One of the ways House of the Dragon differs from its predecessor by having a more diverse cast. For example, a black actor, Steve Toussaint, plays Corly Velaryon, aka the Seas Snake, which has a ripple effect through the rest of his bloodline in the show. According to co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal during an interview for the grillthere were multiple reasons for that decision and it wasn’t just because of a cheap gimmick.
“I think the reason it’s been a successful choice, frankly – I mean not everyone will ever be happy – the reason it was successful is because it was thought through, it wasn’t just done dutifully or just not done just like that. to tick a box or to be seen as progressive or to be seen as someone who covers all bases or something like that.”
Condal went on to say that we are currently in a different era from the shows that used to be made. They also have an incredibly diverse audience, not only across America, but in multiple countries as well. They speak all kinds of different languages and represent all kinds of colors under the sun. Condal said it was very important to see that reflected on the screen.
“This is a fantasy world. I think if this was a historical fiction piece it would be a more nuanced discussion. But I think simply because of the fantasy world, if we believe in dragons, shapeshifters and direwolves, we can believe that not everyone in the story is white.”
Why the Velaryons, though?
They went all out with House Velaryon because they felt like they were the most amazing race on the show. Condal said it felt like these were people from a lost continent that we don’t know much about. Except they all have silver hair, an affinity for dragons, and, as quoted in the book and show, are closer to gods than to humans.
“So what does all that look like? It’s always stuck with me, this article that George was talking about when he started writing these books, contemplating making all Velaryons black, and black people with silver hair, that always really stuck with me as an image.
Another reason is the time period in which the show is set. Valyria, where the Velaryons come from, was this huge continent, a very diverse and well-populated nation, so it would make sense that there would be a line of Black Velaryons in the story. And at a time still not that far from the fall of Valyria, it wouldn’t be unbelievable that that line still exists.
“For me, I mean, I don’t even really think about it anymore. There are so many Valerians in the show, having the Velaryon family, having the Sea Snake family, looking different from the Targaryens, is actually very helpful in casting and distinguishing people on screen and getting to remember who comes from which house and perhaps make it even clearer that Rhaenyra has children of questionable parentage.”