Explaining That Confusing 'House of the Dragon' Scene Between Daemon And His Mom (SPOILERS)

This article contains spoilers for Season 2, Episode 5 of House of the Dragon.

The Dance of the Dragons has had an awfully bloody start, with significant casualties and injuries on both sides. Rhaenys was the first big loss for the blacks, while King Aegon is incapacitated (and temporarily replaced by Aemond) from the Battle at Rook's Rest.

Daemon, though, is still holding down the fort at Harrenhal, trying to raise an army as a distraction for the fight he had with Rhaenyra before leaving. There's also a particularly confusing scene between Daemon and his mom, who has long been dead.

In a scene from Episode 5, viewers see Daemon have another odd hallucination in which he shares an intimate moment with another blond woman. The two share some steamy exchanges while the woman whispers niceties into Daemon's ear, only for her to finish the hallucination by calling Daemon "my favorite son."

Incest isn't uncommon in the Game of Thrones universe, considering Daemon is now married to his niece, but the implications of this scene are still particularly shocking.

Though she is never referred to by name, it's likely this was a hallucination of Daemon's mother, Alyssa Targaryen. House of the Dragon viewers haven't seen her portrayed just yet, though she has been referenced numerous times throughout the series.

Considering Daemon seems to be having a series of hallucinations about the various women in his life, it's not a hard connection for the struggling prince to come to.

Though we don't currently have many details about Daemon's relationship with his mother before her death, we do know that she wasn't around for much of his life. Alyssa died when Daemon was only three, not long after giving birth to Daemon and Viserys's younger brother, Aegon. Ageon also died before his first birthday, leaving just Viserys and Daemon.

Despite their short time together, House of the Dragon viewers even see VIserys proclaim that Daemon was their mother's famous in Season 1. After Daemon returned to Kings Landing from the War for the Stepstones, he and Viserys argue over their mother, only for Viserys to maintain that Daemon was her favorite.

There's no clear evidence, either in the book or in the show, to suggest that they were particularly close, but it's clear Daemon still has pretty strong feelings about her.

Based on her description in the book, Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin, Alyssa was a bit of a tomboy, preferring to do anything that wasn't particularly ladylike. She ultimately married her brother, Baelon, and they were inseparable for the entirety of their time together. After Alyssa died following the birth of Aegon, it's said that Baelon did not remarry or take on a new mistress, seeming to mourn the loss of his wife until his own death.

Ultimately, this confusing and incestuous scene leaves some viewers with more questions than answers about Daemon's declining mental state (and if Alys Rivers has anything to do with it).

Watch House of the Dragon when new episodes air on Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on HBO and Max.