π¨ There are obviously MASSIVE spoilers ahead for House of the DragonSeason 2, Episode 1! π¨
After almost two years since the heart-wrenching and jaw-dropping Season 1 finale, House of the Dragon finally returned this week with Season 2. HBO Sundays are back, baby.
The Season 2 premiere kicks off after Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and the Greens stole the throne and crowned Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) as king. The episode notably sees the aftermath of Lucerys's death at the hands of Aemond, too.
With war on the horizon, Aegon tries to keep a grip on the throne while Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) grieves the devastating loss of Lucerys, and Daemon (Matt Smith) prepares for battle alongside the rest of Team Black.
The whole episode was so good, but nothing really compared to the devastating and masterclass performance from Emma, who literally only had one line in the entire episode.
Rhaenyra's grief is the true center of the House of the Dragon Season 2 premiere, and Emma showcases a mother's heartbreak effortlessly. Plus, Harry Collett gives an outstanding performance as Jacaerys, who is also grieving the loss of his brother.
Speaking about portraying Rhaenyra's grief in the after-episode discussion, Emma said, "I guess one of, sort of, the maddest things about death is that it seems sort of impossible, especially because really the overriding feeling often is you just sit with the absence."
They continued, saying, "And so, anything that has, like, a tangibility about it, I think, is vitally important. Her son's cloak, the wing of his dragon, I think it's devastating but I think it galvanized a vengeful feeling, one that maybe she hasn't paid so much mind to previously."
As soon as the episode ended, fans β including myself β began flocking to X, formerly Twitter, to share their love for Emma's performance and how it's likely just the first performance in an entire season that should win them an Emmy Award. Here are 19 of the best reactions:
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emma d'arcy, we are only one (1) episode in, but i'm going to start hand carving your emmy award now. barely any words spoken, and yet they conveyed what grief feels like so perfectly #houseofthedragonpic.twitter.com/6xtsSKMxUB
emmaβs ability to convey a motherβs grief to the point where youβre crying too is insane like this is a masterclass in nonverbal acting #HouseOfTheDragonpic.twitter.com/YcrO8C0IQF
β mira π hotd spoilers (@rhaelina) June 17, 2024
if i'm honest emma darcy and phia saban were the heart and soul of this episode, they had very little dialogue but their facial expressions stole the show pic.twitter.com/VYBk0JBkMQ
β catelynpilled danycel HOTD SPOILERS (@sansagirlfail) June 17, 2024
The funeral of Prince Lucerys Velaryon who was brave like a Strong, died with his dragon like a Targaryen and was buried in the sea like a Velaryon π #HouseoftheDragonpic.twitter.com/i3oRdcLXxg
β πππ ππππππ οΌ ππππππ (@theblacks_) June 17, 2024
iβm laughing so hard cause blood and cheese was supposed to be rhaenyraβs biggest crime and people are still waiting for her to do more, oh my queen is AN ANGEL https://t.co/rXjPFvZW4a