'House of the Dragon' Season 2: Why did Daemon dream about his mother? Explained

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jul 17, 2024 16:29 IST

Weird things are happening in 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 in the middle of a war. Daemon Targaryen is stuck at Harrenhal from what now seems like ages, and having icky dreams. In episode 5, the warrior prince dreams about his mother, and wait till you hear the conversation they were having and the things they were doing in probably the most unsettling scene of the season. In fact, arguably the most unsettling scene from the history of the Dragon universe, including all the uncomfortable relationships and sequences that 'Game of Thrones' produced for us. But, why is Daemon having such nightmares?

Daemon is the younger brother of King Viserys I. He always thought of himself as more deserving of the iron throne than his brother who died in season 1 following a severe illness. The prince married his niece, Rhaenyra Targaryen, in an unquestionable, affectionate display of love. Everything was going fine until the war began. After an argument with his wife, Daemon decided to build an army of his own for Team Black and went to Harrenhal to convince the other houses to join his wife and himself in the ultimate war, a part of the epic event called 'Dance of the Dragons' as described in the legends.

What is happening to Daemon in Harrenhal?

As soon as Daemon reaches Harrenhal, he starts to hallucinate. He sees things that don't exist and imagines scenarios most unkind and scarring in the times of a war. However, in episode five, he meets a silver-haired woman in his dream. Both naked, they talk and indulge in some passionate lovemaking with the woman telling him how he's the fiercest warrior and was always more capable than his deceased elder brother. "Daemon, you were always the strong one," the beautiful woman whispers, adding, "Your brother had great love in his heart, but he lacked your constitution." It's only towards the end of this scene where the two engage in oral sex, that we are informed about the identity of this familiar-looking woman.

The woman named Alyssa Targaryen tells Daemon, "If only you'd been born first. My favorite son." Yes, eyes are rolled and jaws are dropped. But, the bigger question remains: why? It's certainly not an old memory that Daemon is revisiting in his nightmare because he was still very young when his mother, Alyssa, died. Could it be his fantasy? The ultimate way to exert power over everything that his King brother held dear to him? Or is it simply a bizarre way of remembering his mother?

All about Daemon's very, very Oedipal dream

Our best guess is that the history of Harrenhal and people living there - alive and dead, are messing with Daemon's brain. The prince is known to be the most furious warrior there is. It's almost impossible to defeat him on the field. Reconfiguring his mind to make him think the most incestous things is just a smart way to weaken him in the middle of the war. This is where Alys Rivers comes in the picture.

She is a witch. In fact, the whole of Harrenhal is considered a doomed place, infected with the curses of the dead and carrying the history of its burning. It is believed that the castle, the biggest of all in the universe but now half-burnt, is haunted. Daemon is sleeping on weirwood tree beds which are said to be permeated with the spirits of the dead. The whole crumbling structure could just be making the prince go crazy, especially when he's most vulnerable - during his sleep.

It is also possible that Alys is giving him the hallucinogenic weirwood paste. Daemon is never seen questioning the potion that Alys hands him. God knows why. And that small drink could just be the reason behind the very disturbing things in Daemon's head right now. In the book 'Fire and Blood' by George RR Martin, Daemon kills [spoiler alert] Aemond, the one-eyed prince and the son of King Viserys I and his second wife, Alicent Hightower. Before the grand battle takes place between the two at Harrenhal, over God's eye lake, Aemond falls in love with Alys, who is later found impregnated with his child. Being a witch, it is highly possible that Alys has already foreseen everything, including the death of her future husband. This is the only opportunity in her hand to make sure that Daemon doesn't live by to fulfil what's written in the stars.

Daemon's ways in battle and in bed are no different. He believes himself to be the conqueror in both places. But, this nightmare wasn't just his.

'House of the Dragon' Season 2 releases an episode every Monday on JioCinema in India.