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The epic saga ofHouse of the Dragonhas captivated audiences’ attention with its rich storytelling, notable cast showcasing complex characters, and political drama that continues theGame of Throneslegacy. However, the prequel seriesdecided to takea bold approach in the sixth episode, taking itsbiggesttime jump, leaping ten years into the future. That move left fans puzzled as several characterswere recastincludingthe lead role of Rhaenyra Targaryen.
In the first five episodes, Milly Alcock portrayed the rolebutEmma D’Arcy eventually stepped in toportraythe older version of the lead character. The sudden switch faced criticism from a segment of the fanbase. However, this situation was something that their co-star, MattSmithunderstood better than anything.
Matt Smith Reflected on Why Emma D’Arcy Received Fans’ Hate for Their Work inHouse of the Dragon
House of the Dragonhas quickly become a sensationwithseveral factors contributing to the same, be it its rich source material or compelling storytelling. However, fans had a mixed reaction when the franchise took its time loop way too far- slipping10yearsin the sixth episode.
“Loads of stuff”: House of the Dragon Star Emma D’Arcy Won’t Reveal Emilia Clarke’s Advice to Them Before Taking on the Targaryen Princess Role
Thisaffected fans to get a complete makeover of the show, as several characters were completely different from what they looked earlierincludingPrincess Rhaenyra Targaryen. Initially portrayed by Milly Alcock,Emma D’Arcyfinally took over the role from her.
However,fans were already usedto watching the former in the role as the character got more complex with the narrative progression.
Their performancewas a new concept for fans, garnering mixed reactions, leaving them confused about the hate.However, her co-star, Matt Smith, who playsRhaenyra’s uncle/lover Daemon Targaryen, fully understood that D’Arcy had big shoes to fill.
TheWanderlustactor told theIndependent,
I had a nice chat with Matt the other day, and he said it’s like the Doctor Who curse. You’ve got to regenerate. And yeah, unfortunately, Rhaenyra is going to completely changebodyand face in a couple of hours.
Smith is no stranger to the time-loop concept thanks to his work inThe CrownandDoctor Who, where actors switch out to play the same character.
Emma D’Arcy Reflected on Stepping into Milly Alcock’s Shoes to Portray Older Rhaenyra Targaryen
Transitioning from one actor to another within a role can be a complicated process, especially when the character in the subject is one of the fan favorites. Succeeding Milly Alcock to portray the character in her older years, was met with mixed responses, which they knew would not be an easy path.
They reflected in the same interview,
It’s complicated, isn’t it? It’s a difficult point at which to meet an audience. They only get me when they lose Milly, so they meet me in a place of grief, of losing someone they just spent five hours with. I’m… I’m well aware of that.
As to why this major time-lap happened, it has a pretty good reason. Season 1 showrunners, Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik had no interest in dragging the show for years to depict the events of theDance of the Dragonon-screen.
“Trying to get her to sit on top of the stupid dragon”: Game of Thrones Had to ‘Deform’ Emilia Clarke’s Legs in Many Scenes and House of the Dragon May be Facing a Similar Issue With Emma D’Arcy
However, they needed to showcase the conflict that built up the tension toward a terrible civil war between Rhaenyra’s Blacks and Queen Alicent Hightower’s Greens. Since, Season 2 will focus on the Dance, Season 1 needed to showcase Targaryen’s background and the stirring tension between the older characters.
House of the Dragonis available on HBO.
Priya Sharma
Articles Published :1321
Priya Sharma, Senior Content Writer and Social Media Manager at FandomWire and Animated Times. Having graduated in Journalism and Mass Communication, she possesses extensive expertise in crafting engaging and informative content. She has written over 2000 articles across Animated Times and FandomWire on pop culture, showing her dedication to delivering diverse and trending content to readers across the world. Apart from pop culture, she is quite enthusiastic about the Hallyu culture and is exploring the world of anime, expanding the horizons of her knowledge.
