Exclusive Interview: Benjamin Evan Ainsworth Discusses Daeron Targaryen’s Turbulent Relationship With Ormund Hightower
With only two episodes left of the third season of HBO’s House of the Dragon, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion. As the pieces fall into place, Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) watches in the wings, his complex relationship with Ormund Hightower (James Norton) at the forefront of the action.
In a recent interview with Deadline, Ainsworth delved into the intricacies of Daeron’s relationship with Ormund, revealing the character’s motivations and desires. According to Ainsworth, Daeron’s initial goal was simply to survive, but as the season progressed, he began to question his own desires and aspirations.
When asked about Daeron’s feelings towards Ormund, Ainsworth explained, ‘I think the relationship he has with Ormund is twisted and controlling and manipulative in many ways, but I think it has a bedrock of love that’s binding it together. However warped it may be, I remember in episode 4 where in the beginning he’s kind of talking to the people of Tumbleton and gelding the man who had who had done wrong. There’s almost like a pride and an admiration there in a moment like that.’
Ainsworth also touched on the theme of control and manipulation, stating that Daeron has had to learn how to deal with Ormund as a character out of survival. ‘He’s a 17-year-old kid who’s has no parental figures,’ Ainsworth said. ‘He’s sent away from his mother and I think he longs for that kind of affection.’
As the season comes to a close, fans are left wondering what the future holds for Daeron and Ormund. Will Daeron continue to follow Ormund’s orders, or will he finally break free from his captor’s grasp? According to Ainsworth, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion, with Daeron’s relationship with Gwayne Hightower (also Ormund’s uncle) being a key factor in the final episodes.
When asked about the filming process, Ainsworth praised the show’s ability to balance action and drama, stating, ‘I think it makes it easy to make communities.’ He also touched on the theme of growth and development, saying, ‘I suppose it really feels like a kettle boiling in this episode. The power dynamics are really kind of teetering and getting closer to switching the other way.’
With only two episodes left to go, fans are eagerly anticipating the conclusion of Daeron’s story. Will he find the freedom and happiness he desires, or will he remain trapped in Ormund’s web of control? Only time will tell.
