The House of Dragon has finally confirmed the existence of the missing Targaryen prince

Daeron Targaryen exists in “House of the Dragon!” »

Despite fan speculation since season 1 that Viserys (Paddy Considine) and Alicent's (Olivia Cooke) fourth child is missing, the HBO drama series revealed in the second episode of season 2 – titled “Rhaenyra the Cruel” – that Daeron Targaryen doesn’t just exist. , but he's exactly where he's supposed to be according to book lore.

During a heated exchange with his daughter, Otto (Rhys Ifans) mentions going to Oldtown – which is the seat of House Hightower – to gain some power. He then refers to another grandson who might heed his advice better than Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carey) and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell).

“The Hightowers still have strength, and you have a son there who will take instruction more kindly,” said Otto. “Daeron may still be able to help us in the coming weeks.”

Readers of the book speculated that the third Targaryen prince was removed from the series after a child version of him failed to appear alongside young Aegon, Aemond, and Helaena in the days leading up to the season's time jump 1. When an adult was never cast as Daeron, it was considered all but confirmed – and yet this phrase means that Alicent's fourth child is ready to play his part in the dance.

Don't expect to see Daeron in “House of the Dragon” anytime soon. No actor has been announced for the role, so the first possible appearance would take place sometime in season 3.

Note: Spoilers below from “Fire and Blood” and possible upcoming seasons of “House of the Dragon.”

Otto's line confirms that Daeron is exactly where he should be at this point in the story. When the dance begins, the young prince is in the old city serving as squire for Lord Ormund Hightower. It was during the Battle of the Honeywine that Daeron – alongside his blue dragon Tessarion – proved so valuable and courageous that he earned the title Daeron the Bold.

Consider this your second spoiler warning.

After Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) reclaims King Landing and the Iron Throne, leaving Aegon missing and Aemond dead (eventually), Daeron ends up first in line for succession to Team Green's throne. As with anyone in Westeros rising through the ranks of succession to the Iron Throne, things are quickly getting worse for Daeron.

The prince's eventual death is such a mystery and so disproved, even by the fictional sources cited in “Fire and Blood,” that many people after the fact attempted to impersonate Daeron in an attempt to claim the throne.

“House of the Dragon” acts as the “true story” of what happened during the Targaryen Civil War and has already changed things like Laenor's death in season 1 actually being a fake, so that he can live on the other side of the Strait with his partner. . So maybe viewers will find out what really happened to Daeron the Daring, maybe he never died at all, or maybe everything will play out as it was written. We'll have to tune in to find out.

New episodes of “House of the Dragon” air Sundays on HBO and stream on Max.