House of the Dragon star Emma D’Arcy has offered up some clarity for those left feeling slightly confused by THAT sex scene with Rhaenyra and Daemon back in episode four.
D’Arcy will be replacing Milly Alcock as Rhaenyra as the character ages up in episode six onwards, and says they feel ‘well aware’ of the pressure in store as the baton is passed on.
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“It’s complicated, isn’t it?” the actor told the Independent.
“It’s a difficult point at which to meet an audience. They only get me when they lose Milly, so they meet me in a place of grief, of losing someone they just spent five hours with.”
D’Arcy, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, also went on to discuss a romantic storyline they’re inheriting from Alcock’s Rhaenyra, who was seen getting frisky with her uncle Daemon (Matt Smith) at the local brothel – much to the stomach-churning surprise of many viewers.
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The pair started kissing and stripping off, but just as Rhaenyra pulled her trousers down, a frustrated Daemon had a sudden epiphany and stopped himself from following through, bolting immediately after.
While it was clear that the two had allowed themselves to become intimate, just how close they got wasn’t exactly clear, with fans divided on whether or not the duo had actually had sex.
Offering up their take on the matter, D’Arcy explained: “My takeaway was that he couldn’t follow through. It’s very much open to interpretation, but I think impotence is a big theme with Daemon, so that’s my read on it.”
D’Arcy said they picked up on the chemistry not long after picking up the script, recalling: “I suppose I read the sexual tension on the page from quite early.
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“This isn’t something I know a lot about, but I do know that something very electric and erotic can happen between people who share genetic material and don’t grow up together.”
The actor also said there’s always something ‘exciting and dangerous’ about bad boy figures like Daemon, especially when you are young.
They added: “He offers Rhaenyra new horizons, and I don’t know about you, but I find that a deeply attractive quality in a person.”
UK viewers can catch House of the Dragon on Sky Atlantic and NOW, while the show will be available in the US on HBO and HBO Max.
Topics: House of the Dragon, TV and Film
Jess Hardiman