Filming an intimate scene for House of the Dragon's fourth episode proved to be an "interesting" experience for Milly Alcock, the actor told Newsweek. Alcock portrays Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in the HBO hit. The character becomes romantically entangled with her uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), in Episode 4 when he shows her around the Westeros capital of King's Landing in disguise.
While viewers may balk at the incestuous relationship shown onscreen, in George R. R. Martin's books the Targaryen family would famously marry their relatives. For example, Aegon the Conqueror wed his sisters Visenya and Rhaenys, from whom all Targaryens are descended. This historical context adds layers to the characters' storyline and the complexity of their emotions.
Despite the nature of the scene, Alcock told Newsweek she felt "very comfortable" with co-star Smith, as they knew how they wanted to approach it. The chemistry and understanding between the actors played a significant role in how the scenes were crafted and received by the audience.
Milly Alcock's Reflections on the Scene
In Episode 4, Daemon gives Rhaenyra a disguise and directions that’ll lead her to him so they could leave the Red Keep together. At first, their trip through King's Landing is a relatively innocent one, with Rhaenyra and Daemon watching a puppet show that makes her the punchline. However, their innocent outing soon leads to deeper connections.
The intimate scene sees Rhaenyra and Daemon kiss, undress, and almost have sex, but the prince stops before things go that far and he leaves Rhaenyra to return to the castle on her own, where she instead takes Ser Cristen Cole (Fabien Frankel) to bed with her. This moment marks a turning point in Rhaenyra's character development.
Reflecting on what it was like to film this scene, Alcock said: "I think Matt is an incredible actor and he’s also so kind and funny, so I felt very comfortable with him in all of those scenes." Their collaboration helped to ensure that the intimate moments were portrayed delicately and authentically.
The Complexity of Relationships in House of the Dragon
Alcock noted, "It is a really interesting relationship, and all of those scenes were dealt with very delicately." She explained how she and Matt tried hard to make the intimate scenes meaningful rather than just performing them for show. "We didn’t just want to be like 'and now we perform an intimate scene,'" she emphasized.
This approach to their scenes highlights an essential aspect of storytelling in House of the Dragon: examining the dynamics of power and vulnerability within relationships. Alcock asked herself, "What is actually at play here? Who has the power? And when does that switch?" These questions guide the performances, enriching the narrative.
Rhaenyra and Daemon's intimate encounter certainly foreshadows the relationship they will have in the future, as fans of Martin's books will know. The complexities of their interactions reflect broader themes of love, power, and betrayal that are central to the series.
House of the Dragon airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.
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