Corlys Velaryon: A Man Of Ambition
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- Corlys Velaryon is one of the most important characters in House of the Dragon and arguably the greatest supporter of Rhaenyra Targaryen and her sons. But despite that he's not as noble of a man as you may believe.
#film #asoiaf #breakdown #characteranalysis #hotd #houseofthedragon #fantasy #explained #targaryen #velaryon
I really love Corlys' actor. He brings such gravitas to the character (and he's quite the looker, too). Also, in the book, it's almsot a running gag how many times he ends up in the dungeon but somehow Karma Houdini's his way out every time.
I imagine the jailers be like: "Ah, Lord Corlys, must be Wednesday. Usual cell?"
Corlys and Otto in HotD are very much parallels to Tywin Lannister.
- Ambitious men driven by legacy
-Lords from powerful and wealthy Great Houses (although Otto is only a second son which enhances the impressiveness of his achievements)
- Attempted to pawn off their daughters to become queen (although Corlys failed but then succeeded *at first* with Laenor only for that to also fail)
- Served as Hand of the King; Otto to Jaehaerys, Viserys and Aegon II and Tywin to Aerys II, Joffrey and Tommen. (Corlys is a bit of an asterisk given he was hand to the unofficial Usurper Queen Rhaenyra).
- They all also had shortened stints as Hand under a Targaryen monarch; Otto was dismissed by Aegon II, Corlys dismissed by Rhaenyra, Tywin resigned under Aerys II. (This one doesn't hold much significance and is consequential but it's a fun bonus detail for me, personally)
- Tywin excelled in diplomacy and battle strategy. Otto excels in diplomacy while Corlys is an apt battle strategist
- The death of all 3 men marked a decline in all their houses thereafter. It's arguable that their houses peaked under their influences.
14:20 The flaw in Corlys "History remembers name" logic is sure it remembers names. But history can be altered depending on who is telling the story. Even 100 years after the fact, had a pro-Green king ascended the throne the history could retroactively paint Corlys as a overly ambitious lord who was willing to throw his family legacy away in order to gain the throne, and that would be the narrative going forward. History can change, but blood will remain.
I wouldn’t say that Corlys doesn’t care that his son his gay. It’s more like he’s in denial. He said at least once that it was “just a phase.”
I don't think Corlys is quite as slimy as Otto Hightower or as monstrous as Tywin Lannister. But you make some great points, good video!
Here's a "What if..." Idea:
What if Viserys never rose up from bed to enter the Throne room and reaffirm Lucerys as Corlys's successor? The Greens surely would have won this coup and Vaemond would have not only become the next Lord of the Tides but a key Green ally. How does Rhaenyra react? Does Daemon snap and hire assassins to get rid of Otto and Alicent? How well have the Greens prepared for the worst case scenario fallout?
oooooooh this is such a good idea!! I hope he does a video on this
Ooooohhhh yes! This sound really interesting
@@ely_sky Thank you!
@@notyourproblem474 thank you!
Considering the Velaryons never appear in the original series, it's a safe bet they're screwed.
They’re still around in the books, though dramatically reduced
They were Stannis supporters, but D&D cut them. They first appeared in the clash of kings, the second book.
They ARE mentioned here and there in the books though, so it’s not like they died off in the dance.
Velaryons and Hightowers are in the books they just were cut out of the show. And Velaryons had their power reduced in dance but later more so bc they had a lot of their prestige by association with Targaryens being another Valyrian house so as the Targaryens declined so did they. Some other houses that aren’t in GOT are very screwed though lol.
They are around in the book
Corlys is no different from Otto thank u so many fans r blind just because he is team black. I also don’t believe Corlys is above committing treason it means getting himself in the history books.
Great video as usual. 👏👏👏
"What if" scenario:
What if Daemon and Rhea had a son who was named heir instead of Rhaenyra? Would Daemon try to mingle in his son's life or completely despise him since his mother isn't of valyrian blood?
I think he'd care to a degree but feel betrayed that Viserys pickes his son over him.
Daemon’s son wouldn’t be named heir over the king’s own sons though. Plus daemon never consummated his marriage to Rhea.
You make him out to be the somewhat less sinister Tywin Lannister of his era. In all honestly maybe... that's what he is... still all in all I still think he's a better person than Tywin. At very least he's not quite as monstrous when it comes ordering other peoples deaths in mass so casually let alone his own family.
People talking about they want henry cavil as aegon the conquer......Aegon is black 😂
They're not gonna make him black in the show (technically half-black). Because they didn't even bother making Jahaerys, Rhaenys, Viserys and Daemon black. Jahaerys mother was a Velaryon, and he married his sister. Then their children married eachother and had Viserys and Daemon. Rhaenys mother was also half Velaryon, Jocelyn Baratheon was the younger half sister of Jahaerys and aunt of her husband Aemon. So, since there was no "new/different" blood added to the line all the main characters should be by logic also half black and yet they aren't. They turned the Velaryons black for the sake of tokenism but without actually being willing to fully go for it. So no, I don't think they will make a Targaryen black, especially Aegon.
@notyourproblem474 dam I never thought about that, but why did they make laenor and Laena clearly half black
@@MannyGQQ because Corlys is their father, and it would've been too obvious if they made them white. Besides, they're not targaryen in name. I hope I'm wrong, but I genuinely believe that they won't make a black targaryen since they're considered to be "more important" and they're only doing this for the sake of diversity points
Oh, and to make it worse Aenys (Jahaerys's dad), should also be half black, who then proceeded to marry a black woman. So there's is literally no way for Jahaerys to be so white according to the show changes. Like, it's almost impossible. And yet he is. I'm telling you, they won't make a black Targaryen.
Given Henry cornrows and dreadlocks!!! :D
Could you make one about Rhaenys and her senseless murder of those smallfolk?
Such a terrible scene that was so forced so rhaenys can have a girl boss moment
That scene is like a ketchup stain that you can’t wipe away on a perfectly clean white linen shirt.
@@asoiaf__😂that’s perfect n that moment gave the blacks the highest body count compared to greens
@@jjosifovicI think it was also supposed to plant the seeds for people hating dragons and eventually storming the Dragonpit but it was a shitty attempt as they turned Rhaenys (imo the rightful queen) into a mass murderer
@@notyourproblem474 that is true i never though of it like that. Im more team green n i believe rt is a terrible heir but Rhaenys to me is the Gold Standard of Targaryen Women.....god how i hate that dragon scene so much.
Otto promoted Rhaenera as Viserys’ heir when he had the hump with Daemon in one of the early episodes
great video, i really enjoy your videos o(^▽^)o
do you think you could do a what if Lucerys never died/fought with Aemond?
Otto is the one who brought up naming Rhaenyra heir & convinced Viserys to name her his successor. I guess you like to skip that & yet he says she can never be queen & actively moves to usurp & murder her. That tells you all you need to know about Otto Hightower.