There was a time in House of the Dragon when the Iron Throne seemed like the end goal. If Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) could get hold of that seat made of melted swords, the Seven Kingdoms could finally know peace. At least, that's what the first two seasons of the hit HBO show led us to believe. But now that Rhaenyra is finally Queen, numerous new problems are spreading like dragon flame. Things are more unpredictable than ever before, and the situation isn't helped by the fact that there are new players on the battlefield.
After hearing many whispers about Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), his character finally debuted in the third season of House of the Dragon. Furthermore, now that Vhagar has disappeared and Sunfyre is seemingly recovering from his near-fatal wounds, Daeron is the only member of the Greens with a dragon of fighting age that's willing to take to the battlefield. However, his role in the war remains unknown, as he possesses a kind heart, yet he's being raised by an unpredictable monster who also happens to be the head of House Hightower.
During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth talked about how Daeron Targaryen may have initially benefited from being sent to Oldtown as an infant to be raised like a Hightower, but is now starting to pay the cost of that decision:
"He's between Hightower and between Targaryen, and that has been to his benefit, to some degree. He's been away from the sour politics and those family dynamics which have clearly damaged his siblings, but he's also been under the wing of such an uncontrollable, chaotic figure."
Ormund Hightower (James Norton) is the other big addition to House of the Dragon season 3. The character doesn't have a heavily detailed role in George R.R. Martin's novel Fire & Blood, which means the show can take creative liberties with him. So not only can he be a dangerous threat to Rhaenyra's reign, but he can also be a loose cannon for his own ward, Daeron. The relationship between these two new players will be nothing short of troublesome, as Benjamin Evan Ainsworth revealed:
"I have to be a Hightower around Ormund. He wouldn't have it any other way," Ainsworth said. "The conflict, especially this season, is the fact that the Targaryen element is actually useful, and Ormund can see that."
During House of the Dragon season 3, episode 4, audiences learn more about Ormund's mindset. On the one hand, he is convinced that the Hightowers are superior to the Targaryens. On the other hand, he knows that dragons are needed to win the war, and only the Targaryens can be dragonriders. Ainsworth revealed that this dilemma will put Daeron in a delicate position because his character is a Targaryen by blood but is living under Hightower banners:
"[Daeron] almost feels like he has been put into this battle and has to choose a side in the middle of it (...) There's this conflict of 'I cannot be a Targaryen,' and [Ormund] has this hatred towards the Targaryens, but now I need to [be one], because it will put me in a certain position and put Ormund in a certain position. From this point onwards, that growing tension and stakes will be explored between the characters and at Tumbleton in general."
Ormund and Daeron are currently living in Tumbleton—a city that swore its loyalty to Queen Rhaenyra and is now being occupied by a massive Hightower army that answers to the Greens. To make matters more complicated, Rhaenyra can't attack the city with her dragons without burning citizens who swore their allegiance to her, but are now effectively held hostage. Trouble also brews within Tumbleton's walls, as Daeron's relationship with Ormund is about to become even more volatile moving forward.
Tensions are at an all-time high in House of the Dragon, and there are more parties involved than ever before. War looms on the horizon, and we're about to head into the second half of the third season, which means even more battles await. Fortunately, it won't be long before we figure out how this tale pans out.
New episodes of House of the Dragon season 3 air every Sunday on HBO and HBO Max.
Add us as a preferred source on Google