SPOILER ALERT! This story accommodates particulars from episode 6 of Home of the Dragon on HBO.
Even by the bloody requirements of Westeros, Corlys Velaryon has endured greater than most – shedding, variously, his spouse, brother and a few of his offspring. Steve Toussaint performs Corlys – aka ‘The Sea Snake’ – and talks to Deadline from London about his character’s journey and the revelation that he has not one, however two, sons by one other girl.
In Home of the Dragon lore, an affair out of wedlock would ordinarily rank as a minor indiscretion, however carries heavy emotional weight, given the connection between Corlys and Rhaenys (Eve Finest) was one primarily based on love slightly than politicking or expediency.
Rhaenys’ demise throughout a mid-air dragon battle was arguably probably the most dramatic second but of season two, and leaves Corlys bereft. Toussaint stated: “After we had been studying by the scripts within the first assembly and we bought to that episode it was… ‘devastating’ is just too massive a phrase as a result of that is Westeros and we’re all going to die, nevertheless it was like, oh, no. For Corlys, she was the one particular person with whom he might be fully who he wished to be, and he might share his vulnerabilities along with her. For her to be gone leaves him untethered.”
The revelation of Corlys’ affair and youngsters by one other girl delivers a Home of the Dragon curve ball. It additionally turns into clear that the sons, Alyn and Addam could have components to play because the battle for energy rages. Toussaint, whose work spans movies together with Prince of Persia, in addition to quite a few TV sequence and stage performs, breaks down what we’ve discovered about his character in Home of the Dragon.
DEADLINE: Steve, the chemistry between Corlys and Rhaenys supplied some humanity amid the brutality. Did the revelations this season about his affair and sons with a unique girl come as a shock?
I initially I discovered it very tough to get my head round. I hadn’t learn the books – I selected to not as a result of it’s a unique medium – so on a regular basis we had been selling season one, I used to be identical to, yeah, they’re in love… after which I’m offered with this story and I’m like: Oh, shit.
DEADLINE: How does Corlys justify his actions to himself?
There’s the saying about sailors having a lady in each port and I’m wondering if that’s how he sees issues. Perhaps that’s what it’s for him; it’s simply, I’m away from dwelling, and I’m away for months and months. However then the problem, and I haven’t resolved this but and we’ve had numerous conversations, myself and Eve and the administrators, is that this man has an affair and there’s a toddler… however he goes again and does it once more.
DEADLINE: That’s an important level. This wasn’t a one-off, Alyn has a brother, Addam.
Sure, and it makes you assume maybe their mom was one thing extra particular than he’s letting on. To be trustworthy, I’m nonetheless exploring this. Eve and I used to have lengthy discussions about it. I’d say to her: “Nicely, , so far as he’s involved, that was then, after which he got here again.” However she stated: “It doesn’t matter that he did it, it’s that it meant one thing extra to him.”
DEADLINE: It pulls the rug from below us. It makes us query whether or not the connection between Corlys and Rhaenys was all the things it seemed to be.
The one factor that I used to be certain of was that his relationship with Rhaenys is true.
I can solely assume that when he was with that particular person method again when, he was considering; that is nice, once I’m away from dwelling, I’m doing this. How that ended, I don’t know. That may be fascinating; did she go away, is she nonetheless alive? I actually don’t know.
After I spoke to Claire [Kilner] or Alan [Taylor] our administrators about it, they weren’t certain both, so I’ve to go along with that actually type of macho masculine factor of, , once I’m right here, that is sort of cool, however once I’m at dwelling, I’ve a factor.
DEADLINE: An fascinating factor about his sons from the illicit relationship is that he maintains a reference to them. He provides Alyn a place of energy on his ship, he needs them in his world, or a minimum of in his proximity.
I believe there’s a number of issues that play into this. To begin with, his daughter and son are useless, nicely, his son is ‘useless’. Then he makes his grandson, who’s not likely his grandson, his inheritor, and that little one dies. No matter else he says, he’s nonetheless about legacy, his title must be handed on and who’s he going to offer it to? Who’s left?
Play into that the truth that the final time that he and Rhaenys had a significant on-screen dialog, she stated to him: “I do know who that man is and he saved your life. He shouldn’t be swept below the carpet, he needs to be exalted and given his due.”
And I believe, for Corlys, after she has handed, that’s virtually like permission. He has only a few folks left who might observe his legacy, however that is his blood, and his spouse has stated to him, “You possibly can’t simply ignore this little one, his life just isn’t his fault.”
Rachel Smith
DEADLINE: Quite a bit suits into place in episode 6, nevertheless it has already been established that Rhaenys knew in regards to the illegitimate sons
Sure, and that’s the purpose for Corlys. I believe had she lived, they’d have had additional dialogue. I don’t assume she was comfy with the scenario, however being Rhaenys, she’s sensible about it. And I believe one of many issues that we mentioned so much was that there have been rumors following this boy round within the office the entire time, his crew sort of know, or suspect.
And I believe for Corlys as he sits there, grieving for his spouse after which in a while with the field with the Hand in it, he’s considering, okay, my spouse was the sensible one and he or she’s proper, possibly that is the one that might probably be my inheritor. After all, the boy nonetheless has to say sure.
DEADLINE: Corlys is grieving for his beloved spouse, however he’s nonetheless interested by legacy and energy. He’s nonetheless bold?
He’s nonetheless the identical man, so there’s ambition there. He won’t admit it. There’s a bit in a while when he says: “No matter I do now, I do for my spouse.” I believe that’s true, however being proper there subsequent to the throne, to energy, he’s bought an eye fixed to the primary probability. We don’t change that a lot.
DEADLINE: As a viewer you need to be a part of the assorted dots because the sequence strikes round places and storylines intertwine. To what extent are you conscious of the larger image? Or do you need to simply deal with what’s in entrance of you?
Sure, I believe you do, and once I’ve spoken to the opposite forged, it’s the identical factor, notably for this season. Final season there have been a minimum of 4 or 5 episodes the place we had been all collectively. Now, as a result of we’re about to go to struggle, we’re not seeing one another. I didn’t see Matt (Smith), Fabien (Frankel), Olivia (Cooke), Tom (Glynn-Carney), Ewan (Mitchell) and any of these guys in any respect, due to the completely different storylines.
After we first bought collectively for season two, we had been all in a room so you then’ve bought an thought of the fundamental arc of the entire story, however when you begin taking pictures, they don’t give us all the entire script, we solely get our pages. I had my journey by these eight episodes, however I didn’t know everyone else’s. After we had the premiere, the primary time I watched it, it was like: ‘Oh, that’s the way it all suits in.’
