Either fans really love red flags or Matt Smith is just too good of an actor
May contain some show spoilers
Defending Targaryen’s crimes is one thing (supporting an incestuous relationship and turning a blind eye to simping for the rogue prince is a whole different thing that even the showrunners themselves are baffled with.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, writer, and producer Sara Hess, and director Clare Kilner revealed how shocked they were with the number of apologists and simps Daemon Targaryen has following his murderous performance throughout the show.
feminist women love daemon targaryen pic.twitter.com/XEIV66mP6K
— mira 🐉 (@rhaelina) October 11, 2022
“Daemon himself is… I don’t want him to be my boyfriend! I’m a little baffled at how they’re all ‘Oh, daddy!'” Hess said. “And I’m just like: ‘Really? How — in what way — was he a good partner, father or brother — to anybody?”
Kilner, however, said the fanfare may be propped to the brilliance of Daemon’s actor, Matt Smith. “I’m not surprised. Matt is such a risk-taker in his performances and he’s got that little smile and, you know… you can’t help it! He is charismatic.” The director also notes that audiences could simply love gravitating towards a baddie.
Both of which, as fans of the show, we think are true. In a universe where morals are not the strongest suit (rulers are open to incest and people murder for sport), baddie might have a different definition.
anyway, goodnight to irredeemable dragon DADDY daemon targaryen and to him only pic.twitter.com/Rvldrbxp6V
— bee | hotd brainrot (@fangirlingmess) October 18, 2022
Yes, like most characters, Daemon Targaryen is probably not innocent but at least he’s not pretentious. As fans of the show call him, Daemon is still pretty much a gray character whose intentions are not that obvious, but at least he doesn’t hide under a facade. He’s a rogue prince just living up to what the word “rogue” means.
Matt Smith also gives a stellar performance and understanding of Daemon’s character. An example of how incredibly he taps into the character is how he picks up Viserys’ crown in episode 8 after the crown accidentally falls off Paddy Considine’s (Viserys) head. Matt placing the crown on Paddy’s head is an unscripted scene that the show creators decided to keep.
It shows how Matt knows Daemon might not show it directly or in the best way at times, but he’s loyal to his brother. This is seen through how he always kept on telling Viserys that Otto Hightower was scheming and how he called out Corlys Velaryon saying, “I will speak of my brother how I wish. You will not.”
So yes, Daemon might not be the best father, brother, or even husband (to his first or second wives, maybe even third it’s too early to tell), but he is authentic and that is quite the rarity in Westeros and the Game of Thrones.
