Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 3.
The Return of Milly Alcock
The latest episode of House of the Dragon made a surprise cameo. Milly Alcock, who played Rhaenyra Targaryen, makes a poignant return in Daemon Targaryen’s vision at Harrenhal. Her presence heightens Daemon’s emotional turmoil and regret, as seen when she sews Jaehaerys’ head back onto his body.
Unexpected but crucial, this cameo builds on the traumatic event where Blood and Cheese killed Jaehaerys Targaryen. Alcock’s return has been warmly received by fans, ensuring her lasting impact on the character’s story.
Aemond’s controversial scene
Another major talking point is Aemond Targaryen’s nude scene, which has fans excited. Director Clare Kilner wanted to symbolize vulnerability rather than just shock value. The scene reveals his struggles with identity and power as he grapples with important “mother problems.”
This moment exposes his emotional state and strained relationship with Alicent Hightower, played by Olivia Cooke.
Reformulation of insights
The show’s creative team has notably recast the main characters multiple times. Ryan Condal stated: We recast every actor twice. We have a philosophy here that you just have to serve the story.
This approach ensures that the characters develop appropriately as the story progresses, while maintaining the authenticity and depth of their portrayal.
Daemons Vision at Harrenhal
The visions that Daemon Targaryen experiences contribute greatly to understanding his psyche. As shown in Episode 3, these visions are influenced by the environments and characters around him. With her potions and mysticism, Alys Rivers becomes crucial to Daemon’s mental state at Harrenhal.
The Hatred for Ser Criston Cole
No discussion is complete without discussing Ser Criston Cole’s divisive character. Criston, played by Fabien Frankel, continues to polarize because of his evolving relationship with Rhaenyra. His character is one that many viewers love to hate because of his intensity and complex motivations.
Frankel said he spent a lot of time with director Clare Kilner to make sure their scenes together were well-crafted and nuanced. He said their goal was to portray their love scene subtly and avoid unnecessary elements that could detract from the emotional charge.
Milly Alcock’s memorable cameo
Alcock’s return as Rhaenyra sheds light on Daemon’s internal struggles and complicated past. This choice enriches her character arcwhich is a clue to possible future apparitions that could penetrate even deeper into his tormented conscience.
Thinking about Criston Cole’s character
Despite popular opinion, many believe that Ser Criston has reflective qualities in all of us. As Ryan Condal notes:We all have a little bit of Criston in us. His flawed humanity provides a compelling mirror for the audience.
