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Emma D’Arcy wonders how “unsympathetic” Rhaenyra can be in House of the Dragon season 3

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Emma D'Arcy wonders how "unsympathetic" Rhaenyra can be in House of the Dragon season 3

As a devoted fan with a heart full of Westeros’ lore and politics, I must say that Emma D’Arcy’s portrayal of Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon has been nothing short of captivating. Her recent Golden Globe nomination is well-deserved, and it’s a testament to her commitment to bringing this complex character to life.

Emma D’Arcy has received recognition for portraying Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen on HBO’s prequel series to Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon; and a testament to this is their recent Golden Globe nomination.

Throughout the initial two seasons of “House of the Dragon”, we’ve witnessed Rhaenyra evolve from a young princess ( portrayed in the first half of season 1 by Milly Alcock) to a queen in all but name, governing the Seven Kingdoms from Dragonstone while her half-brother King Aegon sits on the Iron Throne. However, she’s been maneuvering to reclaim what she believes is rightfully hers. Towards the end of season 2, she has mobilized a large number of peasants into her dragon-riding forces and now stands poised to recapture King’s Landing, thanks in part to an alliance forged with Alicent Hightower, who somehow managed to meet with her on Dragonstone.

On the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Emma D’Arcy pondered what this might imply for Rhaenyra in season 3. “In other words,” D’Arcy explained, “throughout both series, she tends to respond rather than act, finding herself in a reactive position. However, at the end of Series 2, she may have found herself in a more advantageous political position for the first time. So I’m not sure how Rhaenyra will handle situations when she truly wields power, no longer being constantly second-guessed by her council. This could be a whole new set of circumstances for her.

Concerningly, as a devotee of “House of the Dragon,” I fear the series might be biased towards one character, Rhaenyra, portraying her actions as justified while presenting her adversaries as ruthless or inept. Unlike George R.R. Martin’s book “Fire & Blood,” which avoids taking sides and allows readers to decide the morality of the brutal power struggle tearing apart the Seven Kingdoms, the show seems to be portraying Rhaenyra as the righteous one, facing obstacles beyond her control, while her opponents are shown unfavorably. Even Alicent, who was initially Rhaenyra’s enemy, has shifted allegiances, and Daemon, a former adversary of Rhaenyra, is returned to her side through a divine vision. This could potentially oversimplify a story that’s complex and intricate in the book.

In the second season, certain aspects of Rhaenyra’s storyline particularly stood out for me. For example, when she enlisted peasants to attempt dragon taming, it was almost as if she imprisoned them with the beasts and watched from a balcony as they were horrifyingly consumed. This portrayal of Rhaenyra, who becomes so enamored with her own power that she loses sight of perspective, intrigues me, and it seems D’Arcy feels the same way.

In my opinion, the shift we witnessed at the end of season two for this character was a pivotal moment where she had to decisively chart her own fate for the first time. It’s fascinating to observe how she seems to gravitate towards her religious beliefs and ancestral heritage, displaying an intensity that borders on fanaticism as she embraces her identity.

And I’m excited to see it, even if we’ll likely have to wait until 2026 to watch new episodes.

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2024-12-14 00:41

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