Warning: Contains major SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2’s finale.
Summary
In a shocking twist, Daemon Targaryen has visions of the future inHouse of the Dragon’s season 2 finale, brought about by Alys Rivers and the weirwood tree. In the biggest connection yet toGame of Thrones,this includes seeing Daenerys Targaryen, a White Walker, and the man who becomes the Three-Eyed Raven.House of the Dragon’s timelinemay be over 150 years before Dany is even born, and yet it establishes an important link between the two.
Daemon’s dreams and visions at Harrenhal have formed a key part of his arc, but they’ve been rooted very specifically in his story and the people he’s closest to. That’s included returningHouse of the Dragoncast members and characterslike Milly Alcock’s young Rhaenyra, and Paddy Considine’s King Viserys. However,House of the Dragonseason 2’s endinggoes much further, as he sees:
There’s a lot to unpack with Daemon’s vision. It is not just about his story, but the future of House Targaryen and Westeros itself.
Daemon Targaryen Sees Daenerys Targaryen In His Vision
The Scene Takes Place At The End Of Game Of Thrones Season 1 In The Timeline
Daemon sees a naked girl from behind in a barren landscape, with baby dragons climbing up her body.Yes, this is Daenerys Targaryen in Daemon’s vision, and it comes fromGame of Thronesseason 1. While a new scene, this can comfortably be placed in the timeline as being just after the events of the season 1 finale, titled “Fire & Blood,” following on from Dany emerging from Khal Drogo’s funeral pyre with three baby dragons.
This came almost 150 years after the last Targaryen dragon had died, and so was Daenerys doing what had long been thought impossible: bringing dragons back into the world.
It is one ofGame of Thrones' most important scenes and crucial for Daenerys' story and more, but it’s also massive in the context ofHouse Targaryen’s history. This came almost 150 years after the last Targaryen dragon had died, and so was Daenerys doing what had long been thought impossible: bringing dragons back into the world.Daenerys' dragon eggs came from Rhaenyra Targaryen, as the clutch she sent to the Vale with Rhaena included the three Dany received as a wedding gift (at least, according to the director; showrunner Ryan Condal toldEWit’s one possibility).
When Rhaenyra sent those eggs, she said they were the future of House Targaryen. If they really were Daenerys', then it becomes a lot more literal in meaning. Given there is a shot of dragon eggs in the flames right before Dany herself appears, then it would appear to be doubling down on the idea of the eggs inHouse of the Dragonbeing the same as the ones inGame of Thrones, drawing a clear line between the two.
Game Of Thrones: Where Daenerys’ Dragon Eggs Came From
Daenerys Targaryen acquired three dragon eggs in the Game of Thrones pilot. Here’s where the eggs came from and their significance to the series.
Does Daemon’s Vision Confirm Daenerys Is The Prince That Was Promised?
The Red Comet Is A Big Clue
The question ofwho the Prince That Was Promised was inGame of Throneshas long been without an official answer, though it really comes down to either Jon Snow or Daenerys Targaryen. And with Daemon’s vision,House of the Dragonappears to be coming down on the side thatit really was Daenerys who was the prophesied savior of Westeros.
One big clue is the red comet that precedes her appearance. A"bleeding star"features in the prophecy, and the"red star"bleeding is also part of the Azor Ahai prophecy, with the two long conflated, and certainly likely one and the same in show canon if not the book.Aegon’s Song of Ice and Fire dreamalso connects to the prophecy, with the inscription on the catspaw dagger reading:
“From my blood comes the Prince That Was Promised, and his shall be the song of ice and fire.”
The High Valyrian word for prince doesn’t actually have a gender, which means it could be prince or princess. Rhaenyra herself believes that she is either going to be this prophesied savior, or that it will at least come from her blood - and Daemon’s. The Targaryen line continues through their second son, Viserys, right through to Daenerys many decades later. Given it’s also connected to the White Walkers, thenthis vision really seems to be saying Dany is the Prince(ss) That Was Promised, and that Daemon needs to support Rhaenyra for the savior to arrive.
How Daemon Targaryen Is Related To Daenerys
Daenerys Targaryen is related to House of the Dragon’s Daemon in the Game of Thrones universe, although a couple hundred years separate their stories.
Did Emilia Clarke Return As Daenerys For House Of The Dragon?
The Actor Is Unconfirmed At The Time Of Writing
One big question regarding Daenerys' appearance inHouse of the Dragonis who plays the Mother of Dragons. At the time of writing, it has not been confirmed who is in the role, but it can safely be said thatEmilia Clarke did not return as Daenerys. She does not appear in the credits and, if she had returned, then they surely would have shown her face.
While Clarke will always be Daenerys and no true recasting should ever happen, the actor’s return wasn’t necessary for House of the Dragon’s season 2 finale.
While Clarke will always be Daenerys and no true recasting should ever happen, the actor’s return wasn’t necessary forHouse of the Dragon’s season 2 finale. The shot from behind gets the point across and achieves the same goal so, while it might’ve been more fan-pleasing to see Clarke back, it didn’t need to happen, or the actress may not have been open to it anyway. When asked by theBBCabout a return for the then-in-development Jon Snow spinoff, she said:“No, I think I’m done.”
House Of The Dragon Season 3: Cast, Story & Everything We Know
The Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon returned for its long-awaited second season in 2024, and now season 3 is confirmed.
Why Daemon Sees A White Walker In House Of The Dragon’s Season 2 Finale
How It Connects To Aegon’s A Song Of Ice & Fire
Daemon’s vision notably also includes a White Walker, which further cements the idea that Daenerys is the Prince That Was Promised. He is seeing the great threat to Westeros, and then the Targaryen who will defeat it. Of course, that is debatable since Dany herself didn’t directly beat the Night King, nor sit the Iron Throne, but that does seem to be the connection it’s making in the vision.
It is also linked back to Aegon the Conqueror’s song of ice and fire dream, which foretold of the coming darkness that would destroy the world. Or, in other words, the White Walkers. Daemon realizes from this that the prophecy is true and that, as he later says in High Valyrian,“Winter is coming.”
Aegon’s dream, which bids to unite the realm, has only served to divide it further, tearing House Targaryen in two and leaving the family and Westeros itself weakened.
This isn’t just about the future, but the present: Rhaenyra fights her war in part because she believes she is the one prepared to face this threat, who can unite the realm, who is driven by destiny. But with that comes the tragic irony of trying to fulfill a prophecy: that Aegon’s dream, which bids to unite the realm, has only served to divide it further, tearing House Targaryen in two and leaving the family and Westeros itself weakened. The White Walker in the vision advances that cause, and ensures even higher prices will be paid.
Is That White Walker Supposed To Be The Night King?
Are They A Targaryen?
What’s not clear from the vision is whether the White Walker that Daemon sees is actually meant to be the Night King. Contextually, it would make a lot of sense: he’s leading an army of the dead, and it then transitions to the person who is foreseen to lead Westeros against them; the ice and the fire. Visually, however, it looks nothing like theNight King fromGame of Thrones, and at best is giving"we have the Night King at home"vibes. I think it works if it is just a White Walker, but it’s hard to be 100%.
While we’ve seen White Walkers with wispy hair before, these locks are definitely more Targaryen-esque.
It’s also interesting that this White Walker has silver-blonde hair, which asks whether theNight King was a Targaryen. The answer to that, as far as we know, is a firm no: the man who was turned into the Night King by the Children of the Forest pre-dates the Targaryens being in Westeros by thousands of years, and definitely didn’t look like one. But, while we’ve seen White Walkers with wispy hair before, these locks are definitely more Targaryen-esque.
That is presumably a very deliberate choice, but if it’s not because the Night King is a Targaryen, then why do it? The answer may connect back to the point of Aegon’s dream and the downfall of House Targaryen. Instead of just symbolizing the coming threat that was prophesied,it is also highlighting how the Targaryens are their own biggest threat, of how they’ve destroyed themselves and Westeros because of a dream of the White Walkers.
Daemon’s Vision Confirms The Three-Eyed Raven’s Identity In Game Of Thrones Canon
Brynden Rivers, AKA Bloodraven, Is Revealed
The first person to appear in Daemon’s vision isn’t as recognizable as a White Walker or Daenerys Targaryen, but is hugely important to the overall franchise. Though not named,this is Brynden Rivers, also known as Bloodraven. He’s a Targaryen bastard, the son of King Aegon IV, and born around 45 years after theDance of the Dragons.
Aegon IV legitimized several bastards (known as the Great Bastards) on his deathbed, sparking new divisions in House Targaryen and the formation of House Blackfyre, which rebelled multiple times against the crown. Brynden was a Targaryen loyalist, serving as Hand of the King to both Aerys I and Maekar I, before being sent to the Wall, where he became Lord Commander. Brynden went missing beyond the Wall, and somehow became the Three-Eyed Raven.
The reasons we know this is Brynden in Daemon’s vision are twofold: firstly, he’s clearly connected to the weirwood tree, and the raven that appears, as if coming from him, suggests it’s the Three-Eyed Raven. Secondly, and most tellingly, is the birthmark on his cheek.It’s the red, raven-shaped mark that gives Bloodraven his nickname, and makes the identity of the character unmistakable.
Game of Thronesnever confirmed if the Three-Eyed Raven was Bloodraven, and didn’t really drop hints towards it either. It isn’t 100% confirmed in the books, either, but there are more overt clues, and the Three-Eyed Crow even says his name was Brynden.House of the Dragonis now confirming the Three-Eyed Raven’s identity inGame of Thronescanon, and the vision makes sense given his own connection to the White Walkers and the part he plays in defeating them, further establishing House Targaryen as their ultimate enemy.
Daemon’s Vision Shows His & Caraxes' Deaths
They Will Die At The God’s Eye, Like Aemond Targaryen
Moving back to the characters and story ofHouse of the Dragonitself, the weirwood vision shows Daemon’s dragon, Caraxes, lying dead, and then Daemon himself dying in a body of water. This is the aftermath of the Battle Above the God’s Eye, which iswhere Aemond Targaryen’s death happens, but Daemon’s as well.
The pair will eventually face-off in the sky near Harrenhal, with Aemond on Vhagar and Daemon on Caraxes.
The pair will eventually face-off in the sky near Harrenhal, with Aemond on Vhagar and Daemon on Caraxes. They engage in one of the most fierce, epic dragon battles ever seen, which culminates withDaemon killing Aemond by driving Dark Sister (his Valyrian steel sword) into his blind eye, and then both men and both dragons crashing into the lake, all of them dying.
What Daemon Seeing Rhaenyra On The Iron Throne Means
Daemon Ends Up Bending The Knee To The Queen
After seeing his own death, Daemon then sees the Red Keep’s throne room, with Rhaenyra sitting upon the Iron Throne, just like she has long wanted and Viserys intended. It’s the goal she is working towards and, while Daemon’s loyalties and intentions have fluctuated along with his Harrenhal visions, it also serves to bring him firmly back to her side.Daemon’s vision confirms to him that she is meant to be queen, not only because it’s her right, but because Aegon’s dream demands it.
After his vision, Daemon bends the knee to Rhaenyra, and his reasoning is largely about the Conqueror’s prophecy and the coming threat of Winter. He now fully believes in Rhaenyra and that she must sit on the Iron Throne if Westeros is to survive the darkness, a threat he has now seen with his own eyes. And, since Rhaenyra does become queen and sits the Iron Throne inFire & Blood, it’s also another accurate vision of what’s to come.
How Rhaenyra Targaryen Dies & Will It Happen In House Of The Dragon?
Rhaenyra Targaryen obviously has to die at some point long before Game of Thrones, and George R.R. Martin previously revealed how and when it happens.
How Did Helaena Appear In Daemon’s Vision?
She Tells Daemon This Is All A “Story”
Helaena appearing in Daemon’s vision is one of the most shocking parts of it all, to me, because while the rest all makes sense in terms of future setup and the general nature of how visions work in Westeros, her appearance doesn’t. Though Daemon did order the death of her son, there’s no connection back to Blood & Cheese in this scene, and thus no reason she would appear just as a manifestation of the vision/dream in the way the likes of Viserys or Alcock’s Rhaenyra did.
She’s wearing the same clothes here that she is in a follow-up scene where she tells Aemond about his death, supporting the idea that Daemon and Helaena were given similar, if not the exact same, visions.
Instead, it appears as though Helaena is having a twin vision:where Daemon is seeing his death at the God’s Eye, she is seeing Aemond’s. She’s wearing the same clothes here that she is in a follow-up scene where she tells Aemond about his death, supporting the idea that Daemon and Helaena were given similar, if not the exact same, visions.
It’s also possible Helaena has greater powers than we’ve been led to believe, as we’ve only seen characters such as the Three-Eyed Raven and the Night King be able to break into or affect visions before. Helaena doesn’t quite do that, but it’s not normal either, and while powerful greensight may be a stretch, it is implying there’s more to her than just being a dragon dreamer and that she’s perhaps a bigger part of all this.
House of the Dragonhas been renewed for season 3 by HBO.
It’s also interesting that she tells Daemon this is all a story, and then uses past tense when telling Aemond about his own death. She has experienced a lot of the future, perhaps seeing everything that’s to come. Similar to how Bran Stark often doesn’t exist in the present inGame of Thronesseason 8, Helaena seems to be more occupied by the future inHouse of the Dragon, and like howFire & Bloodis made of historical accounts, she knows this is a"story"that’s already written. Which, in Daemon’s case, means there’s no way to avoid his death.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
Game Of Thrones
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
