Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6.
Summary
Gwayne Hightower makes some telling remarks about Daeron Targaryen inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 6, and they don’t reflect too well on Alicent Hightower.Daeron is Alicent’s fourth sonwith King Viserys I Targaryen, but has never appeared on the TV show. He was sent away as a ward in Oldtown - where Alicent’s family lives - and has never returned to King’s Landing, though the time for his appearance seems to be edging nearer.
House of the Dragonseason 2 has made a few references to Daeron, a notable change from season 1 where he wasn’t even mentioned alongsideAlicent and Viserys' other children.The conversation between Alicent and Gwayne in season 2, episode 6 is particularly revealing about what he’s like, with the latter saying he’s"stalwart…clever…[and] kind.“It’s a notable difference to Alicent’s two other sons, Aegon and Aemond, and that comparison is interesting.
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What Gwayne Saying Daeron Is “Stalwart” & King’s Landing Is Not “Salubrious” Means
It Doesn’t Reflect Well On The Capital, Nor On Alicent & Viserys
In terms ofGwayne saying that Daeron is"stalwart,“what he means is that he’s loyal, trustworthy, and reliable. Essentially, he has many redeeming qualities that help make him a decent, honest person, which is very different to what can be said about Aegon and Aemond. The reason for that, Gwayne offers, is that the Red Keep is not a"salubrious environment"for the development of young men. Salubrious means healthy or pleasant, and in this context, is about how it has twisted Alicent’s sons.
The Red Keep has certainly offered a lot to Aegon and Aemond in terms of wealth and comfort, but it’s also a place where it’d be easy to become misled in many ways.
The Red Keep has certainly offered a lot to Aegon and Aemond in terms of wealth and comfort, but it’s also a place where it’d be easy to become misled in many ways. It’s a place of political machinations and backstabbing, andKing’s Landing, more broadly, is somewhere a young prince can indulge themselves in any vice they want. It’s an environment that sows mistrust, encourages deception, and does not discourage or punish their misdeeds.
It’s easy to see why Daeron has fared better being away from that, but it’s also, unintentionally on Gwayne’s part, damning of Alicent. The way Aegon and Aemond are can in no way be blamed entirely on her - a lot is because of Viserys' neglect of his children, some of it is what King’s Landing nurtures, and part is genetics - but she isn’t blameless either. She didn’t do enough to curb her kids' behavior or excesses, and now cannot control them, so it’s pretty clear why Daeron has been better off without her and King’s Landing.
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When Will Daeron Appear In House Of The Dragon?
Is He Going To Turn Up In Season 2?
With multiple references of Daeron, it’s fair to wonder if he’s going to appear soon. That’s even more pertinent given the Dance of the Dragons has started, andwhile the Greens do have the biggest dragon, Vhagar, they are lacking in numbers compared to Team Black. Daeron will bring with him Tessarion, who is close to fighting age, giving his side another powerful weapon to use in the civil war. However, he may not actually appear untilHouse of the Dragonseason 3.
Episode 8
August 4
There haven’t been any reports of a Daeron actor being added toHouse of the Dragon’s cast, and showrunner Ryan Condal himself has played down any appearance happening soon - but did confirm it’s coming eventually. Speaking toVariety, he said:
“Daeron has not been cast yet. I’ve said he’s a character in the show, but at this point in the story, he’s in Oldtown where he was warded off as a young child. So we don’t have a point-of-view character in that world yet and there is no dramatic reason to go there. This happened all the time in medieval times, particularly in the high nobility. You would take your youngest children and ward them off to other places, so they grow up away from court and learn things and have their own place and station in the world.
“We know he’s not yet a dragon rider, but he’s had a dragon born to him. So he will come to the narrative and have a role to play, just as he does in the book - we’re just not there yet in the storytelling.”
House of the Dragonseason 2 has referenced the Hightower army being on the move from Oldtown, which would seemingly set up Daeron’s involvement. He and Tessarion fight in several battles in theDance of the Dragons, but none of the ones likely to happen in season 2. With all of that, then there’ll be a long wait for him to appear, but hopefully it will be worth it.
New episodes ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2 release Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and Max.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
