Tensions continue to rise in House of the Dragon season 2. The Battle of Rook's Rest decimated both sides in the Targaryen civil war as the Greens lost soldiers to dragonfire while the Blacks lost their beloved Princess Rhaenys Targaryen and her titan of a dragon Meleys. The Greens now have to deal with the reality that their king, Aegon Targaryen, may not recover from his injuries.
Rhaenyra was frustrated by the developments, particularly because she felt that she wasn't allowed to do anything about it; she's a queen and the black council forbids her from getting involved for her own safety. And she wasn't the only one frustrated; her own son, Jacaerys Velaryon, was fed up over the fact that he couldn't get involved. In the fifth episode, "Regent", he decided to do something about it.
Harry Collett on how Jacaerys Velaryon asserts dominance on House of the Dragon
Jace rode his dragon Vermax to see the Freys at the Twins, seeking to negotiate with them to allow Cregan Stark's troops from the North to cross into the Riverlands. This comes after his side's frustration with Daemon Targaryen who, instead of procuring Harrenhal for his queen, has decided to stick around there and try to make a run at the Iron Throne himself, when he isn't busy dealing with persistent nightmares. Jace attempted to find an alternate option.
The young man proved to be quite convincing in his negotiating. Star Harry Collett recently spoke to TV Guide about that, particularly how Jace handled such an ambitious task without showing nerves (even if they were there below the surface):
"He's definitely nervous because he knows he shouldn't be there... But I think overall he is so confident because he wants to go back to his mother and tell her he has done this and has gotten her more people on her side. Now give me more things to do!"
He was determined in his efforts, showing a command that ensured the Freys would hear what he was saying. It was certainly a convincing performance, as Jace told the pair that, if they wanted Harrenhal, they needed to provide more than just the bridge crossing; they had to bend their knees to his mother Rhaenyra, recognizing her as the queen.
Collett himself had a hand in crafting that scene, revealing that it was his idea to have Jace stand up and make them fill his glass before speaking in a bid to "assert dominance."
"In a way, I thought that would assert dominance. It will show that Jace understands what he is doing. And as for bent knees, it is so important because it sounds easy. That's all he wants, for people to bow down to his mother, the rightful heir to the throne."
That's very much been Jace's motivation this season: to have people bow down to Rhaenyra, but it has led to some conflict between the two. Whenever they are onscreen, Jace is usually defending his mother's claim to others while also clashing with her. The queen doesn't want to risk sending her son out on a life-threatening mission after the death of his brother Lucerys (at the hands of Aemond and his dragon Vhagar), but that doesn't sit well with Jace, who (like his mother) wants to have a more active role in securing her place on the Iron Throne.
Jace's desire to prove himself to Rhaenyra
Collett told TV Guide that Jace's defiance comes down to the fact that he "wants to prove his worth to his mother," which has resulted in a bit of a dynamic shift between the two that now has the child acting like the parent. He likens this to a "teenage rampage" motivated by grief:
"I think it is because he is so overwhelmed with the fact that he lost his little brother and he wants to do something. Every single emotion has taken over his mind, and he just wants to achieve revenge, and doesn't really care what his mother says."
Of course, Jace's meeting with the Freys wasn't the only time he proved himself in the episode, as he and Rhaenyra shared a rather pivotal scene in the closing moments of the episode that may have given the Blacks a much-needed ray of hope in the war.
The pair converse about the necessity for more dragonriders on their side after the deaths of Rhaenys and Meleys, and it's Jacaerys who comes up with the idea of looking into the long line of Targaryens who have married into other noble houses across the generations. More Valyrian blood could theoretically mean more dragonriders. Even if the blood is thin, it could be enough for those riders to claim a dragon, ultimately strengthening their cause.
Collett acknowledges that it's "nice" to get to see them "work together as a team" as those moments are "better for the whole of the realm." And if their plot to secure more distant relatives as dragonriders pans out, that could be better for the realm too, especially with the threat of Aemond reigning over King's Landing in his brother's place. The time for action is now, and Jacaerys proved that better than anyone.
I think it goes without saying that the young dragonrider proved himself a great deal throughout the fifth episode, showcasing himself to his mother as a worthy messenger and an innovative thinker. And if he keeps that up, he could just be her secret weapon.
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account, sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel.