Daemon Targaryen Is Not HotD's Most Controversial Character, Here's Why
You chose the wrong Targaryen brother to worry about.
In a show like House of The Dragon, it is very hard to pick a side and stick to it, knowing that each character's moral ground is very shaky. Whether you're Team Black and support Rhaenyra's right to the throne, or Team Green and stand by Alicent, you have to admit that your favorite has done a lot of questionable things.
However, there are some characters with a much longer list of crimes than others. Daemon Targaryen, a rogue prince, was immediately considered one of the most controversial characters in the series.
Despite being a true threat to the realm, Daemon proved to be very loyal to his family, earning the love and respect of many fans. However, the fandom's opinions on Daemon are pretty much the same: either you are willing to turn a blind eye to his crimes and stand by him, or you are not.
Daemon's brother, King Viserys, portrayed by Paddy Considine, is much grayer, which makes the audience's relationship with him much more complicated.
Despite having a lot of good in his heart, Viserys makes a lot of bad decisions, starting with the decision to kill his first wife Aemma while she was in labor. As the actor himself believes, this decision haunts the character throughout his life, just as the consequences of his decision haunt everyone else.
From marital rape to his inability to make a firm decision as a ruler, Viserys' character has so many moments to raise an eyebrow at that fans even find themselves changing their views on him over time:
“I feel like when the show was first airing, people really sympathized with his character, going up to outright applause and adulation in the final episode. Nowadays, the takes feel more nuanced or critical,” Redditor greenhairdontcare8 pointed out, sparking a whole conversation on character.
What remains undeniable is Paddy Considine's amazing performance, which brought every nuance of his character across the screen. Unfortunately, Viserys is out of the story for good, but House of The Dragon season 2 already promises a whole bunch of great characters and actors to take his place.
Stay tuned for season 2 news and behind-the-scenes updates!
Source: Reddit