Emma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon, expressed frustration about not working much with co-star Matt Smith in Season 2. Last season saw both Rhaenyra and Daemon together on Dragonstone.

This season has Daemon at Harrenhal after a brief marital spat with Rhaenyra. In an interview with Variety, D’Arcy shared their thoughts on the change after being close scene partners with Smith in Season 1.

Emma D’Arcy speaks about filming Season 2 without Matt Smith

Emma D’Arcy and Sonoya Mizuno both spoke to Variety about filming Season 2, as well as the controversies surrounding certain scenes. D’Arcy also highlighted how different it was to film scenes without Matt Smith. D’Arcy revealed that while they enjoy shooting with Smith, the storyline has kept their characters apart this season. D’Arcy said:

“Frankly, I found it frustrating. I know I’ve spoken a lot about it, but I enjoy shooting with Matt a lot, and it was a shame for me not to get to do more of that. I don’t want to spoil anything. But inevitably, there is a bigger enemy at hand. And so both of them have to figure out how they’re going to approach that ultimate battle.”

In Episode 6, Rhaenyra and Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) share a passionate kiss, marking a significant turn in their relationship. This moment surprised viewers and raised questions about its impact on the storyline. D’Arcy described the kiss as a spontaneous act of intimacy.

While Daemon is away from Dragonstone, his relationship with Rhaenyra remains strained. The new development with Mysaria adds another layer of complexity. D’Arcy hinted at potential conflicts when Daemon learns about Rhaenyra’s intimate moment with Mysaria, who was once his lover.