Eve Best thinks Rhaenys’ death was “a pretty fantastic way to go”

Eve Best, the highly acclaimed and versatile actress who portrayed the complex character of Rhaenys Targaryen in House of the Dragon, shares her insightful thoughts on her character’s extraordinary exit from the series. She discusses her experience, which brings Rhaenys’ character to life, and the significance of her character’s departure from the show.

A glorified exit of Rhaenys Targaryen

As Eve Best looked back on the deaths that had unfolded in Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, she couldn’t help but feel that Rhaenys’ fate was especially remarkable. In a world where characters often met with humiliating, unpleasant, or disgusting ends, Rhaenys’ exit was a shining exception. Hardcore fighting scenes marked her final moments and showcased her exceptional combat skills. She proved her position as one of the most powerful women in the series. Even her death was a powerful testament to her courage and strength. Eve Best, in an interview with Elle, said,

“I was looking back at all the other deaths in the Game of Thrones that I could remember, and the deaths so far in [House of the Dragon] as well. And I thought, actually, hers is a pretty fantastic way to go. She goes out guns blazing as a 100 percent, wall-to-wall hero in every possible way. She’s their best fighter. She’s their best woman. A lot of the Game of Thrones deaths can be really humiliating, unpleasant, [and] disgusting. And this is a really heroic, very noble death.”

Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

An honest first reaction for the exit scene

Eve Best was shocked and devastated when she read the script for her character’s death episode. She was sad to see her character go and had to come to terms with her departure from the show. She didn’t expect her character to meet their end by falling off a dragon. Despite this, she appreciated the memorability of her character’s final moment.

“I was shocked! I was devastated, actually, on her behalf. And obviously, on my behalf, very sad to be leaving at this moment. In my career so far, I’ve died a lot of different ways. I’ve been burned, strangled, hung, bitten by a poisonous snake. It’s sad. But I’ve never fallen off a dragon. I don’t think that can be beaten, actually. It’s pretty sensational.”

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