Editor’s word: The under comprises spoilers for Home of the Dragon Season 2.
The Large Image
- Daemon’s insecurities are mirrored in his visions of girls from his previous, particularly younger Rhaenyra.
- Daemon has been unsuccessful in drumming up assist for himself because the successor due to his cruelty and disrespect for the smallfolk.
- A imaginative and prescient of Viserys might provoke Daemon to take vital motion, fueling his need for the crown.
In House of the Dragon Season 2, whereas the Greens and the Blacks have been duking it out, Daemon (Matt Smith) has been holed up in Harrenhal, the place he is been experiencing some truly strange visions. Whereas at Harrenhal, Daemon has been haunted by some necessary figures from his previous, together with a younger Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), his former spouse, Laena (Nanna Blondell), and even his mother Alyssa Targaryen (Emeline Lambert). There’s, nonetheless, one main determine who nonetheless hasn’t made an look — King Viserys (Paddy Considine).
Daemon’s older brother and the chief that Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) has been attempting and failing spectacularly to reside as much as, King Viserys was one of the necessary characters in Home of the Dragon Season 1 and played a major role in Daemon’s life. Daemon’s imaginative and prescient of their mom confirmed that he was all the time her favourite son, which Viserys beforehand claimed in Season 1, however being mother’s favourite doesn’t suggest a lot when your older brother sits on the Iron Throne for many years and disregards the pure line of succession to call his daughter inheritor. With this in thoughts, it appears seemingly that Viserys will quickly pop up in certainly one of Daemon’s visions earlier than Season 2 involves an finish, as he performed a significant position in Daemon’s life and represents all the pieces he might’ve been had he merely been born first.
Daemon’s Visions Mirror His Insecurities in ‘Home of the Dragon’
Even earlier than he left Dragonstone, Daemon was suffering from insecurities, some surrounding his nephew Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). In contrast to Daemon, Aemond has truly had the nerve to have his brother incapacitated in order that he might take what he believes to be his rightful place on the throne. There are some apparent parallels between Daemon and Aemond, although their respective older brothers couldn’t be extra completely different. Each imagine they’re much extra suited to the Iron Throne, however are pressured to reside within the shadow of the firstborn son, leaving them with an unquenchable thirst for energy. Based mostly on what we noticed in Season 1, Daemon and Viserys by no means had the perfect relationship, however in Episode 8, “The Lord of the Tides,” Daemon proves he still cares for his brother, serving to him up the steps to the Iron Throne and inserting the crown on his head. It is exhausting to think about Aemond ever doing the identical for his brother, and it is this deep-seated cohesion between Daemon and Viserys that saved Daemon from turning into the monster Aemond is.
In his desires/visions, Daemon has up to now solely been visited by girls from his previous, and he is proven again and again that he sees girls as disposable, even the ones he’s married to. Quite a lot of the battle in Home of the Dragon stems from a refusal to replace societal norms on the subject of the royal line of succession. It isn’t the firstborn youngster that inherits the throne, however the firstborn son, and the secondborn son solely will get an opportunity on the crown if the firstborn dies. This makes Viserys’ insistence that Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock/Emma D’Arcy) inherit the throne really feel much more spiteful in Daemon’s eyes, particularly after he finds out that Viserys by no means informed him concerning the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy from Rhaenyar herself.
As we noticed in Rhaenyra’s confrontation with Daemon in Episode 2, Daemon nonetheless has pent-up resentment in direction of his spouse. This struggle is being waged in her identify, however he nonetheless refuses to bend the knee and acknowledge her as inheritor to the throne, believing the crown to be rightfully his, not Rhaenyra’s. He runs off to Harrenhal to drum up some allies of his personal, however, seemingly thanks to Alys (Gayle Rankin), his mission is being constatly disrupted by unusual visions that do not do a lot for his self-confidence. Younger Rhaenyra tells him that Viserys all the time liked her greater than him, Laena reminds him that he is uncared for his daughters, and although Alyssa tells Daemon that he was all the time her favourite, this imaginative and prescient additionally reveals a few of his deepest insecurities.
A Imaginative and prescient of Viserys May Push Daemon to Act in ‘Home of the Dragon’ Season 2
In Harrenhal, Daemon is working in place, not keen to cooperate with Rhaenyra and her council again at Dragonstone and looking for allies who will bend the knee to him. That is proving troublesome, contemplating his disregard for the lives of the harmless and his philosophy of ruling via concern, to not point out the unusual visions which are clouding his thoughts. Although his most up-to-date imaginative and prescient of Laena may immediate him to hunt out his daughters Baela (Bethany Antonia) and Rheana (Phoebe Campbell), if there’s anybody who can get Daemon really riled up, it is Viserys. Seeing him in a imaginative and prescient could possibly be the tipping level that goads him into vital motion, twisting the knife by reminding Daemon of his weaknesses and all the ability he might’ve had if he’d had the heart to do what Aemond did to Aegon. Regardless of the love Daemon did have for his brother, as issues proceed to not go his method, seeing a imaginative and prescient of Viserys, the beloved peacetime king, might set him off and remind him of his inadequacies and the way desperately he needs the crown for himself.
Perhaps the worst a part of the major character deaths in House of the Dragon is that we lose some really nice performers, the latest being Eve Best. As soon as the major time jump occurred halfway via Season 1, we misplaced Alcock as younger Rhaenyra, and although she beforehand denied rumors that she can be making an look in Season 2, it was a pleasing shock to see her pop up in certainly one of Daemon’s unusual desires, though he shortly slices her head off. Viserys showing in certainly one of Daemon’s visions in a future episode wouldn’t solely be necessary for his character arc in Season 2 but in addition an opportunity to see the good Paddy Considine on our screens as soon as once more, even briefly.
Home of the Dragon is presently streaming on Max. New episodes air each Sunday.