‘House Of The Dragon‘ fans are saying they are “tired” of a Daemon Targaryen storyline in season two.
The second season of the Game Of Thrones prequel series, based on Martin’s 2018 book Fire & Blood, is being released in weekly episodes. The fifth arrived over the weekend (July 14) on HBO in the US and Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.
Following the airing of the latest episode, some viewers have expressed how unhappy they are with the Daemon Targaryan (played by Matt Smith) storyline online and are calling for a speedy change of direction for the character.
Warning – spoilers ahead
In episode five, Prince Aemond’s (Ewan Mitchell) was seen ascending to the throne while Rhaenyra (Emma D’arcy) and son Jacaerys (Harry Collett) worked on a plan following Rhaenys’ (Eve Best) death.
However, scenes involving Daemon in the same episode were not well received. Smith’s character is now apart from the main cast and has been involved in a storyline that shows him having some disturbing hallucinations – including one where he is in bed with his mother Alyssa Targaryen (Emeline Lambert).
Fans are growing increasingly weary of the scenes. One wrote: “I am broadly enjoying House Of The Dragon, but the monotonous Daemon scenes with their sinfully slow pacing are becoming very tiresome now. It’s like they didn’t really know what to do with him this season.”
Another added: “Daemon’s story is so irritating” while a third wrote: “wtf are the writers doing to my boy Daemon??? I literally dread seeing him now because Herrenhall is so boring and the dreams and hallucinations are weird/disturbing.” Another user described his storyline as a “snoozefest”.
Recommended
You can see more of the reaction to his storyline here:
I am broadly enjoying House of the Dragon, but the monotonous Daemon scenes with their sinfully slow pacing are becoming very tiresome now. It’s like they didn’t really know what to do with him this season.
— CMK (@Conor_MK) July 15, 2024
Love HOTD, but wtf are the writers doing to my boy Daemon??? I literally dread seeing him now because Herrenhal is so boring and the dreams and hallucinations are weird/disturbing.
— HALEY (@HaleyEllis11) July 15, 2024
Daemon’s storyline this season is such a snooze fest. I honestly can’t take another episode of it. But it was nice seeing Rhaenyra and Jace plotting together. Baela’s scene with Corlys was the highlight of the episode.
— rhae (@rhaesglow) July 15, 2024
One thing #HouseOfTheDragon gets wrong that #GameOfThrones got so right is that not all of the stories playing out are interesting, there was always a sense of anticipation of the chess pieces being moved, but with HOTD I find myself bored by big parts of the stories e.g Daemon pic.twitter.com/MrqIIQ4dd2
— Shai Nicholson (@ShaiiNicholson) July 15, 2024
I am OVER the Daemon at haunted Harrenhal plot. It has grown stale, tired, & feels far removed from everything else. What is its purpose? We know what Daemon truly desires, this adds little. Smith is giving an excellent performance but it lacks importance. #HouseOfTheDragon
— tom (@thom_ahs) July 16, 2024
I’m sorry but I just can’t become a fan of Rhaenyra. She’s kind of boring. The only person I really cared about was Daemon and he’s done nothing this entire season. #HOTD
— Julez (@JULEZ_91) July 15, 2024
#houseofthedragon not having the equivalent of varys, balish, tyrion etc is why this show is so dull and not edge of your seat like GoTs.
Everyone is so predictable and I'm not feeling excitement like I did with GoTs. Daemons storyline is so irritating now. #hotd #HOTD pic.twitter.com/RFpCiGKLXW— thepigeonretreat (@Suzanne30C) July 15, 2024
Prior to the season two premiere, House Of The Dragon was renewed for a third season in June 2024.
It was also announced last month that the next Game Of Thrones spin-off TV adaptation is set to hit screens in early 2025. Currently titled A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms, it has begun filming in Belfast, although an exact release date has not been confirmed.
In a blog post, he stressed that the dragons in the Game Of Thrones universe were designed to be like real animals, possessing just two legs “not four, never four”. He added: “No animal that has ever lived on Earth has six limbs.”
Despite those complaints, Martin also recently heaped praise on House Of The Dragon writers for the “brilliant” way in which they changed his story.
He took the time in particular to comment on the opening two instalments of the latest run. “What a great way to start the season,” he wrote. “The directing was superb.”
In a four-star review of the first season, NME wrote: “What is reassuring is that House Of The Dragon feels as though it is walking on solid ground: the bubbling rivalries, the jostling for power, the eruptions of violence; six episodes in, it is all coming together to create a rich stew … it is a relief to see a prequel that seems to know what it’s doing. A decent watch for fans and neutrals alike.”