Includes SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 7.
Summary
A scene inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 7 with Larys Strong sees him brushing off the idea of Seasmoke having a new rider, and there’s more to it. Played expertly by actor Matthew Needham in theHouse of the Dragoncast, Larys falls into the schemer archetype in theGame of Thronesworld, similar to Littlefinger or Varys. While he’s distinct from them in many ways, all of his conversations in the Red Keep are worth analyzing in detail, as there’s typically more than meets the eye in his words.
In season 2’s penultimateepisode, “The Red Sowing,“Larys meets with Lord Jasper Wylde, overlooking the courtyard of the Red Keep in King’s Landing.Wylde reports news from Blackwater Bay and the Crownlands that a new rider has potentially claimed the dragon Seasmoke, of course, referring to Addam of Hull. Given Larys' support for the Greens during the Dance of the Dragons, this would be vital information for the pair to take to the Prince Regent, but he dismisses the idea instead. He claims the sources aren’t reliable and suggests that Wylde refrain from mentioning it.
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Why Larys Strong Is Probably Lying About Seasmoke
If Jasper Wylde Knows, Larys Likely Already Knows
By the decision of King Aegon II, Larys Strong is the Master of Whisperers for the small council. If anyone were to obtain vital information that could affect theoutcome of the Dance of the Dragons, such as a new dragonrider entering the fold, he would be the first to hear of it and would be pressed to obtain all possible information on the matter. Not only does Larys disregard Wylde’s claims,he doesn’t even express an interest in pursuing further leads in the conversation. The conclusion to be drawn is that Larys already knew about Seasmoke.
Lord Jasper Wylde is an integral member of the small council as the Master of Laws. As any noble or politician in King’s Landing does, Wylde needs information to play the game of thrones and maintain his position of power. However, Larys is on another level, and it seems unlikely that such drastic rumors would reach Wylde before him.Larys probably received the information about Seasmoke and already decided not to act, as he has more to gain from remaining quiet about it.
Why Larys Strong Pretends Not To Believe Seasmoke Has A New Rider
Larys Wants Aemond Off The Throne
Larys Strong carefully plays his position in King’s Landing. He supports the Greens to an extent, but he primarily supports his own self-interest, and he benefited from Aegon II being king. The early season 2 episodes saw him manipulating the impressionable monarch, earning himself a position on the small council. Oppositely,Aemond becoming Prince Regent, has already seen Larys slighted and embarrassed in the small council room, when he thought Aemond was making him the new hand.
Larys doesn’t like Aemond being in power and wants Aegon to recover speedilyand return to rule. Likewise, Larys withholds information from Aemond because it weakens his position. If Aemond doesn’t know about the blacks having new dragonriders, he’s more than likely to act with haste, be caught off guard, and potentially be killed in action. Larys likely prefers Aemond over Rhaenyra, as he knows he would be executed if the Blacks retook King’s Landing, but the Prince Regent is his primary focus for the time being.
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What Does Larys Strong Really Want?
Larys Is Playing The Game Of Thrones For Personal Gain
Larys Strong is a bit harder to read than Littlefinger or Varys, asGame of Throneshad far more scenes pertaining to them and the duality of their ambitions. Larys seems to want personal power. He felt inferior to his warrior brother and statesman father for years, as he was seen as a family disappointment, so he sought vengeance against them and used his intelligence to climb through political rankings. He seemed to desire the position of hand when Aemond mentioned it, so it’s possible that could be on his agenda, though there’s likely more to it.
Throughout the show’s first and second seasons, Larys generally seems to thrive through chaos. However, siding with the Greens is antithetical to wanting to create chaos, as Aegon resembles a traditional sense of stability in Westeros' patriarchal society. It seems like Larys' main goal is just to climb and survive.He has a chip on his shoulder from his early family life, and he wants to prove to himself that he’s capableof playing the game.House of the Dragonwill see him continue to do so by any means necessary.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
