When Rhaenyra Targaryen finally ascended to the Iron Throne, it should have been the biggest victory in ‘House of the Dragon’. Instead, Emma D’Arcy thinks it’s one of the character’s most disturbing moments.
After the dramatic events of Season 3 Episode 2, D’Arcy revealed the reason for Rhaenyra’s much-anticipated victory was devoid of celebration, while co-star Matt Smith hinted that Daemon Targaryen and Rhaenyra’s relationship isn’t as solid as it looks.
Emma D’Arcy Believes The Iron Throne Leaves Rhaenyra Emotionally Lost
When asked about Rhaenyra’s return to King’s Landing, D’Arcy said they didn’t see the scene of her coming back as a triumphant moment. Rather, it was an attempt to demonstrate the emotional toll of the pursuit of power for such a long time.
Related: The Real War In ‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 3 Is Happening Within Its Characters
The actor says that Rhaenyra has been transformed by years of war, sacrifice, and personal loss. By the time she is finally on the throne she has longed to be on, she no longer feels complete. The queen, according to D’Arcy, is “rudderless” because her lifelong goal has come true, but she has an identity crisis.
“I felt there was an opportunity in that scene to look at how power and the pursuit of power, the toll that that takes on identity, on the body, on one’s sense of self, so that by the time she does finally claim that seat, so long dreamt of, she’s kind of rudderless in some way,” she told Collider.
For D’Arcy, the scene is about the transformation of an individual’s character not only in terms of their choices and political decisions, but also in terms of their identity. The shoe poses the question of whether victory is worth anything when all the costs have been taken into account.
Matt Smith Hints Bigger Challenges Await Daemon And Rhaenyra
In Episode 2, Daemon and Rhaenyra seem to be on the same side, but Matt Smith cautioned that the truce won’t last. The actor said the couple will be under a lot of pressure this season, not only from war and politics, but from personal relationships as well.
In case you missed it: Emma D’Arcy Opens Up About Filming ‘House Of The Dragon’s Most Painful Moment
“Then, amidst all of that, you’re trying to balance an actual relationship between yourself when you have two slightly different attitudes towards how to achieve the same goal.” Although they share the same end goal, Smith said they have different concepts of how to reach the goal, which has led to new conflicts in their marriage.
“There’s a lot of wrestling that has to take place, I think. There are some big peaks and troughs that come in within that, without giving too much away.” Together, D’Arcy and Smith paint a picture of a ruler who has finally reached the seat she fought for, only to discover that wearing the crown may be more complicated than winning it.
You might also like to read:‘House Of The Dragon’ Just Changed One Character’s Fate Forever
