It begins – the Dance of the Dragons, I mean. If Rhaenys Targaryen shows the whole of Westeros that she is a true power player, what will happen?
House of the Dragon Episode 9, the final episode of Season 1, begins in the morning twilight after King Viserys (Paddy Considine) dies in his sleep.
Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) and his Small Council colleagues don’t waste a second to begin their long-standing plans to place Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) on the Iron Throne. But at the same time, Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke) is pushed to act alone.
In the final scene, a lavish coronation takes place in the sept of the Dragonpit. Aegon, donning the Conqueror’s crown, thrust his father’s Valyrian Blackfyre steel blade into the air before the people of King’s Landing as the new ruler of the realms.
However, an explosion followed. A wave of dust and rocks rises from the ground beneath the Dragonpit, spilling death on those who remain in its tracks. It’s “the beast beneath the boards” – a phrase that Alicent’s daughter Helaena (Phia Saban) has talked about since episode 8.
As the dark cloud clears, Meleys, the dragon known as the Red Queen, emerges with the famous crown spikes on her neck. Her knight, Rhaenys (Eve Best), wears red and silver armor on her back.
Ryan Condal, co-creator and co-producer of the series, has been careful to hide the armor from the crowd up to this point.
Her Entrance
“We wanted her to be rising like a phoenix from the ashes,” filmmaker Clare Kilner told EW.
“She’s packed it,” Best says of Rhaeney’s battle gear.
“She’s traveled to King’s Landing with it because it’s part of her dragon-riding equipment. Also, probably in that moment of knowledge in episode 8, she’s flying into tricky waters… She hasn’t worn it for a very, very, very long time, and the fact that she’s wearing it means business. It’s like, ‘This is it. No more games.’”
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Rhaenys’ move during Aegon’s coronation is something that George R.R. Martin did not write about in the source document, Targaryen’s Fire and Blood historical record.
But it is not difficult to see a royal family move to erase the official record of some disgrace from the history books. Additionally, Rhaenys has the influence and ability to end the possible civil war over the succession before it even begins.
Best Talks About Rhaenys Entrance
Meanwhile, Alicent readies herself as Meleys looks down on her. However, rather than lighting them all in dragon fire, the creature releases a fierce cry. Rhaenys and her allies then appear through the Dragon pit doors and fly to Dragonstone to tell Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), Viserys’ chosen heir, that her throne has been taken over.
“It’s the pinnacle,” Best explains in this scene.
“It’s the moment when she shows herself to be the greatest possible ruler. It was the most outrageous and explosive action of the season. In a way, it’s also the most merciful and most graceful act.”
She adds: “It’s because she’s so intelligent and, in the end, chooses to do the right thing, which is not to destroy. It’s a truly forgiving moment and sort of a loving moment, in a weird way. She has all the ammunition, and the desire for revenge is so great.
“She’s suffered so much loss, and for her own sake and on behalf of so many others, the urge to destroy is so strong. And yet the choice not to destroy becomes even stronger. That’s the mark of greatness and [a] truly inspiring moment – I think actually one that is particularly resonate in this context of what we’re going through right now in our world with everything that’s going on with Russia. The choice not to drop the bombs is the greater choice.”
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Photo: EW
