Does the Rogue Prince truly crave the Iron Throne, or does his familial devotion overrule his self-serving urges?
Does Daemon even know what he wants underneath his misdirected anger and bristling pride?
Despite bending the knee to Rhaenyra last season,Season 2 has put Daemon’s loyalties in doubt.
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By Episode 5, he declareshis plans to seize King’s Landingfor himself.
Episode 6 resets Daemon’s balance through some much-needed moments of wrenching delicacy.
The same gleeful agent of chaos who once publicly beheaded a manbecomes more engaging, refreshing, and accessible.
The reign of House Targaryen begins with this prequel to the popular HBO seriesGame of Thrones.Based on George R.R. Martin’sFire & Blood,House of the Dragonis set nearly 200 years beforeGame of Thrones, telling the story of the Targaryen civil war with King Viserys.
He threatens to burn House Bracken into submission?
He postures Targaryen exceptionalism?
His worst mistakes and insecuritieshaunt him in the form of the peoplehe’s loved and lost.
Many years and traumas later, Daemon acts defeated and shamed under Viserys' rage.
Daemon might want totend to his loved ones, but doing sodemands confronting dire truths and accepting accountability.
Ironically, if Daemon just ponied up, then he’d reap the reward that he craves: validation.
Instead, he acts out for attention and loses his family as routinely as clockwork.
King Viserys returns one last time in the latest episode.
This vision doesn’t let him take thecoward’s way out.
The throne room door stays locked no matter how much he shouts, demands, or panics.
Eventually, he slumps against the door and softly begs for freedom.
Being eternally trapped in this shameful moment would be one of Daemon’s many versions of hell.
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Alys diagnoses Daemon’s main character syndrome and recontextualizes his relationship to the throne.
He isn’t suited to the crown, nor is he this tale’s hero or villain.
Admitting his weakness transcends politics.
Image via HBO
Daemon acknowledges, albeit indirectly, how his lifelong reactionary instincts have all butruined Rhaenyra’s campaignand their marriage.
The moment Strong leaves, Daemon’s strained grimace shatters into the gasping tears he’d barely withheld.
A plan has finally gone well and Daemon’s second chance at closure is severed.
He’ll never again see Viserys,the brother this war hasn’t allowed him time to mourn.
A Westerosi man can only show his thin-skinned emotions through violence.
Episode 6 all but confirms thatDaemon and Aemond are foils, not direct parallels.
New episodes ofHouse of the DragonSeason 2 premiere Sundays on HBO and Max.
