As the first season of House Of The Dragon comes to a close, the powerful characters in the series will divide their allegiances between the Greens and the Blacks. Throughout the time jumps in this season, many characters have gone through changes that have influenced who they favor on the Iron Throne.

The character changes in this series have been due to many things, such as maturity, traumatic events, and a simple change of viewpoint. From Daemon to Alicent, these characters went through more drastic changes than others leading up to the impending Targaryen Civil War.

Daemon's Desire For Power

At the start of the series, Daemon expresses his anger at not being named Hand of the King by Viserys and was upset when his position as heir was taken away. Most fans interpreted his expressiveness at this time as his desire for power.

However, as time went on, he seemed more concerned with separating himself from the politics of the Red Keep, especially when he spends so much time outside of Westeros with his family. After he marries Rhaenyra, he doesn't express a desire to gain power but rather a desire to help Rhaenyra claim the birthright that was taken from him and given to her.

Ser Criston's Self-Control

Ser Criston has proven to be one of the most volatile characters. While he was honorable and formal at the beginning of this series, his affair with Rhaenyra and then her rejection of his proposal for them to run away together caused the knight to slowly unravel.

After Alicent stopped him from dying by suicide, he became loyal to her and dedicated his life to protecting her. However, his anger towards Rhaenyra never subsided, and he now lets his anger drive him over his honor. The audience saw how ruthless he's become when he suddenly kills Lord Beesbury at the small council meeting for speaking up against the talk of treason.

Otto's Source Of Power

Otto Hightower was already in a position of power at the beginning. He was not only the Hand of the King, but King Viserys often confided in Otto more than any of his other council members. Though he was always interested in his own advancement, he did so through his influence on the king.

Now that his grandson is the new king of Westeros, he has the potential to hold even more power over the realm. He has proven he has intentions of claiming more power in the way he races against Alicent to get the upper hand in controlling Aegon. Instead of using manipulation to maintain his power, he'll use the influence of his family to maintain his position.

Aegon's Dwindling Arrogance

In terms of the characters angling for the throne, Aegon has proven he has little potential for being a good king. In his youth, he showed no interest in court life and instead was content with using his princely position to act horribly and take advantage of those less fortunate.

However, after the second significant time jump, the slightly more adult Aegon has demonstrated he's even less fit to be king than in his youth. While he was arrogant as a young man, he admitted in season 1's penultimate episode that he has no interest in being king and is aware he would be a bad ruler. This is a stark comparison to the cocky young man that thought he could do whatever he wants.

Aemond's Growing Confidence

Aemond's best quotes throughout his portrayal on the show outline the change in his character. When he was a young boy, he was a shy and withdrawn child. However, he always demonstrated that he is intelligent. After he claimed Vhagar as his dragon and lost an eye as a result, Aemond became far more confident.

The snarky, educated young man Aemond is now hardly comparable to the meek child he once was. Aemond's growth as he grew from a boy into a man is one of the most drastic changes in the series so far and leaves open the possibility he may be favored over his king brother Aegon.

Rhaenys' Allegiance

The Velaryons have made it clear that their allegiances lie mainly within their own house. Rhaenys has been portrayed as a dedicated mother and wife, concerned with protecting her family while also pushing for them to hold powerful positions. In the beginning, when Rhaenyra was still young, Rhaenys expressed slight annoyance that the princess was so confident she could change the realm's mind about female rulers when they wouldn't allow Rhaenys to be queen.

However, in the wake of King Viserys' death, Rhaenys didn't choose to side with Alicent simply because she seems to have access to more resources for the upcoming war. On the contrary, despite her and Rhaenyra's differences, she's seen in the finale's trailer bringing information to the princess.

Alicent's Driving Characteristic

When Alicent was young, she was extremely concerned with being morally right and following the traditions of the realm. This moral superiority led to the rift between her and Rhaenyra when she discovered Rhaenyra had an affair with Ser Criston, compromising the princess' political persona.

However, as she has spent years being queen, Alicent seems far less concerned about what's the most moral. She is seen hiding her son's vile indiscretions, imprisoning prominent court members, and threatening lords if they don't swear fealty to Aegon. It's clear her driving characteristic is no longer morality, but rather using whatever means to put and keep her son on the throne.

Rhaenyra's Fighting Spirit

Rhaenyra was seen as far more spirited when she was a teenager than in her adulthood. As a young woman, she often argued with her father and fought for her own freedom with a loose tongue. She was even bold enough to go alone to Dragonstone to retrieve her dead brother's dragon egg from Daemon.

Though it's clear Rhaenyra has some of that fire left, her personality is far more subdued than previously. One thing often misunderstood about Rhaenyra is she isn't particularly power-hungry. As teased in the final episode trailer, Rhaenyra isn't interested in fighting with her family for her throne and wishes to resolve the issues without war (though she's likely aware that scenario is unlikely).

Viserys' Ability To Rule

One of the characters that can't catch a break is Viserys. While his character went through a drastic change, this was largely due to the illness that made him sicker as the years went on. In the beginning, Viserys is a thoughtful ruler that is only concerned with peace in the realm and being happy.

However, as he gets more sick, he becomes more reclusive and is eventually bedridden. While he was a take-charge king in his younger days and would speak up against the council to make final decisions, he's seen letting Alicent and Otto frequently take charge even before he's restricted to his chambers. This drastic character change was one of the most devastating throughout the season.

Mysaria's Desire For Safety

When Mysaria is first introduced, she is a prostitute Daemon brings to Dragonstone to anger his brother for disinheriting him. While she's there with Daemon, she expresses her desire to feel safe and not have to worry about living in fear.

Now, Mysaria is the infamous White Worm that is likely to play an important role in the spreading of sensitive information throughout Westeros during the war to come. Instead of trying to rely on others to keep her safe, she has demonstrated she's learned how to protect herself by surrounding herself with guards and spies. Mysaria is the perfect representation of a puppet turned into a powerfully individual.

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