House of the Dragon season 3, episode 4 fully introduces audiences to Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), not to be confused with Daeron Targaryen from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Henry Ashton) or the fake Daeron, portrayed by Charlie Gordon, who appeared throughout episode 3. After a brief appearance in the background of the third season premiere, Ainsworth's Daeron found himself in the spotlight three episodes later.
Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) sent her youngest child to Oldtown to serve as a ward to her older cousin, Ormund Hightower (James Norton), in hopes that he would connect with his mother's side of the family while remaining safe from the chaos of King's Landing. Unfortunately, Alicent didn't know Ormund well before entrusting her child to him, and his explosive, cruel, and zealot-like personality didn't suit the calm lifestyle she had envisioned for her son. As such, Daeron grew up under Ormund's thumb, without much opportunity to tap into his innate sweetness and gentleness.
Episode 4 ends with a memorable and hard-to-watch scene featuring Ormund and Daeron that gives audiences a glimpse into their relationship. While this is hard for viewers to stomach, it mirrors another ending sequence from earlier in the season, despite aiming for an entirely different reaction from fans.
Ormund makes a killer out of Daeron
The beginning of episode 4 shows Hightower soldiers forcing themselves into the homes of the residents of the titular town, forcing the smallfolk to house them during their conquest. One such soldier, Garrick (Douglas Russell), attempts to sexually assault his unwilling host, Marna (Jessica Temple). Her husband, Leo (Abhin Galeya), puts a stop to this and brings Garrick before Lord Ormund, who punishes Garrick with a gelding.
However, whatever goodwill Ormund had earned with audiences by protecting the smallfolk proved to be temporary, as, at the end of the episode, he leads Daeron into the dungeons, where Leo is waiting for him. Ormund commands Daeron to kill Leo, saying that, in laying hands on Garrick, a Hightower soldier, he has essentially attacked the house itself. Daeron is reluctant to kill Leo, an innocent man, but Ormund goads him into doing so.
Unlike most executions throughout the A Song of Ice and Fire franchise, Daeron does not remove Leo's head. The poor, panicked child instead is only able to stab him through the heart. Daeron is utterly traumatized at having to take a life, especially that of a good man. This scene illuminates what Daeron's childhood must have been like, growing up with sadistic Ormund as a guardian.
Rhaenyra's execution of Otto went a little better
Season 3, episode 2 ends on a similar beat. With Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) finally claiming the Iron Throne for herself, she is immediately faced with her first test. Her husband Daemon (Matt Smith) brings out a prisoner, Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), and calls for his execution.
Daemon advises Rhaenyra that, as the new queen, she should be the one to take Otto's head herself. Having never killed anyone before, Rhaenyra nervously swings her sword down upon Otto. Though she takes two swings of her blade to fully decapitate Otto, she is eventually able to kill him, and this moment is painted as a triumph for Rhaenyra (as evidenced by the title of the following episode, "Rhaenyra Triumphant").
The difference between Rhaenyra and Daeron
I've previously theorized that Rhaenyra's first swing of the sword symbolizes her taking a moment to prepare to rule the Seven Kingdoms. Her second, successful swing showcases that she is ready to become the queen.
If this is the case, then Daeron's completely botched execution of Leo indicates that he does not belong anywhere near the throne, despite his Targaryen blood. His sweet personality would turn him into an easy target for the vultures of King's Landing. King Tommen Baratheon (Dean Charles-Chapman) from Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon's predecessor, had a similar personality to Daeron's and made for a weak king, being constantly pulled in different directions by the likes of his wife, Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer); his mother, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey); and the religious fanatic known as the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce). Tommen could never have successfully swung the sword himself, and, if put in Daeron's situation, would similarly falter.
Strangely, Daeron's inability to kill someone proves Alicent right in sending him away from the Red Keep. While Ormund was clearly the wrong match for Daeron, he is not suited for the cruel reality of King's Landing. Rhaenyra has not been a perfect queen so far, and, if House of the Dragon sticks to its source material, Fire & Blood, she won't get much better, but she is at least more capable than her half-brother of performing the undesirable tasks, although Otto's execution felt justified while Leo's came across as a war crime.
Based on his brief screentime so far, Daeron deserves a long and peaceful life away from the crooked politics of King's Landing. However, based on how House of the Dragon operates, he's unlikely to receive that happy ending.
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