Ormund's Epic Demise: James Norton on the Irony of his 'House of the Dragon' Death, His Intense Relationship with Roddy, and the Authenticity of his Love for Daeron

In a thrilling turn of events, the Season 3 finale of "House of the Dragon" saw Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton) meet his grisly end in a fiery clash between the Blacks and Greens at Tumbleton. The villainous mastermind, who had been manipulating young Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), was struck down by Roddy the Ruin (Tommy Flanagan) before Ulf's dragon swooped in to deliver a dramatic and ironic finish. "I knew it was going to be a spectacular death," Norton reveals to Variety. "With this show, they always push boundaries and then pull back slightly when they find them. Originally, Ormund was supposed to be impaled multiple times, but we agreed it might have been too much!" As the show's antagonist, Ormund aimed to overthrow Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) by setting up Daeron as the next king of Westeros. However, after being officially knighted by Ormund earlier in the episode, Daeron betrayed him and the two never had a chance for a proper farewell. "Ormund would have been proud of Daeron's decision to stand on his own feet," Norton muses. "But there would have likely been some initial beatings before the conversation!" Norton discusses the emotional impact of Ormund's death, the oddly intimate dynamic he shared with Roddy in their final moments, and the importance of making Daeron's love for Ormund feel genuine. "It was a blast working with Tommy," Norton says. "The fight sequences were intense, with the stunts being more demanding than on any other show I've worked on. They kept pushing us, saying we'd finish one day and then calling us back the next. I knew it was going to be a big, memorable death scene from the start." To play Ormund authentically, Norton focused on his character's hatred of smells, blood, and gore, finding humor in his commitment to the role. The dynamic between Tommy Flanagan's Roddy and him was particularly intriguing, as both characters died together in a strangely intimate pose. "We had to return at the end of the day to shoot the final fight sequence with the blood on my face," Norton recalls. "It took ages to get it right, but I remember it happening quickly. It was Rowley [Irlam] behind the camera, applying the blood with a paintbrush like a Pollock painting." The knighting scene was particularly poignant for Norton, as he felt it necessary to play the emotion between Ormund and Daeron authentically. "Daeron may find it hard to love Ormund, but their relationship is complex," Norton explains. "There's a kind of Stockholm Syndrome at play; Daeron has been conditioned by Ormund and feels loyal to him." Ulf, the lowliest Targaryen, delivered one of the most satisfying moments for Norton when he beat Ormund in the climactic fight. "It was demeaning, but also cathartic," Norton says. "Ormund would have been humiliated by being beaten by someone he considered beneath him." As for the betrayal scene, Norton feels it would have been fascinating to see Ormund's reaction. "I think there would have been a physical altercation followed by a conversation," he suggests. "Poor Daeron probably wouldn't have fared well!" For more on the "House of the Dragon" finale, check out our recap and co-creator Ryan Condal and star Emma D'Arcy's press conference interview, as well as our chat with Phia Saban, who plays Helaena Targaryen.