More than nine million viewers streamed “House of the Dragon’s” finale, making it HBO’s most-watched conclusion since “Game of Thrones.” Despite being set in the same world, “House of the Dragon” shares little thematically with its predecessor. While character intentions were integral to “Game of Thrones,” misunderstandings, accidents and miscommunication compose the foundation of “House of the Dragon.”
In a sense, the world of “House of the Dragon” is far more tragic. Queen Alicent Hightower, played by Emily Cooke and Olivia Carey, is nothing like Lena Headey’s Queen Cersei Lannister. She doesn’t wish for war or violence towards her oldest friend, but she causes their conflict all the same. Neither of the two potential successors to the throne (Rhaenerya Targaryen, played by Milly Alcock and Emma D’Arcy, or Aegon II Targaryen, played by Tom Glynn-Carney) have any real desire for power. Rhaenerya fights for her claim because she feels it is her duty. Aegon’s family forces him onto the throne.
In “Game of Thrones,” minor characters pull the strings. Littlefinger, played by Aidan Gillen, orchestrates the War of Five Kings and causes the death of thousands. Each character, regardless of their status, has a role to play and each decision has consequences. Conversely, even the most powerful characters in “House of the Dragon” have little control over their fates.
Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen, the king’s brother, is the only exception. His desire for power clearly motivates his actions. He leads Rhaeneyra, his young niece, into a brothel, deliberately removing her face covering so she will be spotted before attempting to seduce her. He plots to ruin Rhaeneyra’s reputation and continuously defies the king. Daemon kills his first wife with his own hands. As Rhaeneyra, his third wife, lies screaming his name during childbirth, he ignores her cries in favor of planning for war.
Showrunners and producers have released several statements expressing concern over fan support for the character. “[Daemon Targaryean has] become Internet Boyfriend in a way that baffles me,” House of the Dragon producer Sara Heiss said. “How … was he a good partner, father or brother to anybody? He ain’t Paul Rudd.”
Showrunner Ryan Condal echoed Heiss’ sentiments: “He’s not Ned Stark … if you’re looking for Han Solo … you’re in the wrong franchise.”
Like producer Heiss said, Daemon is presented as a poor brother, husband and father. Yet, he’s become a fan favorite. His character captures the moral ambiguity of the original series; he still shows love for his brother, despite his callous actions. He defends Rhaenerya from the Hightowers and takes in her sons with another man.
The show’s creators seem intent on making sure the audience understands that Daemon is not a hero. Yet, Game of Thrones was never about the likes of Han Solo. Ned Stark was a good man, but it was morally ambiguous or outright unethical characters like Jaime and Cersei Lannister, Khal Drogo, Ygritte, Varys, Theon Greyjoy, and the Hound that made the series so beloved.
In House of the Dragon, characters are rarely deliberately cruel. They bumble their way towards war rather than strive for it. In contrast, Daemon stands out as a man of action. He may be no Paul Rudd, but this is exactly the franchise where he belongs.
