House Of The Dragon Episode 2 Review - 9 Ups & 1 Down
6. Up - The Queen Who Never Was
The Rogue Prince delves into yet another character in a little more depth this time around; Eve Best's Rhaenys Targaryen, wife of prominent courtier Lord Corlys Velaryon and King Viserys' cousin. Once considered for the throne, she was passed over in favour of Viserys, leading to her unenviable nickname of The Queen Who Never Was.
Best looks set to become a fan favorite in short order; the scene in which she and Milly Alcock's Rhaenyra trade thinly veiled insults as they argue back and forth over the political state of the succession is a particular highlight of the episode. The veteran actress does an exemplary job of portraying Rhaenys as a formidable member of the political equation at court in the short time she has on screen and has left fans eager to see more of her character. Best adds to the intrigue behind Rhaenys by occasionally allowing her well practiced court smile to slip, revealing in those short seconds the seething resentment she clearly holds against the rest of her ancestral family.
It will be interesting to see how House of the Dragon takes Rhaenys' character forward; as of yet, there have been no intimations towards the armor clad, dragon riding warrior readers of Fire and Blood will recall. There's still plenty of time for that however, and given Rhaenys' integral role in the upcoming conflict, it would be a genuine shock if fans don't see her flying into battle atop her red dragon Meleys in the not too distant future.