Unpacking Daemon’s Very Weird Dream From House of the Dragon

As a long-time fan of George R.R. Martin’s intricate and complex world-building, I have eagerly anticipated the arrival of “House of the Dragon,” HBO’s latest adaptation of his works. Yet, after watching the fifth episode of this highly anticipated series, I cannot help but feel a growing unease towards one particular character: Daemon Targaryen, played by Matt Smith.

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Episode 5 of House of the Dragon Season 2.

In the fifth episode of “House of the Dragon” Season 2, as Team Black grieved the loss of Rhaenys (Eve Best) and her dragon Meleys, Daemon (Matt Smith) took it upon himself to begin an ambitious home improvement project at Harrenhal. Simultaneously, he managed to infuriate all the Riverlords by advocating for violence towards women and children.

Despite Daemon’s bravado and claims to the throne, it’s evident that he is dealing with inner turmoil. In Episode 4, during a vision at Harrenhal, he beheaded young Rhaenyra. Later in Sunday’s episode, he imagined himself in an uncomfortable situation involving his mother. Although incest is a common theme in the show among the Targaryens, this marked the first time they crossed the boundary of parent-child relationships. The unexpected disclosure of the mysterious blonde woman’s identity was undeniably intended to elicit a strong reaction from viewers.

“In this distorted conversation, he imagined his mother saying, ‘You’ve always been the brave one, the best swordsman, and the fearless dragon rider.’ She continued, ‘Your brother had love in his heart but lacked your strength. Viserys was ill-equipped to rule, but you, Daemon, were born for the throne. If only our roles had been reversed. You were my favorite.'”

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Daemon is constantly being disturbed by the returning presence of significant women in his past, be it the ominous influence of Harrenhal’s curse or the supernatural abilities of Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin). Regardless of the cause, Daemon finds himself frequently haunted by these women, forcing him to confront his most regrettable actions. Needless to say, he struggles to cope with these recurring reminders.

In my recent viewing experience of “House of the Dragon,” I was intrigued by the backstory of Daemon Targaryen’s mother, Alyssa, revealed through George R. R. Martin’s companion novel, “Fire & Blood.” As a moviegoer, I found it fascinating to learn that Alyssa was not only Baelon Targaryen’s sister-wife but also a former rider of Meleys. This piece of information becomes particularly relevant given her appearance in the series.

Daemon’s past issues with his mother are evident, and Alys’ teasing about not knowing Alyssa appears to worsen these wounds. This interaction, taking place in Harrenhal’s courtyard, aligns with the episode’s theme emphasizing the difficulty of being a woman in Westeros, as noted by TIME TV critic Judy Berman.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I’d rephrase Daemon’s statement as follows: I firmly believe that Rhaenyra won’t make it to the throne… Her supporters aren’t following her lead. Instead, they yearn for a strong male figure to guide them.

Later that night, Ser Simon (Simon Russell Beale) disturbed his sleep with unexpected news. The Riverlords had summoned him, and they sternly conveyed that his brutal methods against House Bracken would not win their support. These actions were likely disapproved of by Rhaenyra as well.

To evade the grim prophecy Alys made about my demise—”I’ll meet my end here”—it appears that I, Daemon, must grasp some valuable insights from the females I’ve long disregarded.

2024-07-17 13:02

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