The primary episode of “Home of the Dragon,” which premiered Aug. 21, opens with a flashback to earlier than Viserys (Paddy Considine) turns into king. What’s occurring within the montage is defined in a voice-over, however it’s a bit of complicated at first simply who’s talking.
Earlier than the theme music, the speaker reveals herself to be Princess Rhaenyra, Viserys’s daughter. If the character’s voice sounds a bit of totally different than the individual viewers meet quickly after, that is as a result of the scene is narrated by the older model of Rhaenyra, performed by Emma D’Arcy. Episode one stars the youthful model of the character, performed by Milly Alcock.
Why is Rhaenyra chosen to be the narrator for that scene? It is smart given the occasions she’s narrating, which led to her father taking the throne. As she explains, King Jaehaerys I noticed the dying of each his heirs, his sons Aemon and Baelon, and he wanted to call another person from the Targaryen household to succeed him. The 2 folks left with one of the best claims to the throne have been Rhaenys (Eve Finest), Aemon’s daughter, and Viserys, Baelon’s son. Many thought Rhaenys’s declare was stronger, since her father had been the firstborn son, however others thought the realm may by no means be dominated by a lady. Jaehaerys, attempting to keep away from a civil conflict over the difficulty, determined to name a Nice Council to resolve who could be the inheritor. All of the lords of Westeros voted, and Viserys gained by a landslide.
Rhaenys’s defeat is a lesson in regards to the sexism the ladies of Westeros face — even when they’re Targaryens. On the finish of episode one, Rhaenyra’s father names her his inheritor, and all of the lords swear their fealty. However does that imply she’ll actually grow to be queen? Viewers must wait and see.
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