Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers for Season 3, Episode 2 of House of the Dragon, now available on HBO Max.
“House of the Dragon” fans have had a week to come to terms with the death of Jace Targaryen (Harry Collett), but at the beginning of this week’s episode of the “Game of Thrones” prequel, his tragic death was brand new information for queen and mother Rhaenyra (Emma Darcy). And naturally, she didn’t take it well.
In fact, Rhaenyra was so devastated by the death of her other son, her heir, that when she was first faced with the news in Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 2, she repeatedly requested that her son’s body be answered.
“The truth is, I think for Rhaenyra, it’s an insurmountable loss and a reality too terrible to take into account,” Darcey told Variety. “So your first feeling, your first instinct, is something like complete denial and trying to resist that dawning, terrifying reality. It’s been a tough day at work.”
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Darcy said there was “only one scene” she was “terrified to film” this season, and that was when Rhaenyra broke with reality as she tried to come face to face with Jace’s body.
“There’s something very strange about our work; it’s a kind of business, and there’s this gentle mirror between story and lived experience,” they said. “Whenever you shoot something like that, it means letting go of cast members and friends that you really care about. Plus, it’s painful to imagine something like that. And you have no choice but to commit to it, at least while you’re shooting it.”
Darcey said her co-star Colette helped her prepare for the scene on set and that “the day was absolutely beautiful.”
“We didn’t talk much in the morning, but he gave me a really big seat, and then at lunch he was so gorgeous and he came up to me and said, ‘Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t get it, I thought maybe you just needed some space and I was just going to give you that space, but if you need anything, I’m here too,'” Darcey said. “And I’m always amazed and very impressed by the actors and their instincts and their care and professionalism. It’s so amazing.”
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Learning of Jace’s death is just the beginning of the challenges Rhaenyra faces this episode. The hour begins in the aftermath of the Battle of Garet (in which Jace is killed) and ends with Aristo (Olivia Cooke) coming before Rhaenyra on the Iron Throne, looking down on the bloody decapitated body of Aristo’s father Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), shortly after Daemon (Matt Smith). Rhaenyra has taken over the Red Keep.
The episode ends with Aricent looking completely mortified at the idea of having to explain what happened to Alicent, as he was arranging Rhaenyra to take King’s Landing and, by extension, the Iron Throne from Alicent’s son Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney). However, this was not expected. Now, Rhaenyra and Ariscent’s tentative alliance at the end of Season 2, when Ariscent reluctantly gives in to Rhaenyra’s insistence that she needs to kill Aegon in order to properly take possession of the throne, could be dissolved for good, depending on how Ariscent reacts to this choice.
“Regardless of how polarized the positions have become, Reynira still sees Alicent as judge and jury,” Darcy said. “I think there was some kind of transference there because they were friends and confidants in their childhood, and they were so close at the time of Rhaenyra’s mother’s death. I still think that at the end of the day, Rhaenyra longs for Alicent’s affirmation. So… It’s really tough to realize that you’re so far removed from Alicent’s kindness and affirmation. And like the long relationships we’ve witnessed in each other throughout our lives, Rhaenyra sees something of herself on the outside: like everything that’s ever been. ”
Whether Aristo agrees or not, Rhaenyra has a convincing argument as to why Daemon had to kill Otto after discovering him held prisoner in King’s Landing. And why did Rhaenyra muster up the courage to decapitate herself in front of the guards before seizing the Iron Throne?
“I think Rhaenyra has been fighting for two seasons with both her peers and her subjects to be recognized and respected as a potential reigning queen,” Darcy said. “This is an example of a patriarchal view of power that had to be represented as something familiar. And it’s up to the audience to decide whether that’s a line she should cross morally and ethically, and whether it’s a departure from herself or a step towards herself.”
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Darcy and Smith spent much of Season 2 of House of the Dragon filming scenes away from the heart of the action in King’s Landing, as their Black constituency was no longer in power and Rhaenyra and Daemon were busy strengthening their alliances elsewhere. So returning to the palace, prepared to shoot a careful and unconventional invasion of the Red Keep, was a return home.
“It was interesting. That day — even for us, because we weren’t really back in the field — was like coming home in a way, because in a way, this day is ours,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of filth on the walls and stuff. It looks awful. I’d just take it straight away and get it off the wall. All this fucking pretentious religious stuff. So there was some sort of life-imitating art and a sense of life informing the art and stuff like that going on, and that was fun for me.”
Added Darcy: “I totally agree. The Red Keep is kind of the power hub of the studio complexes that we film in. Also, I spent a season in exile on the Dragonstone set, so it’s nice to be back in the center of things. And Rhaenyra and Daemon are operating as a living entity in that homecoming.”
Daemon has been steadfastly supportive of Rhaenyra since he swore loyalty to his wife and queen at the end of Season 2, but he recently made a mistake that could cost her dearly. At the end of this second episode of season 3, while Rhaenyra and Daemon are busy capturing King’s Landing, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) encounters Alys Rivers (Gail Rankin) occupying Harrenhal. And given how Daemon turned down Alice’s request to be given Harrenhal as a reward for supporting Rhaenyra, Alice may be willing to switch sides in order to get a better deal.
Will this be a tragic mistake for Damon that he will soon regret?
“In Daemon’s unique world of love, I think his time at Harrenhal was in some ways productive for him in terms of opening up a little bit to Ser Simon Strong and his people,” Smith said. “So maybe Damon has some level of gratitude that Alice doesn’t express.
“Well, I guess so.”
