In the heart of the fiery battle for the Iron Throne, Rhaenys Targaryen’s story stands out like a gut-wrenching cry from the soul. This powerful matriarch has endured the unthinkable – from being overlooked for the throne to losing her precious children and grappling with the shattering of her sense of direction. And yet, even as Westeros burns around her, Rhaenys remains a shining example of complexity and depth.
Rhaenys’ choice of not nuking everybody down
Eve Best shares her insights on a crucial moment from Season 1. Remember when Rhaenys had the chance to unleash dragon fire and destroy everything in her path during her escape? Well, Best reveals that Rhaenys’ decision to hold back was a deliberate choice that speaks volumes about her character’s nobility. Having witnessed the atrocities of war firsthand, Rhaenys knows all too well the devastating consequences of giving in to her impulses and choosing not to wreak havoc. Eve Best in an interview with Variety mentions,
“She had to do it. I think she knows that she has to sacrifice herself for the team. Another journalist described her as Lancelot, Rhaenyra’s Lancelot, in many ways. I felt like that was very apt. There’s such a deep reluctance. In the end of Season 1, she makes that conscious decision not to start a war, not to nuke everybody. Everyone ever since has been saying, “Why didn’t you nuke them?” Everybody’s taking it personal, and she’s all the time looking at the bigger picture. All the time rising up, putting the personal aside, and rising above.”
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Unpacking Rhaenys’ Emotional Journey
Eve Best, embarked on an intense emotional journey to portray her character’s complex state. She worked closely with director Alan Taylor to ensure that Rhaenys’ emotions were accurately conveyed. She saw Rhaenys as a noble warrior, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good. Eve Best describes this moment as Rhaenys’ “last stand of the noble warrior,” a samurai-like decision to turn back and plunge into the fray. By shouldering this burden, Rhaenys emerges as a tragic hero, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect others.
“Which was a very, very intense journey for her. That was challenging, to try and hold onto that. I spoke with [episode director] Alan Taylor. We’d had a session where we talked about what was going on with her emotions, because I felt very strongly that there were these really important beats that we needed to mark. In particular, the knowledge of the fact that it’s very likely a kamikaze mission. It has to be, because effectively, she’s starting a nuclear war, and she has been the one character throughout who’s done everything she can to stop them.”
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