Actress Eve Best, who play Princess Rhaenys Targaryen in Disney+’s House of the Dragon series, says she was drawn to the role because of the theme of dismantling patriarchy. The prequel to the Game of Thrones series, House of the Dragon features patriarchy and misogyny as recurring themes in the show.
Best said the following about the story of House of the Dragon and her role as the Princess Rhaenys Targaryen:
The character is officially described as a dragonrider and wife to Lord Corlys Velaryon, and is called “The Queen Who Never Was” because the Great Council favoured her cousin Viserys as heir to the Iron Throne just because he was male, despite her being next in line.
The Disney+ Hotstar show will take viewers deep into the extraordinary world of Westeros and focus on the Targaryen family. As the show takes place 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, dragons are prominently featured in the show and are alive with the Targaryens, as opposed to being extinct.
The show based on based on George R.R. Martin’s book Fire and Blood features themes such as jealousy, lust, the quest for power, betrayal, and rivalries as the Targaryens rule over Westeros and the seven kingdoms with their dragons. These themes will challenge the House and threaten to destroy a dynasty that has ruled unchallenged for a century. The in-fighting will also play a major role in the Targaryen’s downfall – as dragons will be used by warring factions on both sides.
House of the Dragon stars Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Paddy Considine, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, and Sonoya Mizuno.
The show is directed by Miguel Sapochnik, Clare Kilner, Geeta Vasant Patel and Greg Yaitanes with George R. R. Martin, Ryan Condal, and Miguel Sapochnik along with Sara Hess, Vince Gerardis and Ron Schmidt, helming as executive producers.
The 10-episode HBO series House of the Dragon will air on Disney+ Hotstar starting August 22, with new episodes streaming every Monday at 6:30 AM IST on the platform, simulcasting with the American broadcast.