Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3, “The Burning Mill.”
Summary
Milly Alcock makes a surprise return inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 3, “The Burning Mill,” which can hopefully lead to something even bigger.Alcock’s return as Rhaenyra Targaryencame as a vision to her uncle/husband, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), at Harrenhal, with him seemingly under the influence of a spell or potion from Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin).
Having played the role of Rhaenyra inHouse of the Dragonseason 1’s first five episodes, it hadn’t been expected that Alcock would reprise the part in season 2. However, the return did make a lot of sense, sinceit was her version of Rhaenra that Daemon needed to be confronted with. The end result was one of the best scenes inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 3, and something that could be built upon in future weeks.
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Milly Alcock’s House Of The Dragon Return Was Brilliant
Young Rhaenyra’s Appearance Was More Than Just Fan Service
I loved seeing Alcock come back inHouse of the Dragon. That’s not intended as any kind of disrespect to Emma D’Arcy, who is absolutely phenomenal in the role, has made it their own, and perfectly embodies Rhaenyra. But it’s more becauseAlcock was so crucial in developing the character and making me care about her to begin with, and while the recastings did work, they were also a little abrupt, and it felt like there was a lack of closure for Alcock’s version of the character.
Her return is very well-deserved, and better bridges the two versions of Rhaenyra. The reason for that is Daemon - he comes to Harrenhal after an explosive fight with D’Arcy’s character, and then has to experience a vision of Alcock’s. Andit’s only through seeing the younger Rhaenyra that he can process his emotions- how he’s been hurt, how he made mistakes and actually regrets them - which means that’s the only way he can fix his marriage with the present day Rhaenyra.
…The way it’s done in House of the Dragon is very clever, because it’s so loaded with meaning for Daemon and should have an impact on his arc…
Alcock’s cameo could just have easily been fan-service, and it is to an extent - I am a fan, and am serviced by it - and that itself isn’t inherently a good or bad thing, depending on the execution. But the way it’s done inHouse of the Dragonis very clever, because it’s so loaded with meaning for Daemon and should have an impact on his arc, as well as being a suitably creepy, unsettling scene in its own right.
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House Of The Dragon Needs Paddy Considine Back As King Viserys After Alcock’s Return
No One Is More Important To Daemon’s Story
Now that former members ofHouse of the Dragon’s castare an option for season 2 visions, there’s one who needs to return above all others: Paddy Considine as Viserys. I don’t want this to become too much of a revolving door where everyone just returns, but following on from Alcock, there’s no one else who’d be as meaningful as Considine, becauseDaemon’s story is all about Viserys.
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Everything with Daemon stems from his relationship with his brother - his perceived slights, the fact he didn’t become King, the lack of affection and attention he so long wanted for, and the loss of the person who, despite all of that, was still one of the few people he was remotely close to.Viserys - through actions he actually committed and wrongs imagined - has led to a lot of resentment and anger within Daemon, but also grief and a sense of loss he hasn’t really processed.
Seeing Considine back would absolutely be welcome. For me, his was the best performance inHouse of the Dragonseason 1, so perfectly capturing the tragedy of the character, the weight upon him, his complexities, darker sides, and humor as well. Given the narrative and thematic reasons for his return, I’d love to see him come back in a cameo now.
New episodes ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2 release Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and Max.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
