How House of the Dragon has turned Daeron Targaryen’s awkward absence from a flaw into a feature

How House of the Dragon has turned Daeron Targaryen's awkward absence from a flaw into a feature

As someone who has closely followed the events unfolding in the world of “House of the Dragon,” I must admit that I was initially perplexed by the complete absence of Daeron Targaryen and his dragon Tessarion from the first season. Having read the books, I knew that Daeron would be a significant player in the upcoming conflicts, and it seemed odd that he wasn’t even mentioned.


What is the current location of Daeron Targaryen in the world? This is among the numerous intriguing queries surfacing as House of the Dragon approaches the conclusion of its second season.

In the sixth episode of the season titled “Smallfolk,” Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) experiences a turning point. Her eldest son Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) is recovering from severe injuries, and her second son Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) excludes her from the Small Council. As a result, Alicent reflects on her children’s upbringing and has an emotional conversation with her brother Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox). During this heartfelt exchange, they discuss Alicent’s fourth child Daeron, who was previously sent to Oldtown as a ward of House Hightower. To their surprise, Daeron is revealed to be quite a decent person unlike his siblings.

If you’ve had the pleasure of reading George R.R. Martin’s book “Fire & Blood,” you are well-versed in the significance of Daeron Targaryen for the impending conflict known as the Dance of the Dragons. For those unfamiliar, here’s a brief introduction. Daeron is an influential character in Westeros lore and will play a pivotal role in the emotional narrative of “House of the Dragon.” Although I initially expressed concerns about the series overlooking Daeron during its first season, it surprisingly transformed his absence into a gripping storyline. Let’s delve deeper into this intriguing development!

Who is Daeron Targaryen and why wasn’t he mentioned in House of the Dragon season 1?

I, as a devoted fan, would express it this way: I’ve always been intrigued by the enigmatic figure of Daeron Targaryen, the youngest son of Queen Alicent and King Viserys I Targaryen (brilliantly portrayed by Paddy Considine). Around the same age as Jacaerys Velaryon, Rhaenyra’s eldest son (Harry Collett), Daeron has spent most of his formative years under the watchful care of the Hightower family at Oldtown. For a long time, he kept in close contact with his mother through heartfelt letters. However, as I recently watched the episode, Gwayne shared that Daeron’s correspondence with her has become less frequent lately.

Ten-and-six now. Letters, perhaps, hold less of his interest. He’s stalwart. Clever. As adept with his lute as he is with his sword. And a feature in the fancies of many a young lady, I’ll wager. He’s kind.

Gwayne Hightower on Daeron Targaryen

Daeron, like his other siblings, owns a stunningly beautiful blue dragon named Tessarion. Known as the Blue Queen, she is one of the younger dragons contributing to the ongoing war. In “House of the Dragon,” it’s revealed that Daeron hasn’t had the opportunity to ride Tessarion yet. The trailer for Episode 207 suggests an intriguing development: Tessarion has grown large enough to fly, implying she will soon be unleashing her fiery abilities against House Hightower’s adversaries.

In simpler terms, I’ve found it odd that Daeron Targaryen wasn’t included at all in season 1, seeing as he was already alive during that time. Isn’t it plausible that one of Alicent, Viserys, Aegon, Aemond, or Helaena would have casually mentioned him? Seems unlikely that none of them would ever bring up the name of Daeron, a family member.

It appears that Daeron was originally planned to be included in Episode 107, “Driftmark,” but his mention was ultimately removed. This deliberate omission of Daeron’s existence until season 2 now seems more understandable as he becomes a part of the storyline.

How House of the Dragon has turned Daeron Targaryen's awkward absence from a flaw into a feature

House of the Dragon is turning Daeron’s absence into a compelling storyline for Alicent Hightower

During the second season of “House of the Dragon,” family conflicts between House Hightower have been a prominent theme. This is evident in episode two, titled “Rhaenyra the Cruel.” In this installment, Alicent makes an attempt to reveal her affair with Criston to her father, Otto Hightower (played by Rhys Ifans). However, Otto, in a caring manner, asks her not to disclose such information. Later, Alicent visits Aegon, who is mourning the loss of his son Jaehaerys, only to leave quietly after finding him weeping alone.

In “House of the Dragon,” it’s consistently shown that Alicent’s poor parenting skills are a legacy from her father Otto. While she does express love for her children at times, she frequently neglects their needs and prioritizes politics above their wellbeing. This pattern is beginning to take a toll on her children: Helaena witnessed her brother’s murder, Aegon lost the crown and sustained injuries, and Aemond’s thirst for power and revenge puts him at risk of harming his own brother. It comes as no shock that Alicent is now preoccupied with Daeron, her only remaining child who appears to be avoiding a self-destructive path.

Through the perspective of Alicent Hightower’s past neglect and emotional suppression, it becomes clearer why she didn’t mention Daeron during the first season of the show. He had been sent to live with her extended family when he was just a child, suggesting that they have likely been estranged since then. Given Alicent’s tendency to overlook her children living in the same castle, it is not hard to imagine that she would dismiss one who lived so far away. Furthermore, Alicent mentions receiving letters from Daeron, implying that writing back to him was a low priority for her.

In simpler terms, I wasn’t attempting to defend the omission of Daeron Targaryen in “House of the Dragon”‘s first season. It seemed unusual then, but his emergence is now more understandable due to its impact on Alicent Hightower. This development allows Alicent to acknowledge her neglected son and creates an engaging moment for viewers as they finally meet Daeron.

How House of the Dragon has turned Daeron Targaryen's awkward absence from a flaw into a feature

House of the Dragon seems to be setting up Daeron for a big entrance in season 3

The query arises as to how “House of the Dragon” will present Daeron and his dragon Tessarion in the forthcoming episodes. Although Ryan Condal, the showrunner, has announced that Daeron has not been chosen for the role yet, the series is putting considerable effort into preparing the ground for him. We’ve previously noted that Tessarion can now fly, which contrasts with earlier revelations that the dragon was still too young to transport Daeron onto the battlefield.

In simpler terms, Daeron will ride his dragon Tessarion in the upcoming war, as hinted but not heavily detailed in “Fire & Blood.” He gains the nickname “Daeron the Daring” by aiding the Hightower army during a battle at the Honeywine River. The Reach is currently embroiled in conflict due to House Beesbury’s rebellion against the Hightowers following their lord’s death during the Green Council coup. So far, these events involving the Reach and the Hightower host have been portrayed offscreen. However, “House of the Dragon” will eventually need to introduce some of the key players in this part of Westeros.

Maybe in the upcoming season of “House of the Dragon,” the Honeywine battle could be rescued by this scenario, providing an exciting opportunity to introduce Daeron Targaryen’s first flight on his dragon Tessarion into battle. This moment would undeniably be thrilling if it marked not only Daeron’s initial ride to war but also his very first time riding her altogether. Furthermore, could we imagine that Daeron’s moniker “Daeron the Daring” originated not just from brave deeds on Tessarion, but also from his unexpectedly early entry into the fray when he noticed the Hightower army required assistance?

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but feel my heart racing with anticipation as I ponder over the upcoming introduction of Daeron Targaryen in “House of the Dragon.” Who knows, perhaps by that time, Alicent Hightower will have decided to pen him some letters as well.

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2024-07-25 23:41

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