After escaping the Red Keep with the defector kingsguard Erryk Cargyll in the latest episode of House of the Dragon, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen watches the beginning of King Aegon’s coronation at the Dragonpit before sneaking into the basement. As Aegon takes in the cheers from the common folk, Rhaenys and her dragon Meleys burst through the floor, possibly fulfilling Helaena’s “beast beneath the boards” prophecy.
This was a shocking moment that was not included in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, and fans are already divided on it. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the actress who plays Rhaenys, Eve Best, discussed the controversial event. “It’s the pinnacle,” she said. “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. It’s because she’s so intelligent and in the end chooses to do the right thing, which is not to destroy.”
"Alicent really proves herself in that scene. I think Rhaenys had taken her very much for granted as somebody who doesn’t really need to be paid attention to, and she shows herself to be somebody actually to be reckoned with. I think there’s a kind of mutual respect that happens as a result of that scene. It’s two women living through the appalling treatment, abuse, repression, oppression, the horrors of this patriarchal system. They see eye to eye, they understand, they empathize."
While Rhaenys chooses not to destroy the greens, she does kill a slew of peasants. I can see how she might want to spare Alicent, but I can’t get over all those other people dying.
Rhaenys is “vulnerable” with Alicent
Earlier, Alicent tells Rhaenys she should have been queen, something that we’ve only seen Corlys tell her before. “It not only takes Rhaenys’ breath completely away, but I think it’s the first time, almost in her life really, she feels truly vulnerable and taken aback,” Best said. “Alicent has just spoken directly to her heart, and in that moment it feels like the roles are completely reversed and Rhaenys is, for a moment, like a young child. Alicent’s the only one who’s seen her.”
Alicent and Rhaenys come face to face one more time at the Dragonpit, where Alicent shields the newly crowned Aegon from a hypothetical fiery doom. “She steps up as a mother,” Best said. “I think Rhaenys sees that and respects that.”
Personally, I thought Meleys bursting through the floor was a bit over the top. I probably would have preferred to see her fly out the back door of the Dragonpit and maybe even get help from the dragon keepers.
How Rhaenys’ stunt could come back to bite the blacks later in House of the Dragon (Beware SPOILERS)
There isn’t much discussion, in the show or in this interview, of the dozens if not hundreds of people who were killed by Meleys ascending through the floor. Although it seems insignificant, this scene could be paid off later during an event called “the storming of the Dragonpit.”
Toward the end of the war, a mob of smallfolk fed up with the Targaryens and their destructive war attack the Dragonpit and slaughter the dragons inside. The fact that Rhaenys obliviously killed a roomful of peasants and didn’t seem to care could lead up to that.
In the meantime, Rhaenys will likely fly to Dragonstone and inform Rhaenyra that her throne has been usurped, setting in motion the Dance of the Dragons.
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