Rhaenys’ Tragic Death Was Actually a Gift to Queen Rhaenyra, Eve Best Explains

Although the majority of House of Dragons fans still support Team Black, according to all the polls HBO continues to produce, not all characters are equally beloved. The character of Rhaenys Targaryen, for example, has been controversial since the 9th episode of season 1, when she had the opportunity to burn Team Green alive, but never did.

Still, no matter what your opinion of her character was, the last episode of the show could have turned anyone into a massive Rhaenys fan. The only problem is, it's unlikely we'll ever see her again.

How Did Rhaenys Die in House of the Dragon?

The fourth episode of the second season of House of the Dragon marked the tragic death of Rhaenys Targaryen, a loyal ally of Queen Rhaenyra, as well as her dragon, Meleys. Both were attacked by Aemond's Vhagar and didn't stand a chance against her strength.

Speaking with The Official Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon, Eve Best, who portrayed the Queen Who Never Was, explained her character's motivations. She did not escape the combat when she had the chance but sacrificed her life to push Rhaenyra to finally take what is hers through the war.

“Somebody had to plunge in, and somebody had to press the red button, and start the nuclear war, effectively. It became like her final piece of wisdom, like her final gift to Rhaenyra, which is, you know, this is how you are a good leader, this is the way,” the actress said.

Looking back at the footage, it's easy to see why the events of this war have come to be known as Dance of the Dragons. So far, the scenes of two powerful creatures facing off in battle have been some of the show's most powerful moments, putting all of the previous fights into perspective.

Though the so-called 'gift' was far more tragic than any of us could have imagined, the battle between Rhaenys and King Aegon on their dragons was the first glimpse of the war promised to viewers in the House of the Dragon season 2 promo. And now fans are eager to see more.

If you are looking forward to finding out if King Aegon will survive the fall and how Team Black will react to Rhaenys' death, be sure to tune in to the next House of the Dragon episode this Sunday on HBO or Max.

Source: The Official Game of Thrones Podcast: House of the Dragon