Emilia Clarke and Emma D’Arcy’s Emmys Reunion Became a Memorable ‘Game of Thrones’ Moment

Avatar photoRobert Milaković
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Fantasy franchises often struggle with transitions between generations of stars, yet the realm of Westeros has achieved a remarkable handoff. HBO has dedicated years to constructing a shared universe that fans eagerly analyze across timelines, particularly regarding its most formidable female characters.

This comparison unfolded in an unexpectedly delightful manner during this year’s Emmy Awards, where two actresses closely linked to this dynasty shared a stage for the first time. Fans of the dragon-laden fantasy series had long envisioned this moment, and Monday night finally brought it to life.

Emilia Clarke and Emma D’Arcy took the stage at the Peacock Theater to present the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, quickly becoming one of the evening’s most discussed segments. Clarke is well-known for her role as Daenerys Targaryen throughout all eight seasons of ‘Game of Thrones,’ while D’Arcy currently portrays Rhaenyra Targaryen in the prequel series ‘House of the Dragon,’ which is set centuries before the original show’s events.

Instead of merely announcing the nominees, the duo fully embraced their shared fictional heritage. “And in honour of our shared Targaryen lineage, Emilia is going to address you in High Valyrian, our mother tongue, and I will translate,” D’Arcy said, kicking off the segment live on NBC.

Clarke then delivered a line in High Valyrian, the constructed language created by linguist David J. Peterson specifically for the HBO adaptations, which drew immediate cheers from the audience. D’Arcy followed by translating the phrase for everyone, revealing that Clarke had simply said “Good evening,” a revelation that sparked laughter.

The fun didn’t stop there, as D’Arcy humorously referred to Clarke as their “great-great-great-great-really-great-granddaughter,” highlighting the generational gap between their characters within the franchise’s extensive timeline. Cameras even captured ‘Game of Thrones’ co-creator David Benioff reacting from the audience as the moment unfolded.

After their presenting duties concluded, the award ultimately went to Sally Field for her performance in ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures,’ defeating fellow nominees Claire Danes, Carey Mulligan, Sarah Pidgeon, and Sarah Snook. Notably, none of this year’s nominees had any ties to the Targaryen family that the presenters had just celebrated.

The moment resonated particularly well since ‘House of the Dragon’ was entirely absent from this year’s Emmy nominations, primarily due to scheduling rather than a snub. The show’s third season didn’t begin airing until June 2026, placing it outside the eligibility window for this specific ceremony.

Fans have often drawn parallels between Daenerys and Rhaenyra due to their shared status as powerful women from a dragon-riding lineage, although D’Arcy has previously cautioned against treating the two characters as interchangeable. Witnessing both actresses share the stage and playfully acknowledge that connection provided long-time viewers with the crossover moment they never knew they needed.

For a franchise that has spent years existing in two separate corners of the same universe, Monday night served as a rare reminder of the significant overlap that still exists between them.

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