Showrunner of House Of The Dragon discusses the cameo appearances in the season 2 finale of the Game Of Thrones universe series
Ryan Condal, showrunner of House of the Dragon, provides insight into a vital cameo spot in the second season finale. The second installment of the popular Game of Thrones spin-off concluded last Sunday after premiering earlier this summer, setting the stage for an explosive season 3. The ending of House of the Dragon’s second season offers numerous shocking revelations and developments, including an unexpected appearance from Daenerys Targaryen herself (though not played by Emilia Clarke). This happens when Daemon (played by Matt Smith) witnesses the prophecy of Aegon the Conqueror in a vision.
In a Monday Zoom Q&A session with journalists, Condal was asked about Daemon’s vision in the House of the Dragon season 2 finale and whether Daenerys’ presence, instead of Jon Snow’s, confirms her as the «Promised Prince.» Condal affirmed that the character’s inclusion was not meant to shed light on George R.R. Martin’s intentions with this prophecy storyline, which is still unresolved in the novels. Instead, it was more of a character-based decision for Daemon’s arc.
«We’re not intending to make a specific interpretation of a prophecy that the author has yet to reveal. That’s George’s world and George’s story to tell. We’re more focused on engaging with the character drama that’s embedded in and around those images.»
«It’s a more complex idea. For us, the connection is specifically within and around the dragons. This isn’t a spoiler for anyone who hasn’t read the book, but we know that in this world, we have 17 dragons (whatever the exact number is at this point) and in the world where we first meet Daenerys as she looks across the Narrow Sea to her lost empire, there are no dragons.»
«The connection between this family and the family to come, and Daemon seeing something that we know who is viewing that image, Daemon doesn’t have any idea. That could be his future daughter with Rhaenyra, who has three dragon hatchlings. He doesn’t know that, but he feels that this was shown to me for a specific reason.»
«We know that Rhaenyra is already working on the idea of the Promised Prince. If Daemon also believes that’s Rhaenyra, as we have heard him say in high Valyrian in [the finale], there’s something very intriguing that we can do with his interpretation of that reality as we move forward.» For that reason, I think it was important that Daenerys was the image.»
What Daemon’s vision of Daenerys means for season 3 of House Of The Dragon
One of the key questions throughout House of the Dragon season 2 is whether Daemon will oppose Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) in his own pursuit of the throne. The finale used Daemon’s vision to definitively rule out this possibility. Only the audience knows that the figure in Daemon’s vision is Daenerys, whereas Daemon only knows that the figure holds some significance. His vision on the whole assures him that he’s just a cog in the larger scheme of things, and that Rhaenyra is the rightful owner of the throne.
In the confirmed season 3 of House of the Dragon, viewers might see a more harmonious dynamic between Rhaenyra and Daemon. The latter has often criticized Rhaenyra’s handling of new developments in the conflict and has been quite impulsive. In the season opener, he even goes behind Rhaenyra’s back to hire Blood and Cheese as assassins, leading to the murder of Prince Jaehaerys.
However, Daemon’s vision could lead to a more united front for the Black Team in season 3 of House of the Dragon. As Rhaenyra has an upper hand with dragons over the Green Team, the major hindrance to her ascension in season 2 was indeed internal strife, but a major source of that discord has seemingly been eliminated. Season 2 of House of the Dragon leaves us in suspense about what’s in store, but it certainly hints at a potential transformation for Daemon in the seasons to come.