The eighth episode of Game of Thrones prequel House of The Dragon was special in many ways. Not only did it feature the last time jump of the series, with the kids all growing up right before the Dance of the Dragons, but it was also emotionally one of the strongest episodes. Fans and critics are in awe of Paddy Considine and Matt Smith’s performances in the throne room in King’s Landing, where Paddy’s King Viserys musters all his strength to walk to the Iron Throne, while his brother Daemon, played by Matt, helps him up on the throne as he struggles to catch his breath.
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There is one moment in particular that has been admired by viewers for adding an extra layer of depth to the emotions flowing between the two brothers. On the steps to the Iron Throne, when Viserys gets exhausted and drops his crown, Daemon comes forward to help his brother, placing the crown on his head as he helps him sit on the throne. This tear-inducing performance was actually improvised, something that the fans hailed as the best scene of the entire episode.
Considine recalled in a recent interview how he convinced director Geeta Patel to keep the scene, “I’ve worked with directors who would not see that as a moment. We [Considine & Matt Smith] were both kinda saying, ‘That’s gotta stay in, that’s an incredible moment.’ And just to make sure that it stayed in, I made sure that it fell off every single time.”
He also praised the director for her eye for detail, “Every nuance I put into it, she picked it out, and I was just so grateful.”
What did you think of Viserys’ last walk? Tell us in the comments below!
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