One thing is for certain in D’Arcy’s opinion: The kiss was not a calculated decision on Rhaenyra’s part.
“Honestly, I think initially there was just such a desire to connect,” D’Arcy told Variety. “I think what you see initially is intimacy, and an intimacy that Rhaenyra shares so rarely. Even in some of her other romantic relationships, there’s a lot of presentation, there’s a lot of bravado, often from both sides. Certainly with Daemon, I think both parties struggle to reveal themselves in weakness, and that their eroticism is sort of predicated on power.
“Whereas with Mysaria, in this growing relationship — it’s remarkably honest,” D’Arcy continued. “Initially, there’s huge feelings of empathy and gratitude toward this person. Rhaenyra is hugely affected by the life that Mysaria has lived so bravely. Then, they are two bodies completely overrun by touch. As soon as they embrace and their bodies are touching, I think it’s pure bodily desire.”
“There’s nothing Machiavellian in it, as far as I’m concerned,” Mizuno said in an interview on Friday. “It’s a really beautiful, tender kiss, and it would be impossible not to feel something as Mysaria in that moment. I don’t think she has had that kind of kiss — maybe ever. And I think sex and sexuality is very complicated for her, given her history as a young woman with her father, and then going into her professional work life. So to have that such a tender, loving and passionate moment would have woken something up.”
Mizuno spoke about how the two actors conceived of their characters’ feelings before filming the scene. “When we discussed it, we talked about when you realize you have a crush on someone in hindsight, and you’re like, ‘Oh yeah, of course. I’ve fancied that person for six months, and I didn’t realize,'” she said. “But then once you realize it, it’s then a full-blown teenage crush. So maybe there’s some of that going on. But there’s also a civil war breaking out, so what are the priorities going to be?”
emma d’arcy and sonoya mizuno for variety.
