In the final moments of the House of the Dragon season 2 finale, Daemon (Matt Smith) tells Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), “Winter is coming.” This season, Daemon Targaryen has changed significantly. Haunted by visions of those he failed in Harrenhal, he is a different man now.
Fans have eagerly awaited a reunion between Daemon and Rhaenyra. Their reunion was filled with understanding and devotion that even surprised Rhaenyra. In a new interview with TV Line, director Geeta Patel shared how Star Wars influenced her direction of the reunion scene.
In the finale episode, Daemon experiences his last vision in Harrenhal, showing many things like the three-eyed raven, a dead dragon, fallen men, Daenerys, and her three dragons. Patel had two main goals for this scene. “One was, we wanted to make sure that Daemon didn’t come across as a weak person all of a sudden, like someone we didn’t recognize.”
How the Reunion of Daemon and Rhaenyra Was Inspired by “Star Wars”
Additionally, co-creator Ryan Condal wanted Daemon’s experiences in Harrenhal to make him realize there is “something bigger than him” and that “Rhaenyra is meant to be on that throne.” Patel explains, “Daemon is someone who always thinks about himself, and here, he is being asked to think about the bigger picture.”
In the finale, Ser Simon Strong sent Rhaenyra a raven because he feared Daemon and Ser Alfred Broome might be plotting against her.
However, Daemon, deeply affected by his vision, realizes that he needs to support Rhaenyra if the Realm is to survive. “Daemon is someone who is profound and is actually quite thoughtful underneath the way that he expresses his fear and anger, which is violence,” Patel explains.
Patel also mentioned that when directing this scene, she thought of Daemon as a figure similar to Yoda who has just realized his role. “He is the spiritual leader. He’s not someone who’s becoming subservient. He’s not someone who’s stepping back.
He’s someone who’s stepping into his role, and I thought Matt did that beautifully.” Rhaenyra notices this change and comments that Daemon sounds like “her father.” Patel adds, “Where he says, ‘You are the chosen one, you can do this,’ it’s not a man talking to a woman. This is someone who has become a hero’s journey mentor, and the hero is Rhaenyra.”
All episodes of House of the Dragon are available on Max.
