Ormund's Royal Betrayal
House of the Dragon Unveils Ormund's Deceptive Plot for the Iron Throne
House of the Dragon season 3 episode 4 delivered a major twist: the Daeron seen by Daemon and King's Landing was a fake. Carter Matt reports that Ormund Hightower engineered the deception, using an imposter to protect the real Prince Daeron while plotting to put him on the Iron Throne.
The episode ended with brutal violence. According to Decider, Ormund's ward — posing as Daeron — was forced to kill his own brother-in-law before being murdered himself. The real Daeron remains hidden, and Ormund's endgame is becoming clearer.
Ormund's Scheme to Crown Daeron Goes Deeper
Ormund Hightower is playing a long game. Carter Matt notes that nearly all of his moves are aimed at one goal: placing Daeron on the Iron Throne. He has little love for most of House Targaryen. His loyalty is to the Hightowers and to Daeron specifically.
The imposter plot bought Ormund critical time. By convincing Daemon and the Blacks that Daeron was accounted for, he kept the real prince safe. Radio Times described the episode as showing Ormund "stripping off and plotting war," suggesting his ambitions are now fully in motion.
Helaena's Secret Pregnancy Changes Everything
There is one major piece of information Ormund does not have. Carter Matt reports that Helaena is pregnant, and Ormund remains completely unaware of this fact. That blind spot could seriously undermine his plans.
A new Targaryen heir would shake up the line of succession. Ormund has built his strategy around Daeron. A pregnancy — especially one connected to Helaena — could give other factions leverage he has not accounted for. The gap between what Ormund knows and what is actually happening may be his biggest weakness.
The Missing Targaryen Maelor Could Complicate the War
The season is also setting up the arrival of Maelor, a Targaryen who has been missing from the story. Screen Rant reports that author George R.R. Martin personally warned showrunner Ryan Condal to "beware" of this character — a sign that Maelor carries serious weight in the story ahead.
Maelor's debut adds another wild card to an already unstable board. With Ormund scheming, Helaena hiding a pregnancy, and a missing Targaryen about to emerge, the power balance in the Dance of the Dragons is shifting fast.
Episode 5 Preview: Alicent Faces a New Crisis
The fallout from episode 4 sets up a tense episode 5. Carter Matt says Alicent will face a new challenge as the conflict deepens. Ormund appears to be pushing harder toward open war, with Daeron as his intended king.
Alicent's position is increasingly difficult. She is tied to the Greens but has never fully aligned with Ormund's ruthless methods. How she responds to his next move — and whether she learns about Helaena's pregnancy — could define the rest of the season.
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