On August 21, 2022, at 8:00 PM CST, the first episode of House of the Dragon aired on HBO and HBO Max, restarting the race for the Iron Throne. In the episode, Milly Alcock portrays the younger Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. The first episode, titled Heirs of Dragons, is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, better known as the Mother of Dragons. House of the Dragon is a prequel to Game of Thrones that tells the story of the fall of the Targaryen dynasty. It is based on Martin’s book Fire and Blood.
Fans praised Alcock’s portrayal of Rhaenyra on social media, pointing out parallels between her and Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen. After losing both sons in mysterious disasters, Daenerys’ ancestor, Jaehaerys Targaryen, announces his successor to the Iron Throne. Viserys Targaryen was anointed king by the Great Council in place of his cousin Princess Rhaenys Targaryen.
The question of succession to the kingdom was further complicated when Viserys lost both his wife and son in childbirth. Due to disagreements with his brother, Daemon Targaryen, he declared his firstborn, Rhaenyra, his heir and the first woman to rule on the Iron Throne. Keep reading to learn more about Milly Alcock, who plays young Rhaenyra.
Who is Milly Alcock or little Rhaenyra Targaryen?
Alcock, a 22-year-old Australian actor, was born and raised in Sydney. In the HBO series House of the Dragon, she portrays the younger version of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. Her first appearance in the series is as the dragon rider and politically informed daughter of King Viserys, who wants to pursue a military career. Alcock worked in cinema and television from an early age. In 2014, she made her television debut in the Australian romantic comedy Wonderland.
Fans praised Alcock’s portrayal of Rhaenyra on social media, drawing comparisons between her and Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen, particularly in the tone of her address to her dragon, Dracarys. Alcock went on to appear in episodes such as Janet King, A Place to Call Home, Fighting Season, Pine Gap, Les Norton and The Gloaming before securing her breakthrough role in Upright in 2018. Her portrayal of teenage runaway Meg in Upright earned her the Casting Guild of Australia Rising Star Award in 2018. Alcock was also nominated for Best Comedy Performance at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts for the role.
What awaits Milly Alcock and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in the House of the Dragon?
While Rhaenyra has established herself as one of the show’s main plot drivers, it remains to be seen whether Alcock will be retained in future episodes. Additional teasers and character images from the first season suggest that actress Emma D’Arcy will take on the role of Princess Rhaenyra’s face starting with the second episode, titled The Rogue Prince. Although the premise of the second episode is unclear, the climax of the first episode implies that Smith’s Daemon Targaryen, Viserys’ brother and Rhaenyra’s uncle, may challenge his niece’s claim to the Iron Throne.
The dragons are here. #House of the Dragon premiere tonight on @HBOMax. #HOT pic.twitter.com/WOihOjoZD3
— House of Dragon (@HouseofDragon) August 21, 2022
Alicent Hightower, Rhaenyra’s consort and daughter of the King’s Hand, could become the next queen in line when she marries King Viserys as a result of her father’s scheming. As a result, Rhaenyra’s encounter with Daemon and Alicent is one of the highlights of the episode.
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Source: HIS Education