Gendry Baratheon’s Legacy Examined by Lyonel Baratheon Actor in AKOTSK

Game Of Thrones ended with Gendry Baratheon as the last known heir carrying Robert Baratheon’s name, elevated from Flea Bottom blacksmith to Lord of Storm’s End after he is legitimized by Daenerys Targaryen in season 8. Viewers will recall, that Gendry was raised in Flea Bottom, the poorest district of King’s Landing, where commoners lived far from the world of nobles and royalty. A fan-favorite character throughout the series, he first appeared in season 1 working as a blacksmith before Ned Stark discovered him and realized he was Robert’s son.

With AKOTSK set in an earlier era of Westeros — and introducing Ser Lyonel Baratheon a.k.a “Laughing Storm” centuries before the events of Game of Thrones — it offers a new look at the powerful house long before its most famous members appear in the main series. That also raises an interesting question about how the Baratheon legacy ultimately evolves by the time audiences last saw it. In an interview with ScreenRant’s Liam Crowley, Daniel Ings, who plays Lyonel in the GOT spin-off, reveals how his character might feel about the state of House Baratheon generations later.

Daniel Ings: I think he’d be highly approving of Gendry, in part, because I think Gendry’s my favorite Baratheon from the original Game of Thrones show. I think he would see some of Dunk in Gendry, someone who’s come from Flea Bottom and found themselves rising up through this world of highborn lords and kings, and the violence of that, and having to cope and survive, but the honor remaining intact throughout. I think he’d probably see more of Dunk in Gendry than himself, but you’d probably want to show him how to dress. Let’s get you some better clothes. Let’s get you some better threads, Gendry. Let’s get you a little bit of bling, and have a drink. A little bit of bling never hurt anybody. You’re not forgetting your roots, it’s fine. You’re a blacksmith. It’s all good. You take the rings off, and you’ve got to do the black-smithing. But for now, let’s glam this up a bit.

As for where Lyonel fits in with the historic Baratheon family, Ings told ScreenRant “he’s a fairly archetypal” member of the bunch: a formidable fighter with a booming personality, a fierce sense of pride, and a quick temper.

Daniel Ings: I think he’s a fairly archetypal Baratheon. He lives for sport, whether that’s the sport of drinking, dancing, or fighting. Fighting is obviously his main passion, and finding the grandest arena in which to playfully spar, however dangerous that might be. But I think there’s a soul to him. He’s sort of a brute in some ways, but in others, he’s a clever guy and an observer of people around him and their characteristics. I see him as a kind of archetypal Baratheon, who encompasses a lot of the traits that his descendants would embody.

Everything Else Ings Said About AKOTSK & Lyonel’s Future

ScreenRant: For those who are familiar with the source material, there’s a big event between Dunk and Lyonel that culminates decades down the line. What was it like to establish the foundation now so that you can blossom it for the years to come?

Daniel Ings: Well, it came fairly naturally because Peter Claffey is such a warm and open guy, and also really, genuinely very funny. And I think he’s quite a generous actor. So to be able to bounce off each other and play… He was so open with me, I don’t know, slapping him or slapping his ass. He’s incredibly playful and up for that. I think we both just had a great time building that rapport between the characters, as we built a rapport between ourselves as actors.

Sadly, there’s nothing I can tease about our future dynamic, because Lyonel Baratheon, as some may know, doesn’t show up in the second or third novella in the series. So, whether the show continues beyond that, and in what form, and whether Lyonel would be a part of it, I honestly couldn’t say, but I could definitely say that I’d love to be able to come back and play him at some point further down the line.

ScreenRant: Have those conversations begun at all about finding a way for Lyonel’s story to continue within A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, even if it’s not directly adhering to a book?

Daniel Ings: Not so far. There’s nothing that I could really reveal about season two, but who knows? We have a really good, direct line of communication with Ira, our showrunner, and we’re pals. I think if ever they felt like it was time to call up Lyonel back into The Reach, then he’d be ready.

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