House of the Dragon Season 2 has intensified the conflict between The Greens and The Blacks. Though the beginning of the war technically started in Season 1, when Aemond Targaryen caused the demise of Rhaenyra's son Lucerys Velaryon, the newest season has explored how war causes both minor and major tragedies. From the shocking execution of four-year-old Jaehaerys Targaryen to the heartbreaking deaths of twin knights Arryk and Erryk Cargyll, it's obvious the storyline is building up to a devastating sequence of death and tragedy.

In the current plot, the many players in the escalating conflict are still trying to figure out how their current allegiances will aid in their own individual goals and desires. Arguably, no other character, aside from King Aegon and Queen Rhaenyra themselves, has more to lose than Daemon Targaryen. This intriguing character has been invested in the power dynamic since the start of House of the Dragon, and each episode makes his motivations and interests more nuanced and uncertain. Among the many allies and enemies on Rhaenyra's side of the war, Daemon, despite being her husband, is a complete wild card.

Daemon Targaryen Is the Most Morally Gray Character

• Matt Smith plays Daemon Targaryen. He has other roles in notable TV shows, including Doctor Who and The Crown.

When the audience is first introduced to Daemon in House of the Dragon, he is seated on the Iron Throne right after returning to King's Landing. Young Rhaenyra isn't concerned about this inappropriate act, choosing to tease her uncle over the indiscretion. However, this first scene was a perfect way to introduce Daemon Targaryen's desires. By taking a seat on his brother's throne and his first act back in the city being to slay dozens of criminals in the streets with the help of the City Watch, the prince makes it clear he has a bloody thirst for power and control. This is further demonstrated in Season 1 when he continues to defy his brother out of pride and a sense of superiority, eventually resulting in his role as heir to the throne being revoked in favor of his niece.

His questionable and bold decisions don't make him an unlikable character. On the contrary, the audience loves Daemon Targaryen because he is an exceptionally morally gray character. His love for his family is not displayed through direct words or compassionate actions, though there are subtle signs that Daemon cares deeply for his closest loved ones. On the other hand, he doesn't appear to have concerns over the pain he causes his family, such as calling his deceased infant nephew, who died shortly after birth, "Heir for a Day." This is an unusual comparison to actions such as urging Rhaenyra to be strong and support her father during the funeral of her mother, Queen Aemma. The complexities of his personality have made him controversial, but they have also made him the most entertaining character in HOTD.

His Love/Hate Relationship With His Brother Kick-Started a Civil War

• Season 1, Episode 8, "The Lord of the Tides," is the highest-rated House of the Dragon episode so far.

An important aspect of Daemon's character development has to do with his strained relationship with his brother, King Viserys. Though Daemon's aggressive and domineering demeanor is how he feels they assert their authority as rulers of the Seven Kingdoms, Viserys' kind and compassionate nature leaves him torn between loving his brother and not wanting him to cause harm and unrest in the kingdom. A harsh reality of Daemon Targaryen's storyline is his personality being so incompatible with his king brother that he eventually loses his position as heir and the respect of his family for many years.

He plots to disobey King Viserys with Corlys Velaryon, eventually making a bold decision that nearly results in his demise during the war in the Stepstones when he refuses to accept the aid of his brother, which Viserys does out of kindness and love. Their relationship seems to be mended when Daemon returns to King's Landing and bestows the honors he received in battle onto his brother. However, he quickly causes a rift between them by proposing a marriage between him and Rhaenyra, which Viserys is not only disgusted by because she's his firstborn daughter but also because he sees it as Daemon scheming to take control of the throne through Viserys' current heir. Daemon constantly being thwarted by his brother and denied what he believes is his birthright is a key reason the prince is so eager to begin a war between The Greens following his brother's death.

Rhaenyra Is a Means to an End

• Season 1, Episode 6, "The Princess and the Queen," is the current lowest-rated episode of House of the Dragon.

Caught between the feud of King Viserys and Prince Daemon is Rhaenyra Targaryen, who is granted the title of heir following Viserys' decision to take the title from Daemon. As a young woman, Rhaenyra was conflicted between the love she had for her uncle, which is equal parts familial and romantic and her understanding that he wanted the title she possessed. Many viewers considered Daemon Targaryen a villain in the first half of Season 1, seeing his desire for Rhaenyra as a desire for the Iron Throne. However, the clear admiration and affection he shows his niece contradicts the theory that he is a villain. By the time the two Targaryens are married in the later years of the first season, the love between them makes it seem as though Daemon doesn't enter this relationship vying for the throne.

Assuming Daemon marries Rhaenyra solely out of love, however, would be a serious misunderstanding and underestimation of his personality. Based on his reaction to being removed as heir, there's no denying that Daemon believes he is deserving and entitled to the most powerful position in his house. It can't be ignored that he married Rhaenyra years after Viserys had male heirs and continued to hold fast to his decision for Rhaenyra to succeed him. Quickly after King Viserys died and Aegon usurped the throne, Daemon leaped into action to begin building alliances and an army in Rhaenyra's name, even if the queen herself disagreed. His reactions and determination throughout the beginning of the Targaryen civil war make it clear that, regardless of his love for Rhaenyra, Daemon has no issue using his position as husband to the queen to grasp at power of his own.

Daemon Won't Take Any Less Than Being King

• In Season 2, Episode 1, "A Son for a Son," Daemon orchestrated the murder of Prince Aemond, but the assassins instead took the life of Aegon's young son, Prince Jaehaerys.

Daemon and Rhaenyra Targaryen are a strong team, but the recent actions of her husband have made the queen lose faith in her ability to trust him. She blamed Daemon for the execution of a child in King's Landing, which certainly fueled The Greens' desire for bloodshed. While Rhaenyra was the one who demanded the demise of Aemond, she did not believe that Daemon didn't give the order for the toddler prince to be murdered. She doesn't have the same insight that the audience does when it comes to Daemon's orders to target Aemond specifically, though it's clear he has less remorse for the death of Jaehaerys than one would expect from a family member. As one of the least trustworthy characters in House of the Dragon, invested in his own interests overall, it's not shocking that Rhaenyra can no longer trust Daemon to make important decisions.

In the most recent installment, Season 2, Episode 3, "The Burning Mill," Daemon is attempting to get back into Rhaenyra's good graces by helping build an army for The Blacks. He journeys to the remains of Harrenhal, which were set on fire in the previous season, and claims the stronghold in Rhaenyra's name. The remaining members of the Strong household do not resist but rather welcome the chance to defy their leader, Lord Larys Strong. Notably, in this sequence, Daemon takes offense to being called "Prince," instead demanding to be called "Your Grace." This reiterated Daemon's long-held desire to be king, although his power as king consort shouldn't hold as much influence as he demands. His respect for Rhaenyra could indicate he wants to be seen as her equal, but there's no denying he intends to be a king by the end of this war.

The Only Targaryen Who Is Lusting For a Bloody War

• There will be eight episodes of House of the Dragon Season 2. There have been three released so far, leaving five left for the season.

Another major factor causing conflict between Rhaenyra and Daemon is their opposing views on winning the war against The Greens. While Rhaenyra hopes to cause as little death and destruction as possible, taking her vow to protect the realm seriously, Daemon is eager to utilize their skills and dragons to kill as many of their enemies as possible. It's his bloodlust and desire to see battle that initially made people distrust him and a contributing reason why most of the king's council didn't believe he was a fit heir to the throne. Daemon allows his thirst for a fight to cloud his judgment, such as his failure to see why Rhaenyra wants to hold off using dragons in battle as long as they can to avoid mass destruction.

Daemon Targaryen is the strongest fighter in House of the Dragon, making him The Blacks' most valuable asset in battle. He lives up to the great legends fans have heard of regarding Targaryens, from his determination to maintain control to his unhinged inclination to use dragons as a weapon. Daemon doesn't just want to be a king or prove he's worthy of his title, but he truly believes that his ability to make hard decisions and kill ensures his powerful households onto their control of Westeros. For better or worse, despite his questionable decisions, Daemon Targaryen is the prime example of why these fierce dragonriders ruled the Seven Kingdoms for centuries.

Daemon Targaryen continues to get more complex and interesting as HOTD progresses. He isn't solely likable and certainly has some negative character traits, but that has only made him more intriguing to fans. Putting aside the unrealistic notion that fantasy has obvious heroes and villains, HOTD has revolutionized the genre and made it more appealing to a wider audience. Morally gray characters such as Daemon Targaryen don't cease to entertain because they're realistic and that makes them more relatable for the audience.