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Why Viserys Stands by Rhaenyra as His Heir in House of the Dragon

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Why Viserys Stands by Rhaenyra as His Heir in House of the Dragon

A House of the Dragon writer explains why King Viserys I stands by Rhaenyra as his heir.

The Game of Thrones prequel series opens with King Viserys (Paddy Considine) being chosen as the heir to the Iron Throne in a vote called by his grandfather King Jaehaerys over his cousin Rhaenys (Eve Best), earning her the moniker “The Queen Who Never Was.”

When faced with a similar decision after the deaths of his wife and would-be male heir, King Viserys I broke the patriarchal mold and chose his daughter, Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), as his heir over the safer but potentially disastrous choice of his brother, Prince Daemon (Matt Smith).

Viserys’ decision is initially accepted, but after he takes on a new wife (Alicent Hightower, played by Emily Carey) and produces a male heir, the tides begin to change. Viserys faces pressure from many lords of Westeros to marry his daughter off, as well as from his advisor Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) to name his new son as heir.

Complicating matters is the question of unity in the realm, as the public begins to question Viserys’ choice of heir, and the question of Rhaenyra’s reputation after the shocking sequences in House of the Dragon episode 4.

Despite the myriad pressures faced by Viserys as a result of his decision, he is steadfast in his choice of heir and refuses to back down, baffling many of his subjects.

In a conversation with The Official Game of Thrones Podcast: House Of The Dragon, House of the Dragon writer Sara Hess discusses King Viserys’ motivations as he continues to stand by his daughter.

Though there are many factors at play in Viserys’ decisions, including concerns about his unstable brother and the desire to appear strong and certain in his decision-making as king, Hess reveals a more personal reason for his support of Rhaenyra. See what she has to say below:

“Viserys was deeply in love with his wife Aemma, and never stopped loving her, and doesn’t ever stop loving her. And he realizes that his quest for a boy ended up killing her, and he feels horrible about it. And this is his way of making up to her. Like, ‘I should have realized [that] you gave me Rhaenyra,’ and he says in episode 1 [to Rhaenyra] ‘You are the best of your mother.'”

“And she is Aemma’s daughter, she is Aemma’s child, she’s the only thing he has left of Aemma, so he’s going to make her heir and he’s never going to change his mind because he’s never going to stop loving Aemma. Putting Rhaenyra as his heir is his penance for what happened.”

After the graphic House of the Dragon episode 1 birth scene, Hess’ comments prove that Viserys is desperate to make up for his hand in his wife’s demise, which may be a small comfort to viewers.

After witnessing the king’s bond with his new wife, who was formerly his daughter’s best friend, it would be easy to assume that he had left Aemma (Sian Brooke) in the past, especially since Alicent gave him the thing he previously wanted so badly – a son.

However, in House of the Dragon, the past is never truly put to rest; it continues to affect the characters’ actions in the present as they attempt to correct their mistakes or are ruled by them.

In Viserys’ case, his attempt to correct the mistakes he made with Aemma may result in even greater tragedies as the realm braces for a war over his succession. Whatever his reasons, the king’s support of his daughter’s claim is historic and seeks to herald in a new age, for which Westeros is evidently not prepared.

After episode 5, House of the Dragon will feature a 10-year time jump in episode 6, which is intriguing due to the many cliffhangers in the violent wedding between Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon (Theo Nate).

Though the king is still alive in the trailers for episode 6, Viserys’ health has clearly taken a turn for the worse, and his impending death seems inevitable.

Once the king does pass away, the battle over succession in House of the Dragon will likely be kicked into high gear, forcing Rhaenyra to cement her status as heir and driving an even bigger wedge between herself and Alicent.

"Staff Writer" represents a collaborative effort led by a team of experienced writers and editors who are passionate about storytelling and the world of entertainment. Together, they have a knack for uncovering the unique narratives behind Netflix's brightest stars and a dedication to exploring the ever-evolving landscape of streaming, bringing you closer to the magic of entertainment, one captivating story at a time.

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The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln Cast in Netflix’s Cabinet of Curiosities

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The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln Cast in Netflix’s Cabinet of Curiosities

Andrew Lincoln is the name most commonly associated with AMC’s The Walking Dead. The actor, also known for his work in the film Love Actually, the Strike Back series, and the TV movie Old Vic in Camera: A Christmas Carol has played the main character Rick Grimes for 9 of the 11 seasons of the walker (zombie) apocalypse series.

His absence has left a hole in the popular series that hasn’t quite been filled regardless of which characters took leadership roles or plots that followed his departure. Thankfully Lincoln will be returning to The Walking Dead Universe in a spinoff with Danai Gurira, who also left the show in season 10.

Together they will be reprising their roles as the power couple Rick and Michonne, the king and queen of the apocalypse. While fans are overjoyed to see his return in the currently unnamed Rick and Michonne spinoff, the talented actor hasn’t shied away from the horror genre.

In fact, fans will be able to see Lincoln’s stellar acting capabilities once again in the upcoming Netflix series Cabinet of Curiosities. Created by the brilliant Guillermo del Toro, the eight-episode series might just be the type of show to truly embody the thrills and chills of spooky season.

What role will Andrew Lincoln play in Cabinet of Curiosities?

Don’t believe us? You can watch the official teaser trailer here:

Joining Lincoln in the cast are the likes of talented individuals such as Rupert Grint, Nia Vardalos, Ben Barnes, DJ Qualls and F. Murray Abraham. Just what kind of scary stories does del Toro have in store for his impatient fans and viewers?

Which role do you think Lincoln will be playing, hero, villain, or someone else entirely? Cabinet of Curiosities airs on Netflix October 25.

Will you be watching Cabinet of Curiosities? Share your thoughts about the upcoming series in the comments below!

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Outer Banks Star Chase Stokes Debuts Shocking New Look On Instagram

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Outer Banks Star Chase Stokes Debuts Shocking New Look On Instagram

Say it ain’t so! That’s the general consensus from Outer Banks fans after the show’s lead Chase Stokes took to Instagram to debut a new hairstyle that has left his fans shocked and devastated.

In a new Instagram photo dump, Stokes celebrated 30 with a series of photos including one shot that showcased his new haircut which has left fans speechless. Gone are Stokes’ signature long and wavy locks, as the actor is now rocking a high and tight new do.

Stokes definitely has no problem pulling off the look and still looks amazing, the new style has caught fans by surprise as Stokes has long been known for his long hair which is a signature to John B’s look in Outer Banks.

“You literally just shocked the whole world,” commented one fan summing up the effect Stokes’ new look has had on his fans. “We weren’t ready for that, Chase,” echoed another.

Why did Chase Stokes cut his hair? (2022)

So what exactly inspired Chase Stokes to cut off his signature locks leading to his new look? While Stokes has not directly commented on the new look, it appears his haircut is connected to his upcoming role in the new film Valiant One.

In the film, Stokes is set to star as a member of a group of U.S. Army non-combat tech soldiers who must band together to protect a civilian tech specialist and find a way out of North Korea after their helicopter crashes on the North Korean side of the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

While little is known about Stokes’ character, the fact that he’s a member of the military seems to suggest that Stokes cut his hair for the role.

The new hairstyle Stokes is rocking in the above Instagram photo matches up with the signature high and tight style members of the military have been known to rock.

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Chris Evans Responds to Seeing Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde

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Chris Evans Responds to Seeing Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde

Chris Evans shares what his first reaction was to seeing Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. Although de Armas has been acting since she was a teenager, it wasn’t until her roles in films like Blade Runner 2049 and Knives Out that the star became well-known to American audiences.

Knives Out saw de Armas take on the role of Marta Cabrera, a nurse who becomes embroiled in a complex murder mystery plot alongside Evans’ nefarious character, Ransom. De Armas later collaborated with Evans again on this summer’s The Gray Man, an action thriller from Netflix in which she played a supporting role.

After a fan-favorite turn in No Time to Die, de Armas is next slated to appear in Blonde, a fictionalized account of the life and death of 1950s icon Marilyn Monroe. The film, which is written and directed by Andrew Dominik, is based on a book of the same name by author Joyce Carol Oates.

The first trailer for Blonde has already shown off de Armas’ impressive transformation into the late starlet, with the actor boasting a noticeable physical transformation and accent.

The NC-17-rated Blonde earned a 14-minute standing ovation at its Venice Film Festival premiere but relatively mixed reviews from critics. Most agreed, however, that de Armas’ performance is particularly impressive.

In a new interview with Variety, Evans recalls his first reaction to seeing de Armas’ camera test as Monroe in Blonde. Speaking more generally, Evans says that he thinks Blonde was “incredibly demanding” for his Knives Out co-star and that he remembers de Armas being very excited about the role. Check out Evans’ full comment below:

“I think this was one of the first opportunities she had to really sink her teeth into something incredibly demanding. I didn’t see one bit of fear; I saw excitement. I remember looking at [her camera test] and saying, ‘OK, that’s Marilyn … where’s your shot? That’s you? Holy s–t! You’re going to win an Oscar for this!’”

Could Ana de Armas Win An Oscar For Playing Marilyn Monroe?

Although de Armas is now a very well-known actor in Hollywood, Blonde marks the actor’s first major transformation for a leading role.

Trailers for the film have already shown off just how immersed de Armas became in the world of Monroe and, as has been seen with a number of films in the past, the Academy Awards does have a penchant for recognizing actors who undergo significant transformations, especially when it comes to embodying iconic historical figures.

While reviews for Blonde may be mixed overall, Evans’ suggestion that de Armas could be a contender for Best Actress is certainly not without precedent.

It remains to be seen how Blonde will fair with general audiences upon its release on Netflix, but if early reviews are any indication, de Armas’ performance alone will be reason enough for many viewers to seek the film out.

Despite glowing reviews for de Armas’ performance, however, Blonde’s graphic subject matter and NC-17 rating could deter at least some audiences. However, it’s unclear if the controversial rating will have any impact on her Oscar chances.

Thankfully, fans of de Armas now have less than a week to wait before Blonde releases on Netflix and they can see whether Evans’ glowing endorsement rings true.

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sneak peek here: