In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, young actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (Daeron Targaryen) opened up about the complex and often toxic dynamic between his character and his uncle, Lord Ormund Hightower in House of the Dragon Season 3.
Quick read:
- Daeron is caught between being a Targaryen and a Hightower
- Both sides have its pros and cons
- He doesn’t know if being with Ormund is better or worse
Caught between two worlds
Ainsworth described Daeron as someone who exists in a difficult middle ground:
“He’s between Hightower and between Targaryen, and that has been to his benefit, to some degree. He’s been away from the sour politics and those family dynamics which have clearly damaged his siblings…”
According to the actor, being raised away from King’s Landing has somewhat protected Daeron from the worst of the Targaryen family trauma. However, it came at a cost.
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Credits: HBO
A chaotic and dangerous mentor
Ainsworth highlighted how Ormund’s unpredictable nature has shaped Daeron:
“…but he’s also been under the wing of such an uncontrollable, chaotic figure. I think there have been times where he’s learned to deal with and understand when something’s going to explode because of those traumatic experiences in his past.”
Ormund’s influence has made Daeron hyper-aware and cautious. While this hyper-vigilance has helped him survive, Ainsworth noted that it’s ultimately damaging:
“So being around a figure like Ormund, in one sense, is to his detriment, but also has made him hyper aware of his surroundings, for better or for worse.”
Credits: HBO
A double-edged sword
This insight adds important depth to Daeron’s character. While he may appear calmer and more collected than his siblings, his upbringing under Ormund has left him with deep-seated trauma. The constant need to read the room and anticipate danger has become both a survival skill and a psychological burden.
The relationship appears to have strong “Stockholm Syndrome” undertones, as Ormund is both a protector and an abuser, someone who offers Daeron guidance while also being an unpredictable and dangerous influence.
