In an ancestral clash between two of Westeros’ most formidable warriors, House of the Dragon star Matt Smith has boldly declared his character Daemon Targaryen would emerge victorious over Game of Thrones hero Jon Snow.
The hypothetical face-off between the dragon-riding prince from the prequel series and the former King in the North was posed to Smith during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. When asked who would win in a fight, the actor didn’t mince words.
“Mate, I’ve got a dragon,” Smith stated emphatically. “Listen, I’ve got a lot of respect for Jon Snow. Jon Snow’s a bad boy, don’t get me wrong. Kit Harington, lovely man…But don’t get it twisted, I would f*** [him] up. I’ve got a dragon!”
While the presence of Daemon’s ferocious scaled steed Caraxes would undoubtedly give him a considerable advantage, the two ancestral warriors are also highly skilled combatants even without supernatural allies.
In just House of the Dragon’s first season, Daemon proved himself a cunning military tactician and brave warrior willing to put himself in harm’s way. Jon Snow displayed similar courage and tenacity across Game of Thrones’ eight seasons, surviving countless harrowing battles like the iconic “Battle of the Bastards.”
However, the key differentiating factor may be experience. Though Jon is a formidable and battle-tested fighter, Daemon has spent decades honing his tactical mindset and proficiency with sword and dragon. The prequel series’ time-jumped narrative depicts the prince as one of the era’s most seasoned commanders.
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“Daemon is much more patient and calculated, analyzing his opponent before striking when he finds a weak spot,” one report noted. “Because of the years of experience he has in comparison, even without a dragon, Daemon just might be able to come out on top.”
Still, Jon’s sheer determination and refusal to surrender make him an extremely dangerous foe who cannot be underestimated. “If [Daemon] underestimates his enemy’s tenacity in battle, then he would be more liable to fall,” the analysis cautioned.
While the imagined clash is pure fantasy, it has sparked fervent debate among Game of Thrones fans over which the iconic character would reign supreme. The contenders’ shared Targaryen bloodline but vastly different backgrounds and temperaments ensure an ancestral duel for the ages.
House of the Dragon’s second season premieres June 16th on Max, providing another chapter in Daemon’s conquest for the Iron Throne.
