I can relate to Phia Saban‘s character in many ways. As an actress, I often find myself in situations where I need to stand up for myself, just like Phia does with Aemond. It takes courage and conviction to assert oneself, especially when it comes to loved ones. Her words, “I’m not going to do it — and by the way, this is not going to end well for you!” echo my own experiences of speaking up despite the potential consequences.
Warning: The following narrative may reveal key plot points from the final episode of HBO’s “House of the Dragon” Season 2, entitled “The Queen Who Ever Was”, currently available for streaming on Max.
Throughout “House of the Dragon,” I’ve found myself puzzling over Helaena Targaryen’s cryptic warnings about the future of the Green and Black factions within our noble House Targaryen. Her enigmatic words hint at tumultuous times ahead, and as a devoted fan, I can’t help but feel both intrigued and apprehensive about what lies in store for us all.
Until the end of Season 2, she keeps this secret from her brother Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). But in the finale, she reveals to him that “Aegon will ascend the throne once more.” As for the One-Eyed Prince Regent, he meets his demise.
“You were swallowed up in the God’s Eye, and you were never seen again,” Helaena says to him.
Through all the hardships Helaena faced this season – from the tragic death of her son Jaehaerys to the violent mob attack on her and her mother Alicent (Olivia Cooke) outside the Sept – Phia Saban points out, it culminated in a moment of clear understanding.
In simpler terms, Saban explains to EbMaster that the current situation is causing her distress, but she’s found solace in exploring something new and unfamiliar. This new experience feels real and clear to her because she’s less resistant to it now.
In the finale, Helaena isn’t confined to just a single significant prophecy; she’s also present in Daemon’s vision that he had while under the influence of the weirwood tree at Harrenhal.
“It’s all a story. And you’re but one part in it,” she says to Daemon. “You know your part.”
In this conversation, Saban discusses with EbMaster the part Helaena plays in Daemon’s prophecy, her strained encounter with Aemond concerning his destiny, and the likelihood of observing her on Dreamfyre, her dragon, in future scenes.
How did you feel upon reading Daemon’s vision and the prophecy about Aemond, as revealed by Helaena?
As a movie enthusiast, I couldn’t contain my excitement at the prospect of witnessing Daemon’s surreal dream sequence upon touching the tree. I found myself daydreaming about being part of it, envisioning a kaleidoscope of trippy visuals. In my imagination, I was hatching from an egg and navigating through a bizarre landscape, or maybe even confronting something truly terrifying.
Then my second thought was, if this storyline concludes with her having a clear conversation with Aemond and some event has led to this lucidity in her, I’ll need to retrace the steps and consider: What circumstances or experiences could have led her to this moment of clarity? What journey might she have undergone to reach such a clear vision? Because so far, her visions haven’t been that distinct.
In your original text, it seems like you’re asking about how the shift from vague, riddle-like visions to clearer ones occurred in Helaena’s communications.
It appears she found it difficult to decipher her dreams and feelings in a straightforward manner before, as they didn’t provide her with specific predictions like “This is what will happen.” Instead, they were strong intuitions or emotions that seemed strange or unclear, leaving her wondering if expressing them aloud would have meaning. However, this wasn’t as clear-cut as the events in the last episode. I believe this might be due to her becoming increasingly detached from the real world and spending more time immersed in her own reality towards the end of the series.
Perhaps there’s significance in the occurrence of a potent event, leading to a sense of alignment within her. For that instance, she exhibits an extraordinary level of clarity. While this isn’t necessarily her permanent state, it seems as clear and defined as it possibly could be for her at this moment.
Some spectators think Helaena might be secretly on Team Black following her interaction with Daemon and later with Aemond. Does your perspective align with this theory, or do you view her more as a neutral, impartial observer?
As someone with a wealth of experience navigating the complexities of team dynamics and political maneuvering, I find myself questioning whether she truly aligns herself with any particular group. My gut feeling is that she doesn’t identify as part of a traditional team, and instead operates on a higher plane. From my perspective, her actions don’t indicate that she is providing advice to Daemon solely for his success. Instead, I believe she sees the bigger picture and understands that the endgame transcends petty squabbles over power and position.
In my opinion, the scene featuring Daemon leaves room for interpretation among viewers regarding her presence within his dream. It could be that she’s more of a symbol or projection of something he needs to confront – given his past actions towards her and her son. From a psychological standpoint, it might be a self-exploration, and perhaps not as straightforward as it appears.
If she’s still unsure about what lies ahead, what makes you think she would tell Aemond that he’s going to perish?
In that instant, I believe she feels convinced that what’s being said is accurate, and I share this belief that his request for her to obtain Dreamfyre, fight for a cause she views as self-serving and potentially harmful – including taking lives after all she’s endured – is simply asking too much. She’s accustomed to acting for the benefit of her family, but this ask is beyond her limits.
The crux of the matter lies in her familiarity and affection towards him, which binds their family. Understanding and loving each other, despite complexities, is what keeps them united. I believe she understands Aemond well enough to realize that asserting herself could deter him, so she needs to challenge his ego honestly. However, she declares she won’t do it, hinting at potential negative consequences for him. In essence, she’s taking a stand for herself in this moment, even if it may not alter his course significantly. Does that make sense? I don’t think she expects it to alter his trajectory drastically, but it’s simply a brief instance of self-assertion.
Regarding visions, I’d like to revisit something Helaena mentioned earlier – in Episode 6, when she spoke about the crickets and said, “This one stopped singing.” I’m curious about your take on that scene since there are several interpretations floating around.
Do you know any of the theories?
Two possible interpretations stand out:
That’s fascinating! I wasn’t aware of any of those facts before, so it’s intriguing to learn about them. It makes me feel good to expand my knowledge in a captivating way. Imagining the scenarios you mentioned adds an extra layer of excitement for me.
In my film-loving perspective, I’ve noticed that her visions aren’t always crystal clear, often stemming from intense emotions or discomfort. Much like I suggested about Daemon and Helaena being a manifestation of his guilt, I believe for her, insects serve as her comfort zone – a world she can grasp easily. The distress she expresses is rooted in the wellbeing of her insect companions, which saddens her deeply. While I acknowledge that these moments may hold deeper meanings and connections, for her, it seems to be as straightforward as this.
In the book “Fire & Blood,” it’s noted that Helaena enjoys flying on Dreamfyre, her dragon. Despite Helaena not wanting to fly with her dragon into battle, does Helaena ever ride Dreamfyre in combat, and would you like to see this happen?
As a movie enthusiast, I’m expressing my excitement here: I truly hope to embark on an adventure with Dreamfyre! There seems to be a beautiful bond between us, and I can only imagine what it would be like if we were to join forces. Whether or not this dream will come true remains uncertain, but I sincerely believe that one day, you’ll find yourself soaring alongside me. Who knows what the future holds?
Have your co-stars prepared you at all for how to use the rig for dragonriding?
At the same time, I found myself on set alongside Tom Glynn-Carney and Beth Antonia, who were both performing on the back of the buck. Intrigued, I decided to observe their performance, feeling a pang of envy. It’s quite thrilling! However, I believe dragon acting is an entirely new realm – let’s call it dragonriding acting – so I might need to learn from them first before giving it a try.
Yeah, take a class. Dragonriding 101.
Maybe they’ll give me mates’ rates for a class on that.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
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2024-08-07 21:18