“It’s a letting go of all thought”: Eve Best reveals what Rhaenys was thinking in her last moments in House of the Dragon

The epic dragon battle between Team Green and Team Black reached a new height as Rhaenys Targaryen, astride her loyal dragon Meleys, unleashes a fierce onslaught against Aegon’s army. Despite their valiant efforts, Rhaenys and Meleys soon find themselves outmatched by the formidable duo of Aemond and Vhagar, who emerge unexpectedly to turn the tide of the battle. As the skies erupt in a frenzy of fire and blood, Rhaenys and Meleys make a final, defiant stand, leaving an indelible mark on the fate of the Seven Kingdoms.

Letting go of thoughts

Eve Best brings Rhaenys’ final moments to life with haunting beauty, as the princess lets go of her dragon, her duties, and her life in a moment of serene surrender. Best describes this poignant scene as a “total let go” for Rhaenys, a release from the burdens she has carried for so long. As the camera pans out, we see the princess’s body relax, her face serene, as she embraces the ultimate surrender. It’s a masterful performance by Best, one that lingers in the viewer’s mind long after the scene fades to black. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Eve Best said,

“I don’t think she’s thinking. It’s a letting go of all thought,” says Best of the princess’s state of mind at that moment. “It’s a moment of peace. The movement was a physical release. It was literal letting go of the dragon. And it’s an emotional and spiritual release. A total let go for somebody who has been holding everything and everyone. To let go of all of that, and to surrender is such a relief.”

Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO

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Eve Best on Rhaenys’ Poignant Exit

In the world of House of the Dragon, even the most iconic characters can meet their demise. For Rhaenys Targaryen, her fate was sealed in a heart-wrenching dragon battle that left fans reeling. Eve Best, the talented actress behind Rhaenys, opens up about her character’s poignant exit and the unbreakable bond between Rhaenys and her loyal dragon, Meleys. Though Rhaenys may be gone, her legacy lives on, and Best shares her insights on the character’s enduring impact.

“Although Rhaenys’s arc on House of the Dragon has come to an end, for veteran British actress Eve Best, the journey is never really over. “I don’t really feel she’s gone. I never feel that,” Best says while appearing on Still Watching. “I’ve been killed so many different ways in the past with different characters. I’ve been burned, stabbed, bitten by a snake. But I’ve never fallen off a dragon.” It feels like by the end her only real ally is her dragon, Meleys.”

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