We're halfway through House of the Dragon Season 3, and the chessboard of Westeros is getting bloodier by the episode. Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) may have taken the Iron Throne, but her grip on King's Landing is shaky at best. Meanwhile, Ormund Hightower (James Norton) has pulled a fast one on her—sending a fake Daeron Targaryen while seizing Tumbleton instead of retreating. It's a power play that sets up a devastating clash, and Norton is here to talk about making Ormund one of the most deliciously dangerous villains on TV.
In an exclusive interview, Norton dives into Episode 4's standout moment: a bath scene that flips vulnerability on its head. Instead of being exposed, Ormund uses nudity as a weapon. "It was an opportunity to see Ormund really enjoy being Ormund," Norton says. "He's usually so stressed, hyper-aware, almost OCD. But here, he's delighting in his power." The actor admits he went "quite camp" with the performance, even asking the director, "Can I go big?" The result is a scene where Ormund cocks his head and purrs, "Is she a queen, or is she a bitch with a dragon?" Norton credits the show's creators for embracing the wild swings: "They were brave in the edit. They made this character delicious."
But the episode isn't all playful menace. When Ormund receives a raven from Harrenhal, his composure shatters. He starts swinging a sword at a table, and Daeron (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) immediately clears the room. Norton reveals the physical toll of filming that rage: "Your body doesn't know where it's at—high adrenaline to nothing, over and over. I nearly fainted." More importantly, the scene exposes the toxic history between Ormund and Daeron. "How many times has that rage been directed at Daeron?" Norton asks. "Daeron is a young boy raised by this man. There's real pain and tragedy. When Daeron tells the servant to get out, implicit in that is, 'I've been hurt before, so just get out.' He stays to protect Ormund from himself."
This father-son dynamic is a core part of Ormund's character. Norton describes it as "toxic" but layered with stoicism and selflessness. Daeron's loyalty isn't blind—it's born from survival. For fans of the show, this episode deepens the intrigue around the Hightower-Targaryen conflict. If you're craving more behind-the-scenes insights, check out our full recap of Episode 4.
Norton also teases what's ahead: "Ormund is a man who lives at a high level of stress. As the stakes rise, he gets more and more stressed. That fury bubbling underneath—we've only seen the tip of the iceberg." With Tumbleton now under his control and Rhaenyra's forces regrouping, the stage is set for a clash that could devastate the smallfolk. And if Ormund's bath scene is any indication, he'll be enjoying every minute of it.
For more on the world of Westeros, don't miss our theory on Alys Rivers possibly being Leaf from Game of Thrones. And if you're looking for your next obsession, check out Netflix's House of Guinness.
