Warner Media released several new stills from House of the Dragon (photographed by Ollie Upton), offering us tantalizing hints at relationships between characters and story continuity.
Several photos are of Rhaenyra wearing the same gold dress as she serves wines to the Small Council and meets Daemon alone (except, of course, for her protector, Ser Harrold Westerling) in the throne room, implying that these scenes take place on the same day (TV characters never wear the same dress twice. It is known).
In the first small council still, from left to right, we can see Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), perhaps as Master of Ships (although Lord Tyland Lannister, played by Jefferson Hall, is supposed to have that role at this point); Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), Hand of the King; Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock), cupbearer to the king; King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine); and Ser Ryam Redwyne (Garry Cooper), Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Though the rest have their backs to us, we can just make out they are, again from left to right: Lord Lyman Beesbury (Bill Paterson), Master of Coin; Mellos (David Horovitch), the old Grand Maester; and Lord Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes), Master of Laws.
Also, the look on Viserys’ face melts my heart!
Young Alicent (Emily Carey) stands in front of some … interesting tapestry art.
Otto Hightower attends [redacted]’s funeral. To his right, in the background, we get a clearer view of Lord Lyman Beesbury and Grand Maester Mellos.
We get a wide shot of the scene in which Viserys tells Rhaenyra “the throne is the most dangerous seat in the realm.” I also like this idea that the Targaryens display their dragon skulls in the exact same manor they display their statues of the Seven.
Graham McTavish looks dashing as the helmet-less Lord Commander, Harrold Westerling.
Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Daemon (Matt Smith) walk along the beach. From our glimpse of this scene in trailers, I’d assumed this was shot as day-for-night (scenes that are filmed during the day and later color corrected to take place at nighttime). But now that we can see the pale blue sky and clouds above them, I’m wondering if this just takes place in very, very early morning?
Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). Love him or hate him, there he is.
Daemon Targaryen addresses the Kingsguard.
Otto Hightower and Alicent (Emily Carey) talk. At first, I thought this was from the scene in which Otto tells his daughter, “We play an ugly game. You have the determination to win it.” However, Alicent’s dresses don’t match.
Alicent in a green dress. Rhaenyra in a black dress.
Alicent attends a Small Council meeting (note the weird marble on the plate if you’re unsure of the setting), set years after the earlier one. That’s Ser Harrold Westerling as Lord Command of the Kingsguard in the background, and the new Grand Maester, Orwyle, to the right, played by Kurt Egyiawan.
Rhaenys (Eve Best) and Corlys Velaryon attend the ceremony in which Viserys names Rhaenyra his heir and the Lords of Westeros pledge fealty.
Another pic of Rhaenys and Corlys during a tourney. Rhaenys’ dress is almost identical to the one she’s wearing in the above still, but the necklines aren’t quite the same. We can see Ser Harrold to the left, alongside the Velaryon kids. To the right, a sullen King Viserys.
A picture says a thousands words. I have nothing to add.
Finally, released separately through HBO Max’s social media, we have this still of Emily Carey and Milly Alcock talking to director and co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik between takes:
A lady on one of the channels about costumes had noted that young Rhaenyra’s dress was rather tight and puckered over the bust. I must admit that as a layperson I hadn’t remarked that myself. Other than that, to my mind, the pictures look nice. I’ve not read the source book so I’m not getting my undies in a knot because Corys Valeryon isn’t played by a pale pink person.
In the 3 years since GoT finished the channel ‘Secrets of the Citadel’ seems to have disappeared or else the lady has made her videos private. At my age I don’t always want a ‘deep dive’ but she made some thought-provoking videos about GoT/ASOIAF. The ‘Is Winter Coming?’ and ‘History Behind Game of Thrones’ websites have gone too. I watched a couple of ‘deep dives’ about Daenerys on a channel called ‘David Lightbringer’ recently; the channel has been around for some time, just that I wasn’t aware of it.
Thanks for your work providing these articles lately, Petra, you have been a busy bee.
Hi Petra!
Fabulous job as usual. So early in the day too!
Quick question though:
“Finally, released separately through HBO Max’s social media, we have this still of Olivia Cooke and Emily Alcock talking to director and co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik between takes.”
Isn’t that Emily Carey (Young Alicent)? And Milly Alcock?
Ten Bears,
Yeah. I’m guessing the same thing happened to her as when I tried to correct it- autocorrect changed Milly to Emily. I had to force it to Milly.
Okay I’m just going to come right out and say it- they’re selling the Alicent-Rhaenyra cute angle and it feels queerbaity.
Young Rhaenyra especially looks adorable to me but both girls look really cute 🙂 Everybody looks great!
Ten Bears,
That was my mistake. Don’t know how that happened!
No need for serious spoilers but what’s up with Criston Cole? I can barely remember the character from reading the book unlike Otto Hightower or the Sea Snake who stuck in my memory.