The Best Character in House of the Dragon Isn’t Who You Think It Is

11 Aug 2026, 16:45 · Thought Catalog

Updated 7 seconds ago, August 11, 2026

There are many beloved characters on House of the Dragon. Daemon Targaryen is somehow both cruel and affable. Aegon II is the kind of campy villain it’s hard not to root for. Helaena is a tortured ethereal goddess. Even Rhaenyra is likable at times because she is correct that she is the rightful heir to the throne (literally canon). It’s also relatable watching her struggle with the realities of how tough leadership is, especially when those you intend to lead see you as unfit due to your gender.

However, none of those characters are the best of House of the Dragon. That title belongs to Ser Roddy Dustin, the ferocious leader of the Winter Wolves.

Ser Roddy Dustin lead the Winter Wolves, older Northmen who are ready to die an honorable death in battle.

While Cregan Stark is the Lord of Winterfell and overall leader of the North, Ser Roddy Dustin is the leader of the Winter Wolves, a group of older Northmen who volunteer to march south expecting to die in the war for the Dragon Queen. Cregan Stark eventually sends a Northern army, but the Winter Wolves head South in the time it takes for the army to be assembled.

“We have come to die for the dragon queen.” Ser Roddy Dustin leads a group of Northern warriors who wish to die in battle.

Also known as “Roddy the Ruin”, Ser Roddy Dustin is a fearless warrior who has already spent decades fighting. The Winter Wolves are especially brave due to the fact that they are all older Northmen who have already lived full lives and don’t expect to survive the war. They want to give themselves an honorable death by dying for a cause they believe in.

Ser Roddy is so ready to die for Rhaenyra’s cause that Daemon makes sure he understands that the gate needs to be opened *before* he dies in battle. This leads to one of the character’s best lines, “Open gates, then die.”

It’s easy to see where the nickname “Roddy the Ruin” comes from in the season 3 finale of House of the Dragon. Roddy climbs a ladder to the parapet of Tumbleton, despite archers and armed fighters waiting at the top. Once there, he quickly throws himself into battle despite being outnumbered. Afterwards, he searches for Ormund Hightower, commander of the Green army.

Roddy’s severed arm don’t deter him from his goal of taking out Ormund Hightower in the first battle of Tumbleton.

When Roddy finds Ormund, Ormund actually manages to sever Roddy’s arm. But Roddy persists and seems to fatally stab Orumund in the backside, telling him “That’s a proper f***ing by the North.” Both men are then incinerated by the dragon Silverwing.

Is Ser Roddy Dustin your favorite character in House of the Dragon?

For more from Thought Catalog, follow along on Facebook or visit our website anytime.