House of the Dragon director admits one of show's greatest scenes was totally improvised
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Warning: This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon episode eight.
A poignant scene in episode eight of our new favourite series was entirely improvised.
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Look, there's a lot to unpack from episode eight of House of the Dragon.
Most importantly - stop giving your kids the same names - and secondly, one of the best scenes in the episode happened by accident.
The episode sees a sick Viserys (Paddy Considine) ascend the Iron Throne with his brother Daemon (Matt Smith) in tow.
It's safe to say that the pair have had their ups and downs throughout the series, so when Viserys' crown drops off his head and Daemon stoops to pick it up, it's a pretty big deal.
However, that's not how the scene was supposed to play out, as the director of the episode Geeta Patel revealed.
The Crown falling off King Viserys head was an accident while shooting episode 8 of #HouseOfTheDragon, Matt picked it up, and placed it on Paddy’s head & they liked it and kept it in. pic.twitter.com/U7MV4bpXhw
— House Of The Dragon Source (@HOTDsource) October 10, 2022
Patel told Entertainment Weekly: "When we were shooting that – I think the rehearsal again, the first day – the crown fell off of Paddy’s head and Matt [Smith] picked it up and we just kept going. We didn’t stop [filming]. There was a discovery there of this moment."
So, when they stopped shooting Patel, Smith, and Considine, decided to run a few more takes: "We decided to shoot it both ways with the crown falling off and with the crown not falling off. Every time the crown fell off, all of us just caught our breath."
And, they absolutely made the right choice to keep the scene in because the result was incredible.
"I was so thankful that accident happened, that the crown fell off because it proved to be, at least for me, quite a heavy moment and quite a turning point for a storyline that had started in the pilot: Hey, I want your crown and by the end here I'm gonna put the crown back on your head and I'm gonna help you to your throne," Patel added.
the fact that the whole scene with viserys's crown falling and daemon picking it up was improvised by Matt and Paddy ??? pic.twitter.com/nGGd33jNk8
— emily | house of the dragon era (@IaszIos) October 10, 2022
And it's safe to say fans were impressed with the scene, as one person exclaimed on Twitter: "the fact that the whole scene with viserys's crown falling and daemon picking it up was improvised by Matt and Paddy???"
Another said: "S*** broke me man, the way Viserys wouldn't let anyone help him but then seen it was Daemon and then allowed him to help him to his throne and place the crown on his head.. this show is so incredible."
One added that it was arguably the best bit they'd watched: "And it was literally the best scene ever."
While a fourth said: "Most powerful scene in my opinion in the whole show."
What did you think of the scene?
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.
Featured Image Credit: HBO
Topics: House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones, TV and Film
