“Viserys had been stupid and vicious, she had come to realize, yet sometimes she missed him all the same. Not the cruel, weak man he had become by the end, but the brother who had sometimes let her creep into his bed, the boy who told her tales of the Seven Kingdoms and talked of how much better their lives would be once he reclaimed his crown.”
(Daenerys’
thoughts on her brother)
♦ ♦ ♦
(Harry
Lloyd, on Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones, on
playing Viserys Targaryen)
♦ ♦ ♦
Who is Viserys Targaryen? Those who have read George R. R. Martin’s series A Song of Ice and Fire may call him “The Beggar King,” and know that he had been the only surviving son of the Mad King Aerys. Those who have watched HBO's Game of Thrones (2011-Present) have been known to call him “The Blond Baddie.” To all, however, and whether they have read the books (first published in 1996), watched the television adaptation, or both, Viserys is most definitely known as the jerk who got his comeuppance and received his “golden crown.”
As someone who has read the first couple books in the series, as well as kept up with the show, I do understand how easily a person could take either side. Is Viserys a villain? Certainly, he has all the makings of the treacherous foe without having to dig very deeply below that overbearingly demanding and manipulative personality. Or, is he a victim to the circumstances that befell him during his short life? Is it possible that fate was against him from the very beginning?
The
fair and honest answer would be both.
Digging into the history of Viserys, we find that he was a young boy during Robert's Rebellion. His father having been assassinated and elder brother killed upon the Trident, Viserys escaped with his pregnant mother, Rhaella. When she died shortly after Daenerys' birth, Viserys and his younger sister found safety with Ser William Derry and stayed with him until his death.
Digging into the history of Viserys, we find that he was a young boy during Robert's Rebellion. His father having been assassinated and elder brother killed upon the Trident, Viserys escaped with his pregnant mother, Rhaella. When she died shortly after Daenerys' birth, Viserys and his younger sister found safety with Ser William Derry and stayed with him until his death.
 |
Tender or terrible? Sibling love or the kiss of death? Viserys often keeps us guessing.
|
This is where I begin to feel for Viserys, and I daresay that I am likely not the only one with at least a slight pang of sympathy for our villainous victim. Having lost his entire family save his younger sister, Viserys was responsible for keeping them both alive, as King Robert was still hunting them. After the death of Ser Derry, the two young Targaryens wandered city to city—relative vagabonds—staying as guests of powerful citizens. To be sure, it is not much of an existence, and a humbling one at that: how the could’ve-been-mighty have fallen. Eventually, and after overstaying their welcome, Viserys and Daenerys are forced to sell off many priceless heirlooms in order to survive. When they have to pawn Rhaella'a crown, it is then that people began to call Viserys “The Beggar King.”
If
such a turn in the young man’s life could be likened to anything contemporary,
it was a case of bullying by others that made a bully. His heart hardened by the treatment received
from others, Viserys blamed his sister for killing their mother during
childbirth and began to treat her terribly, prefacing these moments with
threats about “waking the dragon.”
As readers and/or viewers, we get our first real look at the Targaryen siblings when we find them living with Magister Illyrio Mopatis. He has allowed them to stay with him in exchange for rewards once Viserys ascends to the Iron Throne. As part of the game plan, the two men arrange the marriage of Daenerys (played by the lovely Emilia Clarke on the show) to the Dothraki Khal Drogo (the towering Jason Momoa). Of course, in this great chess-like game, a woman has little say and is merely a pawn between the male players.
As readers and/or viewers, we get our first real look at the Targaryen siblings when we find them living with Magister Illyrio Mopatis. He has allowed them to stay with him in exchange for rewards once Viserys ascends to the Iron Throne. As part of the game plan, the two men arrange the marriage of Daenerys (played by the lovely Emilia Clarke on the show) to the Dothraki Khal Drogo (the towering Jason Momoa). Of course, in this great chess-like game, a woman has little say and is merely a pawn between the male players.
Perhaps Viserys’ character could have been more forgivable if this was all—a young man, finding himself in a difficult position and having been part of a promising family pedigree that has since crumbled, has scraped together a living and merely done what he has out of survival mechanisms. We could forgive the selfishness and misogynistic tendencies if that were all: a man who is victim of circumstance. But then, events take another turn, and we begin to question just what the ratio of victim: villain is when it comes to Viserys Targaryen.
 |
| He’s got his eye on you! Viserys’ pensive face is often a combination of pain and plotting. We’re not sure how much we’d actually like to know what goes on in his head, but we bet there are lots of dragons swooping around. |
At some point, we learn that Viserys had every intention of raping his sister the evening before her wedding. His attempt to keep control of the situation by deciding that if he wasn't to marry her like originally planned (incest is common in Martin’s world), he would at least be the one to take her virginity. Fortunately, Illyrio has the foresight to place guards at her door, and so Viserys, does not succeed. It’s quite a moment of foreshadowing, too—yet another moment where this tenacious young man will make an attempt to control a situation, only to be thwarted.
I don't condone the way Viserys treated his sister, nor can I pretend to understand why he abused her. My only guess is the stress he must've felt. On his own, he has no hope of gathering an army, and thus, a very slim chance of reclaiming the Seven Kingdoms. What is more, once his sister has grown comfortable in her role as Khalessi, and is very much beloved, he feels alone in his efforts. In truth, I even came to feel more resentful towards her.
Certainly,
though, there is something worth digging into if the treacherous figure lurking
in the shadows of a story, plotting rape, theft, and rebellion, has enough of a
redeeming spark to make an audience (or at least me) feel a twinge of sympathy.
Perhaps much of this feeling is due to the nuanced, very human portrayal of Viserys, as acted by Harry Lloyd.
Perhaps much of this feeling is due to the nuanced, very human portrayal of Viserys, as acted by Harry Lloyd.
In
short, I am continuously impressed with Harry’s portrayal of The Beggar King,
dragon-crazed blonde every time I re-watch Season One of HBO’s series. Book
Viserys was horrible. I could find nothing likeable about him. I felt he had no redeeming qualities and was
barely human at times. He was a character-type, obviously the villain, and
obviously there to spur hatred and create tension in the plot. I do wonder, though, if part of my feelings
is because we, as readers, only see Viserys from Daenerys' point of view. Certainly, Viserys would have a wholly
different portrait of himself to paint.
And, of course, had Viserys told his own story, it would be biased, but
that is the problem with the alignment with Daenerys. Without the third-person omniscient narrator,
we’ll truly ever know the “real” Viserys Targaryen in the realm of the novels.
Yet,
Harry Lloyd and the three-dimensions of television viewing allowed us a glimpse
of something more, something into which we can dig our teeth and sink our
nails, if we so desire.
Harry gives TV Viserys a shred of humanity. We are able to see him as his own character rather than just through his sister's eyes. Isn’t this the goal of good characterization: to craft a figure who feels realistic? And aren’t all people in real life more than just caricatures of a cardinal vice (or virtue), having aspects of both dwelling within them?
Sure, in the HBO Game of Thrones series, Viserys is still a jerk (and that may be putting things politely). He definitely doesn't win the “Brother of the Year” award (then again, he’s not really good at “winning” things. See the whole “Golden Crown” moment…) but at least he makes you feel, whether it be hate, pity, annoyance, or amusement.
Harry gives TV Viserys a shred of humanity. We are able to see him as his own character rather than just through his sister's eyes. Isn’t this the goal of good characterization: to craft a figure who feels realistic? And aren’t all people in real life more than just caricatures of a cardinal vice (or virtue), having aspects of both dwelling within them?
Sure, in the HBO Game of Thrones series, Viserys is still a jerk (and that may be putting things politely). He definitely doesn't win the “Brother of the Year” award (then again, he’s not really good at “winning” things. See the whole “Golden Crown” moment…) but at least he makes you feel, whether it be hate, pity, annoyance, or amusement.
In
truth, I do not think that just anyone could have embodied this role. There are
many actors who could have taken the role, sure; but I don’t think they could
have done nearly as well. Personally,
I’m thrilled that Harry is always up for a challenge. Of course, I’m writing
this for a blog called Lloydalists, which is already inherently biased, but
this page and group was created out of an admiration for an underrated and
dedicated actor. He doesn't shy away
from a possibly difficult role. In fact, it appears he likes to sink himself
into such gigs as deliciously as Viserys would like to get his hands on dragon
eggs.
 |
| More crinkled brow and concerned look: Careful, Viserys, or your face will get stuck like that! Then again, you’d probably prefer that than what happens when you finally got your “crown”… |
Harry
puts so much effort into learning his characters, learning how to do the things
they're supposed to do, learning the kind of information they should know, so
that when it is time to call “Action,” he's as prepared as he can possibly be. In the end, he’s a dedicated actor who puts
everything on the line, pools all his energies and pours them into his diverse
characters, and, let’s face it—he can pull off the baddie-blonde wig.
So what would have happened if Viserys had stayed alive long enough to claim the crown? What kind of king would he have made?
I've seen some viewers compare him to Joffrey Baratheon (played gruesomely by another blonde baddie Jack Gleeson on the television series), while others say he probably would have been mad and erratic like his father. Could Viserys have redeemed himself? I find it rather sad that he (as well as the reader/viewer) are never able to find out. He never has a chance to become much of anything. Again, while I don't condone anything that he does, I do feel he had a rough life and had much responsibility forced upon him too early, which, in part, led to his downfall.
So what would have happened if Viserys had stayed alive long enough to claim the crown? What kind of king would he have made?
I've seen some viewers compare him to Joffrey Baratheon (played gruesomely by another blonde baddie Jack Gleeson on the television series), while others say he probably would have been mad and erratic like his father. Could Viserys have redeemed himself? I find it rather sad that he (as well as the reader/viewer) are never able to find out. He never has a chance to become much of anything. Again, while I don't condone anything that he does, I do feel he had a rough life and had much responsibility forced upon him too early, which, in part, led to his downfall.
He
could have made for a lovely tragic hero if he wasn’t too busy getting caught
up in the kinds of things that transform one into a greedy villain.
“C” and I are interested in hearing your thoughts, comments, and reactions on/to this topic. Feel free to leave us feedback here, or join us on the Lloydalists' Facebook page or tweet @Lloydalists on Twitter.
“C” and I are interested in hearing your thoughts, comments, and reactions on/to this topic. Feel free to leave us feedback here, or join us on the Lloydalists' Facebook page or tweet @Lloydalists on Twitter.
Works Referenced
Martin,
George R.R. A Game of Thrones. Book
One of A Song of Fire and Ice (1996).
New York: Bantam Books, 2005. Print.
~ Written and Posted by K;
Edited/Revision Suggestions by C ~
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