House of the Dragon may put women at the forefront of its story but that doesn’t mean it shies away from the way in which patriarchy, misogyny, and violence can impact them.
Author George R. R. Martin has previously defended the show against accusations of sexism, suggesting that “history” is more “misogynistic” and it is because he draws on historical events that his work may appear sexist to some.
‘House of the Dragon’ Star Milly Alcock Addresses Misogyny in HBO Show
Milly Alcock, who portrays Rhaenyra Targaryen in her younger years, also addressed the portrayal of misogyny in House of the Dragon in an interview with Newsweek.
Referencing the friendship between her character and Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey, later Olivia Cooke) and the way in which its downfall leads to the Dance of the Dragons in Martin’s books, Alcock saidf that the themes of misogyny and patriarchy were necessary to explore.
“I think [their friendship is] really central to the main themes of the show, which is patriarchy and misogyny,” Alcock told Newsweek. “Because ultimately we explore this very nuanced relationship [and the] internalized misogyny that these two women are forced to combat, but ultimately the demise of their friendship is by choices made by men.
“And because they’re not in the modern world that we live in, they don’t have a word for that, they don’t have an understanding for what [the] struggle they are facing is, that it is ultimately everything within the show.”
Ollie Upton/HBO
Once good friends, Rhaenyra and Alicent’s bond becomes fraught when Rhaenyra’s father chooses to make Alicent his second wife, and, in Martin’s books, the pair later become rivals after King Viserys I’s death when Alicent tries to contest Rhaenyra’s right to the Iron Throne and feels that instead her eldest son should rule.
House of the Dragon also shows violence against women in multiple ways, but it is particularly noticeable in the show’s premiere episode when King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) forces his wife Aemma Arryn (Sian Brooke) to have a cesarean without her consent, an act that results in her death.
In less overtly violent ways, the show also addresses the lack of faith in women as leaders, with Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) being passed up for the throne in favor of her male cousin, and Rhaenyra later having to navigate her feelings as the people of Westeros believe she won’t be a capable ruler.
“I think that the show isn’t trying to recontextualize Westeros into this suddenly very feminine landscape, because it’s not, and it won’t be,” Alcock said when asked about the show’s treatment of its female characters, and its violence against women.
“I think that it’s done a wonderful job of being honest about the pain that these women suffered, and it ultimately makes the audience empathize with that,” Alcock added. “And I think that is a stronger narrative as opposed to kind of not paying respects to the amount of pain [they’ve gone through] and disregarding that these women were kind of put into place and had to deal with [that pain].”
Being ‘Captivated’ By Rhaenyra but Disliking Her Dragon-Riding Scenes
Alcock portrays Rhaenyra in the first half of the season, with Emma D’Arcy set to take over the role when the character is in her adult years.
She shared how much she enjoyed playing the dragon rider, saying: “She’s an incredible character, she’s very lovable in the way that she moves throughout the world and I think that we see her ultimately completely transformed into this adult throughout the series.
“I was captivated, captivated by her, her bravery and her intelligence, and I was honestly a bit intimidated to play someone like that, because I don’t want to f**k it up.”
Despite enjoying playing the Targaryen, Alcock didn’t enjoy the scenes that would see her do what they do best: Dragon riding.
“Honestly, it wasn’t my favorite because you’re alone, you’re alone on a sound stage, kind of hoisted into the air and bopping about trying to figure out what to do with your face,” Alcock admitted when discussing filming scenes where Rhaenyra rides her dragon, Syrax.
“It was a weird experience, [I’m] never gonna do it again. It was kind of like a ride, like a kid’s ride,” Alcock said. “Not even a ride, you know, those little machines outside some shopping centers and you put coins in? That was it was like.”
For Alcock, getting to speak High Valyrian, one of the languages spoken in Martin’s books that is the favored language of the Targaryens, was more enjoyable.
“I always describe it as trying to learn a song in another language, it’s ultimately you just want to know it without thinking about what you’re saying, and learning what we say in English. It was a lot of fun, I enjoyed that a lot more than the dragons,” she said.
On Creating Her Own Narrative for Rhaenyra and Emma D’Arcy Taking Over
Alcock plays Rhaenyra while she is a teen, during the time in which her father, King Viserys I, chooses her to be his heir rather than his brother Prince Daemon (Matt Smith).
The show charts several years over the course of the season before later making a time jump when Emma D’Arcy takes over the role from Alcock.
Ollie Upton/HBO
While making the show, Alcock had her own way of referring to the episodes to represent the way in which Rhaenyra felt during her adolescence.
“I titled each episode and I think that it is accurate of an adolescent hormonal landscape that happens,” Alcock said. “The first one was tragedy, then betrayal, rage, lust and acceptance. That was how I kind of got myself back into each episode and [thought] what was her core emotional state within that?
“In [episode] one, her life falls apart from being part of massive tragedy, and three she’s just angsty as f**k, and four she’s kind of rebelling, four was rebel [not lust], and five she kind of learns how to play the game, but by her own rules.”
Alcock went on to admit that “there wasn’t any conversation” between her or her successor, D’Arcy, because the showrunners did not want the actors, Carey and Cooke included, to influence each other’s approach to their characters.
“[We] just had to trust that that was the right decision to make […] I’ve seen Emma and Olivia’s performance and I think that they’re phenomenal and they bring such a nuance to it and awaken the maturity that I couldn’t have translated onto the screen,” Alcock said. “So I think it kind of benefited us in a way that we didn’t have to think about anything that came [after], it was just pure performance because the casting was just incredible.”
Although D’Arcy is taking over the character that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the end for Alcock, at least, in her mind she’d be open to returning to the show.
“I adore Rhaenyra and I adore the cast and I adore the way that they’ve told this story, so, you know, if they would have me I’d love to come back,” Alcock said when asked about the possibility of reprising the role in future. “But I know that Emma’s going to continue Rhaenyra’s journey for the next season or whatever.
“So I don’t really want to take away from that performance or anything, you know what I mean? I have to give her up in a way.”
House of the Dragon airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.
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