Paddy Considine’s Viserys is a rare example of an adaptation outshining the original
For readers of Fire and Blood, King Viserys I Targaryen didn't stand out. In the historical retelling of the Targaryens by Archmaester Glydayn, Viserys was presented as a bland, one-dimensional character – a dogged, monotonous King, and a puppet of the Hightowers in his old age. As a result, when House of the Dragon was announced, fans didn't expect much.
But, the Game of Thrones universe defied the odds as usual. Portrayed by English actor Paddy Considine, it's to his immense credit that he made Viserys so loveable among the fans. His passionate acting added an extra dimension to King Viserys I that fans couldn't quite imagine he had.
Paddy's depth of acting is one of the many things that stood out. From episode one, it was evident Paddy did his homework, knowing full well the emotions of Viserys, along with the political games the King found himself in. Dealing with the ever-scheming Otto and Alicent Hightower, Paddy's Viserys gained a new dimension which intrigued fans throughout his run.
Perhaps the best thing Paddy gifted us was how natural Viserys' emotions were. The feelings of both Viserys the King and Viserys the family man was captured in its rawest form. His dealing with his rogue brother Daemon, to his protection of Rhaenyra, to his enduring love for his first wife, Aemma, really stood out.
Even with long time jumps after every episode, Paddy maintained his high levels of performance. Not only did he portray what the showrunners told him to, he made sure fans could feel Viserys' emotional beats through the screens too. This isn't the first time he did this either – Peaky Blinders fans should remember his portrayal of Father John Hughes in season 3. For me personally, Paddy made me hate Father Hughes as much as I love Viserys now. It speaks volumes of his talents and his range.
With each passing episode, as Viserys' health deteriorated from leprosy, fans saw the versatility of Paddy Considine. Some of the most powerful scenes of the series came after the time jumps of episodes six and eight, by which time Viserys was fully bedridden. Paddy's fervent acting, and his impeccable, nuanced emotional beats meant Viserys connected even more with the fans, as he dealt with adversary from the Hightowers.
Paddy's performance in episode eight will live long in the memory. That episode fully embodied the personality of King Viserys I Targaryen – from showing immense willpower to attend court to defend and protect his daughter Rhaenyra, to his yearning of seeing his family unified and happy for once realised in the family banquet – it showed a man to whom family was everything, even above the burdens of the Crown. The scene where he looked on with a tired smile as his family feasted in harmony is sure to make an impression on the fanbase for years to come.
What makes his performance even more amazing was how he improvised. The segment where Viserys' crown fell off wasn't in the script. But, Paddy and his co-actor Matt Smith, playing Daemon, went on, with Daemon helping Viserys to the Iron Throne and ultimately placing the crown back on his head.
It's by far one of the most powerful and epic scenes in the entire Game of Thrones franchise – where brotherly love prevailed as Viserys saw how wrong he was in thinking Daemon wanted his crown. The scene where Viserys utters 'My love' signifying Aemma as he passed away was improvised as well. Yet, it was so powerful that it's sure to have made fans emotional in its heart-breaking magnificence.
In an interview with GQ, Paddy admitted even George RR Martin himself was in awe, saying his Viserys was much, much better than Martin's ever was. This is a testament of Paddy's talents, a brilliant actor who immersed himself into his character and translated it for the screens immaculately. He managed to fill in the gaps left by the loose description of his character in Martin's Fire & Blood with the mastery of an artist who not only knows his craft, but understands the raw power of stories and human nature.
It's to the immense credit of Paddy Considine that fans' bond with Viserys deepened so much over his run. It's one of the rarest occasions where the TV character has outshone their book's counterpart, the tragic majesty of a fragile King fully captured by passionate acting. As fans we can utter in unison – Thank you Paddy Considine for giving us the best Viserys we could have ever imagined for.
Inqiad is a long-suffering Man United fan and a self-proclaimed Targaryen. Contact him at inqiadali007@gmail.com