House of the Dragon Season 2: Why Emma D’arcy finds it frustrating along with the fans.

As House of the Dragon reaches the ultimate episode of its highly-anticipated second season, viewers are eager for the return of the enigmatic Daemon Targaryen. Stuck in Harrenhal, Daemon appears to be grappling with a string of troubling visions and ill-advised schemes, leaving audiences waiting with bated breath for his much-awaited return to Dragonstone.

HBO’s hit series “House of the Dragon” is back with its highly anticipated second season. With the Blacks and Greens locked in an ever-tightening power struggle, the series continues to explore the complex and treacherous political landscape of Westeros. Rhaenyra, still navigating the perilous game of thrones, finds herself managing allies and foes as tensions rise. Meanwhile, Daemon’s absence from Dragonstone casts a looming shadow of uncertainty over the storyline.

Emma D’Arcy, who portrays Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon, has recently expressed a strong desire to share more screen time with Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen) in the potential third season of the hit series. In an interview with Variety, the 31-year-old actor revealed that they have actively campaigned for more scenes with Smith, emphasizing the dynamic on-screen chemistry between their characters. While being cautious not to give away too many details, D’Arcy hinted at an impending threat that will force the Targaryen siblings to set aside their differences and confront a greater enemy together. As they said, “There’s a larger foe on the horizon and our characters have to determine how they’ll handle that battle.” 

Co-star Matt Smith too added to the same question: 

Matt Smith, portraying Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon, explained the reasoning behind his character’s departure from Rhaenyra’s storyline, stating, “It was a necessary part of the story that my character embark on a journey into the depths of his own psyche, into the abyss of his consciousness. This meant that I needed to be separated from Rhaenyra for a time. It was a shame because I missed working with Emma (D’Arcy) dearly, but it was what the story demanded.”

In Episode 2, Daemon’s assassination attempt is foiled, and his fury leads him to abandon Dragonstone in a fit of rage, inadvertently ending the life of an innocent child in the process. We haven’t seen Daemon leave Harrenhal in episodes 3-6, effectively trapping him in the ancient castle for the majority of the second season. While in a surprising turn of events, Rhaenyra and Mysaria (portrayed by Sonoya Mizuno) shared an impassioned kiss in the sixth episode of House of the Dragon, adding a layer of intimacy to their relationship. This development took viewers by surprise and sparked questions about its impact on the storyline. Emma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra, described the kiss as an unplanned but emotionally charged moment between the two characters.

This represents roughly a third of the series, during which Daemon has been preoccupied with confronting the haunting remnants of his past, likely influenced by Alys Rivers. While Alys is a compelling character, her narrative has also been confined to Harrenhal.  The rift between Daemon and Rhaenyra persists as he remains absent from Dragonstone, complicating an already tense relationship. Rhaenyra’s newfound intimacy with Mysaria, Daemon’s former lover, adds an intriguing layer of intrigue and conflict. As Emma D’Arcy teased, the potential fallout of Daemon learning about this romantic moment could create waves of tension in the show’s already turbulent narrative.

With only two episodes left in House of the Dragon’s second season, it is uncertain if this newfound intimacy between Rhaenyra and Mysaria, as well as the possible reaction from Daemon, will be resolved by the end of the season or if viewers will be left waiting for the next season to see the full ramifications unfold. The upcoming episodes will no doubt hold many twists and turns as the story reaches its climax.