The debut episode of HBO’s House of the Dragon aired on August 21, 2022, at 8:00 PM CST, starring Milly Alcock as young Rhaenyra Targaryen in the Game of Thrones spin-off. Emma D’Arcy will portray grown-up Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen beginning with the second episode, The Rogue Prince. Both shows are based on George R.R. Martin’s novels, although House of the Dragon dives more into Daenerys Targaryen’s lineage as the last Targaryen and Mother of Dragons. The current drama takes place 200 years before Game of Thrones and 172 years before Daenerys’ birth. It starts with the reign of King Jaehaerys Targaryen and how Viserys I Targaryen was anointed King when both of Jaehaerys’ sons perished.
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While the rejection of the council to recognize a woman, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, as the successor to the Iron Throne led to the decision to crown Viserys as King, Viserys himself was obliged to crown his firstborn, Rhaenyra, as Queen-designate in the lack of a male heir. Continue reading to learn more about Emma D’Arcy, who will play the elder version of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon.
Who is Emma D’Arcy, or the elder Rhaenyra Targaryen?
Emma D’Arcy has yet to appear on HBO’s new drama. In the second episode, titled The Rogue Prince, they will appear as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. D’Arcy was born in London, England, and is an English film, television, and stage actor. Prior to the Game of Thrones spin-off, D’Arcy participated in notable television projects such as Truth Seekers, an Amazon Prime Video horror-comedy series set to premiere in 2020.
Their relationship with Amazon Prime Video grew with the 2019 action series Hanna. In addition, they featured on BBC One and Netflix’s Wanderlust. D’Arcy identifies as non-binary, and House of the Dragons has become one of the rare series featuring a non-binary main actor.
Expectations for Emma D’Arcy in the role of Rhaenyra Targaryen
Milly Alcock established a standard by portraying Rhaenyra in the first episode of House of the Dragon, which concluded with the Princess’ coronation as Queen-designate to the Iron Throne.
As implied by the show’s promos, characters and interpersonal dynamics will evolve with D’Arcy taking charge in the second episode. On social media, for example, both Alcock and Emily Carey have been hailed for their performances as Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower, as well as their on-screen romance. Future episodes, however, will center on the animosity between Rhaenyra, the heir to the throne, and the King’s new bride, Alicent, portrayed by Olivia Cooke. On August 28, ET/6 PM, new episodes of House of the Dragon will be available on HBO and HBO Max. The first episode is now available on Disney+ Hotstar in India.
