Daeron Targaryen’s role in the Dance of the Dragons has often been framed as duty, lineage, and inevitability. But in the official Game of Thrones podcast, actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth revealed that Daeron himself resents the position. His vulnerability emerges in rare moments, particularly in his relationships with Ormund and Gwayne, where the weight of being a claimant collides with his desire to be seen as a person rather than a symbol.
Quick read
- Benjamin Evan Ainsworth reflects on Daeron’s inner conflict.
- Daeron admits he hates who he is with Ormund.
- He cannot express that openly around Ormund.
Daeron’s resentment when forced into Ormund’s shadow
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth explained that Daeron’s relationship with Ormund Hightower is suffocating, leaving him unable to express his true feelings:
“I hate who I am when I’m with him,’ about being with Ormund… he can’t say that when he’s around Ormund, but when he’s with Gwayne, he can express that.”
This admission highlights how Daeron’s position as a claimant strips him of agency. Around Ormund, he is forced into a role he despises, unable to voice the resentment that defines his inner life.
Vulnerability finally allowed with Gwayne
Ainsworth emphasized that Daeron’s bond with Gwayne is the first time he has been able to let down his guard:
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“And the first time he’s been vulnerable, and he’s been allowed to be vulnerable with another person as well.”
This vulnerability reveals the human side of Daeron’s struggle. Beneath the crown and the claim lies a young man who hates the role imposed on him, and who craves the freedom to be honest about that pain.
