“House of the Dragon” Finale Kills Major Character in ‘Very Sad’ Twist, Actor Says ‘I’m Just Happy I Made It 3 Seasons’

In a heartbreaking turn of events, the latest episode of HBO’s acclaimed series “House of the Dragon” has marked the end of Queen Helaena Targaryen, portrayed by Phia Saban. The season three finale, now available for streaming on HBO Max, has left fans reeling from the emotional gravity of her character’s demise.

Phia Saban, 27, recently opened up about her experiences filming Helaena’s final scene, a moment which saw the queen tragically taking her own life by falling from a window in the Red Keep. Reflecting on her character’s fate, Saban noted that she had been aware of the eventual outcome since the outset of her role. “When I got the job, I spent a lot of time Googling and searching the Wikis, so I’ve always known this was coming. There are so many fans out there who would let me know what was going to happen,” she revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Saban’s portrayal of Helaena culminated in poignant moments leading up to her death, including a tense confrontation with Rhaenyra, played by Emma D’Arcy. The conversation was precipitated by a warning from Mysaria, a newly cast-out character, who cautioned Helaena not to trust Rhaenyra and spoke ominously of her unborn child being used as leverage. This intense interplay set the stage for Helaena’s heartbreakingly definitive choice.

When discussing the emotional weight of the character’s storyline, Saban shared her thoughts on the tragedy of Helaena’s existence. “Objectively, it’s very sad. The story is sad. I love Helaena. I feel for Helaena,” she commented. However, she found a glimmer of hope within the narrative, suggesting that her character may have felt a sense of death long before her fatal leap. “I try to find hope, by thinking she felt as though she had been killed already in many ways,” she added.

Despite the dark themes of her final moments, Saban relished the creative experience of filming such a significant scene. She described the dying sequence as something akin to a “bucket list” achievement. “I got to die on TV! I got to do the thing where you keep your eyes open… everyone wants to do that!” she quipped, emphasizing the fun she had in executing a challenging performance.

Saban also highlighted her collaboration with the series’ prosthetics team while preparing for Helaena’s dramatic exit. The actress praised the artistry involved in creating the visceral aftermath of her character’s fatal fall. “The prosthetics were amazing. It made me want to do a thing where I’m entirely in prosthetics,” she expressed, noting how life-like the effects appeared. The attention to detail in ensuring her portrayal matched the character’s harrowing experience significantly enriched the drama of her final scene.

Before her character’s tragic end, Saban had the opportunity to express pivotal thoughts that spoke to Helaena’s plight, a moment she felt compelled to define through dialogue. Conversations with the show’s executive producers were instrumental in allowing her to inject depth into Helaena’s portrayal. “I felt a lot of ownership over Helaena and have loved building that character,” she explained. They discussed themes of empowerment and personal agency—“this idea that there’s more to life than not being dead,” contributing to her character’s yearning for freedom and connection to the outside world.

Saban, who joined “House of the Dragon” during its inaugural season in 2022, reflected on her journey with the show and her character. “It’s very hard in the moment to take in the finality of it… This is something I’ve been working on, and a character I’ve been caring for, for five years now,” she shared. Yet, her farewell was not solely drenched in melancholy; she expressed feelings of pride and excitement about the impact Helaena has had over the course of the series.

As Saban comes to terms with saying goodbye to Queen Helaena, she noted, “There is joy in this. There’s pride and there’s excitement,” hinting that the emotional weight of her departure may truly hit home once she sees the full episode or watches her colleagues continue without her.

With the third season now available on HBO Max, many viewers are left reflecting on the emotional stakes of Helaena Targaryen’s journey. As the series continues, it is clear that her character will resonate with audiences for its complexities and the poignant way in which it was brought to life by Phia Saban.