House of the Dragon director Loni Peristere explains the cinematic origins behind the opening scene in season 2, episode 7, “The Red Sowing.” The scene features Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) facing Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) on a beach, with their respective dragons behind each other, after she learns that the shipwright has become a dragonrider. The initial caution Rhaenyra and Addam display builds to a triumphant ending, in which Addam pledges his loyalty to Rhaenyra, and she realizes that her plan to find new dragonriders who are not trueborn Targaryens may be feasible after all.

While speaking with Vanity Fair, Peristere revealed that he took influences from several iconic Western movies and their stars when staging the tense opening scene between Rhaenyra and Addam. He explained how the Western influences helped to visually communicate the dynamics between Rhaenyra and Addam as they met for the first time. The director also addressed how these tropes were adapted for the context of the fantasy series. Check out his explanation below:

That opening shot comes from traditional Western tropes. It’s Sergio Leone, Eli Wallach and Clint Eastwood. Instead of guns at their holster, it’s dragons. Instead of having a shot that’s two men out in the middle of a desolate desert landscape, it’s Rhaenyra the queen and… who is this guy? But they both have guns. The feeling of that opening shot for me was, how do I evoke traditional cinematic language—the big epic wide shot that puts two cowboys against one another—and also pull out that dragon level of epic.

Rhaenyra & Addam Share Rich Parallels

They Are Challenging Their Society’s Longheld Beliefs

Addam and Rhaenyra did not actively seek the power they were granted, but they bravely accepted the responsibility, and are continuing to be courageous by embracing this status and all the challenges that come with it.

Despite the initial tension between Rhaenyra and Addam, they quickly find common ground, finding unity that proves that their stories have parallels to each other in multiple ways. Rhaenyra and Addam both have Valyrian blood running through their veins, as Rhaenyra is a trueborn Targaryen and Addam is the bastard son of Corlys Velaryon, with this blood being an important factor in claiming their respective dragons. More importantly, both Rhaenyra and Addam are individuals with significant power thrust upon them that breaks barriers and challenges the expectations of their society.

Addam went from being a simple shipwright to a dragonrider, challenging the long-accepted belief that only trueborn Targaryens can claim a dragon. Viserys Targaryen named Rhaenyra as his heir, choosing his daughter over his brother, Daemon, and his son Aegon, with Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne challenging Westeros’ patriarchal foundation. Addam and Rhaenyra did not actively seek the power they were granted but bravely accepted the responsibility and continued to be courageous by embracing this status and all the challenges that come with it.

Both House of the Dragon characters also care deeply about the approval and love of their fathers. All his life, Addam wanted to be recognized by Corlys and finally got that when the Hand of the Queen congratulated him on becoming a dragonrider. When Rhaenyra met with Alicent in King’s Landing earlier in House of the Dragon season 2, she needed to know if Viserys actually changed his mind about his heir during his final moments, partly because Rhaenyra had to know her father died fully loving and approving of her, bringing further parallels between her and Addam.