Ewan Mitchell and Gayle Rankin created Aemond Targaryen and Alys Rivers’ intense connection by building their chemistry before cameras started rolling for House of the Dragon Season 3. Their unusual bond in Episode 5 feels layered because the actors spent time understanding their characters together before stepping onto set.
Gayle Rankin shared that she was nervous about working with Mitchell and suggested rehearsing beforehand, while Mitchell agreed, helping them create a shared understanding that made their scenes more flexible and daring.
Quick read:
- Gayle Rankin asked Ewan Mitchell for pre-shoot rehearsals.
- Their preparation helped shape Aemond and Alys’ unpredictable bond.
- Episode 5 explores trust between two deeply wounded characters.
Ewan Mitchell and Gayle Rankin built trust before filming
Photograph by Theo Whiteman/HBO
Aemond and Alys’ relationship quickly became one of the most talked-about parts of House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 5. Their connection carries a strange balance of suspicion and comfort because both characters are outsiders carrying personal burdens. Before filming their scenes together, Gayle Rankin wanted to create a stronger foundation with Mitchell. On the House of the Dragon Season 3 Official Podcast, she explained:
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“I remember being nervous about it… And so I was like, ‘Hey, should we, um… Should we meet before and, like, rehearse and, like, talk about it and stuff?’ And Ewan very sweetly obliged.”
That preparation helped the actors find the rhythm between Alys’ mysterious nature and Aemond’s guarded personality. Episode 5 places Aemond in a vulnerable position after losing Vhagar and dealing with nightmares, injuries, and family betrayal. Alys becomes someone who can approach him without fear.
The choice to rehearse before filming appears to have helped Mitchell and Rankin avoid making their scenes feel forced. Their interactions carry hesitation, curiosity, and emotional tension because both performers understood what their characters needed from each other.
House of the Dragon chemistry shaped Aemond and Alys
Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO
The connection between Aemond and Alys depends heavily on trust. Aemond rarely allows others to see his weaknesses, while Alys remains someone who hides her own intentions behind calm confidence. Rankin explained that their early rehearsals gave them a creative foundation:
“I think it gave us a bit of a bedrock of, like, a shared language. And so, you know, when we go on to set, like… rehearsals were, um… We could be so much more playful and risky.”
That shared preparation helped the pair explore the unpredictable nature of their characters. When Aemond reaches for comfort after learning about Vhagar’s absence, Alys becomes the first person he allows close enough to see his pain.
This pairing caught me off guard because Aemond has spent so much of the series trying to appear untouchable. Watching him depend on someone like Alys adds a new layer to his character, while also making viewers question whether her intentions are truly compassionate or connected to her own ambitions at Harrenhal.
Their relationship could become a major turning point in Season 3 because both characters understand loneliness in ways few others do. The actors’ preparation gave this complicated bond a stronger emotional foundation, and that makes every conversation between them worth watching.
Also Read: An “instinctual” connection explains why Aemond Targaryen finally trusted Alys Rivers
