House of the Dragonhas cast a new character for season 3, and this individual will be the series' perfect replacement for Brienne of Tarth. Naturally, we have seen a lot of familiar family names throughout thisGame of Thronesspinoff series, despite the general lack of crossover characters. In the case of this individual, however, the similarities will come down to abilities and general roles in the story.
The character I’m referring to isAlysanne Blackwood, who will be played byAnnie Shapero inHouse of the Dragonseason 3. This is a character straight from George R.R. Martin’sFire & Blood. According to the records of Westeros kept within this tome, Alysanne—often called Black Aly—will marry the Lord of Winterfell, Cregan Stark, after the events of the Dance of the Dragons.
The fact that Black Aly has been cast already indicates that her character will play a bigger role during this stage of the story than was ever mentioned inFire & Blood. Though we know that Alysanne was loyal to the Blacks during the Dance of the Dragons, she only became a prominent figure in the story much later. However, thischange is promising, sinceBlack Aly can fill a character gap inHouse of the Dragon.
Alysanne Blackwood Will Be House Of The Dragon’s Version Of Brienne Of Tarth
These Characters Fill A Similar Mold
Brienne of Tarth was a quick fan favorite inGame of Thrones. A powerful warrior woman with a strong moral compass, this character stood in stark contrast to most of the men and women in the series. Most female characters inGame of Throneswere intelligent and cunning, but not traditional fighters. Then there were the powerful men, most of whom lacked a good heart. Brienne was an excellent balance.
In its first two seasons,House of the Dragonhas been lacking in this type of character. There’s no doubt that Rhaenyra is strong, but she’s not a traditional fighter. Alysanne Blackwood, however, will check just about every box thatBrienne fulfilled inGame of Thrones. We can surely expect a character that is every bit as fun to cheer for and love. Moreover, this is another female warrior who will shape Westeros for the better.
Alysanne Blackwood & Brienne Of Tarth Both Play Important Roles In The Iron Throne’s Succession After The War
Black Aly Sets Up House Of The Dragon’s Ending
Brienne of Tarth goes through a lot inGame of Thrones, but in HBO’s version of the story, she at least gets something like a happy ending. After Daenerys was assassinated, Brienne was given a seat and a vote to determine the new king. Then, under Bran the Broken’s leadership, Brienne of Tarth was made Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. It was a pretty big deal.
Interestingly, Alysanne Blackwood also ends up being pivotal in the succession after theDance of the Dragons. Said and done, it’s Raenyra’s son, Aegon (III), who ends up on the throne after her brother, Aegon (II), is murdered. Though noble old Cregan Stark accepted the new young king, he was determined to execute all those who had a hand in Aegon II’s death. However, this only kept the violence going.
Alysanne, who had taken a liking to Cregan (and vice versa),convinced the Lord of Winterfell to show mercy and let the whole thing die. In exchange, she accepted Cregan’s offer of marriage. Black Aly may have been a fierce fighter, but she recognized the necessity of peace. It will be interesting to seeHouse of the Dragon’s version of events with this Brienne replacement.
