We’re just weeks away from the third season of House of the Dragon, seeing the Dance of the Dragons in full force. The season 2 finale sees the main players in the war getting ready for battle, and while many fans were disappointed by the uneventful episode, we know for a fact the season 3 premiere is going to be action-packed. The cast and crew keeps hyping up the Battle of the Gullet, which will open the new installment, but that’s not the only event to be excited for.
Another major event we’re anticipating is the Fall of King’s Landing, spearheaded by Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen. After a season mostly apart, “Daemyra” fans can’t wait to see the couple sharing the screen once again. And, while their relationship was rocky in season 2, it looks like Daemon is finally done playing games and is in full, real support of Rhaenyra’s cause.
Daemon finally has “clarity” in his support for Rhaenyra, “will stop at nothing” to put her back on the throne
While speaking with TV Insider in a new interview published today, House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal dished on all things season 3, from the highly-anticipated Battle of the Gullet to Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower’s relationship. When asked how “united” Daemon and Rhaenyra will be after seasons of power struggles and tension, Condal confirmed they’re finally on the same page. Daemon is experiencing something for the first time, which is clarity.
“Daemon comes out of his Season 2 experiences at Harrenhal and in the Riverlands with an incredible amount of clarity — something he has not had before in this story,” Condal stated. “This level of singular focus makes Daemon very dangerous.”
Of course, we all had complaints about Daemon’s storyline in the second season, which sees him having weird dreams in Harrenhal instead of getting out in the action, but it looks like all of it makes him realize what his purpose is. He’s finally come to terms with the fact that he will not become the king, and the sole person he should be supporting is Rhaenyra.
“He believes with every fiber of his being that it was Rhaenyra who was always meant to take the throne, and he will stop at nothing to see it happen,” Condal added. “For Rhaenyra, the question will be, ‘How ‘Daemon’ am I willing to become in the pursuit of my goal?’”
Daemon and Rhaenyra’s power struggle
Daemon and Rhaenyra have had a strange relationship from the start, and it’s not just because they’re related. When Rhaenyra’s father Viserys is ready to name an heir in season 1, Daemon, his brother, believes he is the right choice. But Daemon’s recklessness (and disrespectful comments) sway Viserys against him. Viserys makes the controversial choice to name Rhaenyra his heir, and that plagues Daemon’s relationship with her, even if it’s unsaid.
In season 2, Daemon takes it upon himself to orchestrate a murder at King’s Landing (in what would become known as “Blood and Cheese”) after Rhaenyra declares she wants Aemond Targaryen in exchange for the death of her son Lucerys. It’d be a son for a son. But what ends up happening is the death of a child when the assassins instead kill Aegon and Helaena’s son Jaehaerys.
The death of a child is the last thing Rhaenyra would want, and her last conversation with Daemon before he goes to Harrenhal is a heated one. She confronts him for wanting the crown for himself, believing he used her cause for his own gain. Though Daemon maintains his support for Rhaenyra, there are a lot of unresolved feelings they’ve avoided speaking on.
When Rhaenyra and Daemon reunite at the end of season 2, Rhaenyra doesn’t know where they stand. But Daemon takes the knee in front of his newfound army, making his support known. Now, in the third season, he’ll be steadfast in his loyalty—and for the first time ever, according to Condal, that won’t be clouded by his own desires.
We know how dangerous Daemon can be when he has a mission, and now that his mission is 100% Rhaenyra, things are going to get messy. In the season 3 trailer, Rhaenyra can be heard saying she aims to take back King’s Landing “without further bloodshed,” but in another part of the trailer, she watches as Daemon slices through a man in the castle, so she’s seemingly going to change her tune.
How much violence will Rhaenyra allow Daemon? That we’ll have to watch to find out. But if she fully unleashes him, it’s going to be a bloodbath against Team Green.
House of the Dragon season 3 premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, June 21. Be sure to keep checking back with us at Winter Is Coming for our continued coverage of the Game of Thrones prequel.
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