Daeron Targaryen and Ormund Hightower have one of the most unsettling relationships in House of the Dragon. On the surface, Ormund acts as a mentor and father figure, guiding the young prince through war and leadership. But in an interview with TV Insider, James Norton explained that their bond is far darker than it appears. What looks like affection is entangled with manipulation, dependency, and a dynamic Norton outright compares to Stockholm Syndrome.
Quick read
- James Norton discussed Daeron and Ormund’s bond.
- Ormund becomes Daeron’s father figure.
- Daeron craves approval and affection.
Daeron desperately wants Ormund’s approval
One of the most revealing moments comes after Daeron kills someone for the first time. Instead of focusing on the act itself, Ormund responds with praise and affection, reinforcing the bond he has cultivated over years in Oldtown.
Discussing those scenes with TV Insider, James Norton explained:
“Some of the most important and exciting scenes were when I was able to clasp [Daeron] on his shoulders and tell him how proud I was of him. And I had Ben, who’s such a wonderful young actor, and he was looking at me with these misty eyes full of gratitude and love.”
Norton believes that reaction says everything about Daeron’s emotional state. He is not searching for power or glory in that moment. He is searching for validation from the one person whose opinion matters most to him.
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Why Ormund’s affection makes the relationship disturbing
According to Norton, Daeron’s gratitude after committing violence stems from years of emotional dependence on Ormund. Growing up away from King’s Landing, Daeron lacked a true parental figure, creating a void that Ormund was able to fill.
Norton told TV Insider:
“The moment I’m talking about is when he kills someone for the first time, and afterwards Ormund tells him how much he loves him for it, how proud he is. And the reaction I had from this boy is like, ‘Thank you.’ All he wants is to be loved.”
The actor then explained why the connection is so complicated:
“Because he doesn’t have a father figure in Oldtown. Ormund is his father, so yes, I think it is father-son and it is also abuser-prisoner. It’s Stockholm Syndrome. It’s all sorts of stuff going on in that relationship, which is why it was so exciting to explore.”
Why this changes the way viewers see Daeron
Norton’s comments reframe Daeron as more than a loyal Hightower protégé. Rather than embracing Ormund’s ideology because he believes in it, Daeron may be chasing the approval and affection he never received elsewhere. That makes his devotion tragic rather than straightforward.
The relationship works on multiple levels at once: mentor and student, father and son, protector and manipulator. By describing it as Stockholm Syndrome, Norton suggests that Daeron’s loyalty is rooted as much in emotional dependence as genuine belief, making one of House of the Dragon’s most fascinating dynamics even darker.
Read next: “There’s a lot of care there”: Gwayne Hightower’s dynamic with Daeron explained by Freddie Fox
