House of the Dragon has introduced a new bad boy Internet boyfriend to the public, and at least one of the series’ authors is baffled.
Sara Hess, writer and executive producer, and Clare Kilner, director, chat about the fan love and hunger for Matt Smith’s complicated portrayal as Daemon Targaryen, which frequently finds him entangled in both deadly and incestuous plotlines.
“He’s become Internet Boyfriend in a way that baffles me,” Hess remarks of the character. “Not that Matt isn’t incredibly charismatic and wonderful, and he’s incredible in the role. But Daemon himself is … I don’t want him to be my boyfriend! I’m a little baffled how they’re all, ‘Oh, daddy!’ And I’m just like: ‘Really?’ How — in what way — was he a good partner, father or brother — to anybody? You got me. He ain’t Paul Rudd.”
The fans beg to disagree.
Kilner teases a “different,” potentially unflattering side of Daemon in the upcoming season one finale, which airs Sunday, as well as the already-greenlit second season.
“We’re writing season two and figuring out, what is the nature of his relationship with Rhaenyra? There are many interpretations [in George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood] to that,” she shares.
Regardless of how fans feel about the role, Kilner says she completely gets why they love Smith as an actor.
“I just love the fact people are so involved with these characters, and I think that’s part of the fun of it,” she says. “One minute you like someone, and the next minute you like someone else. But 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. People love a baddie. But I don’t think he’s particularly a good father or a good brother.”
Smith addressed out about the enthusiastic and committed Game of Thrones fandom ahead of the season debut of House of the Dragon.
“I think I’ve been very fortunate, like, you know, like the Doctor Who community is a really lovely community to be a part of, people on the whole are very encouraging and only really positive,” he said of his past work. “Look, this is new and it’s a different genre and a different community. I don’t know, but we’ve tried our best to make a show that is original and entertaining, and that’s hopefully what we’ll have done. But, you know, we won’t please everyone, inevitably.”