Fans of fantastical worlds and mythic quests are eating well these days, with both The Rings of Power and House of the Dragon premiering new episodes each week, expanding the worlds created by J.R.R. Tolkien and George R. R. Martin, respectively.
Despite their many differences, the fictional worlds of Middle-earth and Westeros bear many similarities, especially given that the latter was partially inspired by the former. As such, many of the characters of these two shows find counterparts in the other, uniting the two fandoms with parallel personalities worth watching as both shows continue to air their first seasons.
Harrold Westerling – Elendil
Graham McTavish, known for his portrayal of Dwalin in The Hobbit trilogy, portrays Ser Harrold Westerling in House of the Dragon. Westerling is the head of the Kingsguard and a loyal servant to Viserys. In his honorable example, Ser Harrold comes to resemble Elendil, the future king of Gondor.
Elendil, portrayed by Lloyd Owen, is a loyal servant of Queen Miriel of Numenor, who obeys his superior’s commands as best he can while maintaining his own dearly held beliefs. Viewers also know that Elendil will live on to become one of the worthiest Men in Middle-earth, a legacy that fans can only hope Ser Harrold Westerling also lives up to.
Lyonel Strong – Elrond
Gavin Spokes plays Lord Lyonel Strong, an advisor to King Viserys and his eventual hand after Otto Hightower is dismissed. Strong consistently supplies his king with wise and unselfish advice, behaving more like a friend than an associate. In so doing, he comes to represent the character of Elrond himself.
Elrond, who is portrayed by Robert Aramayo in The Rings of Power, is a good-hearted Elf who maintains friendships with the other races of Middle-Earth. Much like Lord Strong, he is unafraid to give frank advice to his superiors, establishing himself as a trustworthy advisor and friend.
Rhaenys Targaryen – Queen Miriel
Rhaenys Targaryen, portrayed by Eve Best, is the cousin of King Viserys, who was crowned by their grandfather despite Rhaenys’s legitimate claim to the throne. As a result, Rhaenys became known as “The Queen Who Never Was.” As the first season of House of the Dragon carries on, the character begins to resemble that of Queen Miriel, the regent of Numenor.
Queen Miriel, played by Cynthia Addai-Robinson, is a woman who sees the reality of her kingdom in a way that few others do, something that Rhaenys has also proven herself capable of. Though Miriel does sit on a throne whereas Rhaenys never did, both perceive the truth of their respective worlds, both the good and the ugly.
Criston Cole – Arondir
Ser Criston Cole, portrayed in House of the Dragon by Fabien Frankel, was the head of Princess Rhaenyra’s royal guard. Ultimately, Criston falls in love with her and crumbles under the reality that he can never marry her. In such a storyline, the knight comes to represent the Elf Arondir.
Like Ser Criston, Arondir, who is portrayed by Ismael Cruz Córdova of Mandalorian fame, struggles with a forbidden love that can only end in disaster. However, unlike Criston Cole, Arondir has so far maintained his honor, while his counterpart commits murder in the name of Princess Rhaenyra.
Corlys Velaryon – Durin III
Steve Touissant’s Lord Corlys Velaryon, the “Sea Snake,” is an influential character during House of the Dragon‘s first season. Desperate to have his lineage inherit the Iron Throne after his wife was ignored by her grandfather, Corlys is loyal only to a point, coming to resemble Durin III, the king of the Dwarves during the events of The Rings of Power.
Like Corlys, Durin III plays nice with his allies, the Elves, but all the while ensures that his own best interests are being looked after. While Durin is undoubtedly more admirable than his House of the Dragon counterpart, both characters keep enough tricks up their sleeves to remain in good standing when compared to their perceived enemies.
Otto Hightower – Halbrand
Otto Hightower is the second-born son of his house and the Hand of King Viserys I until he is dismissed. He yearns to have his grandson, Prince Aegon II, on the throne of Westeros, manipulating the king in his quest. Throughout the course of House of the Dragon‘s first season, Otto comes to resemble the Rings of Power character known as Halbrand.
Portrayed by Charlie Vickers, Halbrand is a companion of Galadriel’s, whom she meets while shipwrecked. While Halbrand seems friendly, there is much that he is hiding regarding his true intentions. Though each character’s future has yet to play out, viewers suspect both Otto Hightower and Halbarnd’s ultimate motives.
Daemon Targaryen – Sauron
Portrayed by Matt Smith, Daemon Targaryen is the brother of King Viserys who believes himself to be the rightful heir to the Iron Throne. As he deceitfully attempts to maneuver his way onto the throne of Westeros, he begins to resemble the dark lord Sauron himself, the general of Morgoth and the bane of Middle-earth.
While Daemon does not possess the powers that Sauron does, his coldhearted manipulation and lack of morality make him a potential parallel to the Lord of the Rings villain. Like Sauron, Daemon is unafraid to bide his time, playing his enemies against one another as he gathers enough power to overtake them.
Alicent Hightower – Bronwyn
Alicent Hightower, portrayed in the series by Emily Carey and Olivia Cooke, is the daughter of Otto Hightower and the Queen of Westeros following her marriage to King Viserys. She has two children of her own, the eldest of which is a possible successor to Viserys despite his naming Rhaenyra his heir. Throughout her arc in season one, Alicent bears some resemblance to Bronwyn from The Rings of Power.
Nazanin Boniadi portrays Bronwyn, a villager who helps her neighbors escape the onslaught of Orcs that seek to take over the Southlands. Thrust into a position of leadership that presents them with several moral dilemmas, Bronwyn and Alicent struggle to maintain their humanity as they discover the truth about the world they’ve inherited.
Viserys Targaryen – Gil-Galad
Paddy Considine portrays King Viserys I Targaryen, the ruler of Westeros and the father of series protagonist Rhaenyra Targaryen. After he names his daughter heir to the Iron Throne, Viserys ignites a series of events that spell disaster for his kingdom after he is gone, causing his rule to grow similar to that of King Gil-Galad of the Elves.
Gil-Galad is played by Benjamin Walker and slightly differs from his Rings of Power counterpart in his approach to Sauron’s lingering existence. The live-action version of the character appears to ignore the threat of Sauron’s forces, allowing the darkness to grow and fester as he proclaims peace. Viserys is unfortunately quite similar, leaving his descendants with a mess to clean up after his imminent passing.
Rhaenyra Targaryen – Galadriel
Milly Alcock and Emma D’Arcy portray Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the heir to King Viserys. Rhaenyra is forced to prove herself to Westeros as the first female heir to the Iron Throne, causing her arc to bear some resemblance to that of Galadriel in The Rings of Power.
Morfydd Clark’s depiction of Galadriel faces pressure from her superiors to forsake her quest and return to the Undying Lands. However, she sticks to what she believes to be right, refusing to obey their orders. In this way, she and Rhaenyra are strikingly similar, creating two strong protagonists for each respective series.
Join Amazon Prime – Watch Thousands of Movies & TV Shows Anytime
Start Free Trial Now
