With just two episodes remaining in the third season of HBO's House of the Dragon, actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth has spoken about his character Daeron Targaryen's shifting dynamic with his captor, Ormund Hightower (James Norton), as the show heads towards its climax. In the latest episode, Daeron finally confides his true feelings to his uncle, Ser Gwayne Hightower, admitting he has only been outwardly supporting Ormund's decisions to protect himself, not because he believes they are right, and that he doubts he will ever actually inherit the Iron Throne.

The episode also features a failed assassination attempt on Ormund orchestrated by Rhaenyra, which is foiled by Gwayne, leaving several bodies in its wake and prompting a visibly shaken Ormund to vomit at the sight of blood and lost limbs. Speaking to Deadline, Ainsworth, marking his first season on the show after being a long-time fan of Game of Thrones, described the relationship between Daeron and Ormund as "twisted and controlling and manipulative" yet underpinned by a warped sense of loyalty, recalling a moment in episode four where Daeron appeared to show admiration for Ormund's ruthlessness before quickly reverting to fear.