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?

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:
“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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