Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) has grown a cult-like following in the audience as he repeatedly commits violent acts and tends towards treason if it means getting what he wants. While Daemon does have antagonistic tendencies, he has often been shown to hold the capacity for great compassion when it comes to those he holds close. Here we will look back at the moments that meant the most to Daemon’s character. We will rank them based on the amount of character development that stemmed from the scene, their impact on the overall story, and the impression these scenes inHouse of the Dragonleft on the audience.
6The Murder of Rhea Royce
Throughout the beginning of the series, there are many allusions made to Daemon’s wife, the heir to runestone. Daemon makes it very clear that theirs is a loveless marriage, referring to Rhea as his “Bronze Bitch.” Denoting that he never chose to marry Rhea, Daemon makes multiple attempts to take another wife, one of his choosing, whether it be his mistress, Mysaria, or his niece, Rhaenyra.
Upon being exiled from King’s Landing (again), Daemon arrives in The Vale, approaching his wife as she hunts on horseback. While Rhea makes it clear that she holds a grudge over Daemon’s harsh words, she begins to realize the severity of the situation as Daemon silently approaches her. After her horse becomes frightened, Rhea falls and is crushed by her steed, leading to her becoming paralyzed. Initially leaving her to her fate, Daemon would become provoked by Rhea’s taunts and return to bash her skull with a rock, remaining silent the entire time.
5Seduction of Rhaenyra
When Daemon sees something or someone he wants, he holds nothing back in his pursuit to get it. Setting his sights on his niece, Rhaenyra, Daemon would give her a disguise so that onlookers would believe her to be a commoner instead of her royal appearance as they went into town to witness the debauched revelry.
After witnessing a mocking play and walking into a room being used for a sex party, Daemon begins to seduce Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra, while a willing participant, refuses to be turned and wishes to look Daemon in the eyes, which sets Daemon off-guard. Not being used to giving up control, Daemon leaves Rhaenyra in the room and proceeds to imbibe on alcohol, having found himself challenged by his niece when he believed he had complete control.
Related:How House of the Dragon is Using Female Protagonists to Stage a Battle of Queens
4Marriage to Rhaenyra
After a significant time jump, Daemon would return to King’s Landing and see his family for the first time in years. Immediately rekindling the spark between himself and Rhaenyra, the two would consummate their mutual attraction, with Daemon having become a widow and Rhaenyra participating in a loveless, political marriage similarly to Daemon and Rhea’s.
As the two contemplate the possibility of being together, Daemon puts a plot together to help them achieve this goal. Knowing that Rhaenyra never held any ill will towards her husband, Daemon would work with Laenor’s lover to make it appear that Laenor was murdered in a jealous rage, leaving many to believe that Rhaenyra had become a widow. Within the same day of this event, Rhaenyra and Daemon were married in front of their children, the two dragons uniting in love and unity to help each otherstand against the greens.
3Defeating Crabfeeder
After being exiled from King’s Landing (the first time), Daemon wishes toprove his military mightby working alongside Corlys Velaryon to defeat the encroaching Cragas Drahar, or the Crabfeeder and his army. This battle would be drawn out with Daemon’s army failing in their siege, as not even Daemon and Caraxes could do much damage against Crabfeeder’s guerilla tactics.
After receiving a letter stating that Viserys would send reinforcements, Daemon decided that hewould rather lose gloriouslythan consent to his brother’s olive branch. Daemon would enter Crabfeeder’s camp alone under the pretense of surrender. He would then proceed to slaughter a large number of Crabfeeder’s forces single-handedly. With help from Laenor and his dragon, Seasmoke, Daemon fights Crabfeeder off-screen before emerging from a cave with the bisected body of his enemy. Daemon would then be crowned “King of the Narrow Sea.”
2Laena’s Death
While Daemon is often seen as a force of pure aggression and conquest, his most compelling scenes come from the small notions of compassion and kindness he allows to escape. During a significant time jump, Daemon had become married to Laena Velaryon, and the two would have two daughters. Laena understood Daemon’s desire for more and asked that he take his family wherever he went. This bond seemed to significantly impact Daemon as he was willing to set his personal goals aside to ensure the happiness of his family.
Laena was set to give birth to another child but was suffering complications. Daemon was presented with a choice similar to what his brother faced early in the season. Daemon was more focused on his wife than his brother and asked what the odds were that Laena would survive. Laena refused to die as Aemma did, and ordered her dragon, Vhagar,to burn her alive. Daemon could be seen mourning the loss of his wife with somber regret, leading some to believe that he genuinely would have chosen his wife’s life over that of their unborn child.
Related:House of the Dragon Producer Doesn’t Understand the Daemon Targaryen Obsession
1Standing For His Brother
All throughout the series, Daemon is a thorn in his brother’s side. This is evident in the small council meeting held during the first episode, where multiple council members advised against allowing Daemon a chance at the line of succession, citing his violent behavior. Daemon is repeatedly exiled from King’s Landing by his own brother, but there are also slight hints that he still carries pride in his sibling, such as when he silences Corlys for speaking against the King.
After much time, Viserys would begin to suffer the effects of age and illness, barely being able to walk to the Iron Throne under his own power. Daemon would stand by his brother’s side and aid him; an image audiences weren’t sure they’d ever see. And when Corlys' temper flares again, calling Rhaenyra’s children bastards and challenging Viserys' authority, Daemon is swift in partially decapitating Corlys, allowing him to keep his vile tongue. This would show the full complexity of Daemon’s character, as he is not quite a villain, but not quite a hero either.
