*Warning - The following article contains spoilers from House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3.*
After the latest instalment of House of the Dragon, fans are convinced they've cracked the "heartbreaking" subtext in Daemon Targaryen's (played by Matt Smith) warning to Ser Simon Strong (portrayed by Simon Russell Beale).
In the third episode of the second season of the Game of Thrones prequel, Daemon receives a surprisingly warm reception upon his arrival at Harrenhal. Expecting conflict as he enters the castle with his sword at the ready, he is instead greeted by the composed Ser Strong, who immediately capitulates and pledges allegiance to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy).
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Adding a touch of humour, after committing his house's support, he even remarks: "Supper is venison with black cabbage and peas - no red currant, sorry about that."
This anticlimactic moment leaves Daemon, a character with a penchant for bloodshed, visibly underwhelmed. Although the dinner with the Strongs proceeds without incident, Daemon senses that the territories surrounding Harrenhal have grown wild beyond the crown's gaze.
He's also visibly annoyed by the Strong family's casual demeanour and their lack of effort in restoring their ancestral seat to its former glory. The episode further reveals that Old Grover Tully is on his last legs, leading to disorder among his vassals.
Yet, when Strong discusses the Tully predicament with Daemon during the meal, there's an unexpected flash of sorrow in the prince's eyes.
He declares emphatically: "I will speak with him nonetheless. People should obey their liege lord... Whatever his condition."
Eagle-eyed Game of Thrones enthusiasts on Reddit didn't miss the chance to suggest that Daemon's words might be a subtle nod to his late brother, King Viserys I Targaryen (portrayed by Paddy Considine), who despite his prolonged illness, managed to rule peacefully until his demise just before the first season's conclusion.
A Reddit user, @CapableArgument5939, pieced together footage from the second season with a poignant scene from the first, where Daemon visits his ailing brother on the throne, captioning it: "A Heartbreaking Moment."
The post sparked emotional reactions among fans, with one replying: "Oh hadn't made that connection, now im crying in the club," and another commenting: "They've been killing it with Daemon this season imo, his dialogue is so rich with these sorts of references." (sic)
Another chimed in: "I did not catch that either, excuse my stupid a**, I need to go pick up my shattered heart and ducttape it back together." (sic)
Praise for the performance was shared by another fan, who said: "Great acting. You can tell he was lost in thought when he said that." (sic)
One observant viewer remarked on the significance of the moment, writing: "I loved this moment, clocked it immediately that he was thinking about Viserys." (sic)
Highlighting Daemon's loyalty, a fan noted: "Once Viserys named Rhaenrya heir, Daemon obeyed that. He was a dick, but he obeyed. And he's the one who placed the crown, his brother's crown, on her head. He obeys when it comes to protecting the legacy.
"And I think in this moment, he's trying to count on people in the Riverlands doing the same. Like this isn't some small thing that their lord will ask of them. It's legacy and allegiance to what Viserys decreed for decades." (sic)
Yet another viewer shared their praise, commenting: "A great line in a great scene with great acting. A lesser show would have showed us a flashback or driven home what Daemon is remembering here." (sic)
House of the Dragon season 2 lands in the UK on Mondays at 2am BST (British Summer Time) on Sky Atlantic and NOW, with a repeat airing later on at 9pm.