{"id":6063,"date":"2026-07-06T13:32:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T12:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/?p=6063"},"modified":"2026-07-06T13:32:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T12:32:26","slug":"house-of-the-dragon-season-3-why-does-corlys-betray-rhaenyra-actor-explains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/2026\/07\/06\/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-why-does-corlys-betray-rhaenyra-actor-explains\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Corlys betray Rhaenyra? House of the Dragon star explains baffling season 3 change"},"content":{"rendered":"

*Warning: Spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon and Fire & Blood*<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Corlys Velaryon kicks off <\/span>hard<\/span><\/i> in House of the Dragon\u2019s latest episode, marking a departure from the books. Even though some fans are calling it a \u201ccharacter assassination\u201d, actor Steve Toussaint\u2019s explanation of his mindset may help you to understand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Up until this point, the Sea Snake has been a staunch supporter of Rhaenyra<\/a> (Emma D\u2019Arcy), leading the Black fleet during the Battle of the Gullet even after losing his wife, Rhaenys Targaryen, earlier on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In short, he\u2019s done a lot to help the cause, and so when he asks Rhaenyra for a favour in House of the Dragon<\/a> season three episode three, \u2018Rhaenyra Triumphant\u2019, he no doubt expected for his wish to be granted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Corlys requests for his bastard sons – Addam (Clinton Liberty) and Alyn (Abubakar Salim) of Hull – to be sworn in as Velaryons. \u201cWithout them, my line is ended and my name erased,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Rhaenyra
Credit: HBO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But when it comes to the ceremony, she knights them as \u201cHull\u201d, leaving Corlys enraged. Rhaenyra is afraid of the optics given she\u2019s set to name Joffrey the heir to the Iron Throne now that her first two born sons, Jacaerys (Harry Collett)<\/a> and Lucerys (Elliot Grihault), are dead.<\/span><\/p>\n

And if you remember, all three of her first borns are themselves bastards. It\u2019s something Corlys calls her out for, pointing out the years of service and sacrifice he\u2019s given to her. \u201cI was staunch in my defence when your own troth was doubted,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rhaenyra continues with her own defence, saying it\u2019s bad timing, she\u2019s grateful for his service, and that \u201cone day\u201d maybe she could name his sons Velaryons. But this only enrages Corlys more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour son Joffrey is a bastard. Your son Lucerys, whom I accepted as my heir, was a bastard,\u201d he snarls, at which point she starts walking away. But Corlys shouts, \u201cYour son Jacaerys lived and died a bastard.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

House of the Dragon fans think Corlys has become a \u2018completely different character\u2019<\/h2>\n

This outburst hasn\u2019t gone down well with multiple fans of George R.R. Martin\u2019s<\/a> novels (more on this shortly), with one asking, \u201cIs this the biggest character assassination in House of the Dragon so far?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Is this the biggest character assassination in House of the Dragon so far?<\/p>\n

Because book Corlys and show Corlys suddenly feel like two completely different people.<\/p>\n

The fact that he waited until Jace and Luke were dead before he said his mind, are the writers trying to make\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/hiprfRXizm<\/a><\/p>\n

— ADA (@Uc_heyy02) July 6, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n