In an interview released on the Max Twitter account, actress Phia Saban confirmed that her House of the Dragon character Helaena Targaryen is a “dreamer,” meaning she’s just a bit psychic.
“What [showrunner Ryan Condal] has done, is he’s kind of adapted Helaena to be a dreamer,” Saban said. “So Helaena can see the future, can feel the future and the past. On a level inside her she knows things. She can’t always literally turn that into advice, but she knows that things are about to happen.”
Helaena the dreamer. #HOTD pic.twitter.com/rCDBFFfpJQ
— Max (@StreamOnMax) June 13, 2023
There were several times in season 1 when Helaena seems to have an inkling of things to come, such as her saying that her brother Aemond would have to lose an eye in order to claim the dragon Vhagar. Another example was Helaena insisting multiple times that there is a “beast beneath the boards,” alluding to the emergence of Rhaenys Targaryen and her dragon Meleys from beneath the floor during Aegon II’s coronation.
What are dreamers in the World of Ice and Fire
There are several other dreamers in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire universe, including a character named Daenys Targaryen. About 100 years before Aegon I conquered Westeros, Daenys had a dream about the destruction of the Valyrian Empire. Her warning convinced her father Aenar to relocate the Targaryen family to the island of Dragonstone, thus saving them from the Doom of Valyria.
Helaena had another spooky line in the seventh episode that may be worth taking a look at: “Hand turns loom; spools of green, spools of black; dragons of flesh weaving dragons of thread.”
“Hand turns loom” likely refers to the Hand of the King Otto Hightower and his years-long schemes to secure power for the Hightower family. “Spools of green and black” represent the two factions fighting for the Iron Throne at the end of the season: Rhaenyra’s blacks and Alicent’s greens. “Dragons of flesh weaving dragons of thread” is likely a nod to the civil war that is about to kick off in season 2.
It will be interesting to see what else Helaena predicts in season 2. It would be interesting if someone on the green side like Aegon or Otto realized Helaena’s words become reality and tried to get her to use the ability for the war effort.
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.
Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels