House of the Dragon Season 1's Final Moment: The Original Ending Revealed
A look into the original dramatic ending of House of the Dragon season 1 and the subtle approach taken in the final shot.
The Dramatic Original Ending
House of the Dragon season 1's final moment was originally much more dramatic, as revealed by storyboards shared by Adam Pescott on Instagram. In the original ending, the season 1 finale depicted Lucerys engaged in a dragon fight with Aemond above Storm's End. Tragically, the monstrous Vhagar devours the smaller Arrax, resulting in the death of Lucerys. The final scene sees Rhaenyra receiving the devastating news of her son's death and reacting with a deadly stare into the camera, symbolizing her devastation and anticipation of war.
Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) at Dragonstone's Painted Table
However, the original ending revealed a different portrayal of Rhaenyra's reaction. In the storyboards, Rhaenyra is seated on the Dragonstone Throne as Daemon delivers the grave news to her. She clenches her fists and screams out in agony, expressing her sorrow and anguish. The scene ends with Rhaenyra staring into the camera, accompanied by the sound of a dragon roaring offscreen, followed by the sudden emergence of Syrax from darkness.
Instagram article posted by adampescott
The Subtle Approach
The final shot of House of the Dragon season 1 took a much more subtle approach than the original ending depicted in the storyboards. Originally, the scene was intended to be a long and drawn-out dramatic sequence, tracking Daemon Targaryen as he delivers the grave news to Rhaenyra. In the original version, Rhaenyra appears to scream 'Noooooo!' similar to Darth Vader learning of Padmé's death in Revenge of the Sith.
The decision to scrap the scream in the final shot made the scene more subtle and avoided any potential comparisons to the iconic Star Wars moment. This approach allowed Emma D'Arcy's performance to depict Rhaenyra's sorrow, which slowly and subtly turns to rage, creating a truly mesmerizing and impactful moment. Rhaenyra's transformation from sorrow to rage signifies the impending devastating war in House of the Dragon season 2.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Premiere
As fans eagerly await the continuation of the captivating storyline, House of the Dragon season 2 is set to premiere in summer 2024. The anticipation for the next season grows as viewers anticipate the aftermath of the dramatic events of season 1 and the looming threat of civil war. With Rhaenyra's subtle yet impactful final moment setting the stage for the upcoming season, House of the Dragon continues to captivate audiences with its compelling storytelling and character development.
