House of the Dragon star talks Helaena’s abilities getting stronger, what’s in store for season 3

House of the Dragon star talks Helaena's abilities getting stronger, what's in store for season 3

As a gamer who’s been through countless tales of fantasy and intrigue, I can’t help but be captivated by the enigmatic character of Helaena Targaryen in House of the Dragon. The season 2 finale has certainly added another layer to her complex persona, with her precognitive abilities coming more into focus. Phia Saban, who portrays Helaena, does a splendid job of portraying the character’s inner turmoil and struggle to comprehend her extraordinary gift.


In the finale of House of the Dragon’s second season, I found myself thrust into a more significant role as Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban). My brother Aemond urged me to ride Dreamfyre into battle, but I refused due to my strong aversion to causing harm. Despite his persistence, I finally disclosed that I was aware of his attempt to kill our brother Aegon. This knowledge wasn’t new, as I had foreseen such events before, like predicting Aemond would lose an eye in season 1. However, it seemed that my precognitive abilities became clearer this time around.

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: “I guess you could say I’ve had to figure out the mechanics of my visions on my own. They hit me like sudden intuitions, but they’re not always clear-cut. I can’t always translate them into advice. Instead, they feel more like overwhelming sensations that take over. That’s where those abstract mutterings come from earlier on. I know I’m a bit of an oddball, and my family lets me be that way in my room, doing my Helaena stuff. But sometimes, I wonder if I didn’t have these strange feelings or this strong intuition, I could connect with people better or communicate more clearly. It feels like being odd is part of who I am.”

Part of her represses that stuff. Then I think with the trauma that happened to her in episode 1, essentially the worst possible thing happened, and there’s a certain amount of dissociation and almost like a letting go of that, like trying her best to be the same as everyone else. She has disassociated from the family reality, and maybe she has stepped in a little bit more to the other place, and she has more access because she’s gone, “I can’t abandon myself as well, so what is this?” She’s given it the attention and the intensity it needed.

In the first episode, Helanea endured a deeply traumatic event when two assassins, hired by Daemon Targaryen, beheaded her young son. This incident was not extensively explored in subsequent episodes of the season, leading some viewers to suspect that Helaena may indeed be dissociating. Interestingly, during her confrontation with Aemond, she appeared more composed than usual. This could be due to her growing familiarity with her powers or perhaps because they are siblings and she feels no need to tolerate his bullying anymore.

In another interesting twist, Saban pointed out that despite the family members being royal figures like the Prince Regent and the King, their interactions are more akin to sibling squabbles. They may challenge each other, but there’s a deep understanding between them. Interestingly, Aemond seems to be one of Helaena’s confidants, sharing an unusual bond with her, which makes for an intriguing dynamic in the story. This relationship provides a unique aspect to the narrative as Helaena doesn’t have many lengthy conversations with others, making it engaging for the writer.

House of the Dragon star talks Helaena's abilities getting stronger, what's in store for season 3

How will Aemond react now that he knows [SPOILER]?

During their conversation, Helaena does something unconventional: she discloses crucial details from “Fire & Blood”, the book that serves as the foundation for “House of the Dragon”. Instead of revealing specifics, let me put it this way: she hints at Aemond’s impending demise by the Gods Eye. This can be understood as Helaena sharing with Aemond details about his character’s death scene in the series.

Showrunner Ryan Condal expressed that Helaena captivated them due to her being somewhat of a blank slate, as portrayed in the book. Later, they selected the exceptional actress, Phia Saban, whose performance left us spellbound. Our intrigue deepened as we delved into understanding this character.

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but share some exciting insights about our favorite characters in the upcoming season 3! Ryan Condal, the Showrunner, hinted that Aemond will be going through some introspection, saying that we’ll see how he responds after being spooked. This intrigue has me wondering what twists and turns his storyline might take!

It appears Condal isn’t disclosing any information about the upcoming season, and Saban wouldn’t be able to even if she wanted to. In her words, “I have no idea what will transpire next season.” She went on to suggest that the moment in episode 8 showcases her character’s clarity and power, but it might not signal a sudden ability to communicate so openly. It wouldn’t be shocking if Aemond is rejected by her, she might shake her head and walk away, possibly staying distant for a considerable period of time thereafter.

Saban isn’t entirely certain if Helaena truly appeared in Daemon Targaryen’s prophetic dream or if she was merely a manifestation of his guilt. She also can’t predict whether we’ll witness Helaena on Dreamfyre, her dragon, although she’s eager for the opportunity. “I really yearned to ride that dragon,” Saban expressed. “I took time this season to watch others on its back, and I couldn’t help but feel envious. If given the chance, I would love to climb aboard the dragon or share a scene with Dreamfyre. Dreamfyre, like Vhagar, is an ancient, massive, and impressive creature. I hope for a scene that showcases Helaena’s bond with Dreamfyre, but I’m content just being here.”

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but feel a pang of anticipation when I think about House of the Dragon. It looks like we might not get our fix until somewhere around 2026 for season 3. But fear not, fellow enthusiasts! The story won’t end there – we’ll have one last hurrah with a fourth season to tie up all the loose ends and bring this epic tale to its conclusion.

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2024-08-07 20:42

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