The first season of House of the Dragon had a very unique structure. The first 10 episodes of the series covered about 20 years of time. Characters were introduced, grew up, got married, had kids, and sometimes died. In a few instances, lead characters were played by different sets of actors to reflect the passage of time: for instance, Emily Carey played young noblewoman Alicent Hightower for the first half of season 1 only to be replaced by Olivia Cooke as an older Alicent in the second half.
Likewise, Milly Alcock played Rhaenyra Targaryen, the heir apparent to the Iron Throne, in the first half of the season, and was replaced by Emma D'Arcy in the back half. Although fans came to love D'Arcy and Cooke in these roles, some of them miss the younger actors and wonder if they might turn up in a flashback in season 2. "I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say, but I will say don't get your expectations up!" Carey told Radio Times.
Back in March, Milly Alcock was also asked whether she would appear for a flashback, and she was more blunt: “No. It’s done,” she said.
So it doesn't sound like we'll be seeing Young Rhaenyra and Alicent in House of the Dragon season 2. However, we have heard unconfirmed whispers about flashbacks, specifically one featuring characters like King Viserys Targaryen (Rhaenyra's father and Alicent's husband), his wife Aemma Arryn, and his grandfather King Jaehaerys Targaryen, all of whom are dead by the time season 1 ends. Mostly, we're expecting the second season to march forward in time without jumps forward or back, but if you're hoping for a flashback, you have something to hold onto.
Emily Carey will watch House of the Dragon season 2 to see her friends in action
Carey also talked about what it was like playing young Alicent Hightower for that first season, and how nervous she was the closer the show got to its premiere date. "I think I blacked out for most of that summer ," she told Radio Times. "I don't really know how I handled it. No one ever prepares you for it. There's no guidebook. You can talk to people who have been there and done that, but this was different and strange."
"It still feels so surreal. When people talk about it, I have a weird disconnect to it. It was such a strange bubble, and it was very whirlwind. It had a start and a finish. Having the older versions take over [Carey was replaced by Olivia Cooke following a time jump], the attention and the eyes were then sent elsewhere, so I got a second to breathe."
As for season 2, Carey says she "probably will be watching," if only to support her pals in the cast. "And I will say it's not my genre. I'm not a huge fantasy fan," she admitted. "But the show is objectively incredible, and two of my good friends, Bethany Antonia (Baela Targaryen) and Harry Collett (Jacaerys Velaryon), are in the next season and have some incredible things going on, and so I'm excited to see them on screen."
And no, neither of her buddies has leaked spoilers to her. "I will say they are both professionals and they are contracted and under NDAs, and even though Beth is one of my best friends, she wouldn't let anything slip. So we'll just have to wait and see!"
Carey will find out what happens along with the rest of us when House of the Dragon season 2 premieres on HBO and Max on Sunday, June 16. You can also see her in the Netflix series Geek Girl, where she plays the title role. All 10 episodes of that are streaming now.
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