Warning: This article contains spoilers below. House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 3.
Episode 3 House of the Dragon Season 2 unfolded a surprise that even surprised the normally unfazed Prince Daemon Targaryen, played by Matt Smith.
Daemon arrives at the eerie Castle Harrenhal to seize the ancestral seat of House Strong and establish a stronghold in the Riverlands, even though everyone else is very calm and offers no resistance. Rumors have swirled that the now half-ruined tower is haunted ever since his ancestor Aegon Targaryen blasted the fortress with dragonfire from his horse Balerion “The Black Dread” during his conquest of Westeros. As soon as he steps onto the grounds that rainy night, Daemon is plagued by hallucinations and eerie sounds.
One vision in particular sticks in his mind: He is visited by Rhaenyra Targaryen, but not his current wife, played by Emma Darcy. Instead, he sees a young Rhaenyra through actress Milly Alcock. She appears to him while he is tending to the body of Aegon II’s late son, Jaehaerys Targaryen, who was killed by the demon killer Blood and Cheese in the Season 2 premiere.
HBO
Alcock, of course, was the first to play the young Rhaenyra. House of the DragonIn the first five episodes of season one, she co-starred with Emily Carey as a young Alicent Hightower, but in the sixth episode, the story jumped back in time to allow viewers to meet the two characters as adults, with Darcy and Olivia Cooke officially taking over the lead roles.
“It was a no-brainer, will-wise,” says series co-creator Ryan Condal. Entertainment Weekly On a splashy cameo in season 2: “We were excited about the possibility. Millie was excited to come back and we were all excited to have her back.”
Alcock then landed a featured role in Supergirl and is set to appear in Warner Bros.’ upcoming lineup of DC superhero movies, starting with next year’s film. Superman“She’s a very busy woman, so it was a challenge lining up her schedule, but we basically hired her for a few days at the very beginning of production,” Condal said. “I think one of our greatest achievements was keeping it a secret until the very end, even though it was so early on.”
Ollie Upton/HBO
Condal told reporters in 2022 that he had no plans to bring back either Alcock or Carey. House of the Dragon In season two, Damon will appear in season three, but not “close the door on anything,” as this cameo was meant to tell the story of the haunted house for Damon at Harrenhal and allow Damon to confront what he fears most.
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“It’s not about war or dragons or horror, it’s about him being haunted by people who’ve done him wrong in the past, particularly the young Rhaenyra,” Condal explains. “It’s not the older Rhaenyra, played by Emma Darcy, who usurped his throne, but that young girl, who removed him from the line of succession and then was named heir and took his throne. As his story at Harrenhal unfolds, there’s an element of Damon having to confront his past and the choices he’s made and the things he’s done.”
New Episodes House of the Dragon Season 2 will be available every Sunday at 9pm ET/PT on HBO and Max.