Actor Matt Smith, who plays “House of the Dragon’s” Daemon, talks about how the upcoming season 1 time jump would influence a significant relationship in the program. The eagerly awaited Game of Thrones prequel made its HBO debut on Sunday, August 21, to a record-breaking audience. 172 years before Daenerys Targaryen’s birth, the fantasy series returns to the fabled continent of Westeros. Paddy Considine, Milly Alcock, Rhys Ifans, Emily Carey, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, and Graham McTavish are all included in the House of the Dragon ensemble cast in addition to Smith.
Viserys I Targaryen, who is described as “warm, kind, and decent,” is in charge of the Seven Kingdoms at the start of “House of the Dragon” while rivals fight for the Iron Throne. Prince Daemon (Smith), the King’s younger brother and presumed heir, and Princess Rhaenyra (Alcock), who had just violently unleashed the gold cloaks on the city’s criminals and made jokes about the King’s stillborn son, are the only two candidates the King has to choose from after failing to produce a male heir. Viserys officially designates Rhaenyra as his heir after sending Daemon back to Runestone, but many unanswered mysteries remain regarding the uncle and niece team.
Smith discussed how the King’s choice would affect the unique link between Daemon and Rhaenyra in a recent interview with Total Film (as reported by Games Radar). The House of the Dragon actor also talked about how their relationship would be impacted by the upcoming season 1 time jump. Read Smith’s comments below:
I loved having two actors play the same part because it did a lot of the work for me. Whereas you have to kind of imagine that stuff sometimes, there was just a real, physical, energetic change between the two actors that I found really useful and really entertaining to watch. And I think it really worked as a conceit… I look quite similar. I just look older than I should be when I’m young.
The first season of “House of the Dragon” will take a 10-year leap forward around the halfway point. While Wanderlust actress Emma D’Arcy replaces Alcock in the role of Rhaenyra, Smith will continue to portray an older version of the character. This is anticipated to bring yet another intriguing dimension to the evolving interplay between Rhaenyra and Daemon. Anyone who has read George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood will be aware that the relationship between the uncle and niece is about to undergo one incredibly unpleasant alteration.
Smith acknowledges that his character hasn’t changed all that much after the time travel, but he did hint at Viserys going through a more dramatic physical change—probably alluding to the King’s advanced age. The first season of “House of the Dragon’s” time jump is anticipated to advance the prequel show’s plot in a variety of fresh and interesting ways. But in the interim, the program will keep introducing new characters and laying the groundwork for the upcoming generational conflict.
New “House Of The Dragon” Image: Matt Smith In Full Targaryen Armor