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

Living in the cursed city of Harrenhaal, Daemon has been suffering from strange hallucinations for several episodes… But what evil is eating away at him?

Westeros is filled with magic, creatures, and supernatural events beyond human control. Prophecies and visions are commonplace and form an important part of the storytelling of Game Of Thrones as House of the Dragon. Especially in season 2, where the haunted castle of Harrenhaal – since Aegon's conquest – plays a central role. Anyone who stays there too long will know misfortune… Daemon knows something about it.

A resident of the fortress for two episodes, the warrior seems to be the next victim of this curse that manifests itself in the form of hallucinations. But is it really due to the evil eye? Or does the reason for these misfortunes come from the presence of Alys Rivers, Harrenhaal's mysterious wife? Or perhaps from the heart tree – a spiritual element that attributes to Bran his visions in Game Of Thrones – what is Lord Targaryen's bed made of?

It should already be noted that there is no mention of these strange events in the original book by George RR Martin, Fire & Blood. The series therefore has carte blanche to represent Daemon's torments. But what exactly do these visions mean? What can they portend?

House of the Dragon, season 2: who is Harrenhaal's mysterious wife?

“You created me, Daemon”

One of the most important visions, which occurs twice, is the appearance of Rhaenyra, his wife, in her teenage form. Surprising more than one viewer, the return of Milly Alcock to play the 'young' version of the Princess turned Queen had delighted the actors and fans. But this cameo is not fan service and hides a darker reality for Daemon.

The first time Daemon imagines Rhaenyra, he sees her sewing the head of Prince Jaehaerys, Aegon's child heir whom he had ordered to be murdered. Earlier, the two husbands had argued over this, with Rhaenyra accusing Daemon of acting without her consent. She had questioned his loyalty, and he had ridden a dragon into the Riverlands to raise an army in her name. In this vision, the young Rhaenyra reprimands her husband: “You're always coming and going, aren't you? And I have to clean up after you all the time.”

For the director of episode 3, Geeta Vaasant PatelDaemon reconnects here with the only version of Rhaenyra he likes, the one who never questioned his loyalty:

“He's just been rejected by the older version of Rhaenyra, a version he thinks he no longer knows. The Rhaenyra he truly knows is the younger one, the one he fell in love with and who admired him.”

She also highlighted the interpretation of Matt Smith (Daemon) in this scene: “I saw his face expressing pain, as he finally understood what he had just done. He was connected to Daemon.”

House of the Dragon: Episode 3's Special Cameo Explained

By projecting Rhaenyra in her younger form, Daemon also makes us understand that he sees his wife not as a queen, his equal, but as the little girl she was. This reminds him of the time when he still had influence over the Targaryen, when he could still control her. But this Rhaenyra is also the one who took his throne as showrunner Ryan Condal explains:

“It was the daughter who took his throne. Not the older Rhaenyra, played by Emma D'Arcy. It was this version of Rhaenyra who deposed him as heir to the throne, and then was named heir in his place…”

This interpretation is also made explicit during the second vision visible in episode 4. In the throne room, the young version of Rhaenyra sits and then advances towards her uncle and husband. But now, she wears the clothes and crown of her older version.

Speaking in High Valyrian, the language of honesty and intimacy among the Targaryens, she states according to David J. Peterson, creator of this imagined language:

“They say the Targaryens are closer to gods than men… In my eyes, you were a god. Daemon Targaryen. The Prince of the City. The Rogue Prince. I was innocent. You used me and abandoned me. You sullied my name at court. You empowered my rivals. You tried to break me. You put me on this throne, and you loved me and hated me for it. You made me what I am, Daemon. Yet you seek to destroy me. All because your brother loved me more than he ever loved you.”

From this vision emerge the events of season 1, Daemon's probable guilt and above all his perhaps most secret desire: that of wearing the crown. He who thought he was the heir to King Viserys and who saw his throne return to a young woman. Is he envious of his wife's position and upset to be relegated to the background?

Unable to cope with the truth Rhaenyra has spoken, Daemon ends up decapitating her with one clean blow. A sign towards the destruction of the Dark Queen? “This is what you always wanted, right?” declares the head alone.

The guilt of a husband and a father

New cameo briefly seen in episode 4, that of Nanna Blondell returns to play Laena Velaryon, Daemon's second wife. After drinking the potion given to her by Alys, the Targaryen mistakes a servant for his deceased wife. Laena had killed herself in Season 1 by ordering the dragon Vhagar to burn her. She had just given birth to a stillborn child and her fate was set.

Definitely haunted by his past, Daemon seems to suffer from guilt here – that of a mourning that has not completely ended.

Daemon VS Aemond

They both share Targaryen genes, but their looks aren't the only thing they share. Place the 'd' in Daemon at the end of that name and you have Alicent's second son. They are two sides of the same coin. Both riding mighty dragons, they are also responsible for the death of a child. And while Daemon sees Aemond as a formidable foe, Aemond sees his uncle as a beacon of power.

In this vision, many may have expected to see Aemond appear. Instead, we discover that the projection of Aemond One-Eye is in reality that of Daemon, dressed like his nephew. Does this mirror effect foreshadow a single combat between the two to come? Readers of Fire and Blood already have their answer and this vision is crystal clear…

Will Daemon's madness continue in the next episode of House of the Dragon ? To find out, we will have to wait until next Monday on Max.

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