Interview

House of the Dragon’s Matt Smith says “too much policing of stories” is ruining the experience for viewers

Has the policing also affected House of the Dragon?

Published

3 months ago

September 8, 2024

Sayantan Choudhary

Image: HBO

Matt Smith, the skilled and adaptable actor, continues to impress in the entertainment industry with his engaging on-screen performances. Presently, he stars as Prince Daemon Targaryen in HBO’s popular series House of the Dragon, which serves as a prequel to Game of Thrones. Working in the industry for several decades has given him enough experience to notice a depreciating trend in showbiz.

Matt Smith criticizes dumbing down of crucial moments in films and shows

Matt Smith has made his presence known in a variety of genres. Taking the example of horror, he explained to The Times how dumbing down storylines for the watchers makes it less interesting:

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“Too much policing of stories and being afraid to bring them out because a climate is a certain way is a shame. I’m not sure I’m on board with trigger warnings. It’s OK to feel uncomfortable or provoked while looking at a painting or watching a play, but I worry everything’s being dialed and dumbed down. We’re telling audiences they’re going to be scared before they’ve watched something.”

Credit: HBO

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Matt Smith is not on board with trigger warnings

Nowadays movies have display a warning if they have objectionable content. However, Matt Smith loves his movies to be a roller-coaster ride. He said, “I’m not sure I’m on board with trigger warnings. I used to go to a local video shop and get Slither, Basic Instinct, Disclosure — all these erotic thrillers. I was way too young to be watching them. I watched Friday the 13th when I was nine. Actually, that scarred me. Absolutely ruined me.”

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Sayantan Choudhary

Sayantan is a keen follower of everything pop culture; from films, shows, anime to video games and latest memes. He started writing professionally for Wiki of Thrones during the 2021 lockdown, and has been developing his writing and editing skills ever since. Sayantan has since worked for several reputed firms, such as Collider and FandomWire, gathering experience and nods from some of the best in the industry. With a growing repertoire amassing renowned websites, Sayantan is your go to guy for all things Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. When he is not hunting for headlines and theories, you can find him engrossed in fantasy shows, conspiracy theories and video games.