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New 'House of the Dragon' Scene Introduces Older Rhaenyra (and Baby)

Read the room, Laenor Velaryon. Emma D'Arcy replaces Milly Allcock in a painful preview scene.

Leslie Katz Former Culture Editor
Leslie Katz led a team that explored the intersection of tech and culture, plus all manner of awe-inspiring science, from space to AI and archaeology. When she's not smithing words, she's probably playing online word games, tending to her garden or referring to herself in the third person.
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Leslie Katz
Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen

Emma D'Arcy plays the grown-up Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon.

 HBO

The preview for episode 6 of HBO's House of the Dragon that dropped after Sunday's episode might be confusing, but a new clip featuring an extended look at the older Rhaenyra is quite clear. Rhaenyra is having anything but an easy time after giving birth to a baby boy, and her husband isn't making matters any easier. 

The clip, shared by HBO on Tuesday, gives a more extended look at Rhaenyra as played by Emma D'Arcy, who takes over from younger actor Milly Alcock now that the Game of Thrones prequel is jumping ahead about 10 years. The clip also features an aged version of Rhaenyra's husband, Laenor Velaryon, the son of Lord Corlys Velaryon. Hubby is now played by John Macmillan. 

Watch House of the Dragon on HBO Max See at HBO Max

"Was it terribly painful?" Rhaenyra's husband asks of the birth, a question that promptly elicits the mother of all death stares. She doesn't have much sympathy when he shares his own experience with pain by noting he once took a lance through the shoulder. Later, Rhaenyra appears to wince in discomfort as she carries the newborn into a room full of people, presumably to meet former BFF Queen Alicent. Can't someone just let the new mom have a nice nap?   

Episode 6 of House of the Dragon airs Sept. 25 on HBO Max. In the meantime, catch up on episode 5 here.