HotD’s Abigail Thorn Thinks Tyland Could Become One of Lahor’s Wives

As a fellow artist, I find Michael Chekhov’s psycho-physical technique fascinating. It’s a powerful approach that deeply resonates with me, especially when it comes to embodying complex characters like Sharako.

In the season finale of “House of the Dragon,” we were introduced to a character, Sharako Lohar, who appears to be enjoying life more than any other resident in the entire realm. This character, different from how readers remember her from George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” is no longer a Triarchy admiral but a woman, embodying the extravagance and multiple spouses of another Martin creation, pirate queen Racallio Ryndoon. The alterations make Abigail Thorn‘s charming, mud-wrestling commander an entertaining spectacle on screen, a wild card who puts Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) to the test in order to secure his naval support against the blockade led by House Velaryon at King’s Landing.

As a cinephile, let me share my thoughts on an intriguing dynamic unfolding between Tyland, our timid Mint Master, and Sharako, the fearsome Triarchy warrior. In an unexpected turn of events following their mud-wrestling match, a bond forms between these contrasting characters. I, Thorn, had the privilege to observe this friendship blossom on set.

In the final scenes of “The Queen Who Ever Was”, Sharako and Tyland (previously misnamed throughout the series) embark on a voyage to Westeros for the Battle of the Gullet, an event significant in the book “Fire & Blood” that showrunner Ryan Condal has confirmed will occur in season three of “House of the Dragon”. This implies further exploration of both Sharako and Thorn’s characters. Notably, Thorn, who also appears in “The Acolyte”, boasts over 1.6 million followers on her Philosophy Tube YouTube channel and is an advocate for transgender rights. Among the characters in “House of the Dragon”, Sharako seems most inclined to challenge the established order: Her fellow Triarchy members refer to her as ‘him’ due to her martial prowess, and she requests Tyland to father her wives after gaining his approval. According to Thorn, Sharako doesn’t explicitly voice an opinion on the honorific, but she appears indifferent to what others think of her.

As a movie enthusiast, I recently shared some exciting news about joining the cast of House of the Dragon. Since then, I’ve been working closely with the creative team to bring my character to life. The process has been incredibly engaging!

In my approach, I construct a character starting with their physicality and mannerisms. I employ Michael Chekhov techniques and animal studies extensively. Our rehearsals were guided by director Geeta Patel and executive producer Sara Hess. We delved into Sharako’s background, speculating about her experiences during the War for the Stepstones, her thoughts towards Corlys and Daemon. Alongside this, dialog coach Daniele Lydon and I worked on perfecting Sharako’s accent. We experimented with various options before deciding on an accent that is a touch more refined than my own, as Sharako, despite being from the north, has mastered the language of court impeccably. [I adopt Sharako’s accent here]

Can you reveal any details about her past? How did you come up with her personality traits, particularly her physical demeanor? For me, a character’s shoes often say a lot, and I think how she interacts with the ground is crucial. I felt she’d wear large, heavy boots. A technique I enjoy is adopting items that my character might wear. I bought myself some big, heavy knee-length boots and walked around London in them to capture her weighted energy. I also added weights to a backpack to create a more robust, tank-like figure from the feet up, as if she were weighed down by all that steel.

How was the experience of filming mud wrestling described, and what was your collaboration with Jefferson like in this particular scene?

As a passionate cinephile, I’ve been part of the incredible process – from concept to execution – alongside Jefferson and our dedicated stunt crew. Tilly Powell, my remarkable stand-in for certain action sequences, took the brunt when my fist connected with the target, that was all Tilly. On set, we shared space with a renowned goat, yes, the one from the McVities biscuits commercial. Towards the final scenes, we found ourselves repeating lines like “Let’s roll, let’s take another shot, another take!” It was an exhilarating ride!

In a rather intriguing twist, this series delves deep into somber themes, yet the character of Sharako manages to bring humor through her exaggerated macho demeanor and witty quips like the cannibalism joke with Tyland. To infuse humor into her character, I was given minimal instructions about her being completely unhinged during auditions. During rehearsals, we focused on discovering: “What are her vulnerabilities? What does she boast about? Where did she originate from? What does she fear? What is her ultimate goal here?” These elements offer a glimpse into her darker side, such as when she warns, “The Sea Snake will regret the day we meet again,” sparking curiosity about their previous encounter. I have my personal theories about that encounter, and perhaps we’ll uncover more in the future.

Understanding her character development in the episode was crucial for me, as it could have been simple to portray her in the initial scene identical to how she appears in the finale. Instead, I chose to depict her initially as distant and contemplating the arrival of a man from Westeros, considering their past conflict during the War for the Stepstones and wondering what she might do if her superiors weren’t present. Her character evolution throughout the episode unfolded as she recognized that Tyland was not as she anticipated, and this became particularly evident during the banquet scene when she found herself unexpectedly liking him and considering staying up with him instead of retiring for the night. [Laughs]

As a dedicated cinema enthusiast, I’ve been pondering about the intriguing gender representation in the series, specifically regarding the character of Sharako. The Triarchy, being steeped in tradition, refers to their admirals and warriors as ‘he’ or ‘him’, yet Sharako is included in this group despite being a woman. From my perspective, rooted in philosophy and discussions on Philosophy Tube, this can be seen as an exploration of societal norms and gender roles.

As a writer who has spent years immersed in the world of philosophy and poetry, I can say with confidence that the line “a poet is a philosopher” was not something that came from my personal background or expertise. Instead, it was a spontaneous idea that occurred to me during the challenging period of the writers’ strike, when creativity and flexibility were essential. The serendipity of this thought still amuses me, as it felt like a unique insight into the interconnectedness of these two seemingly distinct fields.

In the scene where Sharako asks Tyland to impregnate her wives, we don’t get a clear count of how many she has. However, they cut off the scene before showing my reaction, and in an alternate take, I give a subtle smirk and shrug, suggesting that I have some idea but it’s not explicitly stated. As for the number of wives, it can vary greatly as “wives” doesn’t always mean legally married or bound by a ring. It seems there might be one or a few who are closer to Sharako than others, but the exact count remains unclear.

As someone who has been married for many years, I can tell you that the term “wife” carries a profound significance. It signifies a deep and lasting commitment between two people, a bond that transcends time and circumstance. However, in the context of the story, it’s possible that Tyland may not be her husband in the traditional sense when we first meet them on the ship. The term “wife” could be used to describe a woman who holds a special place in his life, perhaps as a partner or companion. But without more information, it’s hard to say for sure. What I do know is that relationships of any kind are complex and nuanced, and they can take many forms.

Appreciate your time during the interview with Manny about “The Acolyte”. It was an engaging read, truly enjoyable! Thank you once again.

As a seasoned TV show enthusiast with years of anticipation and disappointment under my belt, I can’t help but ask: “Is the renewal for season two happening? Can you tell me where it is?” My heart races every time a new episode ends, hoping against hope that the next chapter will be on its way. But, like a well-practiced poker player, you close your lips tight and leave me guessing. I’ve learned to take the suspense in stride, knowing all too well that patience is key when it comes to the world of television.

Actor Michael Chekhov pioneered a “psycho-physical” technique that connects the actor’s physical movement to their emotions.

2024-08-07 23:55

HotD’s Abigail Thorn Thinks Tyland Could Become One of Lahor’s Wives

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