‘House of the Dragon’: Here’s Why Daeron Targaryen Is Not in the Show & How Will They Introduce Him

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We’re more than halfway through the second season of ‘House of the Dragon.’ Both sides are advancing their war effort, some through open warfare and some through more subtle tactics. Both Rhaenyra and Alicent are losing their supporters left and right, with Rhaenyra losing Rhaenys and Meleys, and Alicent losing Aegon II and Sunfyre.

With a limited number of Targaryens on the board and a limited number of dragons, on the side of Blacks, we’ve learned that Rhaenyra is trying to mount just about anybody who has a speck of Targaryen blood. On the side of the Greens however, the writers decided to name-drop one forgotten son of Alicent and Viserys, who exists in the book but has so far been present on screen, Daeron Targaryen.

In the previous season of the show, we detailed how many children Alicent and Viserys had in the book, and if you’ve read the book you’re aware that they had 4 children in total, 3 boys and 1 girl. While the show mostly focused on Aegon II, Aemond, and Helaena, most of them having major parts, Daeron was absent and not even referenced so we assumed that he was mostly written out of the show.

And he was as good as written out, the writers decided not to waste any screentime on him since he quite frankly was largely inconsequential and unimportant up until the point the Dance of Dragons began.

Alicent mentioned in episode 6 that Daeron was serving as a ward with House Hightower, and this is true as far as the book is concerned. There was no need for Daeron to be introduced in the show since he wasn’t present for much of the book either. Alicent’s brother mentioned that Daeron is 16, and this is the part when he starts having an active role in the war.

The show will introduce Daeron when he becomes the greatest threat to Rhaenyra, following her takeover of King’s Landing. With Aegon II too sick to rule and Aemond dying at the hands of Daemon during the Battle Above God’s Eye, Dareon the third son of Alicent and Viserys will be the next likely heir to the throne to support to cause of the Greens, however, his role will be messy to say the least.

Daeron is a dragonrider, he has Tessarion, a small but efficient dragon as dragons are slowly being killed off, and each side will be forced to use what it has. Daeron will have an active role in the war he will take over Shield Islands and eventually he will undermine Rhaenyra’s cause by bringing dragonseeds Ulf the White and Hugh Hammer to his side.

Dareon at one point wanted to march to King’s Landing to take the throne away from his half-sister and was counting on the help of the bastard dragonriders he took from Rhaenyra’s side, however, the bastards were treacherous and Hugh Hammer considered himself and not Daeron worthy of the crown by the mere fact of having a larger dragon.

The key event was the battle at Tumbleton. After Aegon II went missing and Aemond was killed, Daeron became the first in line for the throne. Lord Unwin Peake wanted Daeron proclaimed Prince of Dragonstone, while others wished to crown him king. When Hugh demanded to be king, Daeron threw wine in his face, leading to plotting by the lords and knights of the Reach, who wanted Daeron’s consent to kill the Betrayers, which he gave.

Two days later, during the Second Battle of Tumbleton, Prince Daeron died. Accounts of his death vary: he was either killed by Black Trombo with a morningstar, slain by a man-at-arms, or died when his burning tent collapsed on him.

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