Warning: Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1 and Fire & BloodHouse of the Dragon will eventually show the death of the rogue prince, Daemon Targaryen, and based on the pacing of the show, there's an obvious moment for it to happen. HBO's Game of Thrones prequel is based on George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, which is presented in the form of writings by the fictional historian Archmaester Gyldayn, and details the Targaryen dynasty. However, Gyldayn cites several conflicting primary sources throughout the book, presenting him as an unreliable narrator. HBO has used this to its advantage to take some creative liberties in House of the Dragon season 1, and therefore it's likely that Daemon's death might look a little different when adapted for the show. Nevertheless, even with slight changes, Daemon Targaryen's death still promises to be spectacular.
Fire & Blood's description of Daemon's demise makes it one of the most epic deaths in all of Westeros' history. During the Dance of the Dragons, Aemond recaptured Harrenhal from the blacks after finding it abandoned before taking Vhagar to burn black-aligned settlements in the Riverlands. Daemon then begins searching for Aemond and eventually decides to challenge him at Harrenhal, where he waits 13 days for him. Upon Aemond's arrival, the pair mount their dragons, Vhagar and Caraxes, but Daemon does not strap himself to his dragon, knowing it will not be an easy fight. As the two dragons struggled in the Battle Above the Gods Eye, Daemon plunged from Caraxes, wielding his sword Dark Sister and stabbing it into Aemond's remaining eye. Both dragons crashed into the Gods Eye, and Vhagar drowned with Aemond's body still chained to the saddle while Caraxes died on the shore. Daemon's body was never found.
When Will Daemon's Death Happen In House Of The Dragon?
Based on the pacing of the show, it's likely that Daemon will die in the next couple of seasons. George R.R. Martin has stated that House of the Dragon will need to have four seasons, and given the fact that the season 1 finale showed the beginning of the Dance of the Dragons, there is still more of the war to cover before Daemon's demise. Crucial events such as Blood and Cheese, the Battle of Rooks Rest and Rhaenyra's victory still need to be adapted, which will likely make up most of House of the Dragons' second season. Therefore, it's possible Daemon's death could happen in House of the Dragons' potential third season, depending on how close HBO wants to remain to the source material.
Daemon's Death Will Be A Perfect Ending For His Character
Daemon has solidified himself as a fan-favorite character in House of the Dragon due to his ruthless and fearless ways, so his iconic death will surely be enough to satisfy audiences if adapted faithfully. Daemon was never going to go out quietly, and his demise shows his defiance until the very end. Additionally, the Battle Above the Gods Eye will be unlike anything Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon fans have seen, despite being modeled on the sequence in Fire & Blood. The fight between the vengeful pair and their dragons is likely to be one of the most brutal and epic yet, solidifying itself as the perfect end for Daemon.
However, this is all dependent on whether HBO sticks to Fire & Blood, or decides to show the battle a little differently. Based on the changes made so far, it's likely that House of the Dragon might even explain what happened to Daemon's body after the battle. Fire & Blood explains that there were barely any witnesses to the Battle of the Gods Eye, and some believe that Daemon may have survived and spent the rest of his life in solitude. Therefore, it will be interesting to see whether House of the Dragon confirms Daemon's death at the Battle of the Gods Eye or decides to twist his fate.
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