With circumstances so far from ideal, it’s no wonder Daemon is starting to deteriorate mentally. After separating from Queen Rhaenyra following their heated argument over her attempt to assassinate Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) or Prince Jaehaerys (Jude Rock), two key figures of Green TeamDaemon has retreated the ancient stronghold of Harrenhalpartly to ruminate and partly to plan The one from the black team next steps in the war to come. There he encounters a mysterious individual named Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), who seems to have played a role in the waking visions he experienced soon after setting foot in the cursed castle. The first spectral visitor he encounters turns out to be none other than his teenage granddaughter Rhaenyra, who strangely sews baby Jaehaerys’ head back onto his body while Daemon is forced to deal with the results of his monstrous actions.
In a perfect cross between giving the fans what they want and serving the characters themselves, this disturbing sequence only deepens our understanding of Daemon. He and Rhaenyra clearly harbored inappropriate feelings for each other, though the late King Viserys (Paddy Considine) was largely powerless to do much about it (other than banishing his reckless brother on multiple occasions, though ultimately to little effect). But more than reminding us of backstory, the reappearance of young Rhaenyra further highlights the war brewing within the Targaryen king consort: his true loyalty to his wife and queen, and his guilt over what he has done in his own grand ambitions for power. Alys’s ominous prophecy that he will “die in this place” suggests that he may never reconcile this divide within himself.
Season 2 of “House of the Dragon” airs new episodes on HBO and Max every Sunday night.
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