{"id":6081,"date":"2026-07-06T15:19:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T14:19:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/?p=6081"},"modified":"2026-07-06T15:19:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T14:19:37","slug":"house-of-the-dragon-season-3-episode-3-daeron-targaryen-plot-hole-tessarion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/2026\/07\/06\/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-episode-3-daeron-targaryen-plot-hole-tessarion\/","title":{"rendered":"House of the Dragon season 3 episode 3 has an ‘annoying’ Daeron Targaryen plot hole"},"content":{"rendered":"

Warning: Spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon season three episode three*<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Alicent (Olivia Cooke) is reunited with her missing son Daeron Targaryen in the latest episode of House of the Dragon<\/a>, except it isn\u2019t him at all. Not only is this a departure from the books, but there\u2019s also a big plot hole you may have missed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In season three episode three<\/a>, Daemon (Matt Smith) and the dragonseeds confront Ormund Hightower (James Norton) and announce the news that Rhaenyra (Emma D\u2019Arcy) has been sworn in as Queen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ormund submits and bends the knee because what else could he do in that moment? Three huge dragons against his army of men and one small fire-breather would only end one way. \u201cI am left with no choice,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Just as he\u2019s about to lead his army home, Daemon makes one final demand: hand over Daeron, the unseen son of Alicent<\/a> and Viserys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A white-haired child (Charlie Gordon) steps forward and goes with Daemon to be held at the Red Keep where Rhaenyra<\/a> can keep her eye on him. But when Daeron and Alicent are finally reunited at the end of the episode, we learn that it\u2019s actually an imposter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Rhaenyra
Credit: HBO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finally, Daeron – who\u2019s been silent up until now – spills. As it turns out, Ormund bleached his hair, demanded that he stay quiet, and said he must play the part of the prince, or else he\u2019ll have his mother hanged.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, that\u2019s why Ormund gave little pushback when it came to handing Daeron over. It also basically confirms that the mysterious brown-haired squire (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) is the real Daeron.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This imposter plotline isn\u2019t in George R.R. Martin\u2019s<\/a> Fire & Blood, which in itself has rubbed up some fans of the books the wrong way. But the main issue is that it appears to feature a plot hole early on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Deamon\u2019s dragon Tessarion \u2018didn\u2019t bat an eyelid\u2019<\/h2>\n

As the fake Daeron walks over to Deamon, the prince\u2019s dragon – Tessarion – doesn\u2019t fight back or even follow her supposed rider. We now know why, but as a seasoned dragon rider, Deamon would have <\/span>definitely<\/span><\/i> noticed this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Really poor writing in tonight\u2019s episode of House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3. If you are going to deviate from the source material, might want to pay attention to details, like not forgetting importance of the Damn Dragon when taking a fake Daeron hostage. pic.twitter.com\/2SCm7YrS4U<\/a><\/p>\n

— thesundowners (@thesundowners1) July 6, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n