One unexpected scene has turned HOTD‘s James Norton into the latest fantasy meme machine. Fans cannot stop joking about a surprising detail from the hit fantasy series. A single moment sparked thousands of reactions across social media, shifting attention from battles and politics to something far more unexpected. Instead of dragons or swords, viewers found themselves laughing over a character’s surprisingly convincing hair-dyeing skills, and the actor behind the role is taking it all in stride.
Why Ormund Hightower dyed the fake Daeron’s hair blonde
The online jokes stem from Ormund Hightower’s plan to disguise a merchant boy as Prince Daeron Targaryen. To sell the deception, the boy’s hair is dyed blonde to match the famous Targaryen look. The scene quickly became one of the episode’s biggest talking points, with fans humorously crowning Ormund the finest hair colorist in all of Westeros.
James Norton admitted to Entertainment Weekly that he never expected that detail to explode online. He called the experience “a real baptism of fire” and joked that he has never been part of so many memes.
One of his favorite running gags imagines Ormund opening a salon in Oldtown instead of leading armies. Norton laughed along with the idea, saying he has enjoyed the unexpected spotlight surrounding the hair-dye storyline.
The actor explained that the disguise serves a serious purpose inside the story. Ormund wants the fake prince to strengthen his political plans while pushing his own vision for House Hightower. At the same time, he works to erase Daeron’s Targaryen identity, believing the young prince belongs on the throne under Hightower influence rather than following his family’s legacy.
Despite the comedy surrounding the memes, Norton described Ormund as a character with two very different sides. He said the lord can be playful one moment and “dark as f—” the next. That contrast made the role especially rewarding. Norton also recalled filming Ormund’s explosive outburst, saying the intense performance left him so physically drained that he nearly fainted more than once while shooting the scene.
