There are a lot of characters inHouse of the Dragon. The prequel might have fewer central figures thanGame of Thrones, but it’s still a massive cast. Rhaenyra and Aegon act as the main characters of their stories, with separate supporting worlds of warriors, politicians, and family members in far-flung locations. Everyone knows the big players on each team, but they have lower-level supporters worth exploring. Rhaenyra’s small council includes a sworn sword called Ser Alfred Broome, and while he mostly just sits at the table and drops misogynistic wisdom, he’s destined for terrible things.
One of the most common conflicts inHouse of the Dragoncomesdown to simple sexism. A considerable percentage of the Dance of the Dragons comes from the childish urge of many men in power to avoid ever handing control to a woman. Even Alicent, a queen who ruled the Seven Kingdoms during her husband’s terminal illness, finds herself suffering the wrath of her team’s fear and distrust of her gender. Many characters spend a bit too much of their time reminding the audience that they don’t like the idea of a lady wielding power. It’s a bit sillier when those characters are actively working to install a woman on the Iron Throne.
Who is Ser Alfred Broome inHouse of the Dragon?
Ser Alfred Broome is a knight who serves onQueen Rhaenyra Targaryen’s smallcouncil. He lives and works in Dragonstone as a household knight of House Targaryen. He is one of many lords, knights, and maesters who declared their support for the Blacks when Aegon II Targaryen took the Iron Throne. When Rhaenyra enters her council room, she generally sees members of her family, but the other lords and knights offer their input. Broome sits alongside advisors like Simon Staunton, Bartimos Celtigar, Steffon Darklyn, and Gormon Massey. The Black Council is consistently less than helpful when Rhaenyra attempts to request their aid. They push for war, while Rhaenyra wants to make peace, and they’re only satisfied when she prepares to send dragons to counter every moving army. They also spend a lot of timetrying to get Rhaenyra outof the negotiation room so the men can run the show.
Broome’s advice tends to fall on deaf ears. His first notable pitch came in the second episode of season two. While the Black Council considers the fallout of Daemon Targaryen’sabsurd Blood and Cheese plot, Broome suggests countering the propaganda campaign against Rhaenyra by pleading insanity. He presumably imagined her somehow announcing that she was so mad with grief that her hiring goons to kill a toddler was a crime of passion. Rhaenyra takes offense and refuses, largely because she didn’t actually order the Blood and Cheese attack. Broome next pipes up to berate Rhaenyra for her lack of war experience, joining an army of similar voices. Hilariously, Rhaenyra points out that Broome served as a knight under her grandfather, Jaehaerys. He was a soldier during a time of unprecedented peace, meaning that he’s seen no more war than she has. After that conflict, Rhaenyra sendsAlfred to Harrenhal tocheck on Daemon. She admits that part of her motivation is to dispense with his useless quibbling. He’ll soon be in far less safe territory with Daemon.
Who is Ser Alfred Broome inFire and Blood?
Ser Alfred Broome serves the BlacksinFire and Bloodas well. The books take a moment to describe him as a joyless and irritating presence. He served in Dragonstone’s garrison during King Jaehaerys’s reign and lived long enough to become the castle’s oldest warrior. The Blacks engaged in a clever scheme to take King’s Landing, leaving many knights sitting at Dragonstone. While she was out, Rhaenyra named Ser Robert Quince the castle’s governor. Broome became so offended that she passed him over for a promotion that he betrayed her to Aegon II. Alfred helped Aegon and his dragon hide on Dragonstone, take the castle, and eventually kill Rhaenyra Targaryen. He personally killed several of Rhaenyra’s Queensguard, handing her over to be executed. Aegon kept him around for a while, but he soon got what he deserved. Alfred decapitated Ser Trystane Truefyre on Aegon’s orders. The remaining Blacks dominated the Greens in the Battle of the Kingsroad, allowing them to charge into the Red Keep. As Alfred crossed the bridge to Maegor’s Holdfast, he encountered the noted hedge knight, Ser Perkin the Flea. Perkin loved Trystane, proclaiming him the secret son of Viserys Targaryen and knighting every man who joined the Truefyre banner. Seeking revenge, Perkin gathered his gutter knights andstormed the Red Keep. He found Alfred on that bridge, where he swiftly shoved him off. Alfred suffered for two days, impaled alive on spikes, until he bled to death.
Who plays Ser Alfred Broome?
Jamie Kenna portrays Ser Alfred Broome inHouse of the Dragon. Kenna is best known for portraying Phill Whittaker in the long-running Britishsoap operaCoronation Street. He appeared in 63 episodes between 2021 and 2022. Kenna used to play professional football for Rusthall FC. He also had small roles in movies likeClubbed, The Bank Job,andStormbreaker. He’ll likely continue to be a meaningful character throughout the rest of the series.
Ser Alfred Broome isn’t the most pleasant character inHouse of the Dragon. He’s far from the worst, but his commentary makes him appear a bit petty.Book readers might discoverthat they hate him far more in his original form. Give Broome some time, and he’ll show the depths of his cruelty. His path is a long way down, before or after he falls to his death.
