Why King Viserys Is the Greatest Fantasy Performance Ever
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ส.ค. 2024
- In this video essay on the House of the Dragon, I breakdown into the acting performance of Paddy Considine as King Viserys.
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There is a lot to love about the House of the Dragon, and what stood out to me the most was the consistency and nuance of the acting- with Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, and Olivia Cooke all giving exemplary performances, rivaling even the best of Game of Thrones. But to me, it was King Viserys, and the performance of Paddy Considine, that was truly the highlight of the show, and maybe my favorite fantasy performance ever.
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Alternate Title:
Why King Viserys Is the Best Performance in House of the Dragon
The BEST Performance in House of the Dragon
When the actor outperforms the material
How Paddy Considine Delivered the Best Fantasy Performance Ever
House of the Dragon, Paddy Considine, King Viserys, House of the Dragon Viserys, House of the Dragon Episode.
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What has been your favorite aspect of the House of the Dragon?
@@ComeWatchTV the cast. Most of them have been exceptional.
Ewan Mitchell and Tom Glynn Carney this season have been immense. Rhys Ifans ep 2 when he got the sack was amazing
Casting perfection!
@@ComeWatchTV I like it but I feel like it heavily relies on you already watching Thrones…Half of the time idk what they talking bout with brackens and tullys
That despite anything questionable, characters behave in generally sensible and consistent ways.
Its just an beautifully thought world to immerse ones self in.
He’s the first Targaryen king we ever got to spend time with.
That’s a good point
I really want to see a series about Aegon the conqueror and his sister-wives and their conquest of westeros.
he is a good king. i dont care what other people say
@@SpellingBeeCyet a key part of kingship is planning well for the future, he didn’t.
@@teongreen5254sequels. Not prequels
I'm still angry that Paddy Considine even didn't get *at least* an Emmy nomination! 😡😡🤬🤬
Just ridiculous!
@@mori1bund the real people know ( the fans) how good he was.
@@scottieap6412true but let’s be real perception and vanity annoyingly weigh more in the long run of certifying excellence
@@CEOofFriendship Wow! So much wrong in just one comment... 🙂
1.) Emma D'Arcy didn't win anything, she was just nominated.
2.) And she wasn't even nominated for an Emmy, it was some other award.
3.) her performance was good in episodes 6-9 and excellent in episode 10 (the one she was probably nominated for and the one that got her lots of praise.)
And no! you don't really support one actor by bashing another actor.
That's probably a complement.
These awards often don't acknowledge actual talent.
Exactly why we shouldn't even take the emmys or oscars or any if that seriously. Just a bunch of failed producers acting as critics circle jerking each other.
Viserys's walk to the throne is probably the single most beautiful and moving scene to date across the entire GoT franchise.
Red wedding, black water bay, Ned stark death…
@@OniijhI wouldn’t call any of those beautiful
He'd had some good moments before that but THAT was the moment that showed what a great king he was and how good they all had it. He made mistakes but was a true peacekeeper.
Dany landing on dragonstone sent chills.
Hold the Door...Hol Tha Dor...Hotador...Holdor....Hodor Hodor Hodor!
It really is an outrage that Paddy Considine didn't even get NOMINATED for a national award for his performance.
He really should have won something! He was wonderful in this role!
What's a national award?
He's a dumb persons good actor
@@dendenkushi What a lot of rubbish.
@@dendenkushirubbish, and you are gay
Yeah, every time paddy Considine was on screen it was a treat to the eyes
he's the definition of excellent
Well treat to the eyes is not the word i would use.
Treat to the ears too. Hes got good delivery
@@Tabaluca911 They are talking about the actor, not the character itself and the appearence.
@@targaryen7029 bro shut up
When Daemon places his crown upon his head… it’s the moment they will all look back upon and realize how good they had it. And how he was the only one doing his best to hold it all together.
Perfectly said.
That scene was just absolutely heartbreaking..like we as viewers know whats coming and characters as well..
That whole scene shows that Daemon always loved his brother even if they were like night and day. You can't say the same of the current king and his brother in the second season. There clearly is no real love in there at all at least from the younger towards older.
@@Wezqu That scene makes that entire season IMO
@@Wezqu do you think that's a comment about today's climate/society or merely just an aspect of the show?
"your portrayal of this character is better than my written version of the character" is huge praise from any authour, but to come from grr martin, a man who's writing is a level above most writers of the past couple decades, really is something else
firstly I don't think George put much effort into Viserys since he was focused on other characters, but even if he had, Paddy knocked it out of the park.
Making likeable passive characters is super hard, but it's easier if it's male. Making passive female characters now is considered misogynistic not just boring, just look at what they say about Sofia Coppola's work.
My favorite scene of his was the one he had with his hand, Lord Strong, just as he was coming to understand his death was inevitable. He asks Lord Strong how he will be remembered, considering that he never faced any great victories or great defeats. He goes on to say that he wishes that he was tested in his rule, that he wonders what kind of man he might've become if he was tested.
It's such a relatable and human fear, to be unremarkable.
It was such a melancholic scene to me. Our cultures value the "exceotional", the great, the mighty and powerful... they fear being meek and unremarkable...
When it is the unremarkable and those content with simple lives of simple pleasure, who are most happy. Chasing greatness for its own sake only ever leaves a wake of corpses.
I think what hit me the most was that amidst all the bloodshed, intense politics, and massive stakes, it's the role of father and brother that Viserys cares about the most. It shook me to my core when he stood before his entire family pleading for them to get along, not as a house, but as a FAMILY. It was something that I had never wanted from HOTD or GOT, but it was something I now know it has always needed.
Yeah this is what sets hotd apart from GOT, it's first and foremost about a family failing to stay one even before the dragons the politcs and throne. I guess the name having house in it while they live in castles is intended for this theme too. I wish they don't forget this and make this show go down the drain like GOT as well
When even the author says your portrayal of a character is better than the source material. Paddy should’ve got every reward. Him rotting was actually believable. The throne scene gives me chills.
Paddy really served the audience an acting tour de force . I hope he gets the recognition he deserves.
Agreed
that grrm remark is definitely better that any award. The creator himself praised him and told him his performance is better than his creation. That would definitely mean a lot.
A very problematic and hated character by the ASOIAF fandom - but Paddy Consindine's acting was so good and he gave so much depth and complexity to a very bland and forgetable character of Fire & Blood that he became one of my favorite characters of HOTD. Even GRRM himself said Paddy's Viserys is BETTER than his own Viserys in Fire & Blood, and I agree. A pity people don't write essays and do more videos about him because he's so hated in the fandom, I'm very glad you made this one.
Thank you!
Why is he hated?
@@gabbyb9418probably because he didn't take enough steps to avoid the dance of dragons.
@@gabbyb9418How passive he was somtimes and how its argued he could have put his foot down and stopped it all. As well as marrying a young 2nd wife and not spending enough time with all his kids. Granted the last part is offy a bit because we didn"t have any scenes to show that.
@Ashbrash1998 "not spending enough time with his kids"
By the time his kids we older he was on his deathbed 🙄
All stupid reasons to find him "problematic".
And ya'll really overestimate what "putting your foot down" actually accomplishes lol. A
I'd argue that the walk in Episode 8 was the best-written sequence in the entire franchise and Paddy Considine did it with basically a single line of dialogue "I will sit the throne today", finally proving himself worthy of the Iron Throne
Him showing up for his daughter still gives me chills and makes me cry
The death rattle in his voice as he talks to Alicent was crazy, even if added in post
He is soooooo believable as a terminally ill person, especially his eyes and breathing. Many good actors have failed playing elderly roles, but not Considine.
I am a grown man in his late 40s... and I wept like a little kid in that scene. I didn't weep even when my dog died.
Was initially super sceptical about the idea of GoT spinoffs after that last season, but actors like Paddy and talent like the writers behind the show really affirmed to me that this is still a world worth exploring with characters that are really moving.
Same my expectations where 0 and now this is my favourite show.
The throne room scene where he struggles in then falls and Daemon catches him and the last supper scene always bring a tear to my eye. Absolute tour de force throughout the show, just incredible.
I hope he gets an award for his role he really deserves it, the fact that I had to remember Paddy is just a guy in his 40’s playing an old sickly man having trouble to walk to the iron throne really blew my mind! Get this man some flowers 💐
💐 🌺 🌹
@@ComeWatchTV 🥲
this is ridiculous that Paddy hasn't received any major award for his performance. his performace is probably the best on screen from my memories. wth? sometimes, i just do not understand hollywood.
The writer has ALOT of enemies
The guild doesn’t like Spin-offs
@@FupaDoncic nah those people just want to use the awards to groom their own people.
Might have something to do with the later seasons of GOT making everyone sleep on HOTD.
Just going to say it. No way an old white guy is recognized on a show with a diverse cast such as this.
I was truly choked up during the last dinner scene, where Viserys was simply an old man who wanted all of his family to get along and make peace.
My favourite scene of him has to be him watching his sons and grandsons fighting in the courtyard…he looks at them so roundly and happily , yet oblivious/choosing to ignore the conflict
My grandfather went out in a similar manner; there was a hole in his throat the size of a baseball. And, family tried to "ply" him right to the end (he laughed in there faces).
Paddy's performance made the first season. It hit so close to home for me.
Will he return in one of Daemon’s dreams? Milly came back, please, give us one more scene with Paddy!
I think it’s gonna happen. They know we want it
She was awful.
@@nunliskiokay pal
You got your wish!
@@nunliskiHm what makes you think that? I thought she was fantastic.
Paddy’s performance moved me to tears. To see someone so loving and lovable dying in the most drawn out and painful way while he begs with his dying breaths for his family to love one another. It was heartbreaking.
I see someone praising Patty's performance, I like. Simple as that.
Thank you!
I honestly think not only praise from the author of the source material, but the statement from said author that his performance was *better* than the source material - is worth infinitely more than an Emmy.
Agreed
I was missing him in season 2. This guy can carry the whole show with just half of his face.
Any decent actor can act sick.
Being sick whilst trying/atruggling to maintain appearances is where Paddy as Viserys was a truly transformative performance.
he really was a, if not the highlight of the show. i really felt for him (even considering his bad/wrong decisions). all he did was in the end motivated by a wish for peace and what he thought would be best. i really really liked the actors performance. the scene where he enters the throne room for the last time is my fav.
Should have won Emmy
Yup
What show win the awards ?
Disney garbage ? Netflix garbage ?
Literally i dont see any "TV" show on this level LoL
@@Morfe02 You’re right but The Bear and succession are both amazing.
His performance singlehandedly made Viserys I my favourite king so far portrayed in the whole series.
Honestly I cried when he died, not just because I knew what would happen next but he felt so real. He was a good dad to Rhaenyra, he wanted to do good and the kingdom was in peace during his reign. He was, indeed, a good man, and seeing him go was sad as it can get. And honestly, Paddy was THE reason all those tones came out.
Wow! He deserves to be recognised for the master he is
I feel like him choosing Alicent, despite her age, was a huge moment for the fans recognition of the character. At the time, it was between her and a twelve year old.
This. An eighteen year old that you get along with is obviously the better option over a twelve year old you don’t know.
Not for the future peace and succession of the kingdom
Fucking criminal this man didn’t get recognition for this role, it was absolutely nuanced, heartfelt, and tragic and he made this character what it is.
From what I've heard, Paddy Considine's performance is the main reason Viserys shot up the ranking of people's favourite Targaryen king and character. Big respect to him o7
My grandmother passed away from Cancer. I never saw someone in that state anywhere else in real life. In real life and in films. Except for King Viserys. Definitely the best performance in GOT and HOTD.
At the time of the first season airing, my father was getting weaker from a stroke he has suffered a decade prior and he had died the day the final episode of season 1 aired. Paddy's portrayal had me laughing and relating to Viserys as the season went on where I saw a lot of my father in the character were the scenes in which that last episode always has me tearing up.
I think what made Viserys stand out was because Paddy portrays him as man who knew he was standing on the shoulders of giants but never could match up to the greatness he inhierted where he tried to do his best with the situation provided, but even he believed those decisions were not good enough despite being the reasonable option at the time. Paddy brought humanity to a character who came off as a joke in the books where the fact he never got awards for it is still an insane travesty.
The throne room scene was incredible. Up there with any other scene in the original. The night King at hardholme, or Joffery's death scene. Paddy killed it.
Well fucking said
one of the reasons why i loved the GoT show was Sean Bean in S1. So brilliant. HOTD did the same thing, Paddy Considine was brilliant. Give everybody somebody to root for instantly and people will like your show. So effective.
It's not everyday you get to see someone working at the top of their game like this
That's the job of a passionate creator, giving credit to the forgotten and unnoticed. This man might have been overlooked by the major and small award institutions but his performance will live on as one of the best even after we all die, and that's something no award can grant you. Kudos to you for shedding light on it.
I liked the tragedy of the chracter. His failure is lterally the plot. Paddy and Milly were a treat to watch, I miss season 1 vibes as much as Viserys would
It is sooo cool that we have a terminal I'll leprosy patient, who is not pretty sick, in a series. He makes the whole thing so deeply relateable and real for me. My great uncle died from skin cancer and this performance deeply hit me, because it was played so realistically and with so much dignity.
One of the best written and performed characters in the series imo, and that is saying A LOT. The subtlety, the tragedy and the humanity of this character and Paddy’s performance of him is just incredible.
I was absolutely moved by Viserys' tragedy, and the acting was truly superb. Can't believe he wasn't nominated for any awards.
He really was incredible. I actually cried during his speech at (what i call) "The last supper".. The fact that he elicited emotion from nearly everyone at the table spoke volumes.. Even Otto Hightower seemd to genuinely be affected by the speech.. Aemon was the only 1 who didn't seem too affected but he did keep his mouth shut until viserys left and only did so when the pig was out and luke appeared to giggle at it..
i am so glad you made this video. that throne scene with Daemon helping his brother and crowning him is one of the few times i’ve actually been brought to tears by a show.
God, I'm so glad you put Dead Man's Shoes in this. A literal MUST SEE if you enjoy good movies
With the second season premiering, I went back to rewatch season 1 and I'm finding his performance even more striking on a second watch. I haven't read the book, but I never would've guessed he isn't a major part of it because the show made him such an anchor for the entire first season. I'm surprised you didn't mention his performance in the episode with Aegon's birthday festivities, what he does there is so stunning. The whole bit killing the stag is just perfection - the dismounting the horse with the steps, the tied up animal, having to strike it twice, the other characters' reactions, and the perfect way he conveys his embarrassment but trying to save face, knowing everyone sees but pretends not too see... Hard to have a stand out episode in a perfect season, but I really love that one.
As someone who walks with a cane despite being relatively young, that throne room walking sequence was so real for my worst days. I have had those moments, and he did it so well.
Paddy Considine's performance in every scene just emanated gravity and felt so genuine. Also just an incredibly well written tragic hero.
My grandmother died of cancer around the same time House of the Dragon aired. I was amazed by Paddy’s ability to portray a character who is dying slowly of a terrible ailment; so much so that I wondered if he had experienced something similar. Knowing now the story of his father‘s illness I can appreciate his performance even better. Incredible.
exactly, paddy's line delivery is so awesome. just feel it's real.
Don’t worry he’s in a better place now. Sandford, Glousteshire England, a beautiful place in the countryside that has won Village of the Year I don’t know how many times in a row now. It’ll be good for him.
- Bilbo Baggins
After rewatching season one I’m realizing how much life this character gave to the plot
You need to break down Otto Hightower and his actor, probably the greatest performance in the show
Yes he gets too much hate in my opinion.
Viserys was a good king, not a great or fantastic king. He certainly wasn't bad; he managed to keep the peace of his father. If Jaehaerys I is one of the best kings (most people tend to agree), then Viserys should also be one of the best. Jaehaerys I also had troubles with his family and succession, so if people don't fault him for that, then I see no reason to fault Viserys for it.
I agree but only because the bar is really low. So he's kind of good by default almost. And you could say he just inherited peace.
When he broke down at table his family all around he near death . He just wants them all to love each other to cherish each other .
this portrayal of viserys is so fking good man holy crap. I can't believe he didn't get any recognition for the dinner scene, that was so heartfelt and made me really connect to the character; like all he wanted was for everyone to just get along, but instead all their shit and turmoil is piled up on himself
My favourite Paddy Considine performances (apart from HOTD) were in his TV series "The Suspicions of Mr Whicher", and yet no one has ever mentioned them. You can see echoes of Viserys in Mr Whicher, which is why my heart skipped a beat when I learned he was going to be in HOTD. So glad he is being recognised now.
I *loved* Paddy in Death of Stalin. His screen time was minimal but he played the “put upon radio station engineer” role so perfectly…
I will remember this performance for the rest of my life. It was outstanding.
The audience recognise him. Feel, because of him. That's the greatest award.
Best performance I’ve seen in years. Absolute crime. Absolute CRIME he wasnt even nominated when he deserved to WIN all the awards. The best character. He was the funniest character (in a british humour kinda way), and the most tragic at the same time. Perfection.
Paddy Considine and his performance as Viserys was especially touching and emotional for me. Viserys in his final years reminded me greatly of my grandpa who was also slowly dying and being in chronic pain for the last 10-15 years of his life. He was diagnosed with cancer at 50. Doctors didn't want to treat him because it was to late stage. His family convinced the doctors to help him in the end and likely extending his life by 15 years because of that. A few months before he passed away I visited him. Sat next to him in his bed looking at him and knowing that he really did not have long left. Seeing Viserys bedridden, so skinny and deathly sick was really personal but not in a terrible way. Considine is also on the Autistic Spectrum and being on the Spectrum myself and finding this out was so wholesome and inspiring. Because of all of that, Viserys become my favourite character in the Game of Thrones universe.
I absolutely FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CHARACTER! he is so brilliantly written and acted. the throne room scene is the the most epic walk of cinema.
Great video, glad the algorithm recommended it. Hopefully it shows it to many others.
Appreciate it. May the algorithm see your comment!
The fact you told me he never got nominated. We need to show this man support because he was the best actor in that season by far
I was actually so captivated by Viserys and Paddy's performance of him that I wrote one of my papers in college on him, regarding fatherhood (English major)!
Paddy was one of my favorite antagonists of all time in Peaky Blinders. His being in HoTD is part of the reason I watched it in the first place.
It took me a million years to realize he’s the same guy who played Steven Prince in The Worlds End.
I’m so face blind I didn’t even realize that this is the same actor from my favorite movie and one of my favorite shows
Lol yea same
Thanks you for this video. It give me a clearer look on the tragic character King Viserys the Peaceful and the brilliant actor Paddy Considine.
I commend you for keeping this video to a reasonable length, because it easily could’ve been 30+ minutes! Paddy easily stole season 1 in a way that I believe matches (and exceeds) that of Sean Bean as Ned Stark in GoT season 1. Utterly brilliant performance 👏🏽
My favorite part of HotD is how, the start of the show, it really does feel like a peaceful, almost boring time in Westeros. Viserys seems at first to be one of those kings glossed over in history. And yet even in this unassuming time, there are great stories to be told.
He *really* deserved an Emmy for his portrayal.... but
' current year '
@10:45 it bears mentioning that: Where his crown falls & Daemon rushes to retrieve it & help him to the throne, is an improvised sequence.
The Crown accidentally fell & Matt Smith, in character, rushes to his Brother's side. We're blessed wuth such talent in this series.
Paddy Considine pretty much acted his socks off, in season 1 and that's saying something, considering how great the performances of the rest of the cast are in this show.
Thank You for doing this video essay. Cannot agree more.
One of the reasons I know how good this performance was is that it takes a second or even third watch to notice the horrific special effects makeup on his body (until the take away half of his face) because you're mesmerized by his presence.
Paddy and I once got lunch seven summers ago.
My favourite character in the first season and great performance by the actor indeed.
That slow throne walk scene was so powerful. Glad they allowed it to last that long.
He waa incredible actually glad to see this video. I have not had a look back on his performance in a while.
having also lost my father to cancer, his performance was drawn from a very real pool of experience and it comes through
I started siding with team green because I felt that Rhaenyra wasn't worthy of the throne after disregarding her duties for years (not to say that Aegon would be better, he'd be much worse however due to the fact of how often he listened to Alicent she would effectively be the Regent).
But then I remembered Viserys, the only character I ever thought of in a good light. He's just, kind, empathetic, and strong-willed (The books like to say that he was amiable and very indecisive, or rather Eustace likes to say so, but you don't stand by a decision to make Rhaenyra heir for two decades if you were "amiable".)
But once I realized that it'd be dishonoring the most important thing that Viserys ever wanted, other than the his family getting along, I came to the conclusion that supporting the Greens was wrong.
Considine is brilliant. Ever since 'Dead Man's Shoes', he's been killing his roles
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Bravo. As an enthusiast of the power and beauty of words, your mastery of the language is poetry to me. There is nothing more satisfying to me in this medium than a well thought out and carefully crafted examination of what makes art resonate with us. Specifically, as evidenced when I find myself thinking, "yeah... that's exactly how I feel... I just didn't know how to describe it."
You've more than earned my like and subscription, for whatever that is worth.
Viserys act while his family was knowingly crumbling beneath him, he managed to keep them together until his final breath. It is the character that moved me the most so far, and that says alot. Both loved it and got creeped out by it. He acted amazingly to the peaceful ruler until the very end.
It is truly amazing how much his breath work adds to the performance. It is captivating in every scene he is in once his sickness becomes the focal point. Season 2 is missing something and I think Paddy not being in it is that thing I miss.
I bawled at the dinner scene the first time I saw it. I didn't know his dad died from cancer. Having lost my own mom to it, the scenes of him rotting away is uncomfortably familiar now. Him saying he looked the image of his father really hits me. Thanks for putting a great spotlight on a great character, he deserves it.
It's wild seeing one of the Andrews from Hot Fuzz give 110% performance in a character not many have read about -- however being one of if not the greatest honorable King in the history of Westeros and he didn't want the damned thing.
Damn, I never realized he was one of the Andies from Hot Fuzz!
I absolutely loved and still love Viserys. To me its like he is one of the view living flowers on a dead field. The actor is insanely talented, I can't even put it into words.
The fact he didn’t win an Emmy is a slap in the face
It’s the fact that he didn’t even get NOMINATED. he didn’t even have a chance to win.
@@ComeWatchTV not only that, tell me the nominees were more deserving than him, let alone beat him, I think the committee was just embarrassed over all the praise they gave game of thrones that they just avoided house of the dragon all together
Insanity that HBO chose to ride with the Succession guy over Considine for that year's Emmys.
Absolute insanity.
Paddy is great in everything he does,but he was absolutely incredible in this show.
Absolutely epic vid mate, I’d go as far as to say I think it’s the first time I’ve watched content acclaiming an actor right through from beginning to end 👏🏻
I know that king viserys has done some pretty inexcusable stuff, like what he did to his wife. But I think the reason he did it was because he remembered what happened to his predecessor, king jahaerys, who also had trouble naming an heir to take over. He saw the worry among his council on who should be the next king, weather it should be Rhaenyra or daemon. He saw that both options would be heavily criticized and hated, just like what happened when he was named heir over rhaenys. Even after 10 years of being the king he still saw support for his cousin to be named the queen (hence the name the queen who never was), and he did not want that to happen to his successor so he became desperate for a son to calm the masses down, to protect his daughter from the hate she would receive if she was named his heir, and to protect the seven kingdoms from his brother daemon who he knew would become a tyrant if he became king.
Great video, thank you. Paddy is a great actor. Shame that he did not have a lot of awards for this role.