House of the Dragon Season 2’s Strangest Arc Award Goes to Daemon Targaryen

House of the Dragon is astir to unleash its 2nd play finale—capping a tally of episodes successful which Alicent’s recently almighty household began to shatter, and Rhaenyra learned to drew spot from unexpected, occasionally fiery places. But 1 large quality has been disconnected successful his ain storyline astir the full time: Matt Smith‘s Daemon Targaryen.

Arguing with guilt-provoking ghosts? Making a witch frenemy? Manipulating minions into unimaginable cruelty? Plotting to betray his woman and queen by taking his ain changeable astatine the Iron Throne? Being the worst impermanent contempt having possibly the astir accommodating big ever successful Ser Simon Strong, played by British acting fable and net insta-fave Sir Simon Russell Beale? Daemon has experienced a batch and he’s hardly acceptable ft extracurricular of Harrenhal, his location basal since helium flounced distant from Dragonstone successful occurrence two.

This is simply a large power for Daemon, who successful play 1 was a danger-prone atrocious boy with each the allure that implies. He defeated an full service John Wick-style; helium casually murdered his inconvenient archetypal wife; helium pouted astir being chopped retired of the enactment of succession. But helium yet joined Rhaenyra, his niece and the Iron Throne heir apparent, erstwhile she was age-appropriate and their erstwhile spouses were retired of the picture.

In play two, the passionate Targaryen powerfulness mates is successful superior trouble. Westeros’ committedness to patriarchy has been well-established already successful House of the Dragon, and that—blended with Daemon’s ain festering ambitions—has meant that he’s been incapable to afloat clasp Rhaenyra’s assertion to the throne. He thinks he should beryllium giving orders, and erstwhile Rhaenyra calls him retired for overstepping and questions his loyalty, helium does what he’s ever done: flees the concern alternatively than facing it head-on.

His destination is Harrenhal, the hulking husk of the largest castle successful Westeros, wherever his intended ngo is to marque definite each the houses successful the Riverlands are connected Team Black. And portion he’s yet gotten astir to pulling those strings successful caller episodes—using immoderate horrifying tactics that’ve made him the astir hated antheral successful the region—the main thrust of his season-two communicative has been acold much cosmic and surreal.

© Ollie Upton/HBO

Game of Thrones fans and George R.R. Martin publication readers cognize Harrenhal is simply a spot good acquainted with tragedy, and wherever the veil tin beryllium precise thin. Daemon’s caput is already troubled erstwhile helium arrives, which makes him adjacent much receptive to its intrusive spirits. That intensifies erstwhile helium meets the witchy Alys Rivers, Harrenhal’s healer successful residence. It’s implied that she’s a large crushed helium starts having distressing dreams and visions; during his waking hours, she’s surely unafraid to poke into the ammunition he’s constructed astir his analyzable feelings astir Rhaenyra, his precocious member King Viserys, and the Iron Throne.

She’s besides been thing of a dependable of reason—though whether Daemon is absorbing Alys’ admonitions that his actions impact everyone astir him, including the astir susceptible smallfolk, is murky astatine best.

Far much effectual successful getting done Daemon’s towering ego: the “ghosts” helium interacts with, including the teenage Rhaenyra—not coincidentally, the property she was erstwhile Viserys chose her arsenic his heir alternatively of Daemon—and, astir poignantly, Viserys himself. The brothers didn’t ever spot oculus to eye, and their narration suffered greatly erstwhile Daemon was disinherited for being utterly heartless aft the tragic deaths of Viserys’ woman and babe son.

When Viserys appears to Daemon astatine Harrenhal, forcing him to face achy feelings he’s repressed for decades, it doesn’t rather springiness him closure. But it possibly makes him re-think his quest to seizure the crown for himself, particularly aft Viserys, looking arsenic helium did erstwhile helium was successful the worst throes of his wasting illness, reminds his member of however overmuch symptom it tin cause: “It crushes whoever wears it. You ever wanted it, Daemon. Do you privation it, still?”

It remains to beryllium seen (very soon!) if Daemon volition instrumentality his Harrenhal lessons to heart; successful occurrence seven, helium had to precise unpleasantly atone for his Riverlands tactics by beheading an state who followed his instructions a spot excessively closely. That had to sting, but his existential situation feels adjacent much towering, particularly arsenic the battlefield beckons. Will the finale spot Rhaenyra’s hubby yet go a existent plus to Team Black, oregon volition his inclination to enactment similar a self-serving jackass incinerate him successful the end?

We’ll find out, presumably, erstwhile House of the Dragon‘s play 2 finale arrives Sunday nighttime connected HBO and Max.

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