House of the Dragon’s power couple got a proper introduction in episode 2

House of the Dragon’s first episode had a lot to set up. There are current and former kings, a whole host of possible heirs, a battle for succession, and a prince so sad he couldn’t even have fun at an orgy. So it’s excusable that the pilot wasn’t able to devote much time to Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen, the realm’s greatest and pettiest couple.

If any character in the story is actually in House of the Dragon could deserve their own prequel shows, it’s these two. So in case the show never makes time for their backstory, here’s a little bit more about Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen and why they’re both so damn cool.

Corlys Velaryon is who?

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Ser Corlys Velaryon is a member of House Velaryon, one of the Targaryens’ oldest and most ardent allies, and one of the few houses in Westeros that can lay claim to Valyrian blood — though they aren’t dragon riders. Despite the house’s vaunted place in Westeros, it wasn’t among the wealthiest or most important houses in the Seven Kingdoms until Ser Corlys took things over. While the Velaryons are known for being skilled sailors (often as Master of Ships to their Targaryen Kings), Lord Corlys was a pioneer in seafaring.

In his younger days, long before he became Master of Driftmark, House Velaryon’s familial seat, Corlys sailed the seas on a ship known as the Sea Snake — which would give him the nickname he kept the rest of his life. Corlys traveled the entire known globe aboard the Sea Snake. These adventures would later be mythologized as “The Nine Voyages” and took him to the strangest and most superstitious corners of the world. In the end, however, Corlys’ main takeaway from these trips was 14 ships full of treasure and gold from Essos that helped make his house one of the wealthiest in Westeros.

After his voyages, when he became Master of Driftmark — a position also known as Lord of the Tides — Corlys married Rhaenys Targaryen and began his service to the Iron Throne, including helping Rhaenys’ father, Aemon, fight a war against the Myrish, and eventually served on the small council as Master of Ships, which is where we join him in House of the Dragon.

Rhaenys is Rhaenys’ Targaryen.

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Rhaenys Targaryen was born to Aemon Targaryen. She is also the granddaughter Jaehaerys Tgaryen. At one time, she was one of the potential heirs of the Iron Throne. However, during the Great Council of 101, the realm elected to place her cousin Viserys on the throne instead, thus setting up the precedent of male succession in Westeros and dooming Rhaenys to the fate of forever being called “The Queen Who Never Was.”

Rhaenys harbors righteous anger at her claim to the Seven Kingdoms not being granted. She is also a skilled dragon rider, Meleys. Rhaenys looks equally at home in an armored suit as she does in a court gown.

Laenor (the dragon-riding child) and Laena (the other daughter of the couple are also their children). All four of them will play an important role in the story, but I won’t spoil it. House of the DragonIt marches to its unavoidable and violent end.