House of the Dragon stars Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke have opened up about the potential for a ‘Red Wedding’ moment in season 2, giving their verdict on the possibility.
For the TV fans who’ve been obsessed with Game of Thrones ever since the original series launched in 2011, they’re more than used to the gore and horror ingrained into the world of Westeros.
That same level of violence has carried through to House of the Dragon, which is days away from returning with its epic second season, following the intensifying battle between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma), Alicent Hightower (Olivia), their families and their dragons.
Metro.co.uk recently had the chance to speak to Emma, 31, and Olivia, 30, during which we brought up the fact that somehow, it’s been 11 years since the ‘Red Wedding’ episode of Game of Thrones was released.
In case anyone needs reminding, the Red Wedding takes place in the season three finale, in an infamous episode titled The Rains of Castamere.
While attending a wedding, joy turns to horror when Robb Stark (Richard Madden), his mother Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) and his pregnant wife Talisa Stark (Oona Chaplin) are brutally slain by Roose Bolton (Michael McElhatton) and the Freys.
It might have been more than a decade since the harrowing episode aired, but it still goes down as one of the most shocking moments in TV history.
So could there be an event in the new season of House of the Dragon that’s comparable to that level of terror?
‘That was really shocking when I watched it,’ Olivia said, regarding the Red Wedding.
Emma then referenced House of the Dragon executive producer Miguel Sapochnik, who was co-showrunner of the drama for season one, and who directed several key episodes of Game of Thrones, including Battle of the Bastards and Hardhome.
‘I remember you coming in, or I remember you speaking to Miguel. You watched it the night before,’ the Rhaenyra actor recalled to their co-star.
‘I think I shouted at him,’ Olivia recollected, while Emma said that the Red Wedding ‘really stuck with me’.
Emphasising just how much of an impact the Red Wedding had on audiences – killing off several of the protagonists of the biggest show on TV at that time – the Alicent star continued: ‘I just couldn’t believe that you could do something like that with beloved characters, but like more than one. Like oh my god, half of the cast has just been just decimated. It was really shocking.’
Drawing possible parallels to House of the Dragon, she added: ‘I don’t know if there’s anything like… there is really shocking moments, but I am desensitised to it because we’ve lived in this world for so long. So I don’t know.’
Emma then chimed in to give their four-word assessment, stating: ‘It’s a violent series.’
Could this be a hint that House of the Dragon is on its way to surpassing Game of Thrones with its level of brutality?
Given that Team Green and Team Black are on the edge of a precipice with all-out war on the horizon, we’d say it’s safe to assume that a lot more violence is indeed just around the corner.
House of the Dragon season 2 premieres on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Monday June 17.
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