HBO's House of The Dragon was one of the most hotly anticipated television shows of all time, and it delivered on all counts. The Game of Thrones spin-off took audiences back in time, depicting the previous glory of House Targaryen before its downfall and the infamous Dance of the Dragons. While every character engrossed viewers, Daemon Targaryen was undoubtedly the most charismatic Targaryen on screen.
Portrayed by the inimitable Matt Smith, Daemon was fierce, shrewd, and ruthless. However, he was dedicated to his family, and his love for both Viserys and Rhaenyra warmed fans towards him. With news of House of The Dragon Season 2's premiere plot and title, it's only right to take a look at Daemon's most impactful quotes on the show.
10 “Ten years you’ve been king...”
Season 1, Episode 1 "The Heirs of the Dragon"
“Ten years you’ve been king, and yet not once have you asked me to be your Hand!”
Daemon and Viserys shared a close but conflicted relationship, which was evident from the very first episode of House of The Dragon. A Targaryen personality trait that Daemon had in spades was familial pride, which was why Viserys not letting him be his Hand under his reign upset him so much.
Viserys kept Daemon away from the throne because of how vicious he could be. Making him Hand would only give Daemon more power, which was why Viserys chose Otto Hightower to be his primary advisor. Roguish as Daemon was, he would not have plotted against Viserys. He would have given his brother sound advice that would favor the Targaryens, and this sentiment made Daemon bitter about Viserys' actions.
9 “Dreams didn’t make us kings...”
Season 1, Episode 10 "The Black Queen"
“Dreams didn’t make us kings. Dragons did.”
One of Daemon's most dominant qualities was how unpredictable he could be. For much of the show, he was depicted as a gentle and loving partner to his wife, but Daemon and Rhaenyra's relationship took a sudden and unpleasant turn in the last episode of House of The Dragon. Daemon did not take kindly to being told about the prophecy of A Song of Ice and Fire by Rhaenyra, nor did he appreciate her reluctance to wage war against the Hightowers.
Most of Daemon's frustration came from being left out of Viserys' confidence. He wanted to reiterate to Rhaenyra that magic and illusions didn't keep the Targaryens in power, but they owed everything to the mighty dragons that they had learned to tame and use. He was deeply ambitious and didn't subscribe to Rhaenyra's politics.
8 “I will speak of my brother as I wish...”
Season 1, Episode 2 "The Rogue Prince"
“I will speak of my brother as I wish. You will not.”
Viserys may have had a peaceful reign, but many of his closest allies doubted his power. The Sea Snake, Corlys Velaryon called on Daemon in private to talk about this, but the younger Targaryen was not interested in scheming and plotting with Corlys against his brother. His loyalty lay firmly with the Targaryen name.
In clear words, Daemon made it clear to Colrys that while he had strong opinions about his brother's conduct and position, the Sea Snake did not have the right to talk about it. It was in these rare moments that Daemon showed his true hand in the acclaimed HBO drama: he was never Viserys' enemy, even if he could be a rogue.
7 "You cannot live your life in fear..."
Season 1, Episode 4 "King of The Narrow Sea"
"You cannot live your life in fear, or you will forsake the best parts of it."
As Rhaenyra was paraded for marriage by Viserys, she only grew more averse to the idea of it. After watching her mother die in childbirth and the various ways women got trapped, she had her doubts. Daemon, upon his return to King's Landing, encouraged her not to discount the entire institution based on just the negatives of marriage.
Rhaenyra and Daemon's romance was a controversial part of House of The Dragon, but there was something to be said about how Daemon was always in her corner. It was indeed true that Rhaenyra would only experience her life wholly and truly if she shed her fears and kept an open mind.
6 "A marriage is a duty, yes..."
Season 1, Episode 4 "King of The Narrow Sea"
"A marriage is a duty, yes. But that doesn’t stop us from doing what we want."
For Daemon Targaryen, the decrees of society were mere constructs. He was impulsive and brash and lived by his own rules. He had married Rhea Royce out of obligation for his family, but he did not believe in love, loyalty, or even fidelity for that matter.
Daemon Targaryen had little respect for his first marriage or wife, going so far as to kill her to have a clear path to Rhaenyra and her inheritance. In his frankly uncomfortable (for viewers) moment of passion with Rhaenyra, he tried to explain to her how he and countless other monarchs lived with the pressure of procreation and ascension on them all the time.
5 "No matter how fat the leech grows..."
Season 1, Episode 7 "Driftmark"
"No matter how fat the leech grows, it always wants for another meal."
For all his faults, Daemon was an astute politician, if a bit violent. The hunger for power that his brother did not spy in Otto Hightower, Daemon knew from the very beginning. The King's Hand manipulated and advised for his own benefit, which was why Daemon called him a leech that sucked Viserys dry.
Years after Daemon's return to court, he noticed that things hadn't changed much. "Driftmark" marked the beginning of the divide between the Blacks and Greens, where Daemon and other characters became vocal about how they felt about each other, especially the Hightowers.
4 “Our love does not know titles...”
Season 1, Episode 2 "The Rogue Prince"
“Our love does not know titles and traditions.”
A desire for the throne and his ambition got the better of Daemon Targaryen in "The Rogue Prince," where he stole the dragon egg meant for the late baby Baelon and took over Dragonstone by force. In further defiance, he took Mysaria with him and proclaimed that he would take her as his wife, even though he was already married.
His disregard for morality was concerning, but this particular quote foreshadowed his relationship with Rhaenyra. This missive was said about Mysaria, who wasn't of royal blood or lineage, but the intent was evident in everything Daemon did. His love did not fit within the bounds of tradition and titles.
3 "The blood of the dragon runs thick."
Season 1, Episode 1 "The Heirs of the Dragon"
"The blood of the dragon runs thick."
When Daemon expressed his disappointment in Viserys not making him the Hand, he also tried to assure him that he cared nothing more than building and supporting House Targaryen. The Targaryens were intertwined with dragons, and Daemon was rather proud of the fact. With his enhanced ability to connect with the magnificent beasts, he held his house as well as his brother in high regard.
Even if Viserys did not think Daemon was a suitable heir for the throne, the latter was simple in his thinking. He was his brother, and his relationship with Viserys would always be strong based on the fact that they had dragon blood running through their veins.
2 "I want Rhaenyra. I'll take her as she is."
Season 1, Episode 4 "King of The Narrow Sea"
"I want Rhaenyra. I'll take her as she is."
While the clandestine trip to Flea Bottom which Daemon took Rhaenyra on was enthralling, especially for the Princess, it was wrong. She was too young to be in pleasure houses and certainly not in an intimate manner with her uncle. Viserys was rightfully enraged at Daemon's indiscretion, but the rogue Prince's one quote proved that the jaunt wasn't a move he made just to undermine Viserys.
Daemon did want to marry and be with her because he was in love with her. As Viserys worried about how his daughter was ruined, Daemon took the chance to ask for her hand, even if it was done in an unconventional way.
1 “Once we smashed the Triarchy..."
Season 1, Episode 4 "King of The Narrow Sea"
“Once we smashed the Triarchy, they named me "King of The Narrow Sea.""
A high point in Daemon Targaryen's character arc was the Battle of the Stepstones, where he showed his raw strength and audacity. He could be lethal if he wanted, and he singlehandedly smashed the Triarchy that had been a longtime threat. He rightfully earned the title was "King of The Narrow Sea" after he won the battle.
It was a triumphant return for Daemon to Viserys' court after he had been dismissed as too violent and impulsive to be of any use. He proved that he could be an asset to the throne, even if it was in his own skewed way.