Daemon and Rhaenyra Targaryen Explained | Does he love her? | House of the Dragon Season 2 

"If Daemon wanted the throne, he could have taken it." This.

“Princess Rhaenyra was a different matter. Daemon spent long hours in her company, enthralling her with tales of his journeys and battles. He gave her pearls and silks and books and a jade tiara said once to have belonged to the Empress of Leng, read poems to her, dined with her, hawked with her, sailed with her, entertained her by making mock of the greens at court, the “lickspittles” fawning over Queen Alicent and her children. He praised her beauty, declaring her to be the fairest maid in all the seven Kingdoms.” - fire and blood

Him and Raenyra had chemistry before she was made the heir. He loved her.

I completely agree with this. The conflict between Daemon and Rhaenyra is not love because that’s indisputable, the issue is on how to approach the war. When Otto brings Alicent’s message, Daemon is ready to be done with everything right there and then, but when Rhaenyra arrives she says no and Daemon’s look is one of a hell of frustration and that reticence to get bloody early and swiftly is what will ultimately cost Rhaenyra in the end. All tragic!😢

i really, REALLY love how deeply they are both attached and attracted to the history and culture of their house.. it is so cool and natural for them to be that way

Daemon is the most interesting character. Can't wait to see him on Caraxes again.

Daemon expresses and copes with all of his emotions with violence

Well the simple answer is the right answer. Daemon loved Rhaenyra. Book Daemon never abused Her. Book Daemon stood by Her till His last breath. He crowned Her as her Queen. Daemon also loved his late wife Laena and her kids especially Baela as She was as wild/mercurial as her father. Baela was tomboyish, quick to anger, provocative like Daemon so naturally loved his eldest child most. Daemon was a father figure to Jace Luke and joff as well so daddy Daemon is clearly misrepresented in the show.

Thank you finally someone with the brain capacity to understand a complex character. Couldn't have said it better myself the whole fandom should watch this video.🥰

No other channel breaks it down like you do! I enjoyed this!

Glad to see you back making content. Thanks from uk. 🇬🇧

Girl I absolutely adore you and the way you say stuff. You say it exactly the way we want to say it. LOL can't wait for the pre-show tonight on Teflon TV channel.

Great insight as usual @GrayArea always informative and thorough with the complex dynamics of the character as portrayed while weaving in book references. Glad you’re back!!!

This was so spot on! Loved it. Ty!

Spot on Gray !!!You got Daemon's name , number and address !!! I have a pretty good handle of who he is myself and I just love him , he is one of my favorite characters in this whole SOIAF !!!! Great video !!!!!!!!!

Excellent content as usual - glad to see ya back queeeennnnn

These two... bedroom dynamics. I can't even imagine. Rhaenyra is glowing like crazy in Ep 8 for a reason. Dracarys 🔥

🎉🎉🎉So glad you're back!

Ahhh I finally received a notification 🔥🐉

You do a great job. Love your content.

This is the first of your hotd videos i've seen! I love your got ones! I hope they put them back into the algorithm!

What you’ve describe is possessiveness, not love. And I haven’t gotten what I would describe as love from the show or books. That’s not to suggest that he doesn’t care for her, but he’s such a conflicted, insecure driven man, that he isn’t capable of real love. What he does loves in Rhaenyra is what he loves in himself, the idea of the Targaryen lineage. What he’s protecting isn’t her honor, but the honor of their family. None of that is actual love for her, just what she can be for him.

Your analyses are so good! And I appreciate that you speak like a real person and don’t sound like a robot. Your channel is a gem - keep it coming!

Very good analysis.

Idk why this keeps being brought up as a question. Anyone who’s read the books knows that he literally went full kamikaze to take out what he saw as the biggest challenge to her throne. If that’s not (slightly toxic and codependent) love idk what is

I love your commentary! Girl! you are 🔥

Daemon is absolutely batshit. And that's something you can always count on. When it's time to go to war, he's the one you want on your team. Targaryen to the end.

Hi! love the content as usual :) Cant wait to hear if youre doing rice novels- I'm gonna re read asap just in case ;)

Oh yesss 😍 I've missed your voice x

Thank you!!!! Finally, an accurate assessment of their relationship. So many people misunderstood their relationship and project their insecurities onto Daemon, not to mention applying 21st century standards. Grooming??? Was it not the custom for that time to marry young brides😂

Thank you for the input and making me realized…

Reasons why I root for Daemon… It has nothing to do whether you think he’s an asshole for killing his wife or you think he’s a badass for killing over 15 guys in the Battle of the Stepstones. Or because he rides Caraxes. The reason why Daemon is so cool is he excels at mostly everything. He gets things done. Viserys was the weaker brother who didn’t get things done because Otto poisoned his mind about his own brother. Otto is the real troublemaker. The keyword is mostly. HBO did give Daemon an erection problem like Tormund saying how Jon Snow had the smallest penis he had ever seen. HBO trying not to make Jon be completely perfect. Daemon being the second son failed to be king. Has never been a great and devoted husband except maybe to Laena. But if you look at his talent/skill set, he’s basically a Renaissance Man who was great at every job Viserys put him in… Swordsman? ☑️ Warrior/fighter? ☑️ Dragon rider? ☑️ Commander of the City Watch? ☑️ Master of coin? ☑️ Master of laws? ☑️ He was great as a knight, prince, protector, dragon rider, chief of police, treasurer, lawyer, and he gambled and won a lot of money from it. He was popular among the common folks, hence, Lord Flea Bottom. Then add being compassionate younger brother and loving father. Daemon wasn’t some jack of all trades but master of none. He excelled in all those jobs. That’s a cool character to enjoy and to watch. His charisma and sense of humor similar to Han Solo are just gravy. You can add dragon scholar/historian reading books on his family’s history. He was an extremely proud Targaryen. Team Green: Daemon is an asshole! He killed his wife and nobody seems to care. But when Criston kills Laenor’s gay lover, everyone hates on him! You know, Team Green/Booger, that’s true. There is a double standard that Daemon gets. But Daemon killing his first wife, was that any worse than Anakin doing what he did killing innocent children? But isn’t Anakin/Vader the most popular character in Star Wars? I think Vader is the bigger asshole but fans still worships him including me. The Joker killed and fans still love him. Loki killed and that Loki series is my all-time favorite on Disney+. Tony Stark can act like an asshole but Iron Man is still the most popular character in MCU. Same with Johnny Lawrence in Cobra Kai. Homelander is my favorite character in The Boys. I’m not rooting for Daemon because he’s perfect or he’s some saint. He’s far from being a saint. I root for Daemon because he’s an excellent all-around character. He’s versatile, complex, and practical to be allies with. I’m hearing Aemond this season is obsessed trying to be like his uncle. He worships him like Kylo Ren was a Sith poser because he idolized Darth Vader so much. Aemond is Daemon’s No. 1 stan. Like Kobe and LeBron idolizing Michael Jordan by imitating him, wearing his No. 23, and making a Space Jam movie. Aemond = the pretender to the throne He’s the cheap, fake imitation of the real one known as DAEMON TARGARYEN. Aemond is the most badass character from Team Green when he will never be as legendary as his uncle. Root for the wannabe but he isn’t beating the OG. Daemon = Darth Vader Aemond = Kylo Ren Daemon = Toho/Legendary Godzilla Aemond = 1998 Zilla Daemon is basically Jaime and Tyrion if they were one person. Add Bronn’s sense of humor and some Loki being a second son who wanted the throne but still loved his brother like Jaime and Tyrion had for each other. And Loki is regarded the best character in MCU. Iron Man is the more popular character but Loki had the far greater story arc.

I’m soooooo ready!!!

GRAY! I LOVE your insight on Daemon btw! No downplaying how bad he is and also not just making him a villain. Your takes on him are SO GOOD!

Daemon is my favorite character in House of the Dragon. The hot blood of the Dragon runs in his veins. He uses violence because his voice is not heard. I have a weakness for flawed or even ambiguous love stories. This is one of them.

First😅 Hi Gray. Welcome back

He loves her but hates himself. He loves the blood of the dragon sooooo much he'd do anything to have it survive, even if it meant his and Rhaenyra's death Keep up the great work Gray, you sexy momma

Girl, you posting a video just moments after The Disputed Lands!?! Agh, I gotta finish watching her video before I come back to watch this, but wanted to check in and comment for my support! Love you both! I was gonna try to get some more sleep before work today, but I guess y'all fucked that up... Totally worth it though! 😂

It's good to have you back on the Throne ma'am

Perfect! Matt and Emma having a close friendship doesn’t hurt

Once again I’m wit chu when you right girllll!!!!

Best explanation ever!!!!! ❤ I think they have both been in love with each other from the get go and I completely agree with everything you said!

Your Exactly correct in my opinion

he obviously loves her. but daemon is also strong willed he's always gonna assert his dominance, she might be his queen but he's gonna do what he wants.

This video is straight facts!!!

Great video Gray I'm a daemon fan an know what he is an can be but I wouldn't want anyone else on my side

Right on gray area now I’m giving you all thumbs up

Man Grey....you went full blown Deamon apologist and enabler😮whole A+ Defense Lawyer in a Rico Trial😂😂😂 I love it when we are able to mix it up like this. Watching interview with a vampire and Deamon reminds me of my boi Lastat😂😂😂 messy af

Summer's almost here! Juice time!!!!

YASSSSSS TELL ITTTTT!!!!

he definitely love her, just because all the episode didn't show this love expression based on today expression. never mean the opposite way. Man go to war for his wife seems like daemon love expression

amazing video! finally someone who understand our favorite boy Daemon Targaryen

I love ❤️ your reviews and I think Daemon love Rhaenyra ..🖤🐉

A perfect explanation of their relationship and one that completely falls in line with everything Matt Smith has ever said about their relationship. Matt's even doubled down on how much he believes daemon loves Rhaenyra because he knows certain people are gonna want to pick apart every disagreement they have moving forward. It's not a "perfect" relationship, it's toxic and chaotic af, but none of that changes the fact that at the end of the day they do love each other. Even the writers who constantly go out of their way to make daemon look bad have said as much. Could honestly go down as one of the best and most tragic (this is game of thrones after all) love stories if they stick the landing.

It seems that Daemon derives his sense of self worth from a feeling of Valyrian and Targaryen supremacy. Not hard to see why based on how he was raised.

That’s so true❤

First to take the Black 🖤 And HI gray I missed you!!!!

She is the best actor I’ve ever seen on any season of anything to do with Game of Thrones

Agreed with 99%, but what about Nettles?

raduire du texte avec votre appareil photo Laena was also Daemon's niece and 2 years younger than Rhaenyra so why would it be weird for Daemon to be with Rhaenyra but it's good and he has to be with Laena???? I think that Laena should never have married Daemon because given her young age and her innocence, she could not stand up to Daemon who could impose everything on her, such as isolating herself in her house in the depths of the desert and refusing to let her see his brother Laenor. and frankly I think he didn't want to go back there because of Rhaenyra.

Team Daemon!!!

Rhaenyra is to Daemon like looking in a Mirror. However, Laena is also very head strong he could not bend her, he knew he could bend Rhaenyra and she would do as he says, well, so he thought. Turns out Rhaenyra is very strong minded as an adult.

I love you grey ♥️

All I know for sure is, there is great pain and loss in their future. It's all so tragic

The show runners/writers always had a very hard task to bring a less than 200 pages of obtuse, often conflicting versions of history into the screen and make the audience connect with the characters. HOTD can never be anything like GoT S1-S4. It is hard to have the emotional connection in HOTD characters that we felt in GoT. All the same, I enjoyed mostly what Condal did but hope he learned from very bad writing (dragon bursting forth, killing hundreds of peasants) as an example that he has done better in S2.

OMG!!! I thinks daemon is the hand that Raenyra needs to help her win this war!! I also think the war of avoiding killing so many innocents could have been avoided if rhaenyres would have killed Aegon when he was taking the throne or if aemond was killed or even when sir Otto was killed when he bought terms to rhaenyris !?? Also when daemons daughter killed sir Criston Cole !! Anyway I’m looking 👀 forward to upcoming episodes for season 2 of house of dragons hopefully it won’t be as disappointing as season 8 of Games of Thrones!!😊

I think people ask that because its not coming off on screen that he loves her deeply just that he likes that she has the crown

Why did daemon and Raenyra’s conversations stop being in high valyrian like the first half of season 1?

I think everything about the character is and will always remain vague. I've never been certain of his feelings for her in the book as well. The fact people is romanticizing the time spent when they were uncle and niece is weird, cause it's undoubtedly true the relationship is problematic. I think Daemon doesn't want the throne to the point of usurping his family and this is what make him grey, but he still having regret and frustration of been replaced by his brother. He loved his bro more than anything and has been that love who pushed him on accepting to marry Rhaenyra, he took her as his extension and that's messed up cause he doesn't see her as her own persona and Rhaenyra just wanted him cause wanted to be special for him as she says i took it as challenge, she thought she would have changed him, but she realizes that Daemon will always choose himself his way, his ideas his logic that's why his loyalty is questionable and not wholly, and makes him a double edged weapon.

Oh I loved last night!! Didn't special effects do a wonderful job? Rhaenyra looked HORRIBLE!! OH I Almost didn't recognize her. I can't wait to hear your take on this first episode of season 2!

I don't know if I could be in an actual relationship with Daemon, but he can get it ! I love that he is like "Damn what you say ! I am a dragon lord, don't give me what I eat to sleep with !" He is all the things women want a man to be, but he is also all that toxic masculinity can bring. great in a story, terrible in RL. I just wanted to add, girl you are spot on with your analysis ! I joined immediately.

With everything about Daemon….particularly his motivations…..it kinda feels like the answer “all of the above” fits him to a T.

I truly believe that what Daemon wanted was acceptance. He was seen as a wayward prince with a hot temper, to be handled cautiously and from a distance. He was not upset that he was passed over as heir, he was upset that his brother never even considered him as an option. Despite this, he chose to support his niece, because she was the only one to accept him as he was.

He is more loyal than anyone the in that group ❤

Dameon is a true and strong 💪🏼. What about wedding sister and brother grey area? .

I actually like Daemon's character.

“-couldve had it in a fortnight.” Goofy asl🤣🤣🤣

Hii Please don't tell me you've stopped the intro😢😢

High Valyrian is their love language ❤

People think they will break up this season they won’t they will go thru shit but even Matt said himself in the interview he don’t think the daemon and rhaenyra is done

@GrayArea 😂😂😂 Stop it lol what you know bout standing ten toes down lol 😂😂 I appreciate that

❤❤❤

He loves her

Great video. He's backing her all the way.

Daemon & Rhaenyra loved eachother absolutely. It's as you say tho, it's NOT a fairytale love. For me, it's a Soulmate/Destiny thing... They are after all the great-grandparents (however many times over, 6x?) of Daenerys, who IS the Prince(ss) That Was Promised & a part of the "Song" of Ice/Fire with Jon.

Thanks for pointing out that Otto is stealing the throne away Rhaenyra as he did with Daemon - I hadn't joined the dots like that but it's so true. "No matter how fat the leech grows, it always wants for another meal."

Rhaenyra just likes Daemon's bad boy side.

B&Ch did not hit because we should be not wondering why Helaena pointed her so to die but are Tb really all good ?

Daemon didn't kill his first wife that was done for the show.

1st here! 🔥🔥🔥

Rhaenyra always reminded me of Cleopatra the Great ❤❤❤🖤🖤🖤(both were favourite daughters of their fathers, both went to war with their younger brothers, both had bastard children). I have no doubt Cleopatra and Mark Antony loved each other - buy they also both used each other to political gains. And same with Daemon and Rhaenyra - there is love, but it first and foremost political alliance.

0:46 there isnt no but and excuses for it being a fantasy gives weird lol

Grey Area-Targeryan.

If he would’ve just acted right, he would’ve eventually become the hand of the king.

I love this couple, but I thing that the narcisism of Daemon is very risky for Rhaenyra ..Daemon is ambicious and love power...

@GrayArea how are you feeling about Nettles role possibly being given to Baela? I really feel some type of way about that because she plays an important part in the story, especially the way she tames Sheep Stealer and her relationship with Daemon.

Man with no money: “guess we can’t love anybody according to this channel”

I have no doubt Damon loves Rheanera . This is fantasy folks , if I had blood 🩸 that gave me the right to ride a dragon 🐉, I want that to be pure . Shoot most of us are super proud of where we came from , Imagine if you could ride dragons . Please 🙏 owe he real . You can keep all that 7 star hypocrisy

“If Daemon wanted the throne, he could have taken it” I never thought about that before. So true!

GA!!!!!