The Season 2 finale of House of the Dragon has ended, but theories about it are still buzzing online, especially regarding Daemon Targaryen’s (Matt Smith) vision in Harrenhal. In “The Queen Who Ever Was,” Daemon sees that winter is coming, bringing with it the White Walkers.
The appearance of one of the Others in this scene raises many questions, especially since the Night King’s (Vladimir Furdik) identity in Game of Thrones remains unknown. Given how Daemon’s vision is set up, some fans speculate that the Night King might have been a Targaryen. Though this idea seems strange, anything is possible in Westeros, so let’s consider it.
What Do We Know About the Night King’s Origins?
One reason fans think the Night King might have been a Targaryen is that Daemon’s vision only shows Targaryens. He first sees Bloodraven (Joshua Ben-Tovim) as the Three-Eyed Raven.
Then he sees Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) on the Iron Throne, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) with her three baby dragons, and finally, Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) speaking to him about his role in the war.
The only unusual part is the White Walker leading an army of wights. Although this might not be the Night King, it could suggest a link between the Others and House Targaryen.
Finding out where the Night King comes from remains difficult, even though Game of Thrones has made attempts to explain it. In Season 6, episode “The Door,” there is a flashback showing the Children of the Forest stabbing a man in the heart with an obsidian dagger, turning him into a White Walker.
It’s unclear if this man is the Night King (though both characters are played by Vladimir Furdik). The Children did this to protect themselves from humans, but things went wrong, and the White Walkers threatened to cover the world in eternal winter.
In the books, the Night King as known in the show does not exist yet. There is, however, a chilling story about a similar figure called the Night’s King. According to Old Nan, Bran Stark’s (Isaac Hampstead-Wright) caretaker in Winterfell, the Night’s King was the thirteenth Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch during the Age of Heroes.
He fell in love with a woman who looked like a White Walker. They married, and his soul belonged to her from then on. They ruled with terror over the Night’s Watch for thirteen years until they were defeated by the King in the North and the King Beyond the Wall.
After his defeat, all records of him were destroyed, but Old Nan hints that he might have been named Brandon Stark. There are theories that he might return, but currently, the Others don’t have a single leader.
Which Targaryen Could Eventually Become the Night King?
House of the Dragon is keen on linking to Game of Thrones in ways that extend both series from the original George R.R. Martin books. The Prince That Was Promised prophecy is one such link, and now the White Walkers might be another. Daemon’s vision, for example, is not in Fire & Blood.
The vision shows that his destiny and role in the war are set, but it’s unclear how he interprets this message. He sees he must support Rhaenyra now, but what about in the long run?
Some viewers are troubled by Daemon’s sudden selflessness in supporting Rhaenyra, which might be related to his vision. Daemon always wanted a throne and is known for being morally ambiguous, often serving his own interests.
One possibility is that he sees himself becoming the Night King and believes supporting Rhaenyra is the way to achieve this. It is easy to imagine him pursuing this path to gain eternal life and the kingship he has always wanted.
He knows he is meant to die in Harrenhal in a fight with Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), as Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) told him in Episode 3, “The Burning Mill.” In the books, his body is never found. The Gods Eye and the Isle of Faces have strong ties to ancient mystical elements of Westeros that remain active beyond the Wall, which might explain how he could become the Night King.
Another potential candidate is Aemond. After Daemon’s vision, Aemond confronts Helaena in King’s Landing and orders her to fly Dreamfyre into battle with him. She refuses and says she saw him die, swallowed by the Gods Eye and never seen again.
Aemond is known for his bitterness and desire for a crown. He would rather see the world burn (or freeze) than not get what he wants. In Fire & Blood, his body is found on the Isle of Faces with Daemon’s sword in his eye socket.
However, Helaena has already said he will never be seen again in House of the Dragon. Aemond might be the one to disappear and become the fearsome king he always desired to be.
It’s Still Unlikely That the Night King Was Once a Targaryen
While it could make sense for either Daemon or Aemond to become the Night King, it still seems unlikely. There are issues with the timeline of Westeros’ history. For example, the Age of Heroes happened between ten and six thousand years before the events of House of the Dragon.
House Targaryen, on the other hand, is much younger. The earliest records place their ancient country, the Valyrian Freehold, around five thousand years before Game of Thrones.
Season 2 of House of the Dragon is set about 150 years before Game of Thrones, making Daemon and Aemond’s deadly duel too late for either of them to appear in the Age of Heroes.
Time travel could explain it, but this concept hasn’t been introduced in the series or the books. Unless the Green Men on the Isle of Faces are involved in something, it’s still unlikely that Daemon and Aemond could become the Night King.
Season 2 of House of the Dragon is streaming on Max.
