Season 2 of the highly anticipated series House Of The Dragon is quickly approaching, and fans are eager to see how the dynamic between Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy, Wanderlust) and Alicent (Olivia Cooke, Slow Horses) will continue to unfold. Nerdophiles chatted with showrunner Ryan Condal (Colony) to discuss the challenges of how this central relationship will play out, in addition to where Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans, Notting Hill) stands as the season progresses. Check out our conversation here:
On how Rhaenyra & Alicent’s power struggle, Condal said: “Their background demonstrates that this is a show about these two women and their struggle and experience to exist as privileged women with power in a patriarchal society. That was the promise we set out in episode one of the series. And I think that is a large part of the narrative’s central theme as we progress through the show. We can see the connective tissue that began back in the days when they were children in the Red Keep and their fathers were king and the hand in power. Those things will continue to ripple and resonate throughout the series.”
On how physical distance plays into Rhaenyra & Alicient’s relationship, Condal told us: “The challenge now is that Alicient and Rhaenyra are literally on different islands. Rhaenyra is on an island in Dragonstone, and Alicient is walled up in the Red Keep. There isn’t as much natural opportunity for them to interact as there certainly was in season one. So the trick with this narrative is to make it feel like their stories communicate and interact, even though they’re not in physical proximity.”
Condal continued: “Part of the way we play with location this season is through Daemon (Matt Smith, Doctor Who). Daemon takes action based on Rhaenyra’s order in episode one, and it directly impacts Alicient’s life, as we see at the end of episode one, which will carry into her response in episode two. So that’s a way of making those narratives communicate. And there are other things we’ve done sort of cinematically, I think, through the way the show is cut and presented, where you can connect Rhaenyra and Alicient, even though, again, they’re not in physical proximity, by, you know, telling a story on Alicient’s side and then cutting from Alicient’s face to seeing the things that she is struggling and going through, and seeing what, you know, what Rhaenyra is struggling going through on Dragonstone.”
On Otto Hightower’s future, Condal shared: “Let’s all just give a great hand to Rhys Ifans and his portrayal of Otto Hightower. I just told him when the season wrapped, I could listen to him read a breakfast menu, and I’d find it compelling. He’s just such a fantastic actor. And I mean, I’m excited for the audience to see the dynamic shift in the Red Keep with Otto in a position different from the one we’re used to him being in. His absence and lack of voice on the council will affect everybody, but as to where his story goes, I think audiences will have to stay tuned and see what happens. Otto Hightower has gotten a number of severance packages from the Red Keep High Command!”
If there’s one thing we’re looking forward to, it’s the suspense, drama, and unexpected turns that House of the Dragon is known to provide!
Check Out The Season 2 Premiere Of House Of The Dragon Tonight, Only on HBO!
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