Matt Smith explains why Daemon Targaryen won’t make a good king: “He’d only usurp it for s**ts and giggles!”

Game of Thrones prequel House of The Dragon is right around the corner, and very soon we will be able to roam the lands of Westeros once again. The series will take a step back into the history of Westeros, with another struggle for the Iron Throne, but between members of the same family, the white-haired, Valyrian-blooded, dragon-riding rulers of the realm, the Targaryens. One of the key players in the show will be Prince Daemon Targaryen, played by former Doctor Who Matt Smith. The Rogue Prince was once a strong contender to be the next ruler of Westeros after his brother King Viserys I Targaryen, until his niece Rhaenyra is named the heir to the Iron Throne.

But the question still remains, would he have made a good ruler of Westeros? Smith definitely doesn’t think so. In the first episode of the Official Game of Thrones Podcast, Smith explained why Daemon won’t make a good king:

“I think [Daemon’s] only interest in power is in, sort of, usurping it for s**ts and giggles. And you know, oddly, he says to his brother, you know, ‘You’re weak’ but I think that’s all about him going, ‘I don’t feel recognized.’ Everything Daemon does is a response to going, ‘I want you to recognize me’ You know what I mean? ‘Please. I love you. I love you. I love you.’ He’s his annoying little brother.”

Paddy Considine, who plays King Viserys, agreed, and added, “And I felt that, even when we were making it, that Daemon just wanted Viserys to say, ‘I love you.’ And Viserys sort of knew that, but, begrudgingly it’s like, ‘I’m not going to say that to you.’ He doesn’t hate Daemon. He doesn’t hate him at all. He’s just not going to give Daemon what he wants.”

Smith continues, “What’s weird about Daemon, I’ve found, and I don’t know if I projected this onto him but, for someone who on the page looks sort of disloyal and irreverent and all these things, actually there’s a real sense of value and loyalty about him. And there’s a sort of weird sensitivity to him. And it’s about going, ‘Yeah, but that’s my birthright. You’re stealing what is, essentially, my birthright’ … I think he probably knows he’d be a terrible king, but, also, I think he’d have a good time doing it.”

Do you agree with Matt Smith? Who do you think would be an ideal ruler of Westeros? Tell us in the comments below!

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