Rooting for ‘House of the Dragon’s Dog: Forget the Blacks and Greens

Any show set in Westeros is bloody, often violently killing off fan-favorite characters. Since Game of Thrones premiered, heartbreak has been a constant, and House of the Dragon shows no signs of changing that trend. The series lives up to its predecessor’s gory expectations. The Season 2 premiere saw a child murdered in his bed, a grim event that felt entirely in character for this world. Yet, there’s one character whose survival I will not compromise on. It’s not Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), or any of the main players, but the stray dog wandering the streets of King’s Landing.

Perhaps it’s the resemblance to my own pet, or maybe the dog’s inherently lovable nature, but I care more about this stray dog’s happiness than any other character in the series. Despite facing so much hardship, this humble pup deserves to end up on the Iron Throne—or at least in a position of comfort and safety. He has already endured more than his fair share of pain. From abuse to starving, this innocent animal has suffered as much, if not more, than the human characters. If the show doesn’t grant him a much-needed happy ending, I will be inconsolable. Should House of the Dragon opt to kill off this dog, it will be unforgivable in my eyes.

Animals, especially lovable ones, are easy to become attached to. The dragons tearing each other apart in battles already make me squirm. I had a hard time watching direwolves in Game of Thrones due to similar reasons, but this stray dog is entirely defenseless. Ever since his introduction, he has been mistreated. The poor pup finds himself in the company of assassins, used as part of their cruel disguise. He tags along behind the villainous Blood (Sam C. Wilson) and Cheese (Mark Stobbart) as they sneak into a castle to commit a heinous act, wagging his tail all the while. By the end of the mission, he is kicked and abandoned.

Even though he’s accompanied by the most sinister characters in the series so far, the dog himself does no wrong. In fact, he becomes a victim, kicked in anger by the ratcatcher. The audience understandably erupted in outrage at this scene (thankfully, no actual animals were harmed). In the brutal world of House of the Dragon, such cruelty was particularly unbearable to watch. Despite everything, I find myself hoping for a twist of fate that will bring some semblance of justice and happiness to this poor animal.

Following the events, the dog doesn’t disappear entirely from the show but certainly doesn’t get ample screentime. Nevertheless, he proves to be a remarkably loyal companion. He lies by the ratcatcher’s feet, the same man who mistreated him, as the ratcatcher faces execution. The dog mourns his owner’s death, staying by his side until the bodies are cleared away, leaving him even more vulnerable and alone in a dangerous city.

As the smallfolk desperately search for food amidst starvation, the dog’s last shred of hope dwindles further. This dog, who has done nothing but exist in an unforgiving world, continues to suffer. With all the cruelty and betrayal depicted, introducing a dog only to subject him to the same harsh fate seems unnecessarily cruel. Let the showrunners take whoever they wish, but grant the dog a happy ending.

I contend this stray dog deserves a tale of rags to riches, a trajectory that mirrors the real-life story of Bobby, the dog actor playing the role. Rescued from the streets of Cyprus, Bobby’s life transformed as he found a loving home and a career in acting. His first appearance was as Buddy in Cruella before embodying the most tragic character in House of the Dragon. Bobby went from being a stray to a star; his character deserves a similar arc on the show.

The show should end with the dog finding some measure of happiness. After all the sorrow the series has caused its viewers, a small mercy for this cherished canine would be a poignant gesture. For those of us who are emotionally invested in the dog’s fate, his survival and well-being would offer a rare sense of relief amidst the pervasive brutality of Westeros.

New episodes of House of the Dragon air weekly on Sundays on Max.

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Source: Collider