Released in 2022, the first season of House of the Dragon was a hit. It was therefore not surprising to learn that a second part was going to see the light of day. Two years later – an eternity for fans of the series – season 2 finally arrives on the small screen this Monday on HBO Max, now available in Belgium.
The brutal death of Rhaenyra Targaryen’s son by Alicent Hightower’s son, which closed the first season, triggered the war between the Black clan, supporters of Rhaenyra, and that of the Greens, supporters of Alicent. From friends, the two women find themselves enemies.
In preparation for the launch of the second season of House of the DragonOlivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower) and Phia Saban (Helaena Targaryen) answered our questions, without lacking humor.
This season will see the Greens and Blacks clash. How strong do you think each team is and why do you root for your team?
Olivia Cooke: “The black team has great hair. But, its members use conditioner.”
Phia Saban: “When I was watching the series last night, I told myself that I was on the team of those who really needed a mask.” (laughs)
OC: “Black people get a lot of fresh air compared to us. But we, the Greens, are a little more festive in the evening. I also find that my castle is more comfortable.”
PS: “The way you decorated it is very beautiful..”
OC: “THANKS !” (laughs)
House of the Dragon, this isn’t the typical good versus evil saga. Here, good people can do bad things and vice versa. You never know who the real enemy is.
OC: “It’s getting tribal. People fight because they have chosen a side but they don’t really know what they are fighting for. It’s become quite murky. It’s a bit like political parties in the United States and Great Britain. People align themselves with one of the parties without having been properly informed beforehand, without having read what was written in the fine print.”
In season 2, a war is brewing. Will this affect the climate between the characters?
OC: “A chasm has been created and Alicent feels deeply responsible for it. She knew that with the death of Rhaenyra’s son, there would be retaliation and a battle would break out.”
From a feminist perspective, how would you analyze the series? OC: “When men put women on a pedestal, it almost seems like condescension. It’s as if they were saying, “ We’re going to give them that.”. People see Alicent as the one to succeed Viserys just for now. It’s like she was some sort of band-aid put on the situation but she was never actually a queen.”
PS: “She is made to look like an option because the men in power would never have put her in this position. Feminist dialogue occurs in this sense. The female characters are aware of their situation while the men do not hide it.”
OC: “When they talk about women and how great they would be on the Iron Throne, it’s a form of joviality and lightness. They say it because they know it will never happen.”
In House of the Dragonthe human condition is very different from that of Game Of Thrones, a series set centuries later. What we notice is that many strong women try to fix men’s stupidities. Do you agree with this?
OC: “I think women are constantly doing damage control. Men, and this is not very different from what happens today, want an inheritance. They want their name to appear in the history books. That’s all they care about.”
PS: “Men have a broader vision. They think about the mythology and the stories that will be told for years to come about how amazing they were in battle. Women are not ashamed of having looked weak because for them, it is acceptable. For men, this is not an option because they are very attentive to the image they project, to the facade.”
What internal battle are the characters fighting? OC: “Alicent feels shame and guilt. She deeply hates herself. But that’s what pushes him to act even if she sees the walls crumbling around her.”
PS: “The reality is that there is no safety net. Alicent and Rhaenyra are both on the edge of the precipice. It’s about duty and sacrifice but above all about how they must coexist.”
Alicent faces significant challenges this season, particularly regarding her close friend who becomes her rival. How do you explain his motivations and actions throughout his journey?
OC: “I think she just believes she’s doing the right thing. She tries to do what’s best for the kingdom and her family, while trying to respect what Viserys wanted. She struggles to make things right. This is how we arrive in the second season. She is sad about what is happening with Rhaenyra. The latter is in immense grief because her son was brutally murdered by my son. How can we accept this?”
What was the most difficult thing to overcome as an actor while filming this second season? OC: “Endurance, most definitely. It was seven months of full-throttle action and, above all, a lot of emotion. I had to be strong to play Alicent this season. And, I really enjoyed this shoot. However, there was no one moment in particular that I found more difficult than the rest. It was all about how to deal with these traumatic experiences week after week.”
PS: “For that, you have to understand how you make a series. We need to let go.”
OC: “By the time you drive home from the shoot, you’ve forgotten everything. All that no longer exists.”
Although it is the spin-off of Game Of Thronesseries House of the Dragon is it comparable to the latter? OC: “I don’t want to compare the two too much because I think these series both stand on their own. I don’t want to be in the competition. All the good things that we find in Game Of Thrones are found in House of the Dragon. I would say they are like brother and sister.”
