House of the Dragon: Daemon's Last Visions Brings Back an Iconic Character

White Walkers, the Mother of Dragons, but what does this umpteenth vision mean?

Season 2 of House of the Dragon ended this week, and while the episode didn't get as much praise as expected—due to the lack of a big battle that can't wait to get going—one key moment has gotten a lot of attention on social media. And for once, it's in Daemon's visions.

It will not have escaped anyone's notice. Rhaenyra's husband has spent most of his time this season in the cursed fortress of Harrenhal, hunting ghosts from the past, under the constant surveillance of the witch of the place, Alys Rivers. An ideal opportunity to unearth familiar faces like that of Milly Alcock as young Rhaenyra, Paddy Considine as King Viserys I, and Nanna Blondell who played his second wife Laena. But also to see Daemon have intimate relations with his own mother (just to remind us that we are in Game Of Thrones).

House of the Dragon, season 2: Daemon's visions explained

In this last episode, Daemon follows Alys to the sacred wood. In front of the great weir, she asks him: “Would you like to learn what is offered to you?” Placing his hand on the tree, the Targaryen is plunged into yet another vision, whose gaze is not turned towards the past, but towards the future… And not just any future, that of his lineage, that of Westeros, of Game Of Thronesthe parent series. A prophetic vision that is in reality none other than that of his ancestor, Aegon the Conqueror: the song of Fire and Ice, the one that announces the Prince who was promised to unite the kingdom, the same one that King Viserys shares with his daughter in the last episode in season 1 of House of the Dragon before dying :

“It will begin with a terrible winter that will sweep from the far North. Aegon has seen the darkness riding the winds. What lurks in that darkness will destroy the world of the living. When that winter comes, all of Westeros must rise against it. For man to survive, there must be a Targaryen on the Iron Throne. A king or queen who can unite the realm against the cold and the dark. This dream is the song of ice and fire. It is a secret that has been passed down from king to heir since Aegon.”

But what exactly do we see in this vision?

Beyond the Wall

The vision begins with the appearance of a silver-haired man sitting in one of the sacred trees. This is Brynden Rivers, descendant of Daemon, illegitimate son of Aegon IV and Melissa Nerbosc. The latter was part of the Night's Watch. But one day, leaving for beyond the Wall, he never returned.

His presence, followed by a three-eyed crow, can only mean one thing: he is THE three-eyed crow, the one Bran is looking for in Game Of Thrones. This montage confirms one of the great fan theories, since in GRR Martin's novels, the identity of this supreme being remains unknown. From now on, it is established that the Three-Eyed Raven is none other than a Targaryen.

And what about the White Walkers? The creature Daemon sees has hair similar to that of the Targaryens, and we could even find a resemblance to Matt Smith (under heavy makeup). Pure far-fetched theory, one might say, but not impossible. While waiting for confirmation, one thing is certain, the White Walker in this vision is far from the one Arya fights in the final season of Game Of Thrones – but at the time, Matt Smith was still far from Westeros. Could this be a predecessor to the Night King? Or will Daemon turn into a frozen zombie in the future? That would be quite a twist.

The end of the dragons….

The future has already confirmed to us that dragons would come to an end. The last of them stopped flying long after the events of House of the Dragon and well before those of Game Of Thrones. Also, the dead dragons and the corpses that accompany them are signs announcing not only the end of these winged creatures, but also those who will perish during the battles to come… But for that, we will have to wait for season 3!

When we say dragon, we obviously think of these beasts, but we must not forget their masters either. Daemon witnesses the fall of the dragons, just as he does his own. He puts one foot in a pool (of blood?) and drowns. For readers of Fire and Blood which the series is inspired by, this can only be a sign of the character's fate.

House of the Dragon Season 2: The Finale Explained

…and their rebirth

A red comet streaks across the sky, just like in the first episodes of season 2 of Game Of Thrones. Three eggs are surrounded by flames. No doubt, they are those of Daenerys Targaryen's dragons: Rhaegal, Viserion and Drogon. Moreover, everything is confirmed when a woman from behind appears in the desert, naked, ash on the ground, holding dragons in her arms. The music played is also the theme of Ramin Djawadi's Mother of Dragons.

House of the Dragon just made a very strong connection with Game Of Thrones by bringing back one of its iconic characters. Daenerys Targaryen, Princess of Dragonstone, Queen of the Andals, Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm… It’s best to leave it at that.

Here, no Emilia Clarke, the original actress, but a newcomer, Imogen Ruby Little, very happy to have been able to play (even from behind) this great character.

For many, Daenerys' presence in Daemon's vision is not insignificant. It means only one thing: she was the Prince Who Was Promised, the one in Game Of Thronesthat the Scarlet Witch Melisandre sought first in the person of Stannis Baratheon, then Jon Snow. While in reality, the Prince was a Princess. The legend said:

“When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai will rise from the salt and smoke to awaken the stone dragons.”

Unlike the other characters, Daenerys ticked all the boxes. But the fan theory quickly fell apart. At a press conference reported by The Hollywood ReporterRyan Condal, showrunner of House of the Dragonsaid that there was never any question of interpreting the prophecy: “It's up to George (RR Martin) to tell that part of the story.”

But then why bring in Daenerys? For Ryan Condal, the idea was to tie the two series together – something they were looking to do whenever they had the opportunity:

“House of the Dragon is a prequel to a famous story, one of the greatest, if not the greatest, in television history. There has to be a connection at some point. And because the years have passed, there aren't really any characters alive at that time who continue to exist in the series that follows. So we're constantly looking for a way to tie the two together.”

But also to sow doubt in the character:

“We know who Daenerys is by looking at this image. But Daemon has no idea – this could be his next daughter with Rhaenyra… For that reason, I think it's important that it's Daenerys.”

It's not just fan service, then. She is therefore the expected sign that will make him bend the knee to Rhaenyra, visible on the Iron Throne. She will be Queen: from now on, Daemon is certain of it.

Moreover, immediately afterwards, his niece Helaena, Alicent's daughter, interacts with him and confirms his destiny in this great story: “You are just a chapter. You know your role. You know what you have to do.”

But what is she doing in Daemon's dream? The young woman is what is called a “dragon dreamer”, she is able to travel in dreams and predict the future. Her prophecies during the series have all come true. Hadn't she warned her mother that there were rats in episode 1 of season 2 in the Dungeon, some time before her son was murdered by a rodent hunter?

So, unable to get rid of these images, when Daemon sees his wife again, he does not hide from her the fact that he witnessed Aegon's dream – the opportunity to place in passing the great cult motto of the Starks: “Winter comes, with night and death.”

But will he truly remain loyal to his queen now that he knows the entire fate of Westeros? Tune in for Season 3, scheduled for 2026, to find out.