(Spoilers for House of the Dragon, both TV show and book, will be found below.)
After last week’s Battle of the Twins and upward fail of Criston Cole, House of the Dragon‘s second season kicked into a new gear: moving on from plotting to warring.
This week, Prince Daemon — who has become less of an irresistibly smirking rogue prince and more of a dejected agent of chaos — leaves Dragonstone on the wings of Caraxes. Yes, he is doing this to advance Team Black, but he also didn’t mind fleeing after Rhaenyra pointed out that he’s pouting over Viserys passing him over as heir. So, Daemon and his subpar hair head to Harrenhal, where he meets zero resistance — “I’m claiming Harrenhal” received an “apparently so” and an instant knee bend — at the castle.
Daemon: “I claim this castle of Harrenhall”
Simon Strong: “I Simon Strong, castellan of Harrenhall, swear fealty to Rhaenyra of house Targaryen” #HouseOfTheDragon pic.twitter.com/rxWJdZ7skW
— Team Black (@bestoftheblacks) July 1, 2024
everyone immediately bending the knee to daemon KING SHIT #HouseOfTheDragon pic.twitter.com/fm5wyNKJt4
— mira (@rhaelina) July 1, 2024
Daemon soon finds, however, that his experience of Harrenhal will be that of a house of horrors. The most disturbing instance of this vibe is his hallucination of young Rhaenyra sewing together the body of Prince Jaeharys, who recently perished due to Daemon’s botched Blood and Cheese plot. Viewers were not only thrilled to see Milly Alcock make an appearance but also to see Daemon feeling some haunted remorse for his actions.
daemon feeling remorse for what happened to jaehaerys and he sees young rhaenyra
pic.twitter.com/0HegTFWUDB
— sav (@darksiister) July 1, 2024
Good to see Milly Alcock who used to play Rhaenyra in season one of HOTD! Good to see Daemon feels some guilt for his actions. #HouseOfTheDragon pic.twitter.com/837O9QRVo3
— J
BLEACHTYBW (@Animesempai0) July 1, 2024
ELA VENHO! EU TO SURTANDO!
Milly Alcock como a jovem Rhaenyra Targaryen na 2ª Temporada de #HouseOfTheDragon
pic.twitter.com/tZwtOk6XCi
— House of the Dragon Brasil (@HOTDBr) July 1, 2024
WELCOME BACK MILLY ALCOCK AS RHAENYRA TARGARYEN #HouseOfTheDragon pic.twitter.com/OQti3SehHk
— ━ ume
HOTD SPOILERS! (@scngb1rds) July 1, 2024
daemon hallucinating young rhaenyra and emma … get his ass alys pic.twitter.com/7ZMwwalqnK
— leslie ౨ৎ (@swanfoam) July 1, 2024
Y’all seeing young Rhaenyra….. the symbolism of how daemon always sees her as that young rhaenyra he seduced not as his equal or queen but as someone of use to him… yall the layers!!! #HouseOfTheDragon #HOTD pic.twitter.com/2wHjQUM9yG
— Mihrimah|FS |Free Palestine
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(@Mihrimah_FS) July 1, 2024
Daemon seeing young Rhaenyra #HOTD #HouseOfTheDragon pic.twitter.com/Qk4USU4oPm
— basketball enjoyer (@moneysnipershai) July 1, 2024
Why the visions for Daemon? Perhaps Alys Rivers, an alleged bastard of House Strong who is referred to by some as the “witch queen,” might be working her magic against Daemon, an act that probably does not bode well for him. Alys even pointedly predicts that Daemon will meet his end at Harrenhal, so stay tuned to see if that comes to fruition.
DAEMON ALWAYS KNEW. OH MY GOD. HE ALWAYS KNEW AND HE STILL SACRIFICED HIMSELF FOR RHAENYRA. HE STILL DID IT FOR HER OH MY GOD HE ALWAYS KNEW IM CRYING SO HARD pic.twitter.com/alI4YTqJ7O
—
(@VISVNYA) July 1, 2024
House of the Dragons airs on Sunday nights.