Home of the Dragon's Solid and Crew Dig Into Episode 4's Surprising Ending

How are all of us feeling after “The Pink Dragon and the Gold“? Episode 4 of Home of the Dragon provided a searing reminder that irrespective of how badass or seemingly irreplaceable a personality could also be, they might nonetheless meet a horrible finish at any second. It’s a lesson Sport of Thrones followers have been studying and re-learning since Ned Stark parted methods along with his head in season certainly one of that present—and now, with this week’s full-on escalation into dragon-powered warfare, Home of the Dragon, which has already racked up fairly a physique depend in season two, has gone and offed certainly one of its core solid members.

In a brand new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Home of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal, who dubbed episode 4’s Battle of Rook’s Relaxation the present’s first “nuclear battle;” episode director Alan Taylor; and solid members together with Eve Greatest talked concerning the dragon-on-dragon brawl that ended with Greatest’s character, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, and her dragon, Meleys, assembly horrible deaths. Meleys has her neck chomped by the a lot bigger Vhagar—and when she perishes, Rhaenys takes a doomed plunge from a really nice peak. It’s a poignant second particularly since Rhaenys was one of many few Home of the Dragon characters with that all-too-rare uncommon mixture of knowledge, expertise, and integrity; Crew Black goes to really feel her loss proper together with the present’s followers.

Rhaenys’ determination to show again after seemingly making a getaway mid-battle—you must love that little look she shares with Meleys once they resolve to re-enter the fray—is a callback to a key second on the finish of season one, based on Taylor. “It goes approach again to … her determination to not toast the Greens when she might have, and to the dying of her grandson [Elliot Grihault’s Lucerys Velaryon] by the hands of this very beast. She has to return in,” the director informed the journal.

Greatest agreed, and admired her character’s courageous selection. “The honorable factor is that she might have escaped, after which she’s like, ‘No, we’ve bought to return.’ As a result of there’s the potential to finish it,” she informed EW. “I feel she is aware of she’s going again to die, however she has to attempt as a result of if Vhagar might be taken down, then it’s finished. It’s cauterized. The potential for nuclear warfare is reduce down.”

Greatest additionally shared her emotions about Rhaenys accepting her destiny—and the “stunning” high quality she brings to the second. “It was a second of complete give up and letting go of every little thing she’d been carrying for 2 seasons: by no means, ever letting anyone see any of her ache, any of her anguish, any of her concern, any of her vulnerability, and simply being this rock of knowledge and charm and stoicism and goodness and badassery on the similar time. I feel for her to lastly let go was probably the most great aid.” (In response to Taylor, photographs of Rhaenys useless on the bottom have been filmed however finally reduce, which feels just like the extra sleek selection). Shifting ahead, Greatest is aware of Crew Black goes to dearly really feel her character’s absence: “They’re going to be actually screwed with out her,” she stated.

Head to EW to learn extra from Home of the Dragon‘s staff, together with some fascinating insights into the technical and bodily efforts that went into filming these “dragon dogfights.” New episode of Home of the Dragon arrive Sundays on HBO and Max.

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