As House of the Dragon season 3 continues, a surprise character is emerging as a new fan favorite.
The following contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 3, episode 6, so turn back now if you're not up to date!
In the latest episode, Gwayne Hightower reaches Tumbleton after abandoning Criston Cole in the previous installment (with perfect timing, too, considering Criston meets his unceremonious death in the opening minutes of the new episode).
At Tumbleton, Gwayne reunites with his nephew Daeron Targaryen, and it's quickly clear that they have a much closer – and healthier – relationship than Daeron and Ormund Hightower. Plus, Gwayne thwarts an assassination attempt on Daeron (after enduring plenty of insulting comments from Ormund).
"Gwayne has become one of my favorites, I'm so glad he left Cole's side when he did," says one fan on Reddit.
"Him talking in the hallway with Daeron was heartbreaking," says someone else. "For all that people complain about 'filler,' I love this character development."
"Daeron and Gwayne having instant familial chemistry is the mark of really good acting by both of them. They haven't been on screen together yet but the characters have a long history and I definitely felt that in their scene together," is another fan's take.
"Gwayne literally took no shit from Ormund. He wasn't afraid of him or his tantrums, he spoke the truth at his face and really kept his patience with Ormund-the-man-baby," says another fan. "Gwayne has been a treat since the first episode he appeared and I am glad the writing has been consistent about his character."
"Yeah I really disliked him when he first appeared in the show and now he's one of my favorites. A tribute to his actor," is another person's thoughts.
"Yes, he definitely came off as an arrogant ass at first, with the way he spoke down to Criston. You can see how the realities of war really broke down that kind of thinking. In front of dragons, they are all equally and simply men. Great character development," says another person.
"Gwayne is unexpectedly becoming the one person I'm keeping a tight prayer circle for during the Dance alongside Helaena," says another fan.
"Gwayne is probably my favourite character from Team Green. Hoping he survives, however unlikely it seems," agrees someone else.
Gwayne Hightower dies in the fall of King's Landing in the book, which means his future on the show is a complete unknown. Here's hoping he makes it…
"I think they're both parental figures, Gwayne and Ormund, and Gwayne is more brotherly, and Ormund is more domineering, and so we see a different kind of love and a different side of Daeron comes out when he's with Gwayne," Daeron actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth told GamesRadar+ recently.
"Something more transparent, something more true to who he is as a person, and almost this frustration that comes from just this weight that he's been holding of being around Ormund, having to be very calculated about what he says, what he does, when he does it, because he knows that Ormund has this rage that could be unleashed at any moment," he continued. "And Gwayne is someone that he's been able to talk to, but I think the difference being, he's come back war hardened and out the fight, and usually he's his person [Daeron] can confide with.
"And I think just playing those different relationships and being able to explore the different sides of Daeron with Freddie Fox, but then also with James [Norton], has been really fun."
House of the Dragon season 3 continues weekly on HBO Max, Sky, and NOW in the UK, and HBO in the US.
You can keep up to date with our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule, and, for even more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows.
