House of The Dragon director Clare Kilner on Daemon: “People love a baddie”

Game of Thrones have showered the prequel House of the Dragon with a lot of love and just like its predecessor, dishing out characters, storylines, and everything else that makes it so engaging. The civil war Dance of the Dragons has not officially begun yet, and fans have been taking sides from the beginning of the show. Even the show’s director Clare Kilner and writer Sara Hess know about this growing thirst for grey characters, especially for Daemon Targaryen, and they are quite astounded by it.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, writer Sara Hess and director Clare Kilner acknowledged this weird thirst for Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen. Hess said, “He’s become Internet Boyfriend in a way that baffles me. 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. What do you think, Clare?”

Clare replied, “I just love the fact people are so involved with these characters, and I think that’s part of the fun of it. 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.”

What do you think about Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen? What did you think about Paddy Considine’s portrayal of King Viserys? Join the discussion on our Discord server.

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