Dragon's Reign: Stars Emma D'Arcy & Matt Smith Unpack Season 3's Brutal Iron Throne Cliffhanger

Only two weeks into its return, House of the Dragon Season 3 has delivered numerous shocking developments, particularly in Episode 2. Following the devastating Battle of the Gullet from the premiere, which left many characters' fates uncertain, Episode 2 sees Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) grappling with the profound personal loss of her eldest son, Jacaerys (Harry Collett). With little time for grief, she and Daemon (Matt Smith) make a decisive move on King's Landing, arriving on dragonback. However, their anticipated reception is not what they find. Without Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) or Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) present, a secretly imprisoned Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) is brought forth. The moment, however, feels hollow, especially after Rhaenyra's attempt to execute the former Hand of the King is thwarted by the immediate entrance of Alicent (Olivia Cooke).

Collider had the opportunity to speak with Emma D'Arcy and Matt Smith about their characters' pivotal moments in the initial episodes. D'Arcy reflected on Rhaenyra's raw reaction to being confronted with Jacaerys's body, describing it as a journey through the grief process marked by initial denial. D'Arcy confessed that this was the only scene in the entire series that she