House of the Dragon star Emma D’Arcy explains Rhaenyra’s decision to fly off on Syrax at the end of season 2, episode 6. After an acclaimed season 1, the hit Game of Thrones spinoff returned for season 2 earlier this summer, bringing the war between the Greens and Blacks into full swing. After the intense events of episodes 4 and 5, the House of the Dragon season 2 episode 6 ending sees Rhaenyra become more of an active participant in the conflict, flying off on Syrax when news of an unknown dragon-rider reaches her.
In a recent interview with Variety, D’Arcy, who uses they/them pronouns, explains Rhaenyra’s House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6, decision. According to the star, the possibility of this new dragon-rider being allied with Rhaenyra’s enemies leaves her no other choice. Check out their comments below:
Wonderfully, I don’t know that she sees any other course of action. I feel that this is one of those moments in the escalating civil war that, depending on who is riding that dragon, it could mark the end of their campaign. I suppose we’re already in a space of great extremity. If someone allied to the Greens has taken that dragon, then I think the odds are stacked so appallingly against Rhaenyra and her allies I wonder if her need for self-protection goes out of the window, anyway.
House Of The Dragon Season 2 Episode 6 Teases Major Dragon Conflicts To Come
Who Seasmoke’s New Rider Is
In the world of House of the Dragon, dragons are treated essentially as weapons of mass destruction. Deploying these dragons on the field of battle inflicts large numbers of casualties, and dragons being present at the Battle of Rook’s Rest in season 2, episode 4, is what essentially kicks the war between the Greens and the Blacks into high gear. Whichever side controls more dragons in the war could be a deciding factor in who ends up victorious in the Dance of Dragons.
Rhanyra and team Black have numerous dragons at their disposal, but no riders, so their main objective in House of the Dragon season 2 episode 6 is to find suitable riders. Ser Steffon Darklyn (Anthony Flanagan) emerges as a key contender in the most recent episode, but Seasmoke ultimately rejects him, burning him alive. The episode ends, however, with Seasmoke choosing Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) as his rider. Rhaenyra beleive the new rider to be of the Greens, but Addam being a Velaryon suggests she’s actually gained a crucial new ally.
Seasmoke may now be claimed, but Vermithor and Silverwing remain without riders. If Rhaenyra can find other Velaryon riders for these beasts, she could build a force strong enough to challenge the Blacks and, specifically, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) on Vhagar, the largest dragon of them all. It remains to be seen what Addam and Seasmoke’s role will be in the House of the Dragon episodes to come, but a significant clash of dragons is evidently on the horizon.
New episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 release on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.