Alys Rivers may be 400 years old on House of the Dragon?

Alys Rivers may be 400 years old on House of the Dragon?

As a dedicated fan of House of the Dragon, I have been absolutely captivated by the enigmatic character of Alys Rivers, brilliantly portrayed by Gayle Rankin. Her mysterious presence at Harrenhal, where Daemon Targaryen is attempting to raise an army, has left us all guessing. Is she a healer with unusual abilities or a mere intuitive woman? The ambiguity surrounding her character is both intriguing and tantalizing.


Alys Rivers, portrayed by Gayle Rankin, brings intrigue to the current season of “House of the Dragon.” Situated at Harrenhal Castle, a colossal and potentially haunted fortress where Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) is assembling an army, Alys is a healer. Her character remains shrouded in mystery, leaving us questioning her motives. Are the concoctions she prepares for Daemon causing his peculiar dreams? Does she possess magical abilities, receiving information before it arrives by raven, or is she merely extremely perceptive?

Currently, the challenge lies in portraying ambiguity effectively. Actress Samantha Morton, in an interview with Vulture, revealed her daily struggle: “I found it difficult to play a mysterious character. How could I make her relatable and human? What were her motivations and aspirations?” As the series progresses, more elements of her character’s backstory and personality are expected to emerge. Morton shared that this process was deeply personal for her and required extensive private preparation. We hope to witness the fruits of her labor in upcoming episodes.

Based on what I’ve heard, some parts of that description may come across as quite unusual. Rankin mentions Alys appearing younger than her actual age, likening her to the First Lady of Harrenhal if there was one. She also shares that Alys is well-versed in discovering hidden gems for swimming and enjoying herself. After living for over 400 years, she has become adept at being alone, which is a gift and a curse.

I do believe she’s a maester of sorts, and a healer in many senses of the word. Whether or not Alys’s potions are actually potions, she’s kept Harrenhal on its feet for generations, in terms of just like, keeping people alive — or not.

As a fan, I find myself pondering over Rankin’s cryptic words about Alys in “Fire & Blood” by George R.R. Martin. When she mentions that Alys has been present for “400 years” and has managed Harrenhal for “generations,” it leaves me wondering if she is merely being poetic or if there’s some truth to the idea that Alys has lived for centuries. It’s a mystery that adds an intriguing layer to her character, but I take the rumors of her bathing in virgin blood with a grain of salt.

Alys Rivers may be 400 years old on House of the Dragon?

Are Alys Rivers and Melisandre the same person?

In “Game of Thrones,” we encountered yet another ancient character: Melisandre, also known as the Red Witch. She initially attempted to aid Stannis Baratheon in seizing power, but subsequently shifted her loyalty to Jon Snow. Some viewers have proposed that Alys and Melisandre could be the same individual; however, Rankin casts doubt on this theory at least.

I would say that there are no other characters that have been repeated in the House of the Dragon world, so I’m not sure why we would start now.

One mystery has been solved, but there are still 100 more to unravel. We might discover more about Alys when the next episode of “House of the Dragon” is released this coming Sunday on HBO and Max.

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2024-07-17 19:41

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