House of the Dragon: “I refused to sit on the Iron Throne…”
In the wake of episode 2 which completely reshuffled the cards of season 3, in the heart of the Seven Kingdoms, Emma D’Arcy confides in Première…
Things are moving quickly at the start of season 3 of House of the Dragon!
Spoiler alert…
If the HBO series was sometimes criticized for keeping things under control during season 2, the first two episodes of season 3 suddenly accelerate the pace of the Dance of the Dragons. After the thunderous Battle of the Gosier which opened hostilities, Rhaenyra storms King’s Landing in episode 2, broadcast today on HBO Max in France. After learning of Jace’s death, she rushes to the capital of the Seven Kingdoms with her army and her husband. At the end of the episode, she is finally seated on the Iron Throne, while Alicent gazes upon the bloodied and decapitated body of her father, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans).
Daemon (Matt Smith) and Rhaenyra have taken over the Red Keep. For Emma D’Arcy, who spent a large part of season 2 far from King’s Landing, this return had a special flavor. The actress revealed to Première:
“Out of superstition, I must admit to you that I had always refused to sit on this Iron Throne myself, before Rhaenyra’s time had come, before the filming of that famous scene from season 3…”
Then, the 34-year-old British actress explains to us what is going on in the head of the new Queen, while she has regained power:
“In my mind, she experienced so many obstacles and hardships before arriving here that, when she ascended the Throne, for the first time, she had an almost childish attitude, mixing pride and distrust of the rest of the world. I wanted that to take away a little of the triumph of this glorious moment for her…”
From now on, the heiress of Viserys I is in charge. No offense to the dominant males of the country, she will indeed be the boss:
“Westeros is a patriarchal system designed to protect the power of men, and Rhaenyra’s femininity is a weapon to oppose it. She has gained confidence over the seasons, both personally and politically. She no longer hesitates to contradict her council, even though it is made up of men…”
At her side is her husband, Daemon, who also coveted the Throne at one point. The envious Uncle became a devoted spouse and together, they built a particularly effective relationship to establish the Queen’s new authority:
“They are now on the same wavelength. They understand each other better and better. They have synchronized their agendas. Rhaenyra needs his very clear way of seeing things, because he never hesitates. Of course, they have different visions of how to govern, of how the kingdom should be run. Daemon would not do like her if he were on the Throne in her place… and that will become a source of tension in the rest of the season!
What if ascending the Throne was, in fact, just the beginning of trouble for Rhaenyra Targaryen? Season 3 of House of the Dragon continues every Monday on HBO Max in France.
