Note: This story contains spoilers from Season 2, Episode 7 of “House of the Dragon”.
In “House of the Dragon” Season 2, Episode 7, Rhaenyra and Team Black finally achieved victory after a season full of struggles, which star Emma D’Arcy says gives the aspiring leader the confidence that she can actually win the war for the Iron Throne.
“Her blood is boiling and I think for the first time … she thinks she can (win),” D’Arcy told TheWrap. “One of the few things she’s conscious of is not getting into a war that she’s obviously going to lose, because it’s a completely pointless exercise. And for the first time, she has what she considers to be an ultimate deterrent.”
With Team Black facing a minority of dragon riders following the deaths of Rhaenys and Meleys at Rook’s Rest, Sunday’s new episode saw the Seeding of Seeds unfold, as Rhaenyra took in dozens of Targaryen and Velaryon bastards to attempt to tame a dragon. While the undertaking proved bloody, Team Black gained two new dragon riders: Hugh the Hammer, who tamed Vermithor, and Ulf the White, who befriended Vermithor’s mate Silverwing. At the end of the episode, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) rode Vhagar to Dragonstone, but quickly turned around when he spotted several dragons ahead of him.
“She’s so far outgunned by the Greens that she may be expecting a surrender, certainly by the end of the episode… we see Aemond turn tail and fly away,” D’Arcy added. “We’ll see what happens in Episode 8, but for a moment it feels like her political designs have come to fruition in a really complex way. In fact, as she’s been advocating since the beginning of the series, an even bloodier war – a protracted conflict – might be avoided.”
Below, D’Arcy explains how the opening of the dragon rider search legitimately hurt Jace, reveals what Rhaenyra wants from Daemon after being separated for most of the season, and teased the return of “old faces” in the Season 2 finale.
TheWrap: In this episode, Rhaenyra opens up her search for dragon riders to the lower classes, which is a somewhat controversial decision in some ranks. Why was it worth breaking with tradition for her?
Emma D’Arcy: One of Rhaenyra’s key skills is her ability to think differently about problems, perhaps because she hasn’t had the same combat training as her male counterparts. She has no choice but to think laterally. I think that after Rhaenys’ death, the desire to seek out different ways of fighting becomes even more fundamental. She owes it in some way to Rhaenys’ memory.
Rhaenyra’s fire and volatility, which we see manifested in Daemon as aggression or impulsive acts, comes from the ultimate belief that she is meant to take her father’s throne. I think it borders on a kind of religious fanaticism: we see her becoming more and more attached to her faith. She seeks out the old gods, by which I think we also mean in some way the dragons, as a key to her own future. In a slightly creepy way, there’s a religious fervor, as if she has the gods on her side in this decision.
How did Rhaenyra’s partnership with Mysaria, who represents the common people, help open Rhaenyra’s mind?
Before she befriended Mysaria, the idea of the common man was somewhat abstract to Rhaenyra. She may be more tolerant than some of the other royals, but she is brimming with privilege. This suddenly becomes tangible in Mysaria, not only in her wisdom and political instincts to try to manipulate and guide the allegiance of the people, but also when Mysaria speaks of her own experiences, the life she has lived and the battles she has fought. There is such an intelligent and thorough investigation of the propaganda machines of both sides. It feels like a big departure from the simpler battle plans of many of her male colleagues.
Jace is one of those who isn’t thrilled about the opportunity to become a dragon rider. Why do you think he’s so convinced?
Jace has every reason to feel deeply compromised by his mother’s choice. Ultimately, she will choose herself, truly, before anyone else. And here, she chooses herself and her divine right over her son and her son’s legitimacy. I don’t think it’s an easy decision—we’ve seen Rhaenyra, over the years, fight vehemently for the legitimacy of her children. We’ve seen her fight petitions. We’ve seen her put her entire reputation on the line to protect these boys. But in this case, she feels like she’s been given divine permission. Jace says – and Harry Collette plays it so well in the episode – that all these issues with my appearance are silenced by the fact that I’m a dragon rider, and you’re willing to give up this license that I have, and he’s right that she doesn’t end his argument, which I think is the only respect she can show him, right?
What does it mean for Rhaenyra to have accomplished this feat without Daemon? What does she expect from him at this point? Will Rhaenyra and Daemon ever be able to reunite?
I think the relationship between Rhaenyra and Daemon really only works when they’re both in positions of power. Their erotic energy, their sex, it’s like all power. When they’re grieving, when they’re in mourning, when their campaign is failing, they have a really hard time getting along. Obviously, Rhaenyra is going to have to, sooner or later, think about dealing with what’s happening at Harrenhal. She’s going to have to ask herself this big question about whether or not he’s allied with her. But I think she might now look forward, in a way, to that meeting, because I feel like she’s reconnected with herself, with her identity, and when she feels powerful, I think she can take him on, both as a husband and as a potential enemy.
This scene with Vermithor is pretty epic. How did the filming of this scene go?
It’s really incredible to shoot. I find those scenes really difficult. I don’t think I have a natural talent for the world of tennis ball, but Loni Peristere, who directed the episode, spent a lot of time filling in the dragon’s absence with his own voice. He was on the microphone and I think the value of that effort is that he sings so loudly in the episode. You shoot those scenes over several days, it’s a real act of imagination to keep the invisible dragon alive, but it’s so much easier when you have someone who meets you on location.
It was the first time I had ever seen men setting themselves on fire. I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it for myself. They are incredibly impressive and very skilled people. Those days are quite extraordinary because there are so many different elements, it’s quite exhausting because of the size of the machines. I was really blown away watching it. Loni did a really exquisite job. I know how small it is to film that kind of thing and to see it all come together, and the fact that it looks so fluid and so alive, I think that’s a credit to her.
We can’t wait to see next week’s finale. What can you tell us about this episode and if there’s a dragon war?
I have to say I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m going to watch it with everyone else. A lot of old faces, a lot of old relationships – they’re going to cross paths.
Will we see Rhaenyra and Daemon reunite?
No comment.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
New episodes of “House of the Dragon” air Sundays on HBO and stream on Max.
