Matt Smith doesn’t think Daemon is responsible for the death of Jaehaerys

After the epic House of the Dragon season 2 episode 2 premiere, fans’ expectations from the upcoming episodes have only risen. The character arcs as well as the overall narrative take interesting turns in each scene. In the meanwhile, both factions ponder over who to blame for the death of innocent Prince Jaehaerys. His killing has left both parties in utter confusion and grief as the King mourns the loss of his heir to the Iron Throne.

On the other hand, Rhaenyra worries over the deterioration of her claim to her birthright. She feels this impulsive action, taken by her husband Daemon Targaryen, will diminish her standing in front of her allies. The question arises, who is at fault for killing Jaehaerys? Are Blood and Cheese to be blamed for their slight understanding or should Daemon have been more careful with his words when he uttered, “A son for a son?”

Also Read: House of The Dragon’s Matt Smith explains how the prequel is different from Game of Thrones

Matt Smith’s take on Daemon’s involvement in Jaehaerys’s killing

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Jaeherarys’s death has unequivocally become a turning point for the Blacks and the Greens. More than a rift, the event has deepened the hatred bubbling in the hearts of each person involved. While the Greens believe Rhaenyra has done this evil deed, they are striving to extract the maximum political advantage from the same to get the masses’ sympathies.

In the meanwhile, Rhaenyra and her council are trying to reverse the damage and keep a clean slate so that her allies don’t abandon her cause. After a tough conversation, Daemon seems to have flown into the sunset, away from the prying eyes of his wife who does not seem to trust him. He chose to avenge his wife in the best way he knew how but the action backfired. Now, he faces the brunt of the assassin’s mistake. Matt Smith agrees that Daemon had the best intentions in mind. In a conversation with CBR, the actor shared,

“It’s love, grief and vengeance. Daemon feels it’s impossible not to exact that feeling of revenge when it’s in him. He’s not someone who can just sit on that and go, ‘Do you know what? I’ll leave that until tomorrow.’ [Jaehaerys’ death] isn’t his mistake ultimately, but he does put it in motion. Whether I’ve got rose-tinted glasses about Daemon or not, I think he did it with his best intentions.”

Even though Daemon is an impulsive and rogue character, his love for Rhaenyra has been consistent. While she chooses to doubt him at every step of the way, Daemon has, in many ways, proven his loyalty to his wife and Queen. The upcoming episodes will decide the fate of the war as well as the future of Daemon and Rhaenyra’s relationship.

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Season 2 does not explore Daemon’s relationship with his daughters

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House of the Dragon season 2 has a lot going on. So, naturally, there’s a time and space constraint for the showrunners to include every last detail from the characters’ lives. However, one major aspect that has been pushed into the background since Daemon married Rhaenyra is the former’s relationship with his daughters – Baela and Rhaena. Smith addresses this issue and claims,

“Without giving too much away, I don’t think it’s a huge area of exploration this season because everyone’s on their own path a bit, particularly Daemon. There’s an interesting story there to be told, certainly. Fatherhood is a very complex idea for him at the moment. He’s still in the throes of grief, so I don’t think he’s a particularly efficient father this season.”

We do see an anxious Baela trying to comfort Rhaenyra in the second episode of House of the Dragon season 2, but they still have a long way to go. The Queen trusts Baela to keep the faction safe but informs her that Daemon may have left them for good.

Also Read: We might see King Jaehaerys I in House of the Dragon Season 2 flashbacks, fans speculate

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