazing addition to the world of Game of Thrones, and fans are enjoying trying to predict what his character will do next. To be the best Welshman in the universe, though, it will take a lot to push Rheon off his perch.