The Dance of the Dragons has consumed Westeros, but a quieter storm brews within the halls of power. Corlys Velaryon, stripped of his legacy after the Battle of the Gullet, makes a desperate play: he asks Rhaenyra to legitimize his bastard sons, Alyn and Addam. When she refuses, he resigns as Hand, thrusting Alyn into the role—a move that proves to be a seismic shift for the former sailor.
For Abubakar Salim, who plays Alyn, stepping into the Small Council was a "culture shock." "I'm so used to working on the dock and being outside, using my hands," he told Collider. "Just sitting down and being in this room where all these heavyweights are going at each other, I feel a bit out of depth." Yet Alyn's fresh perspective brings practical changes, like using cats to solve the Red Keep's rat problem. But his journey takes a dark turn in the Season 3 finale when Rhaenyra orders him to kill the High Septon—an act Salim calls "make-or-break."
Alyn's Impossible Choice
Salim admits the script left him reeling. "That's a big move. It's like killing the Pope," he said. "The fact that Rhaenyra uses Alyn, that was what really blew my mind." He recalls discussing the scene with showrunner Ryan Condal, noting that while Rhaenyra may have her own views on religion, Alyn is "the common folk." "You're putting that in Alyn's hands. You're having him kill the priest."
The actor wrestled with why Alyn would comply. "There's the moment when Rhaenyra convinces him and says, 'You're of a higher power.' Rather than thinking, 'Yeah, I am of a high power,' it's more of a sense of, 'No, this lady has gone loco, and she will kill me if I don't do this.'"
Alyn's Doubts and the Weight of the Crown
Alyn's rise from sea boy to Hand is a leap that Salim likens to "pulling a farmer out to be a politician." He brings a grounded reality to the role, feeling "way above his station." "There is absolutely the feeling that this is all above his pay grade," he said, emphasizing the "culture shock" of navigating a completely different language of courtly intrigue.
His brother Addam warns him about Aegon's reappearance and Rhaenyra's fragile state, but Alyn remains measured. "Whereas Addam is very impulsive and just goes for it, Alyn's just a bit more measured and patient," Salim notes. The conversation between the brothers is fraught with unspoken tension, especially with Baela in the mix. "If the Baela element wasn't actually a part of it all, there would've been a very different conversation," he added.
The finale's brutal act sets the stage for a turbulent Season 4. As Salim puts it, "It's such a huge move, and it's a make-or-break for a lot of people, particularly for Alyn." The fallout could strain his relationships with Addam and Baela, and his loyalty to Rhaenyra is now in question. For fans of the series, this twist echoes the darkest visions for Season 4, and it's a reminder that in this game of thrones, even the most loyal can be pushed to the edge.
As the realm braces for what's next, Alyn's fate hangs in the balance. Will he be hailed as a hero or reviled as a kinslayer? Only time—and the writers—will tell. For now, Salim's performance captures the moral complexity of a man caught between duty and survival, making this one of the most talked-about moments in the series.
