ALBAWABA - “House of the Dragon” Season 2 ended with another confrontation between Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent (Olivia Cooke), and director Geeta Vasant Patel again handled the key off-book scene.
We just watched 70 minutes of excellent TV. Galvanizing. The episode's concluding scenes pitted long-running plots against inevitability and surprise. It was always going to end here, but House of the Dragon's journey left me wondering if we'd find our way. From season two's outskirts, a heartbreaking denouement brought a major character back, forcing her to choose between her children, some of whom are monsters.
“What was intriguing was that Ryan and the writers decided to only see them together twice,” she told TheWrap. There's something unnerving about them not being near each other, yet you sense them in the room and anticipate their reunion.
Patel said the final major moment between Alicent and Rhaenyra shows them striving to return to their childhood friendship.
“It’s about two people who love each other, think they love each other, and try to pretend they don’t,” she added. “That keeps us on edge.”
Patel explains the pair's major moment, the massive montage setting up Season 3, and how Daemon (Matt Smith) becomes "like a Yoda" to Rhaenyra after witnessing the Ice and Fire prophecy below.
Working on both scenes allowed us to check for shifts, according to Geeta Vasant Patel. Interestingly, the human mind recalls the emotions from the previous dramatic event, and despite their separation, they seem to be reconnecting at that moment. Rhaenyra feels agony.
Rhaenyra's perspective must instantly change once she appeals to Alicent and says, "Hey, let's work together." I’m on my knees. Alicent left without trying, refusing to confess what Rhaenyra needed her to confess: that Viserys wanted her to ascend the throne.
I anticipate the transition when approaching scenes. Sara Hess wrote a lengthy, dialogue-heavy, twisty sequence. During rehearsals, we ensured a clear understanding of the sequence's progression, as there are numerous pivotal points to emphasize. We planned the sequence knowing it was about giving up Aegon, but we also realized it had a price. Everything before that moment had to work to make Alicent losing something by giving up her kid meaningful.
This issue arises because her child's behavior was so erratic that it could easily be dismissed as a minor inconvenience. At the time, it was a beautiful challenge for Olivia to love this insane youngster. You will always love her child, regardless of the circumstances. The stakes must then be great. When Rhaenyra exclaims, "A son for a son," we've been there with Alicent and understand that yes, he's a problem and yes, he's crazy, but please, don't force her to give up her child.
