As the HBO series House of the Dragon has slowly unfolded, the personalities of the various members of the royal family have slowly started to come into focus. One of the more notable members is, of course, Rhaenys Targaryen, whose own very strong claim to the throne was passed over in favor of her cousin, Viserys.
Eve Best is the actress who plays her, and from the beginning, she has shown an extraordinary ability to capture the personality of this very enigmatic Targaryen. Indeed, she has shown that she has what it takes to truly nail many of this princess’ most notable mannerisms.
Her Aristocratic Bearing
Given that she was born into one of the most powerful houses in the Seven Kingdoms, it makes sense that she would exhibit some signs of believing that she is essentially better than everyone around her. Indeed, throughout her appearances in House of the Dragon, Eve Best gives the viewer much of this.
It’s clear from everything about her–from her posture to the look on her face–that she knows her status and worth, and she also wants everyone else to. She is someone who grasps the importance of appearances, and she makes full use of them.
Her Ambition
Like many other notable Targaryens, Rhaenys is very ambitious. This is made evident in the way that Eve Best portrays her. The way that she shares looks with her husband, Corlys, for example, shows that they both want to see their house rise to the highest power that it possibly can.
And, as she strides through the halls of power, it’s clear that she sees this as something that she wants for herself. As events in the rest of the series will show, she is someone who is not content to rest on her laurels, and Best endows her with the right amount of restless energy.
Her Bitterness
There’s no question that Rhaenys has every reason to be bitter at the hand that she has been dealt. Though she had a very strong claim to the Iron Throne, she was passed over because she was a woman. From the moment that she appears, Best allows the viewer to understand just how much this has impacted Rhaenys and her view of the world.
The way she holds herself and the icy glare that she often fixes on the other members of the court show that she has internalized a profound sense of aggrievement at what has been denied her.
Her Obvious Bond With Corlys
Corlys Velaryon is one of the most notable characters in House of the Dragon. His ambition burns very brightly, as fiercely as that of his wife, and he isn’t afraid to show it. It thus makes sense that the two of them would share an undeniable bond.
Every time the viewer sees them together, it’s clear how in sync they are with one another’s feelings and emotions. This is, in fact, very true to the book, in that the match between Rhaenys and Corlys was one based on love as much as it was political compatibility.
Her Willingness To Use Her Children
The game of thrones is a brutal business, and it often necessitates parents using their children as pawns in an effort to gain more power. Thus, it’s not surprising that Rhaenys, as a member of a noble house, would be more than willing to do the same. Indeed, Eve Best shows the viewer this aspect of Rhaenys’ personality quite clearly.
She is, for example, more than happy to send her young daughter to try to woo the king, despite the vast differences in their ages. Like her book counterpart, Rhaenys never quite gives up hope of getting closer to the throne, if not in her generation then in the next.
Her Iron Will
From her youth onward, Rhaenys showed a formidable will. She wasn’t the type of person to ever let anything stand in the way of what she wanted to accomplish. This is also true of her on-screen counterpart, and much of the success of this characterization can be ascribed to Eve Best.
In every scene in which she appears, there is a stiffness to her posture that is highly suggestive of just how indomitable she is. There are few in the Seven Kingdoms who could truly stand up to her, as the events of the Dance of the Dragons will make clear.
Her Understanding Of Politics
House of the Dragon, like Game of Thrones before it, seems sure to be one of the best fantasy shows about politics. Rhaenys, like many other members of her family, has a keen understanding of what makes politics work, and this is evident in every aspect of Eve Best’s performance.
Like her book counterpart, she has little patience with foolishness or idealism, and she makes this clear in, for example, her fraught conversation with Rhaenyra. When it comes down to it, both Eve Best’s character and Rhaenys from Fire and Blood would prefer to live in the world as it is.
Her Impatience With Viserys
Viserys might be one of the series’ more likable characters, but despite his kindness he is not one of the best kings the realm has seen. In the book, it’s clear Rhaenys has very little patience with her cousin, who she looks down upon as someone who had a lesser right to the throne than she did.
Eve Best does a very good job of bringing out this aspect of Rhaenys’ personality. Any time that the two characters are seen in the same frame, her impatience–and almost contempt–for her cousin is very much on display.
Her Fearlessness
In the book, Rhaenys is one of the bravest of fighters. She is eager to go to war in Rhaenyra’s cause, and she is a formidable dragon rider in her own right. While the show has yet to see her mounting a dragon, it’s still clear that she is a fearless person.
She is willing to face down almost anyone who she comes into conflict with, and that includes the king. It’s no wonder that there were many who felt that she would have made a far better queen than her cousin, particularly as she is portrayed by Eve Best.
Her Pride
The Targaryens are known for many things, but humility is not one of them. As the royal house, they believe they are different than others, and in some ways this is true. In Rhaenys’ case, she is very prideful.
She knows who she is and what her bloodline is like, and she isn’t afraid to demonstrate that in her actions. One of Eve Best’s strengths as a performer is that she is able to bring out this element of her character’s personality, while also making her into someone that the viewer can still identify with and like.