Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Season 2 Episode 3 of House of the Dragon.
This week’s episode ofHouse of the Dragonhas some major supernatural undertones. In “The Burning Mill,” Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) arrives in Harrenhal to claim the spooky castle for the Blacks, but is not only haunted by cryptic visions of a young Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), but also encounters a woman who delivers an ominous omen for his future. Meet Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin),who manages to stand out in a world marked by many strange and supernatural elements. She is one of the most mysterious characters inFire & Blood, now making her debut in the series.
House of the Dragon
The reign of House Targaryen begins with this prequel to the popular HBO seriesGame of Thrones.Based on George R.R. Martin’sFire & Blood,House of the Dragonis set nearly 200 years beforeGame of Thrones, telling the story of the Targaryen civil war with King Viserys.
Alys Rivers Is a Mysterious Figure in Harrenhal
Alys Rivers has a small, but striking part in “The Burning Mill.” When Daemon Targaryen enters the dining hall in Harrenhal, he finds no resistance from the castellan,Ser Simon Strong(Simon Russell Beale),a young lady dressed in all black suddenly enters the room and fiercely stares at the rogue prince. Later, she tells Daemon he “will die in this place” after he has a vision that leads him to the local Godswood.
Harrenhal is known for being a haunted castle at the heart of the Riverlands, but Alys stands out as one of the most mysterious figures in its history.She is said to be a bastard daughter ofLord Lyonel Strong(Gavin Spokes) who becomes a wet nurse after all her pregnancies fail. Other accounts say that she was actually Lord Lyonel’s wet nurse, as well as his children’s. What all accounts inFire & Bloodagree on, however, is that Alys looks younger than her years, giving an idea of the kind of character she is. The actress who plays Alys, Gale Rankin, toldEntertainment Weekly, “[Alys] can tell the future, basically. She’s someone who has all of this power, who’s been alive for potentially 400 years.”
There are many rumors about Alys and her ethereal presence,most of them claiming she is a witch. The true range of her supernatural powers is unknown, but it’s said she can getvisions of the future, as well as use magic to kill enemies. InHouse of the Dragon, Daemon’s vision certainly comes from her, hinting at a fateful confrontation with another character also tied to her.
Alys Rivers Is a Symbol of the Dangers of the Riverlands
The Riverlands are shaping up to be the main battleground of the Dance of Dragons, and Harrenhal holds a strategic position. As Daemon explains, there are around 40,000 soldiers to be claimed in this region, and Harrenhal is the only castle big enough to hold them.Both the Blacks and the Greens are aware of that andare making movesto claim it, so it’s certain to appear more and more in further episodes. As will Alys Rivers.
The two sides of the war will eventually converge in the Riverlands, leading to a lot of blood and destruction. Daemon has already claimed his leadership for the Blacks on that front, while the Greens have yet to make a decision; they just know that it won’t be Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney). Instead, they are likely to send Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), who is eager to fly into battle with Vhagar. InFire & Blood,Alys has a connection to Aemond, and the whole thing sets him on his path to meet Daemon in battle.The two Targaryen princes are like two sides of a coin, andHouse of the Dragonhas already hinted that their fates are tied together. Also, Season 2 has so far analyzed Aemond’s frail ego, caused by his estranged relationship with his mother,Alicent Hightower(Olivia Cooke). Alys Rivers, in turn, is literally a wet nurse, someone who nurtures children when their mothers can’t.
Alys Rivers' role asan embodiment ofHarrenhal’s haunted natureis bound to be important as the war starts and the dragons turn their eyes to the Riverlands. For centuries, those who hold Harrenhal alwaysperish tragically, be it during war or peace. She has just told Daemon that he will die there, but he is hardly the only person who will hear that.
New episodes ofHouse of the Dragonair weekly on Sundays on Max.
