House of the Dragon director breaks down themes of misogyny and patriarchy in new episode

The most recent episode of House of the Dragon, "Regent," didn't move the plot forward very much, but there were some interesting themes knocking about. For instance, there were two scenes set at Small Council meetings, one on Dragonstone and one in the Red Keep in King's Landing. On Dragonstone, the male members of the council talked over Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) while in the Red Keep, they shot down Alicent's bid to manage the war effort in the absence of her injured son Aegon.

In both instances, men were quietly, subtly steam-rolling over women who have a lot to offer. Episode director Clare Kilner decided to hold the camera on Alicent's reaction as the men talked around her, letting us watch the anxiety build behind her eyes.

"At the very beginning when we do a read through of all eight scripts, I was thinking about the women and how they’re kept in their castles and kept in their place for so long," Kilner told TheWrap. "Things are getting worse and worse, and their feelings of sort of wanting peace or revenge or somehow to stop this is building."

"I think it’s very much about rage that’s sort of building inside them because they have their hands tied behind their back. They can’t go out and do what everyone else is doing. They feel muffled...[B]ut rage can be fire and fuel for change. They aren’t really even allowed to show that or demonstrate that as much as the men are. The grief and sadness is building fuel to try to look at their world and find a different way to change their mindset and think outside the box."

I liked that the show let these themes emerge organically without feeling like it was pounding in the hammer. And although Rhaenyra and Alicent may feel muffled, another female character is coming into her own:

Baela Targaryen grows up in the newest episode of House of the Dragon

One of the better scenes from the new episode comes about halfway through, when Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia) visits her grandfather Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) on the island of Driftmark. She's there to offer him the position of Hand of the Queen to Rhaenyra. But he's grieving the loss of his wife Rhaenys (Eve Best) and isn't sure he wants the position. Rhaenys, like a Targaryen, spits fire and tells him that continuing to fight for Rhaenyra is a way to honor Rhaenys' legacy, and he comes around.

It was a good moment for Baela. "Bethany and I talked about the scene a lot and we were like she really needs to grow up in this scene," Kilner said. "Sometimes the character is gentle and has a sweetness, but we were talking this scene she has to step up and grow up for Rhaenys. I think it’s always easier, sometimes, to grow up for someone else — for the sake of someone else more than for yourself. She just brought such depth and pathos to the scene."

Alicent, Rhaenyra, Baela, Corlys and many more will all be back this upcoming Sunday night when the second season of House of the Dragon will continue on HBO and Max.

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