House of the Dragon’s Velaryon-Targaryen power couple knows they rule

Some of the most exciting developments in the episode’s latest episode are revealed. House of the DragonThat is it House of the Dragon Fans finally have someone to root for.

Even though Ser Corlys Vearyon (Steve Toussaint), and his wife Princess Rhaenys Tarrayen (Eve Best), were first introduced in episode 5, of House of the DragonWe see them for the first time in person, with Paddy Considine as King Viserys (Paddy Considine), and also alone. It’s instantly clear that they are maybe the show’s only example of couple goals.

They have the characteristics that make them stand out Best is an answer that Toussaint and Best think can best be summed up succinctly (and, as they did in the interview with Polygon, in unison): “All of the other relationships are Damage!”

“Trash! Obscene!” says Toussaint, before Best cuts in with the new Targaryen house motto: “Incestuous! Weird!”

And it’s true; the relationship is not only healthier than anything else House of the Dragonhe has made an offer, but they are close friends. When Viserys comes to ask if they’ll wed their son to his daughter, Rhaenys is present and working the room. Rhaenys rarely gives Viserys her full attention and offers him only wine. While Rhaenys doesn’t speak much in the meeting, it’s clear that her mere presence here is distinctive, especially with Rhaenyra stuck on the other side of the door. Corlys looks at Rhaenys when it’s time to accept the proposition.

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Best acknowledges that they’re not the sole loving couple on House of the DragonBut their sweetness comes from something else.

“You get the feeling with [Viserys and Aemma] they’re not necessarily peers. I mean you hardly see their relationship, but I think she’s quite a bit younger, isn’t she?” Best says, acknowledging that there are certainly “resonances” with Lady Macbeth. “It really feels like a partnership. And it’s very modern in that respect. And it’s very, very equal, and very based on mutual respect, in terms of power. It’s absolutely 100% an alliance.”

Although their origin story isn’t written into the show (yet), Best and Toussaint have filled in the gaps for themselves.

“In my head I always had this idea that they had come back from one of his voyages and he was in the court but he was not quite as polished [as the people there]. And that was kind of an appeal,” Toussaint says. “Also the fact that she didn’t look down on him. It is because his home, in the beginning of his travels, wasn’t nearly as wealth as those of his friends. But he went out and made a fortune.”

Corlys displays the treasures he has accumulated from his travels in his Driftmark castle throne. While episode 5 doesn’t give the audience a full look at all that, Toussaint says he asked co-showrunner Ryan Condal to give him information on each and every artifact so he could appreciate the accomplishments of his character.

As we see in the scene when Corlys and Rhaenys are alone, they don’t always 100% agree. They love each other fiercely and have a profound admiration of one another. Corlys may seem like he’s simply out to protect his family’s name, but he tells Rhaenys he wants to see their son married to right the “small-minded error” of not naming her queen.

The universe is made up of people who have unhealthy or destructive relationships with each other, as demonstrated in another video Game of ThronesCorlys & Rhaenys, a couple that is clearly in control of their wedding plans this week, are clearly an impressive power couple. But they’re also a couple actually worth rooting for as they play the game of thrones.