MBTI® of House of the Dragon Characters
HBO’s House of the Dragon gives a number of characters the opportunities to show their true personalities. In a series that is all about the halls of power and what people will do to attain influence, it makes sense that many individuals would prefer to keep a part of themselves hidden.
Looking at these individuals through the lens provided by the Myers-Briggs® system is likewise revealing. It allows for a more nuanced appreciation of what these people do and how they engage one another as they try to seize the Iron Throne, either for themselves or for their family.
Rhaenyra is one of the most notable Targaryens in the history of Westeros. She has many traits that align her with the ENTJ personality type. Among other things, she is frank and decisive when the need arises, and once an opportunity presents itself she will often take it.
Just as importantly, she is very forceful when it comes to presenting her ideas of how the world should work. Once the Dance of the Dragons begins in earnest, this will be one of her greatest strengths and weaknesses as a ruler and as a claimant for the Iron Throne.
From the jump, it was clear that Daemon Targaryen was going to go down in history as one of Matt Smith’s best roles. He has a sneering charisma that is impossible for anyone, including his own brother, to fully resist.
He is very much an ENTP. For one thing, he is very outspoken, willing to say what he thinks, no matter who it might anger or how much it might endanger his position. He is also a keen strategist, and he is quick to not only see an opportunity but also how to seize it and work it to his advantage.
Viserys Targaryen is hardly one of the most evil kings of Westeros, but it has to be said that neither is he one of its most effective. A great deal of this can be ascribed to the fact that he is of the ESFJ personality type.
As such, he is very warm-hearted and conscientious, and he tends to want harmony in his environment and with those around him. While this makes him a very likable and even lovable character, it is also one of the things that keeps him from being able to effectively address the many fissures within his own family.
Many of Rhaenys’ most notable mannerisms are well-captured by Eve Best. Among other things, she creates a character who has a logical and methodical approach to life and the realities of Westeros. This marks her as one of this series’ most intelligent characters.
Just as importantly, it also puts her into the ISTP personality type. She is the type of person who is always able to observe what is going on around her. At the same time, she is also the type of person who will move quickly to find a solution, as she notably shows when she seizes the chance to escape from the Dragonpit.
Rhaenys’ husband Corlys Velaryon is another of this series’ most cunning manipulators. He is a person of great ambition, and he is always trying to seize an opportunity to bring his house greater power and glory.
This puts him into the personality type of the ENFP. Given that his eye is always on the future and the way that history will look at him, he constantly embarks on yet another adventure, whether embarking on the many journeys that made him famous or attempting to carve out a kingdom on the war-torn Stepstones.
Alicent Hightower has consistently shown herself to be one of this series’ best characters. Like the best characters of Game of Thrones, there are many depths to her, some of which aren’t always evident at first glance.
Among other things, she reveals herself to be an ESFJ. Though she can be ruthless at times, she is also quite warm-hearted. This is particularly in evidence when it comes to her children, for whom she has a great deal of genuine affection, even when, as in the case of Aegon, they don’t really deserve it.
Like the most effective Hands of the King, Otto Hightower knows how the politics of Westeros really works. He is thus not particularly sentimental, even when it comes to members of his own family.
As an ESTJ, he has a decisive approach to most problems. To this end, once King Viserys is dead and the opportunity presents itself to put Aegon on the Iron Throne, he doesn’t hesitate. He has a forceful attitude when it comes to the implementation of his plans which is the envy of most other characters, which is precisely why he manages to become such a powerful person in Westeros.
As a second son, Aemond Targaryen stands little chance of ascending to the Iron Throne. He is, understandably, quite bitter about this, particularly since, unlike his brother, he has actually applied himself to his lessons, both those having to do with battle and those having to do with books.
Like most of those who fall within the ISTJ personality type, Aemond has goals that he works toward with tirelessness and diligence. This is particularly true when it comes to his claiming of Vhagar, which remains one of the most daring actions yet taken by one of the characters.
It’s already become very clear that Aegon simply does not have it in him to be a good king for Westeros. He is far too much of an ESTP to ever have the sort of leadership style that this particular moment in history calls for.
In particular, he has the ESTP’s love of creature and material comforts. This also means that he is far too spontaneous, willing to do whatever he wants to do on the spur of the moment. These are definitely not traits that lend themselves to effective leadership of Westeros.
Criston Cole is one of this series’ most unlikable characters. Something of a zealot, he tends to believe that his own way of looking at the world is the only one.
After he is spurned by Rhaenyra, he shows his true INFP nature. He is particularly loyal to his values, especially when it comes to his vow of abstinence. He also shows this personality type’s aggressive tendencies when such values are threatened by others, and this can be clearly seen in his aggressiveness toward Rhaenyra in the years after their brief fling is brought to an end.
