Daeron Targaryen's Introduction Spells Good News For House of the Dragon
The forgotten prince is to become one of the key players in the Dance of the Dragons.
Summary
- The latest episode of House of the Dragon confused many casual viewers by mentioning the fourth child of Viserys and Alicent.
- Daeron Targaryen's name has never come up on the show before, and his introduction now has significance.
- The absence of the prince until this moment has both in-universe and behind-the-scenes explanations.
It has happened, dear Fire & Blood fans! The fourth child of Viserys I Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, Daeron Targaryen, is now officially part of the House of the Dragon on-screen universe.
If you are a casual viewer, the latest episode of the Game of Thrones prequel must have confused you. When Otto Hightower mentioned a random fourth child in his conversation with Alicent, you must have exclaimed, 'Daeron! Where did that name come from?'
This confusion is understandable; before this moment, Daeron existed only in the pages of Fire & Blood and in various interviews and featurettes by the prequel creators. Not once in Season 1 (not even when Aegon, Aemond, and Helaena were shown as kids) did the youngest son of the king come up.
However, this was not done to mislead you, but for a very specific reason. And the fact that House of the Dragon has finally introduced Daeron (even if only by mentioning him) is good news for the fantasy drama.
In-Universe Explanation
The in-universe explanation for the absence of the fourth child in the Red Keep is quite simple. As Ser Otto mentioned, the boy is a resident of Oldtown, the seat of House Hightower, his family on the mother's side.
Apparently, with his strategic thinking, Otto sent his grandson to serve as cupbearer and squire to his brother, Lord Hobert Hightower, to maintain at least some control in Oldtown. And it was a good deal for House Hightower, too, because the prince came with a dragon bound to him. Yes, Daeron is a dragonrider, and the Greens now have the fourth fire-breathing beast, young Tessarion.
Behind-the-Camera Explanation
As for the real-world explanation for Daeron's absence, we need to consider how snowmaking works. When HBO ordered the first Game of Thrones spinoff, there was no way for them to know if the new show would be successful. So they only greenlit one season.
As a result, Ryan Condal, Miguel Sapochnik and their team had to hedge their bets and prepare to cut material from the original novel if the numbers didn't justify more than a couple of seasons. Apparently, those cuts included Daeron and his arc.
That's why the introduction of the new prince Targaryen is so important.
Good News
In the books, Daeron Targaryen is a major figure in the war between the Blacks and the Greens, aka the Dance of the Dragons. With his dragon, Tessarion, he participates in several key battles and repeatedly shifts the balance of power to the Greens.
So his introduction most likely means that Ryan Condal is getting ready to adapt if not all then a majority of the canon fights for the screen. Even before the second season premiered, House of the Dragon was renewed for a third installment. But rumor has it that there will be at least four epic chapters showcasing the Dance of the Dragons in all its glory.
And we are certainly here for that.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 3 is set to air on HBO and Max on June 30, with five more episodes to follow every Sunday through August 4.