Matt Smith
Prince Daemon Targaryen
Overview
The Targaryen dynasty is at the absolute apex of its power, with more than 15 dragons under their yoke. Most empires crumble from such heights. In the case of the Targaryens, their slow fall begins when King Viserys breaks with a century of tradition by naming his daughter Rhaenyra heir to the Iron Throne. But when Viserys later fathers a son, the court is shocked when Rhaenyra retains her status as his heir, and seeds of division sow friction across the realm.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
3 min read AI-generated editorial review
The Rot at the Center of the Room
I wasn't sure I wanted to go back. Returning to Westeros felt like attending a high school reunion where the last memory you have is someone setting the gymnasium on fire. (We all remember how Game of Thrones ended, no matter how hard we try to forget.) But Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin’s House of the Dragon isn't interested in making amends for the sins of its predecessor. It has its own quiet, suffocating tragedies to tend to. This isn't a sprawling epic about the end of the world. It’s a workplace drama where the boardroom is the Iron Throne and the severance package is decapitation.
There's something inherently pathetic about absolute power. The Targaryen dynasty is at its apex here, boasting more than a dozen dragons and zero external threats. But rot doesn't need an invading army to spread. It starts when King Viserys (Paddy Considine) names his daughter Rhaenyra heir, a break in tradition that functions as a slow-motion car crash spanning decades. Sight & Sound’s Kate Stables argued that the series "favours historical exposition over character," and while I see her point during the clunkier time-jumps of the first season, I think the claustrophobia is exactly the point. We're watching a family slowly suffocate in locked-door council meetings.
Paddy Considine anchors the tragedy, his body literally disintegrating under the physical toll of ruling. But it's Matt Smith as the rogue prince Daemon who entirely dictates the show's erratic heartbeat. Smith has always possessed a strange, alien charisma—he used it to play a frantic time-traveler in Doctor Who and a petulant royal in The Crown—but here, it curdles into something dangerous. He rarely walks into a room; he sort of lounges into it. Watch his posture during any tense negotiation. He leans against pillars, his pale face tilted up, eyes hooded. He gives you nothing and in doing so, demands all your attention. Beneath the cruelty, he seems to love his brother just enough to want to destroy him.
I wasn't sure I wanted to go back. Returning to Westeros felt like attending a high school reunion where the last memory you have is someone setting the gymnasium on fire. (We all remember how Game of Thrones ended, no matter how hard we try to forget.) But Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin’s House of the Dragon isn't interested in making amends for the sins of its predecessor. It has its own quiet, suffocating tragedies to tend to. This isn't a sprawling epic about the end of the world. It’s a workplace drama where the boardroom is the Iron Throne and the severance package is decapitation.
There's something inherently pathetic about absolute power. The Targaryen dynasty is at its apex here, boasting more than a dozen dragons and zero external threats. But rot doesn't need an invading army to spread. It starts when King Viserys (Paddy Considine) names his daughter Rhaenyra heir, a break in tradition that functions as a slow-motion car crash spanning decades. Sight & Sound’s Kate Stables argued that the series "favours historical exposition over character," and while I see her point during the clunkier time-jumps of the first season, I think the claustrophobia is exactly the point. We're watching a family slowly suffocate in locked-door council meetings.
Paddy Considine anchors the tragedy, his body literally disintegrating under the physical toll of ruling. But it's Matt Smith as the rogue prince Daemon who entirely dictates the show's erratic heartbeat. Smith has always possessed a strange, alien charisma—he used it to play a frantic time-traveler in Doctor Who and a petulant royal in The Crown—but here, it curdles into something dangerous. He rarely walks into a room; he sort of lounges into it. Watch his posture during any tense negotiation. He leans against pillars, his pale face tilted up, eyes hooded. He gives you nothing and in doing so, demands all your attention. Beneath the cruelty, he seems to love his brother just enough to want to destroy him.
Audience Opinions
AI summary of viewer review patterns
Audience 8.3/10 AI
"A lavish, character-driven Westerosi saga whose top-tier acting and spectacle are undercut by slow pacing and uneven writing, especially in later seasons."
High-end visuals, impressive dragon work, and a richly atmospheric production earn strong admiration, with many calling out the cast as the series’ greatest strength. At the same time, long stretches of talky court intrigue, drawn-out plotting, and divisive choices in character writing lead to complaints that the show can feel boring, meandering, or padded, particularly in the second season. The overall impression is of a high-quality but sometimes frustrating epic that shines brightest when politics, character conflict, and spectacle align.
What viewers praise
- Cinematic production quality Sets, costumes, and overall craftsmanship are widely praised as matching or surpassing the parent series, giving the show a grand, premium feel.
- Impressive dragon sequences Dragon effects and large-scale action scenes are highlighted as thrilling centerpieces that deliver on the promise of the premise.
- Strong lead performances The core cast is frequently singled out for nuanced, emotionally rich work that sells complex loyalties and rivalries.
- Engaging political intrigue Power struggles, scheming factions, and morally gray decisions provide a dense, slow-burn style of drama that many find compelling.
Common complaints
- Slow, talk-heavy pacing Extended dialogue scenes and limited action in many episodes lead to frequent complaints that the show drags and is even sleep-inducing at times.
- Inconsistent writing across seasons Later seasons draw criticism for clunky dialogue, repetitive conversations, and storylines that feel stretched to fill time.
- Underdeveloped characters Several key figures are described as thinly drawn or stuck in place, with some arcs failing to evolve in satisfying ways.
- Polarizing creative choices Story decisions around time jumps, visions, and thematic framing divide opinion, with some calling them forced or agenda-driven.
Recommended for
Game of Thrones universe fans Dark political fantasy lovers Slow-burn character drama viewers Epic medieval spectacle seekers High-production TV enthusiasts
Buzz & Rumors
Public reports AI-researched entertainment notes
DRAGONS, DRAMA & DIRTY LAUNDRY: The Wildest House of the Dragon Gossip Spilling Out of Westeros
The dragons are great, the wigs are glorious, but let’s be honest: you came for the mess. From “are-they-or-aren’t-they” co-stars to cut sex scenes and record-breaking stunt mayhem, the real carnage is happening off the battlefield. Sharpen your Valyrian steel and your nosy instincts — here’s the juiciest real-world tea circling House of the Dragon.
💋 Romance Rumors & Set Hookups
Matt Smith & Olivia Cooke: Fandom’s Favorite “Unconfirmed” Ship
- A DeuxMoi blind item about two British co-stars on a huge HBO show “officially dating” had the internet screaming “Daemon and Alicent!!” in 2024. Rumor has it the mystery couple was Matt Smith and Olivia Cooke, and fan detectives went full Maester over blurry paparazzi pics and promo chemistry
. - Reality check: coverage of the rumor stresses the “evidence is weak” and there’s no hard proof they’re together. Even DeuxMoi’s own follow-up reportedly cast doubt on the theory [1]. Translation: fun to speculate, not confirmed canon.
The One That Is Real: Olivia Cooke & Ralph Davis
- While everyone was busy shipping her with Matt, Olivia Cooke quietly started dating another co-star: Ralph Davis, who plays Aegon’s rowdy buddy Ser Leon Estermont.
- The two went “Wimbledon Kiss Official” on July 9, 2025 — photographed cuddling and kissing in the stands like it was the royal box of King’s Landing .
- Cosmopolitan lays out the whole slow-burn timeline: friendly Soho strolls, tagged holiday photos, growing fan suspicion, then that very public tennis PDA confirming they’re an item [2].
🎭 On-Set Drama, Pranks & Improvised Chaos
Olivia Cooke’s Legendary Merkin Prank
- During a sex scene with Fabien Frankel, Cooke requested the “biggest, hairiest” fiery-red merkin possible and hid it under her skirts. When Frankel’s character went exploring, he was so shocked he reportedly “leaped to the other side of the room” and was “stricken with anxiety” thinking it was real . That’s not just acting, that’s emotional damage.
When Aegon Literally Bit Aemond
- Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon II) admitted he actually bit Ewan Mitchell (Aemond) during a fight sequence. Mitchell egged him on in rehearsal to go for it “for real,” and Glynn-Carney delivered when cameras rolled [3]. Method acting or sibling rivalry gone rogue? You decide.
The Unplanned Queer Kiss
- That charged Season 2 moment where Rhaenyra and Mysaria kiss? It wasn’t in the script. Emma D’Arcy and Sonoya Mizuno turned what was supposed to be an intense, quiet beat into a spontaneous kiss because it felt right in the moment [3]. The actresses later stressed they didn’t want it to feel like cheap “queer-bait,” but a vulnerable, earned connection [3].
Matt Smith’s Accidental Icon Moment
- The now-famous scene where Daemon helps Viserys to the throne, placing the fallen crown back on his head, was born from an accident. The crown slipped, Smith improvised the gesture, and it was so powerful the directors kept it [3]. Kings making kings — by sheer stunt mishap.
⚖️ Scandals, Backlash & Fandom Ugly Side
Steve Toussaint vs. Racist Trolls
- Casting Steve Toussaint, a Black actor, as Corlys Velaryon triggered a wave of racist abuse online. Toussaint publicly called out the hatred and pointed to the only opinion that really matters: George R.R. Martin approved his casting . Multiple outlets covered how vile some comments got, turning a supposed celebration of diversity into yet another fandom shame spiral [4].
Tom Glynn-Carney Begs Fans to Calm Down
- Playing the disaster that is Aegon II has a downside: some viewers apparently can’t separate character from actor. Tom Glynn-Carney shared that his friends and family were being harassed over his performance and had to publicly call it out, making a sort of “pact” with himself to manage the pressure while asking fans to stop crossing lines
. Hate Aegon if you must; leave Tom’s mum alone.
Showrunner vs. Author: Condal & GRRM’s Public Rift
- Behind the camera, there’s a quieter but juicier feud: Ryan Condal vs. George R.R. Martin.
- After Martin posted (and then deleted) a blog rant about “everything wrong” with the show — especially the decision to cut Maelor Targaryen from the story — Condal told The Hollywood Reporter the criticism was “disappointing” .
- He said their once “really strong collaboration” soured as Martin became “unwilling to acknowledge the practical issues at hand in a reasonable way,” while Condal insisted he had to keep production moving and make tough adaptation calls [5]. In Westeros terms: the king’s hand and the king’s creator had a serious council spat.
🔥 Deleted & Cut Scenes Fans Won’t Shut Up About
The Vanished Royal Wedding
- A whole wedding between Viserys and Alicent was shot — full costumes, ceremony, the works — then sliced from Season 1. Photos and reports of the deleted material show juicy extra drama between episodes 2 and 3 that fans never got to see, sparking endless “Release the Wedding Cut” energy online .
Rhaenyra Calling Alicent a “Whore”
- In an even spicier missing scene, Rhaenyra was originally going to straight-up accuse Alicent of being a whore after Viserys announced their betrothal. Reports say it also featured more flirtatious tension between the former besties before politics ripped them apart . Instead, we’re left to imagine that screaming match in our head — which, to be fair, the fandom has done enthusiastically.
Olivia Cooke’s “Animalistic” Sex Scene That Got Axed
- Cooke revealed she filmed a carnal, “messy as f---” sex scene for Season 2 that showrunner Ryan Condal completely cut . She says she even asked, “Well, why did you make me do that?” when she found out it wouldn’t air [8]. Apparently it was deemed too extra for the story. For the story, maybe. For us? Never.
🐉 Leaks, Stunts & Off-Screen Mayhem
World-Record Human BBQ
- The show went full pyromaniac in a Season 3 battle: 23 stunt performers lit on fire in one take, reportedly breaking the previous world record of 20 [3]. Somewhere, a safety officer aged ten years in one afternoon.
Season 3 Leak Frenzy
- Reddit and Facebook are periodically swarmed by supposed Season 3 leak threads — entire plot outlines, shocking deaths, and even claims that the show will cover Targaryen history far beyond the book’s scope . These are unverified fan leak posts, but they’ve definitely fueled late-night discourse and panic among spoiler-averse viewers.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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