House Of The Dragon Season 3 Rhaenyra Theory Is A Lot Less Likely Now (& It’s A Real Shame)

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Fire & Blood, the book on which House of the Dragon is based.

Summary

• Milly Alcock returning as Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon is less likely now she’s been cast as Supergirl in the DC Universe.
• Taking on such a major franchise role makes it harder – though not impossible – to come back, and it had previously been confirmed she wouldn’t return in season 2 anyway.
• Flashbacks or visions of Rhaenyra’s younger years would have been powerful storytelling devices to bridge the gap in her history and further explore her relationship with Alicent.

Hopes for one theory about Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon season 3 have, unfortunately, been dashed. Much of the excitement surrounding the Game of Thrones prequel is focused on the upcoming House of the Dragon season 2, which will release on HBO and Max in Summer 2024. The show is pretty much guaranteed a future beyond that, however, with at least four seasons required to properly adapt the Dance of the Dragons portion of George R.R. Martin’s book, Fire & Blood. Naturally, then, that means speculation not only on what will happen this year, but in future seasons too.

One thing that’s already known as far as Rhaenyra is concerned is that Milly Alcock won’t be in House of the Dragon season 2’s cast. The actress played the younger version of Rhaenyra in the first five episodes of season 1, before Emma D’Arcy took on the role (along with Emily Carey being replaced by Olivia Cooke). While it was always obvious that their older replacements would be the main focus on the show going forward, there was still hope for Alcock’s return even looking beyond season 2, and theories about how it might happen, but it’s hard to see them coming true.

Milly Alcock’s Supergirl Role Makes Rhaenyra Flashbacks Or Visions In HOTD Season 3 Less Likely

Milly Alcock has been cast as Supergirl in James Gunn’s new DC Universe, set to lead her own solo movie as Kara Zor-El. It shows just how big of an impact she made in her breakthrough role in House of the Dragon, despite appearing in only five episodes, but also means theories and hopes of her return are less likely. While she was already ruled out of season 2, there was still hope of a return in the future.

Because House of the Dragon‘s timeline has jumped ahead several years on more than one occasion, there are a lot of gaps in Rhaenyra’s history that could be shown. Game of Thrones didn’t use flashbacks often, but there’s great potential for them in its prequel. Similarly, visions or dreams (which have been important in the show) would be as plausible a means of going back to the younger Rhaenyra. As the war goes on, she suffers more losses, and grows more distant from the person she used to be, then there’s plenty of scope for such story devices.

However, Alcock will now be focused on playing Supergirl, and while there will surely be room for other parts, such a major franchise role is likely to be a demanding one. That’s true not only for leading her own movie, but if she appears elsewhere in the DCU as well, which is presumably part of the plan for Gunn’s universe. Further, with Alcock becoming Supergirl, then it’s possible there could be a great reluctance to go back to Rhaenyra, since this allows her to move on and become known for something else.

Why It’s Disappointing That Milly Alcock Will Probably Never Play Rhaenyra Again

Emma D’Arcy is truly incredible as Rhaenyra Targaryen, giving one of the best performances in the entire show, and one that rivals many of the standouts in Game of Thrones‘ cast for that matter. To suggest Alcock should return as Rhaenyra is no reflection on them, but rather because of where the story is going and a notable gap that’s being left. That is, namely, because Alicent and Rhaenyra are going to be separate for perhaps all of House of the Dragon season 2 (unless it changes the book), and lots of season 3 as well.

Based on Fire & Blood, the pair will encounter one another in House of the Dragon season 3 after Rhaenyra takes King’s Landing, but there’s very little contact between them and her reign there is short-lived anyway, spanning only half a year. That means they could be swiftly forced apart again, which is a real shame because, ultimately, this is their story. Alicent and Rhaenyra’s friendship-turned-rivalry is the emotional bedrock of House of the Dragon, and yet the longer it goes on, the harder it is to keep bringing them together.

With that, then having flashbacks to Rhaenyra and Alicent in happier times, or visions/dream sequences along similar lines, would be very powerful for their respective stories. It’s clear there’s still some lingering fond feelings between them, despite how misunderstandings and bloodlines have forced them further apart. This would be a means of continuing to develop their relationship without contriving to bring the older versions together if the story does not allow for it. It can allow for much more poignancy, and maybe even something closer to a true resolution between them. If not in reality, then in their dreams, memories, and hearts.

It isn’t impossible for the show to bridge this gap without going back to Alcock and Carey, but it would be a lot easier. There are gaps to fill, and even deleted House of the Dragon scenes, such as one of Rhaenyra helping Alicent prepare for her wedding to King Viserys, that could be used. Alcock and Carey both made a massive impression in season 1 that will define their characters throughout the remainder of the show, so it would also be fitting to have even one last chance to see them for that legacy.

There’s One Thing That Could Make Milly Alcock Returning As Rhaenyra Targaryen Possible

One potential upside to Alcock being Supergirl, in terms of a Rhaenyra return, is the involvement of Warner Bros. Discovery. That’s the owner of both DC Films and HBO, and House of the Dragon already films at the WB Leavesden Studio in the UK. It’s not confirmed where Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow movie will shoot since it’s still a long way off, but Superman: Legacy (which could potentially involve Alcock) will also film there, so it is very plausible the same will be true of Alcock’s movie.

It would require a lot of things lining up, and right now there’s no telling how it might work in terms of scheduling and when the Supergirl movie or House of the Dragon season 3 will go into production, except both are presumably over a year away at the absolute minimum. But if things did align, then that might be the best hope of Alcock making a return as Rhaenyra, and being able to have a true farewell in the Game of Thrones prequel.