Who is Larys Strong? House of the Dragon’s latest schemer, explained

This is the sixth episode House of the Dragon A big jump was introduced to the show that audiences have been waiting for: it’s a new element. The 10-year gap from episodes 5 to 6 has seen new roles being played by actors, as well as a variety of characters introduced.

The character that played the biggest role on the show was Larys Strong, played by Matthew Needham. Who is he, and what’s his whole deal? We’re here to help, dear reader.

[Ed. note: Significant spoilers for House of the Dragon episode 6 lie ahead. Tread carefully.]

Larys Strong is who?

Larys is the youngest of Lord Lyonel Strong of Harrenhal’s two sons. In House of the DragonJust before the time skip, Lord Lyonel rose to the Hand of King position for King Viserys Tgaryen. Larys’ older brother, Ser Harwin Strong, is a knight. Ser Harwin is also Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen’s current paramour, which has led to rampant rumors in the Targaryen court that he is the illegitimate father of her three children, who we meet for the first time in episode 6.

What’s Larys up to?

Larys has forged a connection with Queen Alicent Hightower, correctly identifying King Viserys’ wife as an important mover and shaker in the political machinations of the Targaryen empire. This comes to an end in episode 6. The Queen is deeply concerned about Rhaenyra’s bastard children — ostensibly out of concern for the Targaryens’ legacy, but it’s not too much of a stretch to say it is primarily out of self-interest, with the hope that her eldest son, Aegon, will be named heir.

Taking Alicent’s privately shared concerns to heart, Larys organizes a scheme wherein a group of men working under his command burn Harrenhal castle, seemingly killing Lord Lyonel and Ser Harwin in the process.

Why was Larys doing that?

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It’s pretty cold-hearted to so flippantly organize the death of your father and brother, but this isn’t House of the Family Good Times. Larys is a schemer and a conniver — my friend and colleague Austen Goslin pointed out the easiest way to remember his name is that he serves as both the Varys and Littlefinger of this show. Varys + Littlefinger = Larys. It’s just simple math, folks.

Larys is able to see into the future by predicting the outcome of the succession fight that will ensue after King Viserys dies. Alicent is his greatest ally and he has placed his money on Aegon to be the likely winner. Alicent reacts with horror when Larys tells her what he did. He makes it clear that she owes him and will pay in the due time. Whether that happens sooner or later is something we’ll just have to wait to see.