House of the Dragon, season 2: the end for Daemon and Rhaenyra?
Matt Smith deciphers episode 2 and the consequences of Prince Daemon’s decision.
Nothing will ever be the same between them after this. Episode 2 of season 2 of House of the Dragon visibly marked a turning point in the relationship between Daemon (Matt Smith) and Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy). Spoiler alert!
After having solo sponsored the revenge (very poorly) executed by Blood & Cheese, Viserys’ brother is now in disgrace. He who also claimed the Iron Throne in season 1, in place of his niece who became his wife, was fired by Rhaenyra. “I never trusted you completely, even if I wanted to, even if I wanted it deep down….” she said to Daemon before excluding him from her inner circle.
And Matt Smith admits in TVLine: “My God, she really nails him in this scene!“
A sequence where Daemon’s deep nature simply comes to light: “There is something quite banal in this couple’s argument. Something ordinary, with which we can easily identify, which denotes the usual grandiloquence of the series“.
For the showrunner Ryan Condalthis crucial exchange is an extension of the final scene of season 1 in which Daemon grabs Rhaenyra by the throat. “It’s been an unresolved conflict between them for a while. Does Daemon still want power or has he truly accepted her as his Queen? It’s a doubt that has been gnawing at Rhaenyra for a while and when this murder happens, without her consent, it reopens all these wounds. It forces them to do an autopsy of their marriage and face the truth.“.
We understand that their union is now over. But will Daemon oppose Rhaenyra or will he seek to regain her trust? To see in the rest of season 2 of House of the Dragonon Max.
