Ormund Hightower is quickly becoming one of the most calculating and self-serving characters in House of the Dragon Season 3. In an interview with Gold Derby, actor James Norton broke down Ormund’s true motivations for pushing Daeron toward the Iron Throne and they’re far from altruistic.
Quick read:
- Ormund is raising Daeron completely for his selfish motives
- He wants Daeron to sit the throne so he can pull strings from behind the door
- He aspires to become the ultimate king
Credits: HBO
Ormund as the ultimate pushy parent
Norton described Ormund’s ambition in blunt terms:
“I guess Ormund could be described as the pushiest of all pushy parents. He wants Daeron to be king. And it’s not from a place of pride and love. It’s actually from a place of self-interest…”
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According to Norton, Ormund’s goal is clear: Install Daeron as a figurehead ruler so he can pull the strings from behind the throne.
“…because I think if Ormund can instill Daeron as king, he essentially can become king himself. Daeron becomes a puppet king and Ormund becomes the real power behind that.”
A journey of pure self-interest
Norton emphasized that Ormund’s entire arc is driven by personal ambition rather than loyalty to the Green cause or genuine care for Daeron:
“The whole journey of Ormund is one of self-interest and ambition.”
This makes Ormund a dangerous and fascinating figure. Unlike other Green leaders who may have ideological reasons for their actions, Ormund is playing the long game for personal power, using Daeron as a tool to achieve it.
The revelation adds a dark layer to Daeron’s story. The young prince, already shaped by a difficult upbringing, is being groomed as a pawn. It raises the stakes for his future decisions and suggests potential conflict between Ormund’s manipulation and Daeron’s own Targaryen identity.
