*Warning: Spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon and Fire & Blood* Corlys Velaryon kicks off hard in House of the Dragon’s latest episode, marking a departure from the books. Even though some fans are calling it a “character assassination”, actor Steve Toussaint’s explanation of his mindset may help you to understand. Up until this point, the Sea Snake has been a staunch supporter of Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), leading the Black fleet during the Battle of the Gullet even after losing his wife, Rhaenys Targaryen, earlier on. In short, he’s done a lot to help the cause, and so when he asks Rhaenyra for a favour in House of the Dragon season three episode three, ‘Rhaenyra Triumphant’, he no doubt expected for his wish to be granted. Corlys requests for his bastard sons – Addam (Clinton Liberty) and Alyn (Abubakar Salim) of Hull – to be sworn in as Velaryons. “Without them, my line is ended and my name erased,” he says. Credit: HBO But when it comes to the ceremony, she knights them as “Hull”, leaving Corlys enraged. Rhaenyra is afraid of the optics given she’s set to name Joffrey the heir to the Iron Throne now that her first two born sons, Jacaerys (Harry Collett) and Lucerys (Elliot Grihault), are dead. And if you remember, all three of her first borns are themselves bastards. It’s something Corlys calls her out for, pointing out the years of service and sacrifice he’s given to her. “I was staunch in my defence when your own troth was doubted,” he says. Rhaenyra continues with her own defence, saying it’s bad timing, she’s grateful for his service, and that “one day” maybe she could name his sons Velaryons. But this only enrages Corlys more. “Your son Joffrey is a bastard. Your son Lucerys, whom I accepted as my heir, was a bastard,” he snarls, at which point she starts walking away. But Corlys shouts, “Your son Jacaerys lived and died a bastard.” House of the Dragon fans think Corlys has become a ‘completely different character’ This outburst hasn’t gone down well with multiple fans of George R.R. Martin’s novels (more on this shortly), with one asking, “Is this the biggest character assassination in House of the Dragon so far?” Is this the biggest character assassination in House of the Dragon so far? Because book Corlys and show Corlys suddenly feel like two completely different people. The fact that he waited until Jace and Luke were dead before he said his mind, are the writers trying to make… pic.twitter.com/hiprfRXizm — ADA (@Uc_heyy02) July 6, 2026 They said that the book and show versions feel like “two completely different people,” adding, “The fact that he waited until Jace and Luke were dead before he said his mind, are the writers trying to make Corlys look like a coward or did they completely misunderstand his character?” Another said, “Also the fact Rhaenyra calls him ‘useless’ after the battle he LITERALLY JUST WON FOR HER! I hate what this show is doing to these characters!” A third added, “Does anyone else think Corlys’s outburst at Rhaenyra was uncharacteristic? I understand Corlys is upset that Queen has denied his request to legitimise his bastards but screaming ‘your son are bastards’ in courtyard in front of everyone seemed bad writing than impulsive. “Corlys has been shown as calm and composed since his return from Stepstones campaign and it felt uncharacteristic of him.” One person who spoke in defence of the outburst said, “He was angry after all he had lost.” But another replied, “I understand that but it still seems out of character saying Jace died a bastard when he fought defending the Velaryon fleet.” And one pointed out, “If Daemon heard what he said there he’d get chopped on the spot.” Steve Toussaint explains why Corlys finally snapped Credit: HBO The thing is, even if Daemon had been around, it wouldn’t have mattered to the Sea Snake, according to actor Steve Toussaint. The Corlys star opened up in a new interview with Variety, explaining that there was a deleted scene from House of the Dragon season one whereby the character was wounded in a battle and plunged into the sea. Realising he couldn’t get to the surface with his armour, he accepts his fate, only for a hand to reach out and save him. Although it didn’t make the final cut, Toussaint said this told him Corlys isn’t afraid to die. “That death was always near him, but he always had reasons to live, his children, his wife, and so forth,” Toussaint said. “But at this stage now, those people don’t exist anymore. The only thing that he’s got going, the only thing that’s keeping him going is, I need to set up these two boys. “So when he says to her, ‘So and so is a bastard,’ and if she had said, ‘Right, let’s get the guards and we’re going to cut his head off,’ he would have been like, ‘Fine, that’s fine, this is as good a way to go as any.’” The actor went on to highlight the many times Corlys defended the legitimacy of Rhaenyra’s sons even though he knew it wasn’t true, and by her not returning the favour, it caused him to snap. Credit: HBO “He feels like he’s gone to the mat for this girl, for Rhaenyra, and for him it is a small gesture, considering what I’ve lost, for you just to say, ‘Yeah, those are yours,’” he explained. “Because I still have to take on the fact, yes, I did father these children, and I did abandon them. I still have to take on that, so all I’m asking for you, in your wisdom, is just, ‘Yes, they’re Velaryons.’ “And then when she doesn’t, I think it all just comes to the boil. He’s counted the cost, looked for the benefits and there have been no benefits.” How is this different from the books? Credit: HBO The reason some readers have taken issue with the scene is because it marks a noticeable change from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. In the book, Corlys is fully aware that Jace, Luke, and Joffrey are not Laenor Velaryon’s biological sons, but he continues to publicly support Rhaenyra and never denounces them as bastards – especially in front of the court. Instead, Corlys remains pragmatic and is one of the most important allies for much of the Dance of the Dragons, serving on Rhaenyra’s Black Council and continuing to fight for her cause. While the pair do eventually fall out later in the story, it happens under very different circumstances and is tied to other factors rather than the legitimacy of Rhaenyra’s children. Does Corlys betray Rhaenyra in Fire & Blood? Yes, but as said, not for the reasons shown in House of the Dragon. In Fire & Blood, Corlys and Rhaenyra’s relationship eventually breaks down after she becomes increasingly paranoid. When she orders the arrest of Addam Velaryon on suspicion of treason, Corlys helps him escape, leading to his own imprisonment. After Rhaenyra loses control of King’s Landing, Corlys is released and swears fealty to Aegon II, serving on the Green king’s small council while working to bring the civil war to an end. Unlike many of the Dance’s major figures, Corlys survives the conflict and later serves Aegon III before dying peacefully of natural causes at the age of 79. For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page. 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