Alright y’all, let’s talk House of the Dragon season 2 again. If you read my reviews, you’ll know that, like many others, I wasn’t a fan of the second season. The pacing was all over the place, storylines went nowhere, and some characters made choices that left me questioning the writers room. But you know what? Even in this mess of a season, some things caught my attention retrospectively. One thing that stood out to me was all the time we spent following Daemon on his little adventure at Harrenhal.
At first, I was like, “Why are we wasting so much time watching Daemon’s medieval AirBnB stay at Luigi’s mansion?” It felt like this storyline was played out a few episodes too long. But clearly, the writers wanted to really emphasize his transformation from a reckless and selfish prince at the beginning of the season to him willingly bending the knee to Rhaenyra once more, even though he’s gotten all the leverage to overpower her. I could not figure out what anchored this storyline, But then it hit me.
Daemon’s character, up until this season, has always been all about blind ambition. I mean, he’s got it all – he’s a Targaryen prince with a fancy Valyrian steel sword, a freakin’ dragon, and more money and power than he knows what to do with. Of course he thinks he’s destined for greatness! So, what made him change? Well, all that power and glory don’t automatically equal happiness. Who knew?
The Shiny Lure of the Crown
Let’s start by understanding why Daemon is dead-set on getting that pointy chair.
Daemon’s obsession with the Iron Throne is like me binge-watching a new Netflix series – he just can’t stop, even when he knows it’s probably not good for him. Well, it all boils down to daddy issues and a massive chip on his shoulder! Let me explain.
Daemon always thought the throne was his birthright. He probably spent his whole life thinking, “One day, all this will be mine!” But then life threw him a curveball. When dear old dad kicked the bucket, the crown went to his brother Viserys instead, who he thought was unfit to rule and the weaker of the two. This hit Daemon’s ego hard. But I can imagine it wasn’t just about losing out on the throne but also about feeling like he wasn’t good enough for his dad and that the whole system was rigged against him.
So, in reality, getting the Iron Throne isn’t just about power and riches. For Daemon, it’s about proving everyone wrong, showing that he was worthy all along. It’s like he’s got this voice in his head constantly whispering, “You’ll never be good enough,” and he thinks becoming king will finally shut it up.
The Not-So-Fun Parts of Being King
This leads us to his character arc this season. When Daemon rolls up to Harrenhal after his disagreement with Rhaenyra, he’s got one goal on his mind:
- Raise an army
- Seize King’s Landing
- Become the King
But things don’t pan out as he had hoped. Soon after his arrival, he starts having crazy nightmares and hallucinations, seeing ghosts from his past and all sorts of freaky stuff.
In one of these visions, he sees his brother Viserys—but not the strong, kingly Viserys we remember from the early parts of Season 1.
Nope, this is the decrepit Viserys, all sickly and struggling even to hold his crown. Daemon’s all freaked out seeing his brother like this and approaches him. He asks, “What’s going on here?” And that’s when Viserys drops some hard truths about what it means to be king.
Viserys tells him:
“I never wanted it.
I was right not to.
All that pain it caused.
It crushes whoever wears it.
You always wanted it Daemon.
Do you want it still?”
Talk about a reality check. This is when Daemon begins to change his outlook on life and his actions. Safe to say that Dameon had always pictured himself sitting on that throne, looking all majestic and powerful. But seeing Viserys in this light painted a whole different picture – one of sacrifice, hard work, a lot of suffering, and one that ultimately consumes the one who wears the crown.
In this scene, you can almost see the gears turning in Daemon’s head. For the first time, it’s like he’s realizing that being king isn’t all fancy parties and giving orders. It’s a huge responsibility and comes with a ton of baggage. His face conveys a sense of disgust and regret for his actions and ambitions, almost as if he was asking himself, “Is this really what I’ve been after?” and that maybe what he wanted wasn’t the crown itself, but the approval and love of his brother – the validation that had been to denied him for so long.
Bending the Knee
Just when Daemon thinks he’s had enough of these mind-bending revelations, bam! Another vision hits him. This time, it’s courtesy of Alys and a weirwood tree.
In this vision, Daemon sees himself drowning, dead dragons everywhere, a White Walker leading an army of ice zombies, and Daenerys Targaryen with her baby dragons. This vision drives home the point of his arc. It helps Daemon finally understand that it’s not him who needs to sit on the Iron Throne – it’s Rhaenyra. She’s the one who needs to unite the Seven Kingdoms against the big bad ice zombies – or at least that’s how he interpreted that.
So, when you put this vision together with his earlier chat with Viserys, it’s no wonder Daemon does a complete 180 and abandons his quest for the Iron Throne. He’s not the same guy we love to hate anymore. He’s finally seen beyond his own blind ambition.
Wrapping It All Up
Watching Daemon’s transformation is like seeing a contestant on ‘The Bachelor’ suddenly realize they’re not here for the right reasons. Daemon started off thinking the Iron Throne was his ticket to happiness and validation. But through some serious ghost-induced soul-searching, he realized that true leadership isn’t about personal glory but responsibility and sacrifice.
Daemon’s story reminds us that sometimes, what we think we want isn’t what we need. It’s like when you’re a kid and want to eat nothing but ice cream for dinner, but then you grow up and realize that’s a terrible idea (most of the time, anyway).
Ultimately, Daemon’s decision to support Rhaenyra instead of going after the throne for himself is huge. In my mind, Season 1 Dameon would have betrayed her. In season 2, Dameon can finally see beyond his ambitions and think about what’s best for the realm.
Reflecting on Daemon’s journey makes me think about my goals and ambitions. Am I chasing after things for the right reasons? What’s the real cost of attaining power and success?
You know, it reminds me of something one of my favorite TV characters once said:
“Power is only given to those who are prepared to lower themselves to pick it up.”
– Ragnar Lothbrok
So, what’s your Iron Throne? What are you chasing that might not be worth the cost? Next time you’re grinding towards a goal, pause and ask yourself: Am I pulling a Daemon? Is this really what I want, or am I just caught up in the chase?
Who knows? You might just save yourself from a whole lot of dragon-sized trouble.
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