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House of the Dragon: Matt Smith Improvised Episode 10's Best Moment


House of the Dragon Episode 10 was truly a fitting conclusion for the first season as it promised the start of the Dance of the Dragons. However, that final moment could have been a lot different if Matt Smith had not intervened. Emma D'Arcy has just confirmed that the former Doctor Who star improvised the emotional moment where Daemon Targaryen tells Rhaenyra about Lucerys Velaryon's death.

In House of the Dragon Episode 10, Rhaenyra Targaryen needs to find allies who will support her claim as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. She reluctantly sends her sons Jacaerys and Lucerys Velaryon as messengers to House Arryn, Stark, and Baratheon, deciding that the latter is a safe one that Luke could easily handle. However, the trip to Storm's End proves to be tragic as Aemond Targaryen chases Luke and Arrax before Vhagar kills the boy and his dragon.

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The episode concluded with Daemon pulling Rhaenyra away from the Small Council to share the news and the queen's grief quietly transforms into fury. Interestingly, Emma D'Arcy told GQ that the entire sequence took a whole day to shoot.

"I wanted to find clarity with a new kind of earth-shaking piece of news. But I actually had the most beautiful day of shooting. It did take a day, although half of that was the crew making that crane do that beautiful movement you see in the episode," D'Arcy said. They then revealed that Matt Smith took it upon himself to change the scene up.

“When we got on set to rehearse, it has to be known, it was Matt Smith, in a turn of fucking genius, who offered the idea that Daemon should give Rhaenyra the news while we're both walking away from camera, towards the fireplace,” D'Arcy said. “It was a sublime choice, and I could see it instantly. We've sort of touched on it, but I think losing a child, losing her son, it reframes grief immediately.”

We're loving the idea that Matt Smith knew exactly what the series needed to end on the right note. With that in mind, we can't wait for what happens next in House of the Dragon.

House of the Dragon Season 2 has already been confirmed but the show's next chapter has not yet been given an official release date. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.

Related: House of the Dragon: Emma D'Arcy Sheds Light on Daemon Choking Rhaenyra

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