Happy Sad Confused - Matt Smith, Tom Glynn-Carney, & Fabien Frankel (HOUSE OF THE DRAGON)

Episode Date: November 28, 2024

Three of the key actors leading HOUSE OF THE DRAGON assemble for this fun live chat taped at New York Comic Con. Matt Smith, Tom Glynn-Carney, and Fabien Frankel chat with Josh about their HOUSE OF THE DRAGON origin stories, the fandom, the future, and who hasn't seen STAR WARS and LORD OR THE RINGS! SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Uncommon Goods – Visit UncommonGoods.com/podcast/HappySad for 15% off BetterHelp -- Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BetterHelp.com/HSC ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for 10% off UPCOMING LIVE EVENTS 12/1 -- Natasha Lyonne at 92Y in NY -- Tickets here 12/3 -- John David Washington at 92Y in NY -- ⁠Tickets here⁠ 12/18 – Billy Eichner at 92Y in NY – Tickets here 12/19 -- Ben Schwartz at 92Y in NY -- ⁠Tickets here Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Happy Sad Confused patreon here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We've got discount codes to live events, merch, early access, exclusive episodes, video versions of the podcast, and more! To watch episodes of Happy Sad Confused, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh's youtube channel here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you're with Amex Platinum, you get access to exclusive dining experiences and an annual travel credit. So the best tapas in town might be in a new town altogether. That's the powerful backing of Amex. Terms and conditions apply. Learn more at Amex.ca. The twisted tale of Amanda Knox is an eight-episode episode Hulu original limited series that blends gripping pacing with emotional complexity, offering a dramatized look as it revisits the wrongful conviction of Amanda Knox for the tragic murder of Meredith Kircher and the relentless media storm that followed. The twisted tale of Amanda Knox is now streaming only on Disney Plus.

movie you're embarrassed to admit you've never seen? Can I be, you're going to hate me for this? I've never watched Star Wars the whole way through. I've never seen... Well, I've never seen Return of the Jedi the whole way through, yeah, yeah. Don't hate me, don't hate me. Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, sad, confused begins now.

Hey guys, Josh here with a very quick note before this episode of Happy Sagan Fused. It's a special one taped live at New York Comic-Con just a few weeks back with three of the stars of House of the Dragon. That's right. In front of 4,000 very enthusiastic fans, I had a great chat with Matt Smith, with Tom Gwinkarnie and Fabi and Frankel. You're going to hear all the laughter, all the love in the air in front of 4,000 strong at Jacob Javitt Center. I hope you guys enjoy this, and without any further ado, let's go right to the live event, me and the cast of House of the Dragon. Hi, guys, how's it going?

Welcome, happy Sunday. Welcome to the Empire Stage. I feel like I live here. I never want to leave. Thank you for being here, guys. You ready for this? This is a big one. A lot of love in the room, and I know why,

because we are going to celebrate three amazing actors from an extraordinary show. of the dragon. By the way, whether you know it or not, you're in the middle of my podcast right now. This is a live taping of Happy Second View. So welcome, 4,000 of you. We are closing out Comic-Con in style, but again, celebrating this beloved show.

I'm just going to bring them out because I have a thousand questions and you want to hear from them, not me. So give a warm New York Comic-Con, welcome to Fabian Frankel, to Tom Gwinkarnie, and to the nerd god himself, Matt Smith,

Everybody, come on, everybody. Babian! Babian! Come on out! Tom! Enter Matt Smith, there he is. Wow. Whoa. Whoa.

we're not expecting so many people, to be honest. If I say, it's like, bang, there's a lot of people out there. There's like 200 people. There's not 3,000 people in here. That'll wake you up. That's a nice little ego boost for the day. Welcome, guys. I thought you all got the memo.

I thought you were going to be in character and costume today, but no. Civilian clothes? It takes too long to get the wig on, so... Yeah, I get it, I get it. I have to say, by the way, whenever I watch the after shows that you guys do, when you do the interviews in wardrobe, is that odd when you're... when you're like having a deep conversation about the arc of the character, et cetera. You kind of forget you've got it on, really, at that point.

Speak for yourself, mate. Fabian's always aware. Matt, you've been coming to these for many years. But it's never old hat, is it? Do you remember the first ones you went to and what it felt like to kind of receive that love? I do, yeah. The first con I went to is in New Orleans, and I bought my best mate, actually, Bondi, who's out of back. And now he works and looks up.

after actors who come to the cons. And, yeah, I was sort of overwhelmed, really, with the energy of a proper Comic Con like this. It's cool, isn't it? Yeah, it's a good vibe. Do you guys think about when you sign on to something like this? You probably put it out of your mind, I would imagine, this side of it.

But you're aware, obviously, there's going to be a fandom and you're going to be exposed to the craziness. Yeah, I mean, I feel like, This isn't our everyday life. There's so many people right now. So many phones. So scared. Terrified.

You're in a safe space. 4,000 people love you. This is good. You must by now have seen folks cosplay as your characters. Have you seen cosplay, tattoos, everything under the sun? I saw one of Matt yesterday. I saw one of your face on a lady's leg. I actually know her.

I actually know her. You know her? Yeah, I mean, I met her a few years ago. And she's got like all the different kind of signatures from people in Doctor Who. I mean, I've seen things that my eyes can never take back. But Matt encourages it. Matt wants you to tattoo your bodies forever. Oh, God, yeah. Get it done.

No, no, no. Definitely don't. If you could tattoo any fictional character on your body. Would you consider? That's a cracking question. Ooh. From our show or any show?

Any show? Any show. It could be your show though. Jack Jack from The Incredibles, I think. Oh, who? Yeah, that's a good one. Who? Jack Jack.

In what? The Incredible. The Kid, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anything, Matt? Well, it's a reference that no one will get, but Alan Partry. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Ah ha! Back of the net. Tom, you'll go with Alan Partridge too, matching tattoos with Matt so you guys can walk around celebrating Alan? I'll probably get Danny DeVito from Only Sonny. My man.

My man. Um, are all fandoms created equal? Matt, can you clock a Doctor Who fan from a House of the Dragon fan at this point in your life as they approach? Oh, that's a very good question. Yeah, I mean, often by their attire, but no, I think, I think, I think there's, I also, there's, there seems to be quite a lot of kind of crossover, cross sort of pollination between fans, doesn't it? So, you know, we're all here for the same purpose. That's right. Celebrating nerddom. Talk to me a little bit about your origin story with this show. Had any of you been up for Game of Thrones, or was House of the Dragon the first time you encountered this world? No, I'd never seen Game of Thrones before.

I didn't even... You've never seen it. Never seen it, no. Good show. You should check it out. It's good, yeah. I've heard of it. Yeah.

I've heard of it. But to be fair, when we got the sides through for the tape and the audition, there was nothing to indicate that it was the show that we were going to do. At least for me, it wasn't. It was dummy sides, so we weren't told, you know, it was going to be House of the Dragon. So it was like a similar character traits, but not the specific. Yeah, there was a similar sort of tone to language. It felt medieval.

It felt sort of semi-classical, which was a massive draw to me. I thought it was theater before people told me what it was. Yeah, and then it became evident after that when we got on the Zoom call with Ryan and Miguel and the team and stuff, and they were telling you what it was all about. But other than that, I didn't know.

So then I went and watched Game of Thrones, and I think I did the whole eight seasons in about three weeks. Yeah, just blasted through it. And how did that feel then, having now seen what they were capable of doing, the kind of extraordinary storytelling, now knowing, oh my gosh, I'm going to be continuing this story? Yeah, great, great. I mean, it's an amazing opportunity as an actor to be part of a show like this that has such a following, but also is you're given so much time to be creative and be collaborative in the process as well, you know. It's a gift, yeah, really is. Fabian, was your audition process somewhat similar?

Yeah, I read for a character called Sir Clint And I sort of thought it was a Western thing But But, yeah, it was like an audition for this guy called Sir Clint He sort of like seemed pretty bitter about some things Nothing like the character, obviously And so, yeah

And then I didn't hear anything for about a year They told me they were looking for more of a Jason Mamoa type. Sure. Which, of course, is me. Jason was busy. Yeah, Jason was busy doing Aquaman. And then I finally heard back that they'd taken back their offer of a more

mammowery type guy. They wanted a sort of someone who, I don't know, smaller than Jason. Well, like the rest of us, like every other human being on the planet. Yeah, yeah, exactly. And then I rocked up and made this Western show called House of the Dragon. There you go. But rest is history. Matt, how did you encounter this at first?

And was it an ECES, or is it there's some soul searching of this kind of commitment? I always procrastinate over everything, everything, what eggs to have. You know, it's like, like, let alone a big, long job. So there was a lot of procrastination. But yeah, it was kind of similar to the boys, really. You get a script, you go in, you're like, oh, what is this? And I was, I was knew the character was quite cool. You know, I thought there was a sort of gray edge to him that was really interesting.

And I thought, oh, that might be quite nice to explore. and just nice to make a show that has sort of the scale and ambition of the show that we're trying to make. You know, it's good. I'd never done that, really. A show with loads of money. Is there anything in retrospect you wish you'd known on day one that they had told you about?

Oh, my God, yeah. How much time do we have? Yeah, how long you got? The wigs are hard. The wigs are hard. The wigs, the bald caps, the pins. Listen, I've been talking, because I'm here working on a different job,

when I've been talking to the makeup people there going, is there a way around it? And they're like, there is. No. Yes. What do you mean? What, the wig, the ball cap thing. I'm going back armed, man, I tell you.

I'm going back armed. You're halfway there now. Oh, I'm just going to shave my hair. Yeah, that's what I did. I can't go through it again, man. I can't. It kills me. Sorry, these are champagne problems, aren't they?

No. Matt, you are on a hair journey throughout your career. You really are. Also, just to be clear about this, it feels like we're about to be abducted by aliens. Like, this isn't comic on this. I'm in some sort of science fiction movie and we're all about to be abducted

because whatever's going up on his... That's unnecessarily intense, it feels like the end of the world is starting right now. This is an interrogation, not a conversation. It's not bloody candlelight, is it? So, wigs versus prosthetics versus uncomfortable armor. Who's got it worse? Oh, well, oh, mate, these two are going bad, mate.

Make your case. No, no, Tom doesn't have it. I have it bad. I have it bad. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's hear your sad story. How does it feel? Oh, do I not have it bad?

I'm sat in the chair for seven hours. That is actually, sorry, I actually take that. Tom had it easier last year. Tom has it terrible now. Um, he lost half his face. And my cock. But yeah. Thank you so much for having us.

No, no. But on the plus side, you get to sit down a lot. You get to lie down. a lot so that even yeah but he hasn't got a cock I mean what I'm trying to look at the bright side sorry if there's any kids in the audience don't let your parents bring you to Comic-com to God save do you encounter children like that are far too young that's yeah you're not allowed that are far too young to watch this show that say I'm a big fan and what do you think yeah yeah yeah my my

friend's nephew is 10 and he watched the whole show, everything. Tom losing his car, all of it. And he's only 10. So it feels like he's probably too young. I would say, but, you know, I'm not his father, so, so, you know, and someone else's problem. Somebody else's, somebody else's problem. And if he becomes a bit maniacal when he's older, you know, we'll know why. During the Volvo Fall Experience event, discover exceptional offers and thoughtful design that leaves plenty of room for autumn adventures. And see for yourself how Volvo's legendary safety brings peace of mind to every crisp morning commute. This September, lease a 2026 XE90 plug-in hybrid from $599 bi-weekly at 3.99% during the Volvo Fall experience event.

Conditions supply, visit your local Volvo retailer or go to Explorevolvo.com. Hit pause on whatever you're listening to and hit play on your next adventure. This fall get double points on every qualified stay. Life's the trip. Make the most of it at Best Western. Visit bestwestern.com for complete terms and conditions. When you see the sides for the day and you know you're playing a scene with one of your friends up here, what are you in for? What's unique about playing a scene with Matt, with Tom, with Fabian? What do you know?

Well, unfortunately, we don't get any scenes with Matt. We're kept very separate, which is a shame. And I hope that at some point we get to go toe to toe, because that'd be fun. I'd love that. Yeah, it'd be great, wouldn't it? But I think, you know, we're all like-minded people when it comes to what excites us as actors. And I think that it's only when it becomes electric and when you've got the potential to bounce off each other in a scene. And Fabian and I had a great scene in season two with Reese, who plays Otto,

where we really felt like animals in the space and we were able to inhabit that and change it every time we did a new take. And that for us is, well, that for me is exciting as an actor to be able to do that and to do it differently each time. And probably surprising, given like, how big this show is, I think the preconception would be like, you're locked in.

Yeah. But I guess they create such an amazing environment. You walk onto set. That does 25% of the work. The prosthetics do a little bit of the work, and then you're off to the racist with some good actors to work with. Yeah, go ahead. Fabian. No, no, no, no. It was a thought, and then it's gone. That's okay. It's all good. Sorry.

Biggest change between season one and season two for you guys. Obviously, by the time you get on set, season two, you know, what you're in for. You know how the sausage is made. So is there just more of a comfort level by the time you got back on season two or what? Or not, apparently. Yeah, I had a haircut. I don't know, did it feel different? I mean, I think it feels like it feels a lot like when you leave school for the summer and then you come back and you're like a bit nervous to see everyone there's like you know you might be in trouble with some teachers you feel like you've

probably done a bit of homework but maybe not as much as you should have done and then you kind of get there and then it's all it's all the same as it was the year before I feel um but yeah I don't know it was exciting this the second season was exciting to come come back to I thought because it felt I think we were less nervous I think it was very nerve-wracking the first season especially for like the one like us who were just like right at the beginning of our careers we just felt a big imposter syndrome I think and I think the second season around there were so many new other actors that were coming in

that it was their first you know like big foray into like a big job and so I think weirdly like it felt maybe it's slightly less stressful if that makes sense yeah how would you assess your abilities as hand of the king would you say are you on a scale of one to ten

what do you guys think So one person claps. Thank you. Yes, how would I assess my abilities as Hand of the King? You know, I made some choices, definitely. You know, and how would you assess my abilities as your hand? Not my question, mate, that's your question. Tommy did.

did choose. I think Tom, you should ask Tom about it just because it was his choice I think. Yeah, actually, it wasn't it? Great points. What are you thinking, man? Egon is good at making rash decisions. Right. Being very impulsive and yeah, but also, you know,

Kristen had proved himself to be somebody who took action, you know? Sure. And didn't just talk about things, he did things. And he could see the proof of that. And I think Egon needed somebody in his space

that behaved in that way and didn't just discuss things and send ravens and write letters and all that shit he needed somebody to actually do something he's going to get done he's going to do something he wanted to spill blood not ink you know so there you go

Kristen Cole everybody there you go I've also always been convinced that that Damon and Kristen have had some sort of homo-erotic twist in the evening. And now we're getting somewhere. They kind of hate each other, but they love each other,

but they hate each other, but they love each other. If you watch closely, there's a lot of tension where it isn't written in the show. Has this actually been discussed on set before a scene like, let's add this where? What do you think? No, no. It just sort of like magic, isn't it? Yeah, you can't deny it. It's just what are you going to do?

You know, we're both in her alma. Things have been. Yeah, yeah. He likes one queen, I like another queen. Then I like one queen, then I like another queen. I mean, you mentioned the shades of grey in all these characters and throughout the story. I mean, do you all view your own character in a sense, no matter how dark or horrible their decisions might be, as somewhat of a hero of their own story, or no?

I always feel that with any character I play, that you like, because you sort of instinctually, you kind of pretend. them, even if they're the worst of the worst, of the absolute worst. And you're like, yeah, I mean, it's his niece. But, and then you're like, yeah, but it's his niece. You're like, but... That but is doing a lot of work for you as an actor. Well, exactly, and then you're like, so... But, you know, you do sort of...

You need to. You back them, because if you don't then... How do you, I suppose? Right. Yeah, you need to find a justification for their actions, and you can't come to them with any judgment at all, because as soon as that happens, everybody else turns them, turns their back on your character as well. So what are the mental gymnastics in your head, the justifications you've made for your character

as a... Just, you have to dig into the reasons that person behaves the way they behave. There's always a reason for it, and you know, you can blame it on previous trauma, you blame it on the current situation they're in. You can blame it on their personality type or whatever. But any of those are valid explanations for, you know, why they do the things they do. It's not an excuse, it's an explanation, it's a different thing. You went on quite the journey this past season. Matt, lots of visions, lots of amazing looks into the future. How do you think Damon's changed from the beginning of season two to the end?

Don't ask me. I mean, oh no, I look, I don't know. Look, I think fundamentally the death of his brother was the big, you know, I think he loved his brother. One of the only few people he did love. His brother is dragon and, you know, his wife. And I, yeah, so I think that sort of obviously instilled a odd level of psychosis in him on some level,

the grief that he just couldn't really deal with and cope with and um you know he took himself for a wet holiday as it were when you have to deliver like a hugely dramatic scene in high valerian is that like can't we just do it in english today can't we just like like i actually find it quite liberating really yeah yeah i thought i'd hate it but i kind of like i mean i i i don't know how you feel about the valerian i i quite like it you're very good at it though am i yeah very good at Thanks, mate. Well, actually, do you know who was best at it was... No, no, no, no.

Emma's amazing at it. Supergirl. I've gone blank. Millie. Yeah, Mills. Mills is brilliant at it. Now we just call her Supergirl, right? Mills was absolutely amazing at it.

Yeah, it's cool, though. It's quite liberating because you can... I mean, I didn't speak a different language, but Fabst does. And there's something... I don't know, you can access a different part of their personality in a way, which, yeah, he's sort of more relaxed in High Valerian. You mention Emma, the scenes between you two

are electric, always. Talk to me about the evolution of that relationship on and off-screen as actors and as characters. Well, yeah, we've actually become really close off-screen. I love them. I'm full of the deepest admiration for them as an actor and a person, actually.

And to see them from, you know, I mean to see all of the actors really through the process has been amazing. And we're so blessed with this amazing young cast of actors who are going to leave us all behind and go and do amazing things. Emma is extraordinary. Extraordinary, yeah.

What's the most common conversation topic on set totally unrelated to health of the draft? Oh, God, it's hot. I don't want to be here. Oh, God, when in, when it's that. I've got such a massive headache from this fucking wig. Who could possibly say that, though? Yeah. Or where's Reese if you're ends?

Has dragon riding technique evolved? Has the technology evolved at all from season one to season two? Yeah, actually, it did evolve a bit, I think. I think the buck got, you know, more technology put on it, basically. But there are still two guys at the front with leaf blowers. Which must make you feel super cool. Everyone is looking exhausted. I'm the real star of the show.

Those poor guys are there all very much. Meanwhile, all the actors are like, oh man, my fucking head hurts from this wig. The fucking guy leaf blowing for like two and a half hour. That's true. I'm actually exhausted. How are you guys generally with keeping the secrets of the show? Like how much do you keep it to yourself?

Tell friends and family. I think, you know, we get away, I just forget everything, so... That's good, that works. I'm in no danger of giving any seconds away, forget everything, yeah. Yeah, you know, Fabian's not so good at you. No, I, I know, I haven't, no, I've never given anything away. No, I don't know, sometimes. When Paddy died, when Vassaris died, I feel like that was kind of happening, and I remember

going home and be like, crazy, Paddy's dead. And, like, that was just, like, a huge, like, you can't say that. But not real time But then someone was like, Paddy Carsonline died And I was like, no, no, sorry, not Patty, Patty's alive And Vissera We all got worried for a second, yeah What about you?

I mean, because you obviously played some scenes with Paddy, Millie's return Pretty good at bottling it up by now Yeah, I got good at that When I did Doctor Who I was always quite good at like Whoop And yeah

So I got pretty well sort of trained in that in that department. So speaking of spoilers, has anybody seen a script, anything? Not season three. Not a jot. Not a letter. Does it make you anxious?

Are you like pestering the writers, the showrunners, anything? Or you're just like, when it comes, it comes? No. The longer they take, the longer, you know, we don't have to read anything for a while. Right, less work. Yeah.

Yeah. If you want to just give it to me as I step on set, better. Yeah, yeah. But they have, in just conversation, have they given you an inkling of what? No, I mean, I've not heard hide nor hair. I don't know about you guys.

Why is that funny? I've not heard hide nor bloody hair. No, yeah, no, I've not heard a thing of you. I've heard. Oh, Fab has always got his finger on the post. I've heard some things that I couldn't possibly share here. What do you selfishly or not so selfishly want for your character next season? Have you made any requests of the writer?

the writers, an interaction, anything. But it makes me think that I should. You're Matt Smith. You can make some requests by now. Bloody might, actually. Yeah, I don't know. I mean, there are people that you don't get the chance to work with, like Matt and I worked quite a lot together in season one.

I didn't get to work with them at all this season. How does that happen, though? that happened though? Yeah, I know, crazy. You're like fighting a war. Yeah, crazy. God knows what I'm doing. Yeah. Like, I mean, you're at home with no cock. It's like, we must have to just give up now. Tom's hope is just to get that cock back next season, right? That'd be nice. That'd be nice.

Ages in prosthetics. Sorry, this has taken a turn for the worst. I'm just following your lead, yeah. Uh, we do know that there is an end point. Is it good to know that there is an end, like you know specifically that there's an end coming after four seasons. Is that helpful for you as an actor to, as opposed to have it open-ended? Yeah. Yes.

Yeah. Yeah. Otherwise, you know, you just don't know. Which is shit. Sorry, I got distracted. My water bottle went all over my trousers. Oh, no. Tommy.

Now, I know, like, I piss myself. So much, so much crotch-related content to Tom today. Nightmare. Comic-Conny-puses himself on stage. Nobody take a photo out of context. This just happens. Oh, my word. That's bad.

That's bad. That's bad. Do you want to cloth? I've been done dirty by my own waterway. Yeah, mate. There you go, mate. Thank you. You're not going to tell me lying in bed all that time.

That never happened. Has anyone got a hairdryer? Yeah. Oh, no. Any excuse to get close to Tom's bum? Who's most likely to have the House of the Dragon theme on there as a ringtone? Does anybody have it saved on their phone? None of us.

No, none of us at all. None of us. I mean, who... Freddy Fox. I can't imagine that. He's far too clark. Yeah, yeah. Ooh, that's a good question.

That's not a motivational thing in the gym. I'm going to listen to the theme on repeat. Do you know what? Maybe you and Mitchell. You and yeah. Maybe you and Mitchell. Yeah, yeah. But it'd be like, I'm really, really quiet.

Like, I'm so quiet. And you'd be like, Yuan, what's that? And he'd be like, nothing, nothing. Who's most likely to have no idea what's actually happening in the scene? So it'd be totally confused and just sort of going through the motions. Reese, if hands. Reese, if hands. He'd know exactly what's happening with his character,

but he'd be like, I've no idea what's going on in this, but no idea what's going on today. Who am I? He's a kind of a delicious enigma to me, recently. Like, what's the, the funniest man on the planet? Ever, ever, I've ever met. Like, it's unbearable to work with him, actually. Like, every day is an uphill struggle

to try and do something professional. And I feel like I literally can feel HBO behind the monitor going like, Jesus fucking Christ. Reese, Fabian and Olivia Cook in a fucking scene together. Good luck with this, mate. Tommy's actually quite good at keeping it together.

You're better than us, aren't you? I try and shut myself. Because as soon as I go, I'm not coming back. Right. Yeah, you have to just close it out. You're quite good. You're quite good at keeping it together. Although there was one time on the bridge

where you did lose it in season one. With you, yeah. With Reeve and with Reeve. I'm not going to keeping it together with you and Reese, mate. I know, with the hats. Oh man, Reese in that metal hat. He had this army behind him and I was like, mate, that army ain't getting through nowhere, bro.

And he said he, like, I'm like, come on, boys. They showed him the helmet. They were like, absolutely fucking not. No, it's not. I'm not wearing that. No way. No way. over his head. It's just like, push.

And he looks so angry. He looks so miserable. Wow. It was hard that scene, though, wasn't it? It was like four days on that imaginary bridge that wasn't a bridge. And then we had to like, yeah, there was like, there's a dragon going overhead. It was like our second week and everyone had to like duck for the dragon.

Oh my God, dragon, dude. But it was actually like a guy holding a laser. Yeah. And all the actors being like, I don't know, dude, I can't even see the laser anymore. And reached I don't know what this laser is, it is it, dragon, what is it? Who is best and worst at pretending there's a dragon that's not there at all? I think we're all pretty good at that. You nailed that, that's in the skill set now?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're all quite... It's like, yeah, it's part of the job description, so if you shit at that, then you... Then get out of Game of Thrones universe, yeah, exactly. Who's most likely to... You guys, generally speaking this group is not so online. Who's most likely to be kind of aware of the fans online, monitoring what people are saying? Do you kind of make a point of non? Probably younger members of the cast

who are more involved with social media maybe, I don't know. Yeah. Yeah, we're not such a social media-centric kind of bunch, I think. But I'm sure some of the younger cast who came in this year probably would know what's going on. Maybe like... Are you lurking out there? Are you secretly on Twitter and Instagram watching?

No, I just lead a very boring life. Yeah, a monastic life. by yourself. Yeah. I just read the news. What? Literally. It's the same addiction

just to a different thing. Fair enough. Who's most likely to start in the House of the Dragon musical? Freddy. Freddy Fox, yeah. Freddy. And God, I'd pay to see that.

Him and Simon Russell B. Oh, do you fucking imagine that. Simon Russell B. I love Simon Russell. Epic actor on stage and screen. And just an epic man in line. Yeah, total dream. Ran into him at a spa the other day, did I tell you that?

Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's my dream. It's a great thing ever. I was outside this. My maize opened up like a kind of wellness center thing. The last place on earth I would have imagined, sort of, I imagined Simon sort of reading in libraries or on like big stages. And he should walk past, and I sort of saw him and I was like, Simon,

I can't believe it, Simon. I'm coming here. And he walked in, he said, I wondered what this has been for such a long time. And he came in, and then my mate runs the thing, kind of told him about these different therapies, aromatherapies, massage, therapies, and Simon kind of was, I guess, kind of into it. Maybe you got one, I don't know.

Who's most likely to have an iron throne in their home, installed in their home just for sentimentality and comfort and showing off to friends and family? Probably Paddy Kondesadine, because he got a whole statue made of his face. Oh, I've seen that, yeah, I think he should.

Yeah, and he asked if he could take it. I don't know. Have you guys stuff from set is that's probably foreboding you're probably not allowed to take anything well we're still involved in the show so you can't steal things and then that's fair and then go back to work that's fair that's good point yeah yeah stole a huge box of candles at the end of film they have these like these like huge boxes of candles and i felt like you know you've been on the set for a long time it'd be quite nice to recreate that kind of atmosphere at home i've got them

the most amount of candles ever they were my car but my car's been sold anyway it's by the government I didn't want to go into it. It's a really, sorry, I'm going to leave, I'm going to go. It's okay, it's okay, here. Start speaking now. You can collect your wigs and burn them in effigy at the end. I know, yeah. But they're really, like, they're really expensive the wigs.

Really? Yeah, they'd get cross if I did that. Who's got the best character name to name a child, you think? I'm sure they're out there. Meet my child, egg on. There we go. I don't imagine. Well, it's a little egg-ons.

If he knows got a child called Egon, I'm sorry. Yeah, there's someone crying out there with an A-G-on. Some weird names, aren't there? Yeah. Egon. Egon the King. Why is the Egon the King? I don't know.

What's just a thing? When your investors, customers and workers demand more from your business, make it happen with SAP. The AI-powered capability. of SAP can help you streamline costs, connect with new suppliers, and manage payroll, even when your business is being polled in different directions. To deliver a quality product at a fair

price, while paying your people what they're worth too, so your business can stay unfazed. Learn more at SAP.com slash uncertainty. Wait, I didn't get charged for my donut. It was free with this Tim's rewards points. I think I just stole it. I'm a donut

stealer. Ooh, earn points so fast, it'll seem too good to be true. Plus, join Tim's rewards today and get enough points for a free donut, drink, or timbits. With 800 points after registration, activation, and first purchase of a dollar or more, see the Tim's app for details at participating in restaurants in Canada for a limited time. As you might imagine, when I solicited for some questions, I got a few. So Maria wants to know if you could play any other character in House of the Dragon, who would you play? Oh, that's a good shout.

Definitely. Matthew need him. I mean, you wouldn't go near it because he's just so good. Yeah, he's amazing. But yeah, great character. Otto, probably. Yeah, yeah. Otto's great.

Abil? I don't know. Oh, fuck. You just love your character so much. No, no. Don't put that out into the ether. Jesus Christ. The greatest hand of the king ever.

Yes, the greatest hand. I don't know. I quite like to play like Pedro, Pascal. part in the original Game of Thrones. You must have crossed past with some of, or even know in real life, some of the actors in the original Game of Thrones. So now is there kind of like an unspoken, like, nod? Like, oh, I get it.

I understand. Yeah, sort of like, I mean, the ones that I've definitely come across have been very much, like, passing on the torch arm, even though we're doing a prequel. They are well aware of what this world is. sort of how exciting it is as an actor to inhabit this world that we get to inhabit. So yeah, I mean, the ones I've met have all been very excited about the idea that, you know, we're continuing the legacy, if you like.

This question from Rowan is actually for you, Tom. They want to know how you feel about the Sunfire interactions thus far and going forward? I mean, I always saw Sunfire as my dog, you know. It's that kind of relationship, I think, that you have with a dragon. It's the same as, like, in the Philip Pullman novels where, you know, you have a, you have a, you know, Pantelamen and the demon, the demon, yeah, yeah. I agree. So, an extension of yourself, if you like, and, yeah, like, there was that one scene in season two where Sunfire comes in and nudges, egg on in the chest and sort of tries to, nestle into him and there's just such a warmth there and such a sort of recognition with each other

so it just makes it all the more painful when something bad happens to them the last thing you want to do with your own dog you know this is to put them into a dangerous situation where they potentially will get harmed you know and you want to protect them with your life however they also want to protect you with their life so they'll do anything yeah do you watch the finished episodes with all the effects, et cetera, put in, because there's your performance, but there's so much else that's put in, obviously, with the effects and the music and everything. It must be a whole other experience to see the finished show. Yeah, I struggle to watch anything that I'm in, to be honest, but the whole thing around it, yeah, you do. You're focusing on

those parts, and we're so lucky on this show that we're surrounded by people who are at the top of their game in every single department. You know, we get to benefit from all of that. So, Yeah, you just sort of sit there and go, fucking hell, everybody's so good at what they do. And care of, yeah, totally. Happy wants to know, Matt. Tom Fabian as potential doctors and Doctor Who. How would they do?

Oh, it'd be amazing. I'd love to see it. It's a coin toss. Yeah, it'd be great. No, come on. There are a lot of good candidates in your show, honestly. I'd love to see that. I mean, look, I also think if I was going to,

and no disrespect, boys, if I was going to pick one for the show, I think Reese would be the most. most amazing dog. Yeah, it'd be amazing. Like, he, can you mind, Rhysiffon's being Doctor Who? Epic. Yeah.

He'd have no idea what else going on. He'd be amazing. He'd be, and he's Welsh, and it films in Wales. I don't know, not the, you know, I don't know, not the, anyway, I think shoot, he's amazing, by the way, just to, just the power of that. But, um, yeah. No, but these, um, yeah, I would, I'd love to see one of my friends take on the mantle of that. Line them up, one after another, Emma, Emma's after who would be,

Epic? Yeah, yeah. So, speaking of these kind of fandoms, what was, like, did you have a fandom, like, growing up that would have drawn you to, like, a convention like this? Like, what were you into? What was your franchise, book series thing, obsession growing up? I just used to eat twigs. That's all I did is a kid. I don't think there's a convention devoted to that.

Climbing trees and breaking my bones when I fall out. I don't know. Yeah? I don't know. brother, I'd love this film, The Mask of Zorro. I don't know if that's a big... That was like our film, and we just, like, love that film. The one with Hopkins and Tonya Bandares.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's just like, I just feel like... I do like that film. I find it crazy that they haven't... I know that they did, I think they did, like, a French language one, like, recently, but I'm always amazed that they haven't, like, bought that back, because I just think that could be one of the great... It's such an amazing story about independence and, like, fatherhood and brotherhood

and friendship, and, I don't know, Yeah, I love that film. So that was really our kind of, we watched that every year. What was your bag? I don't know really. I was obsessed with ninja films. Really?

Yeah. I used to go to my local video store and get the same ninja movie like over and over again and then, I don't know, I had a big, when I was little, I had quite a big Disney phase as well.

Like the cartoons. I don't know, like, yeah, Ninja and Disney. I mean, I can't really. I was just playing football all the time, too honest. It's a combined the first Ninja Disney movie and you could be the star.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Let's make that happen. And then I started watching, like, I've told you this, like erotic thrillers way too young. Right. One of my favorite topics to talk about with you. Yeah, erotic thrillers. Like disclosure and slither and, like, indecent proposal.

And I was like, what is this? Yeah. Bring that back. Yeah. Bring that back. Maybe Harry Potter, actually. Oh, yeah? I miss that.

Yeah. Yeah, maybe Harry Potter. In fact, definitely Harry Potter. You're like, actually, now that I think about it, totally Harry Potter. The books. Yeah, from reading the books and seeing the films as a kid, yeah. Were you, have you been sorted?

Do you know what house you're in? Slytherin. How do you choose that? It's a test, like a whole thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I was, so you just... Personality test. Oh, right, okay.

Yeah, do you accept that? Do you feel that job is with your person? Yeah, chuffed a bit with that. Great. Hey, they're doing a Harry Potter show. I know, I know, I've heard about it. I think maybe we might be a little old for the kids in that show. I wasn't suggesting you as Harry Potter with all the respect.

Hello, me. Ron Weasley. It might be closer to Dumbledore at this point than Harry. No. Ellie wants to know, what would you say is your character's theme song? Oh, yeah. You have a good answer to it. Yeah, Sean Paul, temperature. I said that in an interview.

I don't know. I don't know why I said that. It made me laugh. It made me laugh the idea of him listening to Sean Paul. Like in his room, like, someone give it to... Any other answers? Or do you use music to get in the zone for your respective characters? Yeah.

Yeah, yeah. What do you got? What's your playlist for? I don't know really. It sort of varies. It's always quite eclective. I haven't thought of a theme song as such. Although I do gravitate to different music to different parts.

Yeah, me too. Speaking of music, do you have your Oasis tickets sorted yet? I'm right, I do. Come on. Let's go. I'm right, I do. I'm so excited. I'm going to Cardiff, baby.

I do need to get it off work. but um yeah yeah yeah oh yeah man i can't wait yeah i would imagine it was like finding out that father christmas is real right you know as an adult going what they're bad is yeah you didn't get the tip off early you didn't know he didn't tip me off no i was a bit annoyed about no i didn't um we alluded to milly also being known as supergirl did you i can't remember the sequence of events was she already like did you know on set no probably not it was she was cast afterwards after no season i mean Did she tell you that she was going to be super cool? She did, yeah, not when we were working.

After we'd finish the job, she told me. Really? Yeah, she said, I've been casted. I think that's really interesting casting. Yeah, she's brilliant. She's in New York, everyone. I actually told her to come. I was like, just come to Comic-Con.

Just come, she was like, absolutely no fucking way. I do also want to mention, Matt's been in town shooting a new Darren Aronofsky movie. I'm so damn excited about this. How's it going, man? It's good. Yeah, I love it. I love him.

He really pushes his actors. And we were saying earlier, Austin Butler is just the most glorious man. Such a wonderful, nice, brilliant, and yeah, I mean, he's a great actor, but he's also a really, really wonderful guy. So it's good. It's been a really interesting, challenging job. Please be here. What have you bonded over with Austin, just? Lots.

I mean, you know, because as you do, you're sort of, what have I bonded? I mean, in fact, we've just talked in great depth about, it's a bit boring, actually, about acting and movies. We've just done a lot of that. But, yeah, no, I've been really impressed by him. Movie star or actor. Matt and I have played this game over the years. Austin, movie star.

And an actor. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, we're going to end with the happy, second, confused, profoundly random questions. You ready, guys? Yes. Yes. I know the answer, at least for you on this one.

Dogs or cats? Dogs. Dogs. Dogs. Yeah. Although I had a cat, Timmy, God rest of salt. Although... Cats are great.

Yeah, there's one cat I like, but mostly dogs. There's a little cat. There's a very specific story there. What cats can be nice? What? They can be nice, a nice cat. He's got a limp. No, no, he's not got a limp.

Oh, it's right. He's called Rupert. Who's got a limp? Huh? Who's got a limp? Sorry. We're going deep on cats. Okay.

What do you collect, if anything? Any of you guys collect something? What do you collect? Oh. No, I don't know. I've got a lot of DVDs. I don't know if I collect them, but I've got a lot of DVDs from when I was a kid. Yeah, but you don't collect them now?

Every now and then I see it. Really? Yeah, I saw a kind of Fargo original Fargo DVD in like a Goodwill in Philadelphia, and I bought that for about 50 cents. There you go. This is good media is still out there, correct you're in collection. You can do it. Totally.

Fridge magnets. Bridge magnets. Yeah. From like various cities across the world. Thank you. Fridge Magnet Hive. Who's the last actor any of you were mistaken for? Oh, that's a good question.

Gordon Ramsey. That has not happened. That happened? Okay. Are you looking at like Gordon Ramsey? What? I didn't hear the question. Okay, anyone else? No? Okay.

What's a movie you're embarrassed to admit you've never seen? Sophie's Choice. What? I've also not seen that either. Also, you're going to hate me for this. I've never watched Star Wars the whole way through. I've never seen... Well, I've never seen Return of the Jedi the whole way through, yeah, yeah.

Don't hate me, don't hate me We might hate you, but Yeah So, yeah You're ready to finally tell me who you were going to play in Star Wars Remember that conversation? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah Well, no, I can't

What, um, what movie? They must have been... There's tons, yeah, martified that I haven't seen Oh, come on, pick one, there's got to be one He just outed himself as not seeing Return of the Jedi guys, come on, solidarity. At Comic-com Yeah, literally. Like, this is the end of that's career. That is scary.

What, you've seen all of the Star Wars? Are you seen every Star Wars? I don't know if I've seen all the ones in the last sort of three, four years. Okay. Like all the kind of like all that, all the Anakin ones and then all the OG ones. Okay.

Yeah. Okay. I hadn't seen Lord of the Rings. What? Whoa. Oh my God. What? That is that way.

That's the worst. The three Lord of the Rings are amazing. Really? Matt is so relieved. He's like, I'm okay. I feel like someone's in a second. And we met... Shooting with an arrow in a second.

Andy Circus is here yesterday. The nicest man. The loveliest man in the world. And I was like, oh my god, it's fucking Gollum. You have no right. I have no right to be excited. Oh well. No one's coming to our photo up now, are you?

New plans. What's the worst noted director has ever given you? Oh, God. Oh, God. Where do I begin? Get it out. Come, good one for you. Oh, don't see that at it.

Why, go on to say it. I don't want to say it. In a few years, when House of Dragon is all over, I will tell you what this director wants to tell me, but I can't say it now. I have seen Lord of the Rings. though. Yeah.

So have I. What an emotional roller coaster. Anything, Matt, come to mind? Oh, I don't know. It's, um... Or a generic kind of direction you hate. Well, I hate hearing directors go to people be sexy. Yeah.

Just, just be sexy. Well, what the fuck does that mean? How can I not be sexy? I'm Matt Smith. Well... No, but like, you, like, those sort of, like, I don't know. But, like, I'm quite silly.

I like like be faster, be more this, do it a bit less, you know what I mean? Like, practical, very simple. The ones that wind me up are where a director would go more... Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What am I meant to do to that? I can't play that. Yeah. Yeah.

In the spirit of happy second fuse, who's an actor that always makes you happy. You see them on screen, you light up, I'm happy. Jack Nicholson. Yes. Mark Raffalo. That's good. Steve Martin. Roxanne. I love that film.

Which one? Roxanne. Oh, so great. Steve Martin and Roxanne's amazing. So great. What's a movie that makes you sad? Big Fish. You've seen that Tim Burton films? Oh my God, man. That is like my heart is ripped out of my chest when I watch Big Fish. It's so sad. It's like the most beautiful concept. This like dad who tells his kid all these stories that his kid doesn't believe. And then like on the day of his death at the funeral,

he finds out that all his dad's stories were real. It's like the most beautiful, poetic kind of thing, I think. Good one. End of Word of the Ring. No, never mind. Never mind. That's awesome. Anything?

No? Are you a crier at movies or no? I regret saying the Lord of the Rings thing. So many regrets today. Yeah, I can't remember the last film that made me sad. About Time makes me sad. Oh, that's a great one. Donald Gleason, yeah, yeah.

Great movie, but... The Richard Curtis film, is it? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Anything for you, Matt? I don't know. What was that film, that Disney film about a chipmunk who, like, used to, was on a big adventure?

Oh. Sophie's choice. King Con. Sophie's choice, no. Do you know what I mean? American tale? Oh, it's American tale? The American tale.

No, it's a mouse. It's a mouse. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's all the same family. And finally, most important, What's a food that makes you confused? You don't get it. Eggplant, obegene. Don't get it. It's like snot on a plate. Mint, mint sauce on lamb. I'd rather pull my own eyes out.

This might be quite controversial. I find I don't really understand avocados as a sort of thing. But that's the Lord of the Rings, that is avocado? I'm just a bit like, is it really like, obviously if you add a bunch of lines, add a bunch of salt, bit of pepper, you know, some olive oil, mix it all together, it might taste nice. But it's also like, you know, so with anything, when you add that money sort of things to make it taste good. Do you know what I mean? So, you don't know what I mean? Yes. Thank you. Thank you. So, like, I mean, basically, between Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Aviccada.

We've turned off everybody. And we'll never be welcome back ever again. Yeah. You thought television shows could be divisive. No, these answers are divisive, guys. Congratulations on season two of House of the Dragon. We hope you get to work on season three soon. New York Comic-Con, give it up one more time. Thank you, Josh.

I thank you, Josh, Josh, just, Josh. Mission of happy, sad, confused. Remember to review, rate, and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a big podcast person. I'm Daisy Ridley, and I definitely wasn't pressure to do this by Josh. Hey, Michael.

Hey, Tom. You want to tell him? Or you want me to tell him? No, no, no. I got this. People out there. People, lean in. Get close.

Get close. Listen. Here's the deal. We have big news. We got monumental news. We got snack. Macacular news. After a brief hi,

it is my good friend, Michael Ian Black, and I are coming back. My good friend, Tom Kavanaugh and I are coming back to do what we do best. What we were put on this earth to do. To pick a snack. To eat a snack.

And to rate a snack. Nemptively? Emotionally. Spiritually. Mates is back. Mike and Tom eat snacks. Is back. A podcast for anyone with a mouth.

With a mouth. Available wherever you get your podcasts.