HBO’s House of the Dragon has had a slew of amazing characters and the actors have made them come to life with their brilliant acting. Daemon Targaryen’s character has garnered a big following and Sara Hess, producer of the show is confused with the internet’s obsession with him.
“I don’t want him to be my boyfriend”
“He’s become Internet Boyfriend in a way that baffles me,” Hess says about Daemon. “Not that Matt [Smith] 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. What do you think, Clare?”
The Internet Has Fallen in Love with Daemon Targaryen

Smith is not Paul Rudd but he has done an amazing job making Daemon come to life. The internet has come to love the younger Targaryen even though he isn’t the best of characters. He killed his wife because she was an inconvenience for his plans and yet that seems to be forgotten entirely. In the fandom’s defense, the show has ignored that as Daemon was approached about the murder of his wife once and that was the last we heard of it.
Director Clare Kilner understands a bit of the obsession with Daemon.
“I just love the fact people are so involved with these characters, and I think that’s part of the fun of it,” she said. “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.”
George R.R. Martin Has Praised the Cast Many Times
While the internet has flocked towards Smith and his character, George R.R. Martin has given the cast praise numerous times. He called Paddy Considine’s portrayal of Viserys Targaryen better than his written version. Martin also complimented the younger actors who played the young Rhaenyra and Alicent earlier in the season.
Season Finale
Hess teased about the finale of House of the Garden and Daemon has a big role that will have fans feeling a way.
“We will see a different side of him,” Hess said. “And right now, 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 and Blood to that.”
I think Daemon is a great character. Reminds me of Jamie Lannister, in that I both hate him and like him at the same time. I think the masses like him because he is not a 2 dimensional character where he is either the bad guy or the good guy. He a spontaneous and dangerous, but also tender and deeply loyal to his brother. Its very humanizing and relatable to people, where in the real world there aren’t people that are only super villains or only super heroes. I think that we like characters that skirt the edge of villany, in hopes that they will eventually redeem themselves. (and we secretly want to be that kind of badass)
Agreed. Also, there aren’t many likable characters on the show and he stands out with great acting as well as the potential for redeeming themselves