This article contains spoilers from House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2.
Summary
- House of the Dragon showrunner explains how the fight continues from season 1 as their relationship struggles were put on pause following Lucerys' death.
- Ryan Condal says that this would cause the couple to reevaluate their marriage.
- This subplot could be crucial in season 2, as Rhaenyra may reconsider trusting Daemon with any plans.
Blood & Cheese incident, with Rhaenyra realizing Daemon's involvement in the child's murder, and that despite his loyalty to her claim, Daemon still longs to sit on the Iron Throne himself. The scene adds further complexity to the already tense relationship that the characters share.
While speaking with TVLine, Condal broke down the tense scene, emphasizing how it connects to unresolved tensions from season 1. He referenced several season 1 developments and specific scenes that still weigh heavily on both Rhaenyra and Daemon, proving that their argument is about more than the death of Jaehaerys or Daemon's lingering desire to become the new ruler of Westeros instead of Rhaenyra. Read Condal's explanation below:
I think it’s interrupted a bit, the argument that was clearly going on between Daemon and Rhaenyra in episode 10 of the first season where he actually put his hands on her in a really disturbing way because he felt like he’d been kept out of the loop with Viserys and the secret of the Song of Ice and Fire. I don’t think any of that has been resolved. It was just put on hold when Luke died. So when Rhaenyra comes back and Daemon reacts, it opens up all these papered over wounds and forces them into a real analysis of their marriage.
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Rhaenyra Would Need To Reconsider What To Share With Daemon Moving Forward
Rhaenyra has always been insightful and has not been blind to Daemon's true nature, but their fight laid bare some of the worst parts of him that can no longer be overlooked and ignored.
From their argument, Rhaenyra realizes she can no longer fully trust Daemon. Throughout the many tragedies and betrayals she has endured, Daemon has been one of the few people she felt she could trust and rely on. Without Daemon's trust, Rhaenyra may feel more alone than ever before as she continues to grieve the death of her son, Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), and grapples with the Greens proclaiming that Jaehaerys was murdered in the name of "Rhaenyra the Cruel."
House Of The Dragon Season 2: 25 Biggest Book Changes
House of the Dragon is back with season 2, and there are already significant changes to the source material in George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood.
The unresolved tension also makes Daemon more unpredictable, as seen by his sudden departure from Dragonstone in episode 2. With Daemon now headed to Harrenhal, he is still fighting for Rhaenyra's cause, intent on capturing the castle, which is a strategic location to control in the Riverlands that will give Rhaenyra and her forces a tactical advantage over her enemies. His involvement in Jaehaerys' death proves that even though he won't be switching sides, he is prone to sometimes making reckless and consequential decisions that will further complicate Rhaenyra's ascension to the Iron Throne.
Rhaenyra has always been insightful and has not been blind to Daemon's true nature, but their fight laid bare some of the worst parts of him that can no longer be overlooked and ignored. This may cause the House of the Dragon character to withhold more sensitive information from him, which will not sit well with him, as his brother Viserys and Rhaenyra previously withholding information from him contributed to the fight in the first place. This perpetuates the unresolved cycle of conflict between them as House of the Dragon season 2 continues.
Source: TVLine
House of the Dragon
- Release Date
- August 21, 2022
- Network
- HBO Max
- Showrunner
- George R.R. Martin
Cast
Prince Daemon Targaryen
Emma D'ArcyAlicent Hightower
WHERE TO WATCH
Taking place about 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.
- Directors
- Miguel Sapochnik, Clare Kilner, Alan Taylor, Greg Yaitanes, Geeta Vasant Patel, Andrij Parekh
- Writers
- George R.R. Martin, Ryan Condal
- Franchise(s)
- Game of Thrones
- Seasons
- 4
- Streaming Service(s)
- MAX
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