House of the Dragon Daeron assassination attempt puts prince on edge
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth says Daeron’s Season 3 attack shakes his trust in Ormund and pushes the young prince toward power.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
Spoilers for Season 3, Episode 3 of House of the Dragon.
The House of the Dragon Daeron assassination attempt has pushed the youngest child of Alicent Hightower and Viserys Targaryen into far more dangerous territory, according to actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth.
In the latest episode of the HBO drama, Daeron Targaryen is eating in Tumbleton with Ormund Hightower, played by James Norton, and Gwayne Hightower, played by Freddie Fox, when a group of Baratheons makes a move against him. Variety reported that the attack appears to be carried out on behalf of Daeron’s half-sister, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, played by Emma D’Arcy.
Gwayne spots the danger and steps in before the plan succeeds. The scene ends with bodies on the floor and Ormund overwhelmed by the smell, vomiting beside Daeron as the young prince takes in how badly things have escalated.
What happened to Daeron in House of the Dragon?
Daeron survives an attempted killing in Tumbleton after Gwayne intervenes. Ainsworth told Variety that the moment shocks Daeron because it is a level of violence he did not expect to land directly on him.
The actor said the scene also shifts the balance between Daeron and Ormund. Daeron holds back Ser Jon Roxton, played by Joplin Sibtain, as Ormund gives orders, showing a flash of command at the same time Ormund appears shaken and physically undone.
That matters because Ormund has been trying to shape Daeron into a claimant for the throne. Ainsworth told Variety that Daeron is starting to take more control of what is happening around him, while also growing frustrated with Ormund’s weakness in the crisis.
Daeron’s power is starting to show
Gwayne’s arrival in Tumbleton also changes Daeron’s state of mind. Ainsworth said the character is forced to think about what becoming king could mean, including whether it would create distance between him and Ormund.
After the attack, Daeron goes to the courtyard to spar. Ainsworth told Variety that the sword practice is partly an escape from pressure and partly a way for Daeron to prove to himself that he could defend himself if another attempt is made.
The actor said Daeron might be capable of entering a fight, though he suggested the character is still testing whether he is ready. In George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the character is known as “Daeron the Daring,” and Ainsworth said he is aware of that reputation while still leaving room for the show’s version to grow.
Is Ormund dyeing Daeron’s hair?
Fans have speculated that Ormund may have altered Daeron’s hair color, including theories that he dyed a fake Daeron’s hair blond and may have kept the real Daeron’s hair looking more Hightower than Targaryen. Ainsworth told Variety that the idea would fit Ormund’s behavior, but he said it was not confirmed on set and he does not know if it is true.
Ainsworth added that he likes the idea of Daeron sharing a visual link with his mother, Alicent, because Daeron has not seen her in years and has built an idealized image of her. He also pointed to Daeron’s green colors and nail-picking as details that connect the two characters.
The actor also discussed Daeron’s bond with his dragon, Tessarion, who has mostly been kept out of sight by Ormund. Ainsworth described Tessarion as Daeron’s constant companion in Old Town and said that relationship helps keep him connected to his Targaryen side despite Ormund’s hostility toward Targaryen blood and dragons.
Ainsworth told Variety he read Fire & Blood from Aegon’s conquest through the events tied to Season 3 so he could understand the history Daeron would know after growing up in Old Town under the Faith of the Seven.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.