Given how bleak House of the Dragon Season 2 has been so far, it almost feels like we’re owed a few light-hearted moments — and episode 3 certainly delivered on that front.
Enter Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) on dragonback to a very gloomy, possibly haunted Harrenhal, fully suited up in his armour and ready to conquer.
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Only instead of being greeted by a battalion of men, the roguish prince was instead met by this legend.
Oh, you want Harrenhal? Here you go.
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
That’s Sir Simon Strong (played by Sir Simon Russell Beale), the Castellan of Harrenhal and unfortunately, great-uncle to the murderous Lord Larys Strong (Matthew Needham). When Daemon bursts into the room where he’s enjoying his supper, they have the following (brilliant) exchange.
Daemon: “I’m claiming Harrenhal!”
Sir Simon: “Apparently so.”
*Sir Simon gets up, walks slowly around the table, and kneels down in front of Daemon.*
Sir Simon: “I, Sir Simon Strong, Castellan of Harrenhal, pledge fealty to Rhaenyra of House Targaryen, first of her name. I swear this by the old gods and the new. Supper is venison with black cabbage and peas. No red currents…sorry about that.”
Needless to say, Sir Simon already has a fanbase.
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In a Westeros where people are constantly getting angry and wanting to kill each other, we could all use a few more Simon Strongs. A few minutes later the guy also pretty much summed up the entire show in a few key words, too. What a man.
House of the Dragon Season 2 airs Sundays on HBO and Max at 9 p.m. ET.
UPDATE: Jul. 1, 2024, 1:10 p.m. UTC This story originally ran with Season 2, episode 4 in the headline, when it’s about episode 3. We’ve corrected it, and don’t worry, it’s not a spoiler for episode 4. We’d rather take Caraxes’ dragon fire than do that to you.
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House of the Dragon