‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 has finally unveiled the real motivations behind James Norton‘s enigmatic Ormund Hightower, and they’re a lot more sinister than just being loyal to his House.
Ormund is not fighting for Daeron Targaryen’s future because he loves him or because he feels a sense of obligation. It’s because he wants power for himself, and the young prince is the ideal means to the Iron Throne.
James Norton Says Ormund Wants To Rule Westeros Through Daeron
In the first few episodes, Ormund’s motives were left to speculation. But as the series went on, his motives became more apparent. Speaking about his character, Norton described Ormund as someone whose ambition outweighs any parental affection, making him one of the season’s most calculating players.
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“I guess Ormund could be described as the pushiest of all pushy parents. He wants Daeron to be king. And it’s not from a place of pride and love. It’s actually from a place of self-interest, because I think if Ormund can instill Daeron as king, he essentially can become king himself,” he told Goldderby.
He thinks that Ormund views Daeron as a puppet and that he has the real power. Ormund’s actions are not motivated by pride or by his true feelings, but by his self-interest. If Daeron is on the Iron Throne, Ormund feels he can govern the realm and make Daeron a puppet king. That turnaround reveals that all his actions are driven by his ambition rather than his family loyalty.
Even Emma D’arcy Believes Ormund Is A Dangerous Power Player In ‘House Of The Dragon’
The recent episodes also underscore the reasons for Ormund’s growing menace in the Dance of the Dragons. His political machinations are well thought out, and his enemies are left in a bind, while he consolidates his control over Daeron. The bond between Ormund and the young prince is especially disturbing.
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Ormund is not just a friendly mentor but a manipulator, a person who uses fear and emotional control to keep Daeron under his control. This is one of the most disturbing dynamics of the season, as the prince desperately seeks approval, only to further empower Ormund.
“Ormund’s a kind of unknowable force. His psychology is very inaccessible. I think he sort of becomes a bogeyman in Rhaenyra’s consciousness, not least because she doesn’t understand his intention. And I think that paranoia starts to have broader repercussions,” Rhanenyra’s actor Emma D’arcy shared.
The civil war intensifies, and Ormund is showing that dragons aren’t the only weapons that can change the fate of Westeros. Sometimes the most dangerous player is the one pulling the strings from behind the throne, and if his plan succeeds, Daeron may wear the crown while Ormund wields the real power.
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