Rhaenys Targaryen’s Death Left Crew in Tears: A Heartbreaking Moment Revealed!

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This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon.

Summary

  • House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 4, “The Red Dragon and the Gold,” received the highest IMDb score.
  • Princess Rhaenys Targaryen’s heroic death in the Battle at Rooks Rest shocked the crew.
  • Alan Taylor, the director, revealed the emotional impact of Eve Best’s final scene.

In the second season of House of the Dragon, the heartrending battle scene at Rooks Rest resonated deeply with viewers and, as revealed by the show’s director, left an indelible mark on the production team as well.

Amongst the eight episodes in Season 2 of “House of the Dragon”, Episode 4, known as “The Red Dragon and the Gold”, is particularly noteworthy due to its high IMDb rating and widespread positive reviews within the entire “Game of Thrones” series. This episode reportedly included a large number of visual effects shots, with a significant portion of the budget dedicated to the spectacular aerial combat over Rooks Rest. This battle saw Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (portrayed by Eve Best) and her blood-red dragon, Meleys, representing the Blacks, facing off against Ser Criston Cole’s forces attempting to capture the keep. However, they were eventually met by Prince Aegon Targaryen and King Aegon II Targaryen of the Greens, along with their dragons, Vhagar (a powerful she-dragon) and Sunfyre (a golden dragon), below. In the end, Rhaenys and Meleys were fatally wounded, while Aegon and his dragon sustained severe burns during this intense clash.

Rhaenys Targaryen’s Heroic Death Set Emotions High

“Angos Meleys” Still Hurts

Known as “The Queen Who Never Was,” Rhaenys Targaryen’s death continued to resonate among viewers even after the season ended, largely due to her selfless and valiant ride to her own demise. Not only did her sacrifice leave the audience in awe, but it also left the production crew speechless. In an interview with Goldderby, Alan Taylor, who directed House of the Dragon’s fourth episode and is renowned for overseeing significant character deaths such as Ned Stark’s in Game of Thrones and Christopher Multisanti’s in The Sopranos, shared that the atmosphere on set was incredibly intense during Eve Best’s final scene filming.

Her departure is poignant due to her significant role in Season 1, anticipating the end of her journey with us. There’s a tinge of sadness knowing that the actor won’t be part of our intense family anymore, but there’s also a sense of relief. She was content knowing she had a dignified exit, and it gave her energy. It was evident in the final moments as crew members, makeup artists, hair stylists, and fellow cast members exchanged tearful goodbyes on her last day. We bid farewell to our character with a mix of emotions, having just ‘murdered’ her off-screen.

Initially intended to be more somber and emotional, Rhaenys’ death was portrayed less devastatingly in the show. According to reports from X, a deleted scene could have delved into the Princess’ past and the state of her remains after the crash, as suggested by leaked set photos. However, what was shown seemed relatively undamaged compared to the description in “Fire and Blood,” where her corpse was described differently. The book states:

“The reality of Rhaenys’ death was intended to be more heart-wrenching.”

Or simply:

“Rhaenys’ death was meant to be more tearful, but the show didn’t depict it that way.

Three dragons plummeted to the ground. Sunfyre alighted on King Aegon, pinning him down and shattering several of his bones. Meleys and Rhaenys were spotted at the castle’s foot. The dragon’s body was ripped open, its internal organs scattering over the field. Fragments of Rhaenys’ armor were all that were found; her body remains missing to this day.

Taylor’s skillset in the world of Westeros, gained from directing seven episodes of Game of Thrones and receiving an Emmy nomination for “Beyond the Wall,” unfortunately won’t extend to any episode of House of the Dragon as a director. Initially slated to direct the ninth episode of Season 2, which would have covered the Battle of the Gullet, he was instead tasked with directing The Battle at Rooks Rest due to the season’s episode count being reduced.

If you’re among those who found Rhaenys’ fate hard to bear, brace yourselves! Filming for House of the Dragon‘s Season 3 has commenced, promising further heart-wrenching goodbyes to cherished characters. The series is projected to return by summer 2025.

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2025-04-07 16:04