Get ready for more fire, bloodshed and rage
BY CHARLOTTE GRIMWADE, IMAGE BY HOME BOX OFFICE
Production has begun for the second season of Sky’s Game Of Thrones prequel series, House Of The Dragon. Set 200 years before the events covered in Game Of Thrones, the show’s second season will continue to tell the story of House Targaryen.
The co-creator and executive producer of the series, Ryan Condal, stated that “House Of The Dragon has returned […] All your favourite characters will soon be conspiring at the council tables, marching with their armies, and riding their dragons into battle. We can’t wait to share what we have in store.”
Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke and Matt Smith are all staying on in their season one roles. Emma made their mark on House Of The Dragon’s first season playing Princess Rhaenyra, which earned them a Golden Globe nomination. The non-binary actor also went viral on TikTok because of an interview with co-star Olivia where they shared their drink of choice. “A negroni sbagliato… with prosecco in it” was at the forefront of everyone’s minds once HBO featured the snippet on their TikTok page back in October. Quickly the sound became a mainstay on queer TikTok, cementing Emma’s icon status.
In an interview with The Independent, Emma shared that they “really like playing women and I’m really good at it […] my worst-case scenario is that suddenly people tell me what I can and can’t play.” House Of The Dragon is full of strong female characters and even stronger friendships. Emma and Olivia’s characters, Rhaenyra and Alicent, have a tender but complex relationship, which is arguably full of sapphic energy.
It seems that the show is gradually bringing attention to LGBTQIA relationships — Rhaenyra’s strategic marriage to Laenor, allowing the him to secretly pursue his romance with Qarl, demonstrates how representation across the story is slowly improving.
The second season of House Of The Dragon promises more excellent acting from Emma and the rest of the cast. We’re sure to see the consequences of the devastating season finale unfold in the next chapter, and how this impacts the complicated relationship between Rhaenyra and Alicent.
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