Joffrey Velaryon's Role In House Of The Dragon Explained & What Happens To Him In GRRM's Fire & Blood

It's officially time for Joffrey Velaryon to begin his role in House of the Dragon. HBO's House of the Dragon season 3 is here, and it wasted no time breaking our hearts with the death of another of Rhaenyra's Velaryon children. With Luke's death in season 2 and now Jace's death in the season 3 premiere, the only bastard child Rhaenyra has left is Joffrey. This is the child we saw born back in House of the Dragon season 1, but he hasn't played too significant a part. That's all about to change.

Joffrey is now Rhaenyra's oldest living child, making him the heir to the Iron Throne and the supposed future king of Westeros. So, while he was previously a ward of the Vale, House of the Dragon season 3 sees Rhaenyra send for her son. He must come to King's Landing and learn the ways of leadership. Unfortunately, being an heir to Rhaenyra Targaryen doesn't tend to bode well.

Fire & Blood readers know what should be in store, but it all depends on whether Ryan Condal will strictly adhere to George R. R. Martin's book. There have been a few changes in House of the Dragon, but the structure and thrust of the story have remained the same. Fire & Blood is almost more of a "non-fiction" history book than it is a full-fledged novel, so Condal can add a lot of nuance and detail without going against the book. Hopefully, he'll retain Joffrey Valeryon's tragic story.

Joffrey Velaryon Briefly Appeared In The First Two Seasons House Of The Dragon

Joffrey Velaryon in House of the Dragon is basically a one-for-one of the book version, though at this point in the story, neither has had much of an impact. Joffrey was first introduced in season 1, episode 6, "The Princess and the Queen". In the episode, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) gives birth to her third child. Publicly, he's the third son of Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan), but there's a well-supported rumor that Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr) is actually the father. It's a rumor Queen Alicent hints at, telling Laenor,

"Do keep trying, Ser Laenor. Sooner or later you may get one who looks like you."

Though Laenor has no problem with the arrangement between himself, Harwin, and Rhaenyra, he does insist on naming the child, calling him Joffrey, after his former lover, Joffrey Lonmouth (Solly McLeod), who was brutally murdered by Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). While Rhaenyra is a bit frustrated with Laenor, seeing this as more ammunition for those who would whisper her children are bastards, she relents. Joffrey is then only seen in the background of scenes until season 2.

Joffrey, now played by Oscar Eskinazi, had a marginally bigger role in season 2. The young boy is sent to the Vale of Arryn with Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) and a clutch of dragon eggs in order to protect the future of House Targaryen.

What Happens To Joffrey Velaryon In The Books

Joffrey Velaryon in Fire & Blood has a story similar to Joffrey's in House of the Dragon, with two key differences. For one, Joffrey in the novel is much younger than his brothers, a consequence of aging Jace and Lucerys up. Second, in the novel, the great dragon Vhagar is supposedly going to Joffrey when he comes of age, not Rhaena, like in the show. In the book, Aemond strikes Joffrey when confronted about Vhagar, which leads to the big cousin fight. In the show, it's Rhaena and her sister Baela (Bethany Antonia) who are at the center.

In Fire & Blood, Joffrey remains a peripheral character, though with some important moments. At the start of the Dance of the Dragons, he is 11 and rides the dragon, Tyraxes, who is still not big enough to fight. Joffrey offers to call the lords of the realm to his mother's aid, but he is deemed too young. When his mother secures King's Landing, Joffrey goes with her as the new Prince of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne, after Jace's death.

However, despite ostensibly ruling King's Landing, the populace was in full riot. At one point, a large mob descended upon the Dragonpit, intent on killing all the Targaryen dragons inside, as they were the source of much of their woe. Upon hearing this, Joffrey asked his mother to let him ride to the Dragonpit and free Tyraxes. His mother forbade it, but he secretly stole Rhaenyra's dragon, Syrax, and flew across the city toward the Dragonpit. Unaccustomed to the rider, Syrax bucked and twisted him off, sending Joffrey falling nearly 200 feet.

Joffrey's back was broken, and someone took his sword and stabbed him in the belly with it. Allegedly, a candlemaker's daughter named Robin comforted him as he died, and his last words were said to be, "Mother, forgive me." The surrounding mob hacked off his hands and feet to steal his rings and boots, and nearly claimed his head too before Rhaenyra's guards arrived to save the mangled body. With Joffrey's death, Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen's eldest son, Aegon III, became next in line for the throne.

What Will Happen To Joffrey Velaryon In House Of The Dragon?

As cinematic a death as Joffrey's is, the real point of the scene is to show how tenuous Rhaenyra's grasp on the capital is, and how the age of dragons is well and truly over. His death is also critical in that it marks the start of a new branch of the Targaryen dynasty. Aegon III comes from Daemon, and it's through the direct line of Aemon III that we eventually come to Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones. All that. to say, Joffrey's death will likely need to be seen on screen.

Despite having finally claimed her birthright, Rhaenyra Targaryen is a complete mess in House of the Dragon season 3. Jace's death has broken her, and her hold over the kingdom is worse than feeble. The people are, presently, tentatively happy with their queen, but the HBO show has already begun to set the stage for the shift that will lead to the storming of the Dragonpit and, therefore, Joffrey's death.

It's difficult to say how House of the Dragon might change the details of Joffrey's death, but we can be certain that the boy will die. It's sure to push Rhaenyra past her breaking point. Losing children doesn't seem to get any easier, and the queen is slowly being crushed by the reality of what her crown has cost her. So, while Joffrey hasn't been a constant presence in House of the Dragon​​​​, his short, tragic role will be pivotal to the story.