Matt Smith’s charismatic portrayal of the villainous Daemon Targaryen on HBO’s “House of the Dragon” has made him a fan favorite. In episode four, Daemon enticed Rhaenyra, his niece, to slip out of the palace and attend a brothel, where they shared their first kiss. This was one of the most significant tests for audience reaction to Smith’s character (and nearly had sex).
In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Smith was asked how he addressed Rhaenyra and Daemon’s relationship, considering the nasty nature of the sexual scenes.
“Poor taste?” Smith stated. “It’s tough. You’re constantly questioning it. But you must eliminate contemporary morals. There is a change in time. It’s a tale, and the tale requires that these two characters behave in this manner. So you do it.”
He proceeded: “But I believe we were fortunate to have Clare Kilner as the episode’s director [‘King of the Narrow Sea,’ in which Daemon seeks to seduce young Rhaenyra]. She performed the sexual scenes as effectively as I’ve ever seen them performed.”
Smith continued by praising the show’s intimacy coordinator, who helped stage the sequences and ensured the comfort of all the actors.
Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) and Daemon (Matt Smith) in “House of the Dragon” episode four.
Ollie Upton / HBO
Although Rhaenyra was approximately 15 years old in the episode to which Smith refers, Milly Alcock was 21 years old during filming. Smith is 39 years old, although Daemon should be in his late 20s or early 30s at this time in the plot.
Clare Kilner, the episode’s director, is one of two women hired to direct episodes in “House of the Dragon’s” first season. She also directed the episode Smith mentions, as well as episodes five (“We Light the Way”) and nine (“The Green Council”).
While speaking with Insider at a preseason press junket, “House of the Dragon” showrunner Ryan Condal stated that sex and violence would be a part of the narrative, but there would always be a “compelling plot purpose” for it.
Condal stated, “It is not being done gratuitously or for titillation or anything similar.” “Its purpose is to tell a story. And I am extremely confident with the manner in which we addressed the season’s job. On set, we had an intimacy coordinator, and the performers practiced these situations extensively. They understood the risks involved. They consented to everything they did on camera, and I believe they felt good about it because, as actors, they knew they were acting out a story and not engaging in sex for sex’s sake.”
The season one finale of “House of the Dragon” airs on HBO on Sunday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Read on for a dissection of the best details from last week’s episode that you may have missed.