House of the Dragon showrunner explains why Daenerys was hinted as Prince that was Promised instead of Jon Snow

In the realm of Westeros, a centuries-old prophecy has long been whispered about – the arrival of the ‘Prince or Princess Who Was Promised’, a savior destined to save the world from darkness. This enigmatic figure, whose gender remains unknown, has been the subject of much speculation and debate. From the early Targaryen rulers who believed the prince would emerge from their bloodline to the various claimants who have risen in recent times, the search for the Prince That Was Promised has been a recurring theme throughout Westeros’ tumultuous history.

Jon Snow as the Prince That Was promised

Ryan Condal, the showrunner of House of the Dragon, dismissed the idea of Jon Snow being the Prince That Was Promised, emphasizing the series’ central theme of House Targaryen’s downfall through their internal conflict and loss of dragons. He also corrected the misinterpretation of Daemon’s vision as proof of Daenerys being the chosen one, making it clear that this narrative thread belongs to George R.R. Martin’s domain and was not their intention to pursue in the show. Ryan Condal in an interview with Collider mentions,

“The connectiveness between this family and the family to come, and Daemon seeing something that — we know who that is watching that image — Daemon has no idea. That could be his future daughter with Rhaenyra who has three dragons born. He doesn’t know, but he is sensing that this was something that was shown to me for a specific reason. And I think you know Daemon, in his own way, we know Rhaenyra is already kind of running with this idea of the prince that was promised.”

Credit: HBO

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The idea of Daenerys being Prince that was promised

Daemon’s vision was interpreted by many as a confirmation of Daenerys being the Prince That Was Promised, but Condal dismissed this idea. He stated that this interpretation was never the intention, and that the story of the Prince That Was Promised belongs to George R.R. Martin’s world. Daenerys Targaryen partially fulfills the prophecy, born amidst salt and smoke under a bleeding star and awakening dragons from stone. However, her story diverges from the prophecy as she fails to save the realm and succumbs to her own darkness.

 “So, for that reason, I think it was important that it was Daenerys, the image. We are not trying to make any kind of specific interpretation of a prophecy that has yet to be revealed by its author. And that is George’s world and George’s space to tell that story. I think we’re, we’re more interested in playing with the character drama that lives in and around that imagery.”

READ NEXT: “I don’t think I’ll ever watch that show”: Kit Harington on watching House of The Dragon.

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