Does the Battle Above the God’s Eye prove

[Lady Stonehearts Simp]

The show’s interpretation of Daemon’s character?

The way I’ve interpreted it, is that Daemon is ambitious, but what he truly craved was acknowledgement and love from his loved ones.

In the battle, he leaps from the back of Caraxes to Vhagar in mid air. Then he kills Aemond, Vhagar’s rider before falling to his death. Jumping from one dragon to the other is clearly a one way trip. Daemon knew he would die as well. Yet he did it anyway.

Previous to the battle, Rhaenyra gives the order to seize Nettles and the rest of the Dragonseeds due to Alf and Hugh’s betrayal. She also suspected a possible affair between Daemon and Nettles. Daemon could have known this, and the reason he called Aemond out was to prove his loyalty to Rhaenyra. And in the course of the battle, realized he could only prove it the way he did.

 

What do you think?

[James Steller]

I don’t know. I think he wanted to die in his own terms, and also take out a genuine monster with him. Plus it’s a hell of a story. Everyone was afraid of Aemond while he rode Vhagar. And Daemon was the man who defeated both.

[Rondo]

Daemon is an example of a man with very questionable morals who also possessed the admirable qualities of courage.  He was skilled in arms and an able dragon rider.  In my opinion, he never stopped loving Rhaenyra.  His "nephew" was a danger to the people and the branch of the family he loved.  The hero in him rose at that moment and decided to remove the younger man from the game.  

[Curled Finger]

I think this was a carefully planned murder suicide.  Dragons don't take another rider well even a little bit.  Ask Joffrey.  Riding without chains securing one to a flying monster given to aerobatics is madness.  Vhagar was big as a city block or there abouts, right?  Daemon undoubtedly studied her movements and those of Aemond piloting her and provoked the moment when he could take the one desperate though calculated jump and attack.  It was calculated and Daemon knew he was dying before he ever hopped on Caraxes that morning.  Daemon would absolutely be a man to die on his own terms.  Ridding his family of Aemond One Eye was a better reason than most.  

[GZ Bloodraven]

9 hours ago, King Maegor the Cool said:

The way I’ve interpreted it, is that Daemon is ambitious, but what he truly craved was acknowledgement and love from his loved ones.

The show's interpretation of Daemon is spot-on to the books: he will protect his love ones only if it wins him glory. 

[Lady Stonehearts Simp]

On 4/8/2023 at 7:48 PM, GZ Bloodraven said:

The show's interpretation of Daemon is spot-on to the books: he will protect his love ones only if it wins him glory. 

The show paints it more as a bit of middle child syndrome. He wants his family’s acknowledgment.

[chrisdaw]

That Daemon was sacrificing himself to defeat Aemond isn't open to interpretation given the dialogue. I disagree the sacrifice is for love of Rhaenyra or a the desire of acknowledgement by those he loves.

He's changed, it's growth, it's contrition, it's about removing himself, Aemond and two big ass dragons (Targaryens and their things) off the world lest they wreak more death and havoc. It's self-judgement and judgement of the Targaryens in general, and by the end he's disgusted by it all, himself and Rhaenyra included, or perhaps most of all. That the battle is above the God's Eye speaks to judgement, and the verdict is that Vhaegar, Ceraxes, Daemon and Aemond should all just die.

[GZ Bloodraven]

On 4/10/2023 at 5:17 PM, King Maegor the Cool said:

The show paints it more as a bit of middle child syndrome. He wants his family’s acknowledgment.

Well the show focuses much more on the role of second child, but I think that middle child syndrome is still present in the books: just longing for focus and glory and attention, and wanting to match the Rogue Prince persona. And get respect from his brother. But all of that is in the background of the books, where he's definitely a worse person, but only because we can't really see the whole picture.