Who is Lyonel Baratheon – AKA The Laughing Storm – in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?

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Warning: Spoilers ahead for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 1.

HBO’s new show revisits the world of Game of Thrones, taking place nearly ten years earlier. It connects the storylines of the prequel, House of the Dragon, and the original series, filling in the missing history.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms presents a new look at Westeros during a time of unusual calm. Instead of fighting, the great noble families gather for a grand jousting tournament at Ashford, a competition known for its drama and excitement.

The series begins by introducing its main characters, alongside a colorful cast from well-known noble families – particularly a humorous ancestor of Robert, Stannis, and Renly Baratheon.

Here’s everything you need to know about Lyonel Baratheon!

Who is Lyonel Baratheon in the Knight of Seven Kingdoms?

Lyonel Baratheon, also called the Laughing Storm, is the current ruler of Storm’s End and the leader of House Baratheon during the events of Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

He’s a memorable and funny figure at the Ashford tournament, known for wearing his House’s incredibly large, antlered helmet – not just during the jousting, but throughout the entire event.

Lyonel is well-known for his habit of loudly laughing at his competitors during matches, enjoying the chance to entertain the crowd. This playful behavior led to him being called “The Laughing Storm.”

Dunk’s first encounter with Lord Baratheon happens when Raymun brings him to share a meal and enjoy the celebrations at the Baratheon tent. After Lyonel offers a reward of a hundred gold dragons to whoever can best accompany him, the hedge knight is invited to sit at the Lord’s table.

A funny mix-up happens when the future lord of Storm’s End thinks Dunk has come to ask for his head! He’s surprised to find Dunk just wants to be friendly. The situation quickly becomes lighthearted, and the two men end up bonding over drinks, even sharing a clumsy dance. Lyonel then entertains Dunk with stories of his past adventures, while Dunk listens, still wearing his helmet with the antlers.

He also observes Dunk’s uncomfortable posture and sweetly urges him to accept himself, playfully saying, “You were given height for a reason, so stand tall!”

At the tourney, Lyonel Baratheon quickly befriends Dunk, just like Raymun Fossoway, and proves to be a strong ally who will play an important role in what happens next.

Who plays Lyonel Baratheon in the Knight of Seven Kingdoms?

Ser Lyonel Baratheon, aka the Laughing Storm, is played by British actor Daniel Ings.

As a film and TV buff, I’ve been really impressed with Ings’ work. He’s got a fantastic range, especially on British television. You might recognize him – he played Cob Betterton in the hilarious and surprisingly moving I Hate Suzie on Sky, and he was also Mike Parker in The Crown over on Netflix. Plus, he was brilliant in that tense Black Mirror episode, Smithereens. He consistently delivers strong performances in everything he’s in.

But many consider his best role to be Freddy Horniman in Guy Ritchie’s crime film, The Gentleman. He plays a quirky, upper-class character who’s often seen wearing a chicken suit.

I was given a chance to experiment with light and shadow, to really test the limits and see how far we could go creatively.

What happens to Lyonel Baratheon in the novella?

Revealing too much about what happened with Ser Dunk the Tall and Ser Lyonel Baratheon would spoil the story’s surprises, but they definitely developed a close relationship over time.

Similar to his relative Robert, Lyonel eventually led a famous rebellion. This was triggered by Prince Duncan Targaryen breaking his promise to marry Lyonel’s daughter.

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An old companion of the Laughing Storm is also important to the rebellion, and Ser Duncan the Tall actually fights Lyonel in battle.

Even though the fighting was brief and brutal, Lyonel’s resistance led to a marriage agreement: Rhaelle Targaryen will marry Ormund Baratheon, his son. This alliance connects House Baratheon and the Targaryens for generations, lasting until the outbreak of Robert’s Rebellion.

The new series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will debut on Sky Atlantic and NOW on January 19, 2026. It will also be available on HBO in the United States.

You can watch all eight seasons of Game of Thrones and the first two seasons of House of the Dragon on Sky and NOW. Learn how to subscribe to Sky TV to start streaming.

Authors

Nicola AustinFreelance Writer

Nicola Austin is a freelance journalist with a passion for science fiction, fantasy, and animation. She’s written for many publications, including Empire, Digital Spy, and SciFiNow, covering TV and film. She’s a firm believer that ‘The Mummy’ is a classic 90s film.

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2026-01-19 16:20