everyone needs to be needed

S1E4: King of the Narrow Sea

So much of this episode works because of the care taken in the intimate moments, not just the sex stuff (which is more female gaze than 90% of sex scenes in commercial media) but the small moments of connection. The physical touches, the significant looks, and even the moments when characters lose control-- or are in situations out of their control.

He ruined her in order to destroy her reputation. And the reasoning, considering even of she was removed as heir her brother would be made heir, doesn’t make a lick of sense. He took out his teenage niece, got her drunk, assualted her in a brothel, and left her alone and exposed to go find her way back to the castle. 

Not an iota of remorse. Not an ounce of “are you okay”? 

Twitter folks have somehow deluded themselves into thinking there was any actual love during that scene, when it was clearly an example of Daemon manipulating and taking advantage of his niece for his own gain. Not to mention, he still clearly prefers Mysaria. That’s probably the only person, as of NOW, he actually genuiely loves and cares for. 

But he endangered his own niece and ruined her reputation, knowing what consequences it would bring. 

He drinks himself into oblivion that night, to try and mask his feelings. We may never know exactly what actually went on inside Daemon’s head that night, and what specific feelings he has in this moment.